Is Parrot the best way to go? What other options have been used?

I was considering the Mki9100, because I have Nav I need a small screen and think I will hide it either in the center console or glove box instead of putting it somewhere obvious like the steering column (Because I don't have the dash cubby hole due to Nav screen). Does one look at this screen ever or can you just have it and forget about it?

For me, the Parrot was the best way to go for three reasons:

1. Bluetooth is always on so even if my radio is turned off, I can still receive calls
2. From what I've read, the dual mics give noticeably better sound quality than options from iSimple or Grom
3. I can use my phone's built-in voice commands

What I want to know, I read that some people, if they install the wrong wiring harness will lose the steering wheel functions (I do not want that)

Crutchfield suggests I use a wiring harness Item #: 120BT8901 (when I tell them I have 06 is fact subwoofer and auto climate control)

With the Parrot kits, you cannot use your steering wheel controls for any functionality related to the Parrot kit, period. The way the parrot kit works, it is actually placed between your radio headunit and your speakers. The parrot kit has its own small amp built into the unit so that it can send your bluetooth audio to your speakers regardless of what your headunit is doing. It also means that if your radio is turned on and you receive a call, it can automatically mute the signal from the radio and send your call to your speakers. Unfortunately, parrot does make the Unika kit to use factory steering wheel controls but there is not compatibility with our generation subarus.

However, as long as you use the appropriate wiring harness, you will not lose your steering wheel control of the factory head unit. The wiring harness you posted looks just like the one I used. Not too hard to install. Mine didn't come with any install directions but I was able to figure it out by looking at the color of the wires and how many pins were being used in each connector. I bought mine from a supplier in the UK off of eBay. Took a while to arrive but it was the least expensive I could find.

SOT-PC000044AA-r for Parrot MKi9200 Subaru Impreza

Do I need a separate amp installed? One car audio shop said yes I do and the quoted cost for full install and parts as roughly $700 ($260 for parrot, $45 for harness $160 for amp and 3 hour labour). He said the extra amp was necessary or the whole audio system will sound terrible.

You definitely do NOT need a separate amp installed. The parrot unit has a small class D amp built into it that it uses to power the speakers when it takes over the audio system. I will say that the sound quality is not as good coming from the Parrot unit as from the Subaru headunit. That could be due to the amp not being as good or the DAC and internal processing not being as good. I personally doubt its the amp, but no matter what, I doubt a new amp will help. If you were to wire in a new amp between the parrot unit and your speakers, what you are basically doing is taking the amplified signal from the parrot unit, lowering the level back down to line level, then amping it up for a second time. If you are getting a lower quality signal out of the parrot unit in the first place, you are just amping the lower quality signal for a second time (unless the small amp in the parrot unit is really really REALLY struggling but again, I highly doubt that is the case).

What suggestions might you lovely people have and what have I missed in my considerations or must i read before proceeding?

What I've read:
http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums...-video-security-navigation/18957-very-pleased-parrot-mki9100-bluetooth-kit.html
http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums...dio-video-security-navigation/38458-2006-subaru-outback-xt-speaker-upgrade.html

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/parrot-mki9200-very-nice-123696.html?t=123696
http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/parrot-mki9100-109176.html?t=109176
http://legacygt.com/forums/showthre...showthread.php/bluetooth-audio-input-parrot-mk-6000-54548.html?highlight=parrot

Parrot MKi9200 installed to Factory McIntosh AMP ? club.liberty.asn.au



ANY HELP WILL BE WELCOME, Thanks in advance!

Couple of last points:

1. Since you have the 203UE headunit, I'm about 98% sure that you won't be able to use your factory sub with the parrot kit. IIRC, the 203UE has a 5th amplified channel coming out of the headunit, something that the parrot won't be able to run. You might be able to swap your headunit for a 203UH and matching subwoofer and then be able to use the sub with the parrot kit, but I'm not certain about that.

2. Having the screen visible is not a necessity. The Parrot kit (assuming it's like my 9200) will speak the name of the caller. You can also use voice recognition from either the parrot kit or your phone. I use an iPhone so when I push the call button, Siri wakes up and I can all the normal siri functions. I would assume it works the same way with Windows phones and Android phones.

3. Having the screen visible is very nice. Getting through the set-up menus and checking firmware versions to make sure you are up to date would be nearly impossible without the screen. I have seen the 9100 screen placed in the front ash tray. Still closes nicely so it wouldn't be in the way.

Good luck with your decision/install. I've enjoyed my parrot kit quite a bit since I installed it!

 

Thanks simp1yamazn

simply amazing response. I pulled the trigger and ordered based on your feedback and should have it this week, weekend install to come.

I\ll try to slid the mini screen in either the ash tray section or the CD bucket of the center console. I'll post pics of the final results so others can be so informed.