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Becker audio

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David Koppel

New member
Hi

My old pioneer satnav/cd/radio head unit has given up the ghost and the consensus seems to be that Becker is the best option; just a couple of questions:

1) does the bluetooth work well with an iPhone?

2) do ipods work well with the extra cable, can you select more than just playlists, ie can you access the whole album/song library?

3) how good is the built in sat nav, the pioneer system was so fiddly to programme that for any journey under 3 hours it wasn't worth the effort?

Thanks

David
 
Hi--sorry for the delayed response. Last year I replaced an aftermarket Alpine head unit (too complicated, no iPod jack) and TomTom stand-alone GPS with a Becker Cascade (http://www.mybecker.com/enUK/CAR+NAVIGATION-Cascade+7944-Overview.html), largely on the car audio specialist's advice and the strong aesthetics.

I can't comment on all your points, but I've never managed to link it with my BlackBerry via Bluetooth. Hopefully an iPhone would link better.

The Becker's right button replaces the ipod's trackwheel, with equivalent functionality, but you lose some responsiveness so it feels a bit slo-mo.

The Becker's GPS works ok, but frankly the TomTom seemed to pick up satellite signals quicker than the Becker does, even with the Becker's supplemental GPS antenna installed on the windscreen. Because the visual guidance moves to the lower dash rather than the TomTom's eye level (ie mounted on windscreen), I find myself relying more on the Becker's audio commands, especially for the estimated time of arrival feature (probably safer anyway, but worth noting). Its build quality is very high (nice solid buttons, etc), and it does look great in the 993's dash. It took me a bit of time to work out the functions, but frankly anything would've been an improvement on the acronym-crazy Alpine.
 
ORIGINAL: David Koppel

Hi

My old pioneer satnav/cd/radio head unit has given up the ghost and the consensus seems to be that Becker is the best option; just a couple of questions:

1) does the bluetooth work well with an iPhone?

2) do ipods work well with the extra cable, can you select more than just playlists, ie can you access the whole album/song library?

3) how good is the built in sat nav, the pioneer system was so fiddly to programme that for any journey under 3 hours it wasn't worth the effort?

Thanks

David
Click to expand...

I have a Becker Indianapolis.

1) Cant help with the Iphone,but the bluetooth works fine with my unsophisticated Motorola mobile.Phone stays in the door pocket and the Becker answers th call, turns down the radio and feeds the call through the car speakers

2) I have an Itouch which stays in the glove compartment. The Itouch is charged from the car and all the music options, including podcasts are available and controlled from the radio.

3) The inbuilt satnav is very good. My aerial is mounted under the dash top so not visable. It locks on very quickly. Not long after I had it fitted I went on a long run to Liverpool and had both the Becker and my Tom Tom running. They both gave the same directions within milliseconds of each other.

4) The downside with the Becker is, that I find it much more difficult to programme destinations than with TomTom. There is no map so it is not possible to check that you have selected the right destination. Also you cannot enter any of your own POI's, or at least I have not found a way.

Overall I am well pleased though and it looks very nice in the dash.

Michael
 
Agree with all of above, but you might want to check something. I read about 3-6 months ago that Becker were in some dispute with the owners of the bluetooth patent and had temporarily removed the bluetooth functionality from their range. Seems odd when every other device has it - and I've had no reason to check this so it may be completely wrong.
 
ORIGINAL: Mark Elder

Agree with all of above, but you might want to check something. I read about 3-6 months ago that Becker were in some dispute with the owners of the bluetooth patent and had temporarily removed the bluetooth functionality from their range. Seems odd when every other device has it - and I've had no reason to check this so it may be completely wrong.
Click to expand...

Hi Mark,

Yes you are correct and when I bought my set there had been a delay in Becker delivering new equipment for this reason, however my fitter told me that this problem had been resolved. Certainly I have no problem.

Best to ask your fitter if you decide to go ahead just to be on the safe side.

Michael
 
Hi, I have a becker cascade and am generally very please with it. The sound quality with admittedly very expensive speakers is excellent, no additional amp required. My bluetooth syncs automatically with my blackberry, and also has worked well with my previous Nokia, you just need to set it to connect everytime without prompting. I bought a different aerial with a longer lead and have positioned box under the rear shelf out of sight. I have a cheaper after market ipod connector (£17) which displays my ipod touch as 'aux', unfortunately I have to change albums on the touch. When I initially bought it I had problems with the unit cutting out occasionally, normally forgetting the last destination. They could find no fault under warranty but they gave me an updated system disk (3.8 from memory) and the problem has finally gone. I also loaded a speed cameras database cd which is good, but the unit has to be navigating for it to work and the audible bleep isn't really loud enough. Overall I'd recommend it, it looks very neat in the dash.
 
Harvey - interesting reply. Could you please clarify what you mean by loading a speed camera database cd and who/where did you get the cd from? My enquiries had led me to the belief that it was not possible to add any data to the Becker navigation programme.

On Tom TomI use the pocketworld speed camera database which is very good.

Thanks for any advice.

Michael
 
My iPhone works perfectly with my Cascade. Miss having a map but looks so much better. And as it's all fitted there's less chance of being broken in to...
 
Hi Taverner, I bought the discs from here:

http://www.navishop.de/speedtraps-2008-europa-fuer-becker-3cds.html

This is the first time they have included a UK camera database. Obviously it is not completely up to date, but it seems to spot most! They are downloaded just once in a few seconds. As said before, it only works if the navigation is on. I will enter any old destination and set the directions to mute, so it just bleeps approaching a camera, if driving locally and I know the route.


Kind regards

Harvey
 
Harvey,

Thanks very much for that link and your comments. I have replied to your email direct.

Michael
 
Hi all,

Which speakers would you recommend with the Becker unit?... I have replaced the originals in mine, but i do not have an amp, and frankly the quality is still bad. I do of course realise that you get what you pay for, but i am planning a couple of proper/long trips (France and Scotland) so a decent sound system is a must.

So any recommendations for speakers, maybe amps? or even a small sub woofer? And i am in Croydon, so any decent ICE fitters appreciated!

Thanks, Jp
 
Hi, I went for Cerwin Vega V Max 5 speakers in the front, modified to fit under the original grills, so they look standard. In the rear I fitted HED 46 speakers which fitted without modification under the original grills. Cost was £250 /£300 ish from memory, but they are extremely good. The crossovers are installed within the door pocket, see below.

FC556C6F5AF2448DB2E6AFEBC8283A77.jpg
 
My Cascade has system software version 3.61. (I don't mean the maps software.) Would someone be willing to lend me his current (v.4?) software CD so I can upload it? Naturally I'd pay insured return postage etc. Becker Germany and Becker UK both totally unhelpful.

many thanks
 
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