660 mp3 playback quality

Zumo 550 via autocom best thing i have done to any of my bikes:thumb2I would imagine 660 would have the same quality audio.
 
Bit of a hijack, but its a relevant thread. Been considering a 660 for music/phone/gps integration. I'm assuming that all I then need is a Bluetooth headset for the helmet. Are there any non-helmet specific solutions? I know there are Schuberth/BMW comms systems, but what about for fitment to an Arai? I'm not willing to compromise on my helmet choice, as a well fitting helmet is more important that the comms.
 
I fitted auto com speakers and mic. into an Arai. Piece of piss. Need to get the mic in the right place though
 
thanks again guys. Ok still waiting on MP3 playback quality. Again this will be hard wired to my starcom and in ear monitors from there. Anybody else have a similar setup that can comment?

I suggest that you take your chosen monitors to a dealer, or to someone with a Zumo 660, and just plug into the audio out jack and see for yourself.

Absolute HiFi isn't a priority for me, so saying that the Autocom hard-wired system that I use is fine is just my opinion. If you're a HiFi fanatic and have spent thousands on your home audio system then your requirements will differ. However IMHO, on a bike, the difference is pretty academic, even with in-ear monitors.

I can't be that bad as once I accidentally connected my Garmin though my phone Bluetooth dongle connected to my Autocom, was wondering why the quality seemed a bit pants and the PMR didn't seem to be working :blush :banghead:
 
Bit of a hijack, but its a relevant thread. Been considering a 660 for music/phone/gps integration. I'm assuming that all I then need is a Bluetooth headset for the helmet. Are there any non-helmet specific solutions? I know there are Schuberth/BMW comms systems, but what about for fitment to an Arai? I'm not willing to compromise on my helmet choice, as a well fitting helmet is more important that the comms.

For Bluetooth any of the reputable brands will work (Interphone, Scala etc.), you'll need to read up on here to make your mind up which one. If you ride with others and want bike to bike comms check with your riding buddies first as bike-to-bike is brand specific with these units.

They do attach to the outside of your lid with wires for ear-pieces and boom mics going inside to where they're needed. Obviously as a non tethered headset they rely on rechargeable batteries so if on a long tour you'll need a means to charge over-night.

A wired system (Autocom, Starcom etc) has a single downside in that you are tethered to the bike by a cable. This un-plugs obviously and in use isn't really a problem, plugging in and unplugging are relatively automatic once you get used to it. Bike powered so no batteries required. More versatile as they are modular systems to which you can add components as required. Cables to connect stuff tend to be quite expensive as they need special isolators to prevent interference (only if connected item is bike powered).
 
I suggest that you take your chosen monitors to a dealer, or to someone with a Zumo 660, and just plug into the audio out jack and see for yourself.

Absolute HiFi isn't a priority for me, so saying that the Autocom hard-wired system that I use is fine is just my opinion. If you're a HiFi fanatic and have spent thousands on your home audio system then your requirements will differ. However IMHO, on a bike, the difference is pretty academic, even with in-ear monitors.

I can't be that bad as once I accidentally connected my Garmin though my phone Bluetooth dongle connected to my Autocom, was wondering why the quality seemed a bit pants and the PMR didn't seem to be working :blush :banghead:

Don't know anyone who has one and can't find any local dealers hence the question on here. All the dealers round here just have car stuff unfortunately.
 
I use a 660 and SRC to get stereo playback over Bluetooth. The quality is fine and I have modded the SRC to use my monitors too.


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Don't know anyone who has one and can't find any local dealers hence the question on here. All the dealers round here just have car stuff unfortunately.

I would maybe try one of the car Garmins then, that's if you can find one with an audio out jack (increasingly rare). They probably all share the same MP3 part of the firmware anyway.

The trouble being is that audio quality is a very subjective thing...

I'm not sure if the 660 has the same 1000 track limit as the Zumo 550? The latter will only list the first 1000 tracks on the device or SD card.

To add MP3 tracks to an SD card create a folder called 'MP3'. Into this place your MP3s in folders named for the name of the respective albums, I also have folders called '_Misc', '_Singles', '_Soundtracks' and '_Various' to cover other eventualities. Whilst this last bit doesn't help indexing by your Garmin it makes management of the tracks easier on the PC.

If you use iTunes beware that you'll need to convert your tracks to MP3 for them to play on the Zumo.
 
I didn't try very hard admittedly but I couldn't actually find a car Garmin GPS unit that did mp3. Made sense to me since cars have cd/mp3 players built in. Like I said I didn't try very hard and just looked at a few specs out of random models from different price brackets.
Good to know it takes a 16GB card as well. The most I had seen here was 8GB and Garmin only say 4. It might even take a 32GB since they might well have updated the firmware.
Does the BMW version still have a 3.5 out? Seem to remember the custom BMW dock doesnt allow it but the unit might still have it? If it does then I will head along to Motorrad east and con them into giving me a shot. David if your reading this I will buy one honest :D :hide
 
I didn't try very hard admittedly but I couldn't actually find a car Garmin GPS unit that did mp3.

Just checked and am surprised to find that you're correct. The Nuvi 765T that I bought a couple of years ago has practically all the features, bar waterproofing, of the Zumo 660 yet only cost £115, last of an era by the looks of things.

Took me and and a couple of mates around a tour of Welsh castles today without a hitch. One of said mates got a 765 before me but on my advice, he was my 'guinea pig'. I've since stopped using my trusty SP 2720 in favour of the Nuvi.
 
I've just fitted a 32gb sd card and transferred the whole of my i-tunes over and it works fine. I find the sound quality thru a 660 with a system 6 is good but lacks bass-all I did was adjust the equaliser on i-tunes to heavy bass and re-copied to the sd card and it sounds better now (and it is def in stereo).
 


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