audio inputs and music playback - S3

Martinho82

Martinho82

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hi all,

Firstly apologies if the answer to this is hidden elsewhere in the forum. Had a search but can't find everything I need. I'm about to order a new UK S3 sportback but I'm not getting much sense out of Audi's literature on the various options for playing music. From what I have gathered:

Tech pack, which I'm getting, offers two SD cards, CD/DVD.

All very nice, but I usually stream music from spotify on either my Galaxy S6 (USB 2.0) or iPhone 6 (lightning). I assume I could stream easily via Bluetooth but can anyone confirm a) is the sound quality any good and b) if you can control tracks and playback from the steering wheel or dash when using Spotify over Bluetooth?

And then if I don't use Bluetooth but go hard wire, what are my connectivity options? I'm not bothering with Audi Phone Box as it looks fairly irrelevant but from what I can tell I'll need to get an Audi proprietary (eww) lightning cable for the iPhone and/or USB cable for the Galaxy. Correct? If so where do these plug into (centre armrest?) and do these also enable track control and playback management via the dash and steering wheel?

Any advice or thoughts welcome from current A3/S3 owners who connect their mobile devices (and ideally spotify) up to the car!
 
Hi, i use Spotify on my iPhone 6 through Bluetooth all the time in the car.

You cant control it through the steering wheel or dash, but i don't find it that much of a problem because I've usually got one of my playlists on. Although it would be good if you could. Regards the quality, I've got the standard A3 set up, but it sounds just fine to me!!

Edit - You can only skip tracks on the dash/wheel.
 
Hi mate, I recently started using Spotify. I can confirm that when hardwired, the car picks up track/album/artist data and you can control the music from the car. I haven't tried this via Bluetooth yet as the sound quality does suffer a little I believe so I only ever hardwire the device.
As for connection, yes the phone plugs in to a lead in the cubby under the centre armrest.
Hope this helps!
 
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Batch, can you browse your playlists, albums, etc when hardwired??
 
Yeah agreed. I know Spotify historically doesn't interface well with in car systems. I have a 2012 Polo at the moment and the "skip" function on the dash will only flick between the first two songs on a playlist lol. Brilliant. Maybe its worth making the switch to Apple Music (it is due out on Android in the Autumn).

Batch I assume you use Audi accessories to hardwire your phone in right? I am pretty sure they still use propritary cables (a massive bugbear of mine).
 
Martinho82 said:
Yeah agreed. I know Spotify historically doesn't interface well with in car systems. I have a 2012 Polo at the moment and the "skip" function on the dash will only flick between the first two songs on a playlist lol. Brilliant. Maybe its worth making the switch to Apple Music (it is due out on Android in the Autumn).

Batch I assume you use Audi accessories to hardwire your phone in right? I am pretty sure they still use propritary cables (a massive bugbear of mine).
Click to expand...
Spotify works fine for me, just a shame you cant browse playlists, albums, etc when connected via Bluetooth.

Just checked and the cable they sent me for the iPhone is 'fat' ended one and not the small one for the 6. :crying:
 
Richard Oddy said:
Spotify works fine for me, just a shame you cant browse playlists, albums, etc when connected via Bluetooth.

Just checked and the cable they sent me for the iPhone is 'fat' ended one and not the small one for the 6. :crying:
Click to expand...

Did you order it separately Richard or is it standard? I know in the documentation it still says 4th generation support, although I would have hoped by now they would be a bit more up with the times!
 
Martinho82 said:
Did you order it separately Richard or is it standard? I know in the documentation it still says 4th generation support, although I would have hoped by now they would be a bit more up with the times!
Click to expand...
To be honest it wasn't something id thought of, id previously used Bluetooth in my old car (Focus), so didn't give it a thought! Whoops. Suppose i can get one for £25/30 from Audi though?
 
Richard Oddy said:
To be honest it wasn't something id thought of, id previously used Bluetooth in my old car (Focus), so didn't give it a thought! Whoops. Suppose i can get one for £25/30 from Audi though?
Click to expand...

Yeah looking at the accessories list they do a lightning cable for around £30 ish. Annoying that they are still shipping cars with 4th generation cables as standard though.
 
Martinho82 said:
Tech pack, which I'm getting, offers two SD cards, CD/DVD.


Audi proprietary (eww) lightning cable for the iPhone and/or USB cable for the Galaxy. Correct? If so where do these plug into (centre armrest?) and do these also enable track control and playback management via the dash and steering wheel?
Click to expand...
Just for reference - two SD cards, CD and MMI input are standard for all A3's
Regarding the MMI cables, yes they are proprietary but you get at least one free when you collect the car (I think all have done on this forum anyway). Just tell them what you want. I got "old" Apple one, micro USB (for Samsung phone) and full size USB (for everything else).

I don't stream so can't comment on the other stuff. I have my music on SD cards and it works very welll.
 
RichardT said:
Just for reference - two SD cards, CD and MMI input are standard for all A3's
Regarding the MMI cables, yes they are proprietary but you get at least one free when you collect the car (I think all have done on this forum anyway). Just tell them what you want. I got "old" Apple one, micro USB (for Samsung phone) and full size USB (for everything else).

I don't stream so can't comment on the other stuff. I have my music on SD cards and it works very welll.
Click to expand...

OK cool thanks Richard - didn't realise the DVD/dual SD ports were standard. Could have sworn I saw them as Tech pack spec so that's great to know. I'll be sure to get the salesman drunk and see if I can get a couple of free cables in that case.
 
I have had great trouble getting leads for my new S3. Audi no longer give any away free. If you get any then it's the dealer giving them to you and not Audi.
I asked on my collection day and was told NO if you want them, buy them. I complained to Audi Customer service and they initially told me they still supplied them and the dealer was at fault. After a couple of more calls they eventually admitted they don't supply them and the dealer would order them and give me them free as a "Good will gesture"
 
dolo said:
I have had great trouble getting leads for my new S3. Audi no longer give any away free. If you get any then it's the dealer giving them to you and not Audi.
I asked on my collection day and was told NO if you want them, buy them. I complained to Audi Customer service and they initially told me they still supplied them and the dealer was at fault. After a couple of more calls they eventually admitted they don't supply them and the dealer would order them and give me them free as a "Good will gesture"
Click to expand...

Really? Which dealership group was this becuase mine told me they're supplied by the factory and I picked up last week.

Audi can't not supply the leads as the brochure wording would need to change from a legal stand point or it would be miss selling a product. It would have to be changed to something along the lines of "preparation for AMI..." Similar to how SD Nav prep is described.
 
I can confirm that Apple Music and Radio will work with album art over Bluetooth!

 
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