I saw on youtube a video of a bluetooth adapter utilizing a cassette. about $15 on ebay. Certainly not the best of audio quality but would allow iTunes to be played thru stereo

Anyone using this device?

 

I'm not using the cassette, but rather one of the cigarette lighter bluetooth adapters. It's not perfect, but it works well overall

 

A few years ago I used a cassette adapter that was wired and I connected that that to a BT receiver. My setup works well and the audio quality is good enough that I don't complain.

If the BT is built in to the cassette adapter that seems like a win. I would give it a try. It was a PITA to run the wire from the cassette inside the radio down into the console where the BT receiver is hidden.

Remember to turn off the auto eject on the cassette. And every so often it will prompt you to clean the cassette but you just turn off radio and back on again to ignore that.

 

I used one for years and it was 'ok'.

 

I used to have a cassette adapter with a headphone jack input, and the problem with that is that you'd hear a constant plastic scraping noise from the physically moving parts of the cassette that had to be there to fool the tape player that everything was normal. Beware of that background noise if you get one of those tape adapters. I ended up getting a wired aux input that replaces the CD changer and combined that with a Bluetooth adapter that plugs into my cigarette lighter. Bit more convoluted, but much better audio quality.

 

Before I replaced the radio I first used the cassette adapter with a wired connection and later a unit that plugged into the lighter for power and transmitted the music via FM. Both were acceptable but replacing the ancient radio was the way to go. If I ever sell the car the buyer will get the OEM radio too. Keep in mind that those BT cassette adaptors run on batteries and need recharging.

 

I had one with an auxilliary jack that worked but modern Iphones don't have the jack plug anymore. I tried one of the bluetooth ones off Amazon but couldn't get it to work in the XJ8. Seemed to be stuck on "Side 2" because of the simulated winding mechanism and I guessed it wouldn't work on Side 2. It worked ok in my old Corvette tho but it doesn't indicate which side its playing.

 

I am still using one. As previously stated audio quality is not the best. I would hesitate to even call it adequate. Sometimes certain channels (speakers) don't work and that can vary depending on putting the cassette in and out. But you can at least play the music from your phone. Initially mine wouldn't work at all and kept auto changing sides. I ran it in another car and it worked perfectly there. I eventually put it back in the XK8 and it started working ok there. I guess it had to get broken in so it wouldn't trigger the auto side flip every time. It does have to be recharged periodically. Not the best solution but it does work and is probably the cheapest. I think it is better than the FM transmitter style that always seem to "drop out" in actual use.

I had another car years ago that had an adapter that was hard wired into the antenna cable and gave excellent sound quality and didn't drop out constantly like the FM broadcast style. It was quite simple. Just unplug the antenna cable, insert the inline adapter into it and your radio, connect the wires to your device and select the channel. I'm not aware of something like that still being made that works with the Jag antenna cables and has BT capability.

 

Thee product referenced in the below post is what I installed after another forum member related their own positive experience with it.

the sound is fantastic, what we used to call “high fidelity “ back in the day. The price is reasonable and the installation is only a couple of hour job.

I’ve had it for over a year and the operation is still flawless.

the Bluetooth cassette option has such a flawed sound I don’t believe one could tolerate it for a long trip.


Z
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I currently use the Cassette BT, I works... that is it.

 

Randy,

https://www.discountcarstereo.com/jagcd-hf.html This is what I eventually installed. I used the plug-in cassette for a while and the audio was acceptable. It was annoying that the cassette popped out every time the key was turned off.
Eventually I installed the JAGCD-HF Bluetoofh. To my old ears the audio is great, streaming straight from my Iphone. Installation is pretty easy, even though you need to pull the rear seat to fish a few wires.. As a bonus, you also get hands free calling, but answer buttons on radio and steering wheel does not work.

 

I have tried both and cigarette lighter wins. Because it was good sound quality and it has the usb charging ports

 

Yep, I got one about two months ago and it actually works pretty well! The only issue is that you have to charge the battery for the bluetooth receiver every now and then (but you don't have the wire running to your phone like a standard cassette adaptor). To charge it I just plug it into the other USB/Bluetooth FM adaptor I have in my cigarette lighter socket in the center console. So I have two options of playing music through my iPhone on Bluetooth. I would have to say the cassette adaptor one has better sound quality and is less susceptible to interference since it doesn't have to rely on finding a "clear" FM channel.

And I don't want to change out my stereo because the new stuff is almost all fugly and would destroy the Jag-ness of my console! Plus my standard-issue Harmon-Kardon/Alpine is still pretty kick-*** even after 22 years.

That's my .02 and I'm stickin' to it!

 

I hae a 1999 XJ-8 (X308). I was using a cassette adapter to stream into my factory radio. I found a company in California that put a small indiscreet jack in the front panel and I have been very happy with it. I think they can even put a bluetooth module in some radios. Of course, you would have to pull your radio and send it to them. In case you are interested, here is the link. https://factoryradioservices.com

 

https://factoryradioservices.com I had a jack put into my radio so I can just plug it in. I was so glad to get rid of the cassette adapter.

 

thanks Zray, that kit is my project before the cross country relocation drive.

 

I bought the CD-Changer/Bluetooth adapter from discountcarstereo for my XJ and XK - easy to install, works well, no issues. I had one bad module but they were easy to work with to get it changed out

 

I use a ROAV Smart Charger I got from Best Buy. Find a FM frequency not used in your area. Assign a button on your radio to that frquency and pair it with smartcharger and phone plays through radio and it can be used for telephone calls and locate car. Simple and it works well for me.

Roav By Anker, Smartcharge With Bluetooth FM Transmitter & Car Locator, Black

 

After 21 years, I recently sold my 99 XJ8, but I installed a similar setup on my 99 BMW 323ic. Both have an Alpine supplied CD changer (I could swap cd cassettes between the two). If this one is as easy to install as my BMW one was, I’d certainly recommend it as the way to go.

 

Thanks ZRay! Good info and the install looks extremely simple. I just ordered one of those and will get rid of the cassette BT adapter or put it in another car where it worked better.