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Radio Mute for Phone on 00 Subaru Outback

Hello --

I am trying to get a Parrot 3100 installed in my 2000 Subaru Outback Limited (Legacy), that has the subwoofer/amplifier factory option, and a single cd player in its stock radio (no external changer). BTW, I have XM installed with the "hardwired" FM-modulator.

The guy at Best Buy says he can't install the phone. Later he said he could, with a lot of extra work. I called Parrot, and the tech said if I have a Mute line on my radio, then installation is straightforward. If not, but if I have an external amplifier that drives all 8 speakers, then the mute line of the phone kit can trigger a relay to cut power to the amplifier, and the speakerphone can then drive the 2 front speakers on its own. Finally, if I don't have any of these options, then Best Buy (or someone) would need to create an extra relay for 4 of my speakers, plus subwoofer (the install kit comes with 1 relay for a 4 speaker car), and have the relay mute these extra speakers.

So, my questions to the group are:

1) Do I have a mute line on my factory radio? 2) Does the factory installed (under passenger seat) sub/amp power all 8 (plus sub) speakers (so that cutting power to it will effectively mute all speakers)? 3) Is there some better option I'm not seeing yet?

Thank you all so much for your advice, Dan

Reply to
Dan
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Anyone have any suggestions? I did find that cutting power to the external amp/sub does not mute the radio, so now I need to find another way to mute the radio. The Parrot manual mentioned I'd need an ISO adapter perhaps.

Reply to
Dan

Reach over and twist the volume knob?

While the overall unit seems pretty cool, if you can't mute the factory radio, at least you can use the rest of the features.

Why would you think that cutting power to an external add-on device, such as a subwoofer would mute the entire system?

Reply to
Bonehenge

Thanks for the feedback Bonehenge... I do realize I can hit the volume knob of course, but the coolness factor goes way up if it's automatic, as it's designed with this unit. :)

As for your 2nd question, when I contacted Parrot, they suggested that if I had an external amplifier that powered all of the speakers, then it's possible that cutting power to it would silence the speakers. My investigations last night (unplugging the amp/subwoofer (it's one unit)) showed me that only cut power to the subwoofer, and the other speakers kept right on humming.

The last option Parrot suggested is that I could use the unit to operate/silence 4 speakers, and add an additional relay to cut the signal to the other 4 speakers (and sub). I think that's possible, but as I'm having an installer do the work, I'm looking for the quickest/easiest way.

Does anyone have information about the stock radio (ie, if it has any kind of mute funciton possible)? It's a P121, which I believe is a Panasonic unit. Thanks -- Dan

Reply to
Dan

I don't think that's as possible as you do.

If the relay disconnects the speakers, how does the amplifier deal with having the load removed and disconnected, since it would still be attempting to power the speakers? This is like yanking your speaker cables out of your home stereo every time the phone rang.

Since the radio doesn't have an external mute line, the only other way the relay would work is by powering off the radio, as if you'd turned off the key. If you get a lot of calls, I don't know how good this would be for the radio, especially the CD mechanicals.

Since the main amp is IN the radio, you don't have the ability to simply lift the audio signal.

I think I'd probably look into replacing the factory head unit with something more compatible with the phone.

Reply to
B a r r y

Limited (Legacy), that has the subwoofer/amplifier factory option, and

Shirley if the "mute line of the phone kit can trigger a relay" then you put the relay in the power feed to the radio and shut it all off ! !

Reply to
Bugalugs

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