You see, honestly, I don't mind paying more as long as the product performs well. Maybe that's the reason why we have the cars we have.

It's great to have free enterprise, freedom of speech and democracy. Anything from the Dension camp? Or have anyone tried both?

 

The reason I got the Dension was it allowed retaining the CD changer, and price. It was the least expensive solution that offered everything I wanted.

My GW500 hasn't needed resetting. And the audio quality is as good as anything you're playing back through it (MP3's are already compressed..) I'm not sure what the "lag" is in the BTA-1500 module - mine recognizes my phone as soon as I get into the truck - and downloads the phonebook. The only thing that doesn't work with a Droid phone is voice-dialing, and that's a flaw in the Droid OS, not in the bluetooth component. Voice dailing does work fine with an iPhone.

I highly recommend the USB input. It's all I use. I'd given thought to getting an iPod - but once I loaded all my CD's on the USB memory stick, I found I have no reason to. And a 16GB USB memory stick can be had for $20 or less. I see no reason for streaming BlueTooth music (the Dension is supposed to do it, I haven't tried) since memory on my phone is better used for other things.

YMMV and you may have different wants/needs. I did manage to buy the GW500+BTA1500 for $510, which I think is also Eric @ BumperPlugs special price for it. That's a bunch less then any of the other solutions I researched.

 

Great discussion, very informative for a noob to Cayennes like me!

So what are the cost differences? It looks like the Denison runs about $500 with iPod & Bluetooth. Is the m0bridge significantly more expensive?

Also Cartronics, is your unit different from both the Denison & mobridge? Or am I confused?

Thanks!

 

We've sold the Dension product for a long time, and were the primary US distributors for it for Porsche for five years. We also worked with Dension prior to product release, as they needed info on the US Porsche market/customer base.

What we like about Dension is that they are an R&D company, and they develop their technology. Some other products use other technology, repackage/rebrand it, then sell it as their own name. Fine, if that works.

We have thousands of happy Porsche customers with the Dension product, and contrary to some things you may read or hear, it works just fine on all Porsche head units from '03 through '08 and has zero effect on warranty (there is no cutting of any wires nor destruction of any factory parts).

Dension worked directly with Porsche for nearly two years to develop the technology they use. We like that. We also have a direct relationship with the engineering staff at Dension (Europe) so we can resolve any issues/questions very quickly.

For the money and features, nothing beats the Dension. Sure, other products may do what they are claimed to do, and that's fine. You do have options.

We have installation details we send all our customers when we ship their units. Pro install or self install is fine....with our detailed instructions, 70% or more of our customers install on their own.

We also sell directly to dealers (Porsche, Audi, MB, BMW) who install for their customers.

Email me anytime for a full overview. eric@bumperplugs.com

 

The other sponsor mentions that the bluetooth works just as the factory unit. Does the Denison module not do this?

 

The Bluetooth module works just like it was part of the vehicle. One of the lingering questions relates more to various features (voice dialing, for example) and in most cases, this is a phone-dependent issue.

The BTA unit will mute any audio source playing, bring the call up on the PCM, then return you to the music source where you were.

 

Good thread and thanks for you input guys. I too have been trying to decide between these two products for a long time.

To me audio over bluetooth is most important. I don't want to fiddle with sticks and most of my music is on my phone.

Can anyone that has heard both comment on the sound quality over bluetooth feature?

 

I've asked before but the answer was not real clear, the Cartronics/Itronic/Mobridge unit appears to be able to show the incoming/perhaps outgoing phone details in the instrument cluster in addition to the display on the PCM. I don't know if there is any display in the cluster when using the ipod/iphone for music tracks and such?? If the Cartronics/Itronic/Mobridge unit is the only unit displaying such in the instrument cluster (Cartronics/Dension Reps please clarify) then they would have an edge in this particular "added feature" category. BTW - seems odd that Dension would not display the same way too but Cartronics/Itronic/Mobridge are the only ones advertising such and obviously you'd think Dension would if they had such?!

I'm not at all suggesting this is the determining factor but is a worthy feature that should be mentioned for those that want such. Thorough details on this would be appreciated.

TIA

 

Actually - Dension does show some of the info in the instrument cluster - but it depends on what display you have. It it is the orange LED one - the info is limited to CD/Track info IIRC, and these are of limited use for the reason below:

As far as I know - the problem with any display like this is it uses the PCM's display variables, which are designed for a maximum of 6 CD disks in the CD changer. So - when you have say 300 CDs recorded to a memory device, the display really has no way of displaying just what CD it is. I do seem to recall it being able to display some info on either Artist or Folder - but I'd have to check. Will try to remember to look on the way to the StupidBowl party.

Things like the MP3 information on my USB stick *does* display in the PCM display, and the Dension allows for sorting by MP3 info like: Folder - Album - Artist - and some others that I forget. With over ~400 CD's on my 16GB memory stick, being able to sort (and play) by these selections is really useful.

One thing the Dension does which I'm not sure the others do - is if you select an "Artist" and you have multiple CD's with the same artist, it will play ALL the tracks from ALL the CDs by that artist. Quite a nice feature actually.

Folder and Album on my USB stick are basically the same thing - I ripped the CD's into a folder for each CD (FreeRIP is HIGHLY recommended, fast, free and it really works well and allows for a custom layout of the directory/folder structure.)

Dunno how this would work with the an iPod since I don't own one.

FWIW - I'm not a Dension rep - just a user/fan of their product. It does what I want, and I could justify the expense, so.. I'm happy with it.

 

I just want BT , no ipod, on my Bose PCM. Can I get that without losing my CDC ? If so, what module do I need ?

 

Clarificatory question: so which one has the capability to see the ipod's song currently playing, artists, album, other infos on that screen in between my tach and speedo?



If yes for both, which has more extensive info displayed?

 

Do you have a Bluetooth only solution for 09 S? The itronic media is quite expensive at $1579 and it has all the bells and whistles that I don't really need. thanks.

 

So, it's only cartronics that can display 'some' information on the small screen in between the tach and speedo. The Dension info is only limited to the PCM screen, Am I right in assuming this?

 

You're wrong in assuming that. The Dension on the orange/black central screen in the cluster displays CD# and Track# - just like the factory CD changer does.

 

So the Cartronics displays song title and some other infos and the Dension displays CD# and Track#. Got it!