What’s the opposite of a sweet spot? A sour patch, maybe. I ask this because there’s a point in time where in-car entertainment was the opposite of a sweet spot when it comes to futureproofing. Cars of the 1990s fitted with cassette tapes have simple AUX adapters available for streaming music while almost all modern cars all come with Bluetooth. It’s the CD players that dominated the noughties that are seemingly impossible to upgrade to accept streaming without buying a brand-new stereo unit.
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The Anker Soundsync may just be the simple answer you’re after, adding Bluetooth connectivity to a car through a car’s AUX cable. We’ve been testing it to see if it’s a genuinely clever way to futureproof an older car.
What’s good?
From the box is a device that’s no bigger than a Hot Wheels model, finished in black and fitted with just three buttons (on/off and volume controls). There’s also a small LED light and two cable ports, one for the USB-C charger and the other for the AUX. There’s a choice of two AUX connectors, a short metal one and a longer wire. It’s simple to set up and connects to a mobile phone as any other Bluetooth device would.
Music quality will be mostly dependent on the sound system present in your car, it won’t magically make a tinny speaker system sound like the Naim Audio systems you’d find in a Bentley. The Bluetooth 5.0 does however ensure that any music coming from your phone will be as smooth and clear as possible. Everything from classic rock to tragic EDM played through the speakers with no issue. This was also true of any hands-free phone calls taken.
Another key benefit to this little device can be found if you look at your phone. Modern smartphones are ditching AUX connectivity, the headphone jack is now consigned to history alongside the VHS and Blackberry. This gadget allows a user to continue using the AUX port in a car without having to buy an extra, expensive cable for your phone and sacrifice your phone’s single charging port.
The Bluetooth options don’t end with your car either, an older household speaker system can be modernised to accept Bluetooth with this device. It can also pair with two separate devices at once, a nifty way of making longer journeys with others more palatable.
What’s bad?
The main issue with the nifty gadget is that it will only work if your car is fitted with an AUX cable. While an AUX port was common on higher-end cars, they aren’t a given. If your car lacks an AUX port you’ll need to rely on an FM transmitter to stream music and accept the slightly worse sound quality.
Charging the device can be a bit of a pain too. While it boasts an impressive 12-hour battery life, it does require a USB port to charge it, a slightly tedious chore as it leaves a long wire scattered across the centre console.
Verdict
Bluetooth is a massive upgrade for a sound system and the age of streaming almost necessitates it. So long as your car has an AUX port this tiny gadget is the perfect way of modernising a car, even if it’s just for the hands-free capabilities.
Pros:
Small and easy to use
Bluetooth connectivity is good
Makes hand-free calls possible
Cons:
You still need an AUX port
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