Media Receiver Recommendation?

[functionoverfashion]

Right now I have a Pioneer MVH-X580BS media receiver head unit. It's simple, but has 3 preamp outputs and enough customization settings controllable through an app that it works well with my boat's setup, which was complex for 2003; probably simple by today's standards. There are two amps that drive the six interior speakers and two tower speakers, along with the subwoofer. Anyway, I don't need a crazy head unit to drive this, most of the heavy lifting is done by the amps.

My issue is a minor detail, but it should be easy to solve. When my phone connects to the head unit via bluetooth, the only way to control the volume is either a) the knob on the head unit, which is in my glove box across the boat from me, and which is usually closed; b) the remote, which is line of sight (IR), and again, the glove box is usually closed; c) the Pioneer app, on my phone, which has a very awkward volume control interface - you have to spin two fingers in a circular pattern to change the volume, and of course the app needs to be open all the time and it's finicky too.

What I want is to have the volume change with the phone's volume buttons, the way it does with some other bluetooth connections I use it with. That would be ideal! But I don't know how to know that, without trying it out. Is there a spec I can look for? Or can someone recommend a simple media receiver that does that? Or just, one with a better app? I know it's a small detail, but changing the volume easily is a big enough deal that I'll replace the head unit and never look back, if it does that.

Thanks in advance!

[Stevemo14]

My guess is it is old school Bluetooth, and doesn't have the new functions built in. If your receiver has an AUX input I would just add a new Bluetooth adapter like this.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wet-Sounds-...UAAOSwwUJdyd1t

$42.00 and you should be able to control the volume from your phone.

[functionoverfashion]

My guess is it is old school Bluetooth, and doesn't have the new functions built in. If your receiver has an AUX input I would just add a new Bluetooth adapter like this.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wet-Sounds-...UAAOSwwUJdyd1t

$42.00 and you should be able to control the volume from your phone.

I've considered that; I've used a few devices like that and some work better than others. I'm just trying to avoid one more thing plugged in and wired... keep it simple you know? But if I can't find a good alternative head unit maybe I'll try one of the ones I have and see how it is to live with.

[Stevemo14]

Honestly i was just going to do one of the Bluetooth adapters into my WS-420 and not even have a head unit, but i found a good deal on the Rockford RFX-5000 and wanted a transom remote so i went that way.

[Canuck-Surfer]

Roswell had your exact situation in mind when the created their dual volume control. Affordable and oh so simple. Works with any rca based amp and head unit.
If you want to go super simple, just dump your head unit altogether and replace with Roswell Cybox directly to amp with the volume control. No more complexity and all very affordable.

Product page: https://www.roswellmarine.com/produc...olume-control/
Installation instructions: https://roswellmarine.zendesk.com/hc...18_-Rev-B0.pdf

[functionoverfashion]

Roswell had your exact situation in mind when the created their dual volume control. Affordable and oh so simple. Works with any rca based amp and head unit.
If you want to go super simple, just dump your head unit altogether and replace with Roswell Cybox directly to amp with the volume control. No more complexity and all very affordable.

Product page: https://www.roswellmarine.com/produc...olume-control/
Installation instructions: https://roswellmarine.zendesk.com/hc...18_-Rev-B0.pdf

Ooh I like the little dual-zone volume knob! I'm not sure it would work where I use all three preamp outputs from the current head unit (one for sub)... but maybe I could reconfigure a bit. The cybox is a great idea, too. I need to do some more research on the Cybox...

[shag]

I actually found a bluetooth dongle at a discount store (was in a hurry) 3 years ago for like $20 and I still use it! It is easily recognized and works perfect.

[functionoverfashion]

I actually found a bluetooth dongle at a discount store (was in a hurry) 3 years ago for like $20 and I still use it! It is easily recognized and works perfect.

My experiences with various bluetooth dongles has been mixed, and totally unrelated to cost. The "best" one we had was a cheap one my wife's old car - if your goal was easy connection. It would connect my phone when I was mowing the lawn with bluetooth headphones in, if I went too close to the car, suddenly I'd have no sound and I'd pull out my phone; sure enough, connected to whatever that dongle was called. My Volvo's factory system is excellent at adding/removing/switching devices, but it's 50/50 whether it will connect my phone every time I get in the car. Super annoying while running errands; half the time it connects instantly, other times I have to power cycle the whole infotainment system or it'll just keep trying and failing.

I will say, for the head unit I have in the boat now, my phone almost always connects without trouble. It's the volume thing that kills me.

[functionoverfashion]

My thinking went full-circle today and I realized, I could use the little IR remote that came with the head unit, if the glove box lid was transparent. My old Supra had a transparent lexan lid over the stereo, etc. - in fact, there were cupholders in there, that you couldn't put a beverage into because of the lid... but I digress.

What about cutting a sheet of this transparent plexiglass into the right shape? https://www.estreetplastics.com/Plex...t805002424.htm

Getting the latch to work might be a pain, but I could come up with something. HMMM

[Canuck-Surfer]

That could work. My 96 sport has a plexiglass glove compartment lid. It’s got a push button handle that you put your finger under with a key lock in the middle. The entire latch and handle are available for the mid 90s Nautiques Nautiqueparts.com. I’m sure you could copy the design and use the old parts to make it work. I’ll try to snap a picture of mine later today


Sent from my iPhone using PLT Nautique

[Bogusdogs]

Roswell had your exact situation in mind when the created their dual volume control. Affordable and oh so simple. Works with any rca based amp and head unit.
If you want to go super simple, just dump your head unit altogether and replace with Roswell Cybox directly to amp with the volume control. No more complexity and all very affordable.

Product page: https://www.roswellmarine.com/produc...olume-control/
Installation instructions: https://roswellmarine.zendesk.com/hc...18_-Rev-B0.pdf

So this dual control is essentially a fader, right? Simple and cool.

On another note, does the Roswell, or most head units for marine, work fine with the Linc system (specifically 2014)? I guess the stereo controls are pretty simple on the linc screen...Volume, skip, pause, mute.

[functionoverfashion]

So this dual control is essentially a fader, right? Simple and cool.

On another note, does the Roswell, or most head units for marine, work fine with the Linc system (specifically 2014)? I guess the stereo controls are pretty simple on the linc screen...Volume, skip, pause, mute.

I can't speak to the second question but the first one, yeah, that's basically what it is. It can only adjust the volume, though, DOWN, from whatever the system is set to in the first place. So I'd think you'd want to set a reasonable max volume first, then use this to balance the two, change the balance, or be able to quickly/easily turn it way down, as when picking up a rider, etc. If there's any noise in your system, it'll be more noticeable because the base volume will have to be higher when the music isn't playing, if that all makes sense.