I played with one of these at Best Buy and thought the display was hard to read and the knob and buttons felt cheap.When I ordered my unit I got the newer all BLACK version display panel and these things have been improved.I chose the 3100 model because I realized I don't have a lot of space on my cars dash to put a lot of displays.
I ordered mine with not just a custom wiring harness for my 1998 Accord EX, but with a custom wiring harness which includes prewired mute configuration (quickconnectproducts dot com).I was dreading having to run the wiring for power until I realized I didn't have too!!The power is also automatically taken via the wiring harness from the power going to the radio.I installed it myself in about 1 hour.
The Parrot has some thoughtful ergonomic design.Very functional.For example, when you turn your key ignition off while on a call, instead of going dead and dropping the call, it continues to to stay on and asks you if you would like to transfer the audio back to the phone!How cool is that.
Audio quality is great.First, unlike my 2008 RAV4 factory bluetooth which is very good, the Parrot is FULL DUPLEX which means both of you can talk at the same time which allows much smoother conversations.It has the magic DSP background noise elimination so callers don't hear the road noise.All the echo is cancelled as well, and your voice is processed to remain strong and loud despite being distant from the microphone.Callers tell me I sound like I am directly talking on the phone and not on a speaker phone.The Parrot audio amp which sends sound to the car speakers does have a small amount of high frequency hiss/noise in the background; however this isn't a problem as you can only hear it when the engine is shut off.
Even though the Parrot doesn't have an interface for your steering wheel controls (I don't have them anyway), you can still operate some of the key functions via voice recognition.Because the Parrot voice recognition limits you to half a dozen voice commands, they actually work!
The 2-3 line display of the Parrot CK3100 is plenty of display for me.Some users may not even need a model with a display.The display indicates phone battery charge and cellular signal strength, although on my Palm Treo 700p with Verizon the cell signal strength is not accurate as displayed on the CK3100 display.
Mounting the display and microphone for these types of devices in a car is always a challenge.However, the Parrot kit includes several different mounts for both the display and microphone.Some quite unique and helpful.The best assortment of actually useful mounting hardware I have seen.
When talking on my cell phone while driving, I am aware that my attention is diverted.I don't like it.So for some time now I have used a Plantronics headset (great product).That improved the situation some but then I tried talking via bluetooth speakerphone in our 2008 RAV4.Talking on speakerphone is VERY different.It is much safer in my opinion.It is just like talking to the person sitting next to you in the car.I would encourage everyone who wants to be a safer less distracted driver while on the cell to get a GOOD QUALITY FULL DUPLEX speakerphone for their car.The Parrot 3100 fits the bill.
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Parrot CK3100 Bluetooth LCD Display Car KitProduct Description: With the Parrot CK3100, you will be able to place and receive calls in comfort and safety, without ever touching your mobile phone. At a time when legislation is tightening up to restrict the use of mobile phones in vehicles due to safety concerns, the Parrot CK3100's benefits are not just for the sake of convenience and comfort -- they are fast becoming a real necessity. The Parrot CK3100 wirelessly connects with all Bluetooth phones on the market and is compatible with all brands. The display of the CK3100 provides the same visual information and functions as your mobile phone, such as caller ID, carrier signal strength, or last calls received, in large well-contrasted digits easy to read at a glance on a screen that can be clipped in the ideal position for the driver to see.
Turn on the car engine and the phone connects wirelessly to the Parrot CK3100 Car Kit. The screen unit has easy-to-navigate menu options just like your phone, and your mobile phone book is wirelessly downloaded to the car kit. Calls can be dialed either through the screen, or by using voice-recognition speed dialing. According to your phone's model and firmware, most features are accessible from the hands free console, including one-touch redial, dual call, and auto-answer.
The Parrot CK3100 Bluetooth car kit can be installed in almost any vehicle, and is designed to automatically mute the radio during use. Incorporating high-quality sound, the CK3100 includes both echo cancellation and noise reduction technology. As with all Parrot car-kit devices, the CK3100 Bluetooth car-kit offers the user seamless, hands-free use without the inconvenience of wires, headsets, or cradles. This unit also features user connection priority management for up to five users, up to 200 voice tags for its voice recognition, multi-user use for up to three phones, private conversation mode, and much more.
Please note this car-kit will not work in cars that use optical cabling. Check with your car dealer before ordering. Also, since this car-kit is installed by hard-wiring to the existing car stereo, professional installation is highly recommended.
What's in the Box The CK3100 electronic control unit, LCD display with buttons and cable, microphone with cable, radio mute cable with line output (ISO cable), power supply cable, and a user guide in 7 languages.
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I bought these a while ago, and I have to say they are great. The tangle-free cord is very nice, the earbuds have a very nice quality of sound with deep and detailed bass (which I love). My only problem with these earbuds is the large size of the metal part, which is annoying to the ear but not too annoying.
