[Agentphish]

Using posts I found here, I installed the AirEnabler Airplay device into my car. I'd like to thank the OP in the DIY section for the inspiration.

It was pretty easy. The only hard part was getting the router into that small area with the connections I had. I secured it in place with some of that 3M gray all weather mounting tape. The super sticky stuff with the red backing.

I also used a FiiO e10 USB Headphone Amp/DAC unit. I think FiiO has discontinued this model now and that's a super shame because I've been using it at my desk for the last year and it's really a great little piece of kit. (I upgraded to Schiit Audio amp and DAC components at my desk today so I had this FiiO to use)

Having the FiiO in the loop makes this Airplay solution the total package. It makes the HiFi system sound 10x better when being used through the AUX jack. Can't say much for the DAC that came with the AirEnabler kit, it didn't sound very good, nor did the Creative Labs DAC the AirEnabler website suggested. Stay away from that thing. God awful.

Overall I'm really impressed with this. I might order some thinner right angle USB cables from Monoprice to clean it up a bit more...
Here's some pics.

[Cacicgt7]

So what exactly does this do?

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by Cacicgt7

So what exactly does this do?

It gives your car an apple airplay wifi connection so you can stream your music from your idevice to your car stereo losslessly and with improved audio quality over stock if you get a decent portable amp/DAC as I described.

You should check out the manufacturer website. Google airenabler.

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by BMW..

Have you figured out a way to deal with the delay yet? Also why is that amp needed mine is fine without it

Na, I just wait the 40 seconds. Lets my car warm up a bit or if I'm leaving home there's a light I will always hit just about the right time for me to switch my airplay input. I was thinking about doing a hardwire to the glovebox and running micro USB cable from there to the device but I decided against it. The 40 seconds doesn't bother me that much.

A higher quality DAC will do a better job of converting the digital signal your music player device sends out into the analog signal needed for speakers, with a more accurate reproduction of the original sound. The amp portion of that allows you to maintain that sound accuracy and increase the volume without distortion.

What I'm using is a decent USB powered DAC/Amp combo unit that was built for headphones and portable speaker systems. There's a big difference in the depth and richness of the music vs the stock USB DAC that comes with the AirEnabler which sounded tinny and flat IMO.

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by BMW..

Ok thanks. The delay I was referring to was the buffering time where you push play and 3 seconds later it actually starts playing

Ah. I see, It doesn't seem to be quite 3 seconds, but I agree there's a delay. I get some delay when I use Airplay at home on AppleTV too...but not quite as bad.

Being that this guy basically hacked the firmware in this tiny router to make it airplay compatible so I can put it in my car, I don't even care about that hehehe.

[Chriztofor]

Why not use airport express?

[mashimarho]

Nice set up. Can you make it with less clutter in the glove box? Maybe hidden, possibly?

[BenTrovato]

Nice work! I have a similar setup but I went the route of the Blackberry Stereo Gateway and connect over bluetooth.

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by BenTrovato

Nice work! I have a similar setup but I went the route of the Blackberry Stereo Gateway and connect over bluetooth.

Cool. I used a bluetooth dongle like Kinivo BTC450 or xtrememac InCharge AutoBT for the last year, but overall the BT audio quality can't touch the lossless playback of Airplay, which is why I went this route.

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by mashimarho

Nice set up. Can you make it with less clutter in the glove box? Maybe hidden, possibly?

Yes, definitely. You could get a hardwired microUSB, put/mount everything in or behind the glovebox, then run an audio cable through the center console up into the armrest and plug into the aux jack...

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by Chriztofor

Why not use airport express?

You can, but...For me it was more expensive than this solution (since I already owned the DAC/amp I used). Bigger in size. Requires changing the power adapter out for a USB power cord which requires soldiering and getting a power step-down converter.

You also need to open the Airport Express which instantly voids its warranty.

Big fan of AirPort stuff though. Use it all over my house exclusively.

[2kaccordocoupe]

Do airplay and BT play well together? Can I play audio over airplay into aux then seamlessly take a phone call over BT paired to the car?

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by 2kaccordocoupe

Do airplay and BT play well together? Can I play audio over airplay into aux then seamlessly take a phone call over BT paired to the car?

Yes. I tested this out. Basically the music stops and you just have to restart it manually. That's the only downside.

Also tested with voice dictation on iPhone, same thing.

[2kaccordocoupe]

Originally Posted by Agentphish

Yes. I tested this out. Basically the music stops and you just have to restart it manually. That's the only downside.

Also tested with voice dictation on iPhone, same thing.

[antzcrashing]

I would like more info on how to do this with airport

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by antzcrashing

I would like more info on how to do this with airport

Google e90 airport airplay and you get the following first hit:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=908456

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by Agentphish

Google e90 airport airplay and you get the following first hit:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=908456

awesome, thanks, this is likely what I will do

[kunal_d]

Thanks for posting this! I'm most likely going to do this.

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by kunal_d

Thanks for posting this! I'm most likely going to do this.

Cool. Again credit goes to the OP in my link in my original post here. Just thought posting it again with my modifications would help introduce this to more people.

[kunal_d]

Originally Posted by Agentphish

Cool. Again credit goes to the OP in my link in my original post here. Just thought posting it again with my modifications would help introduce this to more people.

Just ordered the air enabler. Can't wait till it arrives!

[mact3333]

I did this mod few months ago...sounded decent with upgraded Behringer DAC...hardwired it to fusebox for power.

I have since moved on to Kivic One...got audio to work fine(doesn't sound quite as good as AirEnabler with upgraded DAC) but this theoretically allows airplay mirroring..so video, apps and etc seen on iPhone can be seen on NAV screen.

Not as easy as I thought as my first solution did not work..doing some more due diligence on the subject now.

[cdgatti]

I'll be installing a dsp that has an auxiliary optical input as well as the standard rca. The rca will get inputs from the head unit but would like to feed the optical from an airplay device. Does anyone know how I could get optical out from this air enabler?