Smartphones allow you to listen to music streaming from the Internet, allowing you to choose from millions of songs. In the same way we can listen to music offline by loading the MP3 tracks on any player or directly in the internal memory of the smartphone (which now works as a real player). But if we wanted to listen to these music sources in the car ">
1) AUX cable
The simplest method to connect a smartphone or MP3 player to the car radio is to use a 3.5 mm jack cable and the AUX input, usually present on the front of the car radio or inside the central console. car.
A good AUX cable to devote to the purpose we can find it here -> Syncwire 3.5mm Aux Cable in Nylon (6 €).
We connect this cable to the headphone output of the device and into the appropriate AUX socket, then turn on the car radio and set it as the AUX sound source. Now all we have to do is open our favorite music streaming app or MP3 music player to start playing the songs. This method also remains the only one applicable with the old MP3 players, since in fact it replaces the headphone cable in order to transmit music to the car system.
If our car has a removable car radio but without AUX, we can remedy it by purchasing a modern car radio like the one available here -> Sony DSX-A210UI Car Radio (49 €).
2) Lightning audio cable for iPhone / iPad
If we own a modern iPhone, we will not be able to use an AUX cable to pass the audio to the car stereo, but we will have to use a specific Lightning cable with AUX output, such as the one available here -> Belkin 3.5 mm Audio Cable with Connector Lightning (€ 29).
Using it is very simple: connect the Lightning cable to our Apple device and the special AUX plug on the car radio; the iOS operating system will see the car's audio system as a gigantic "headphone", reproducing our music without problems.
3) Bluetooth
Many cars and car radios integrate the Bluetooth connection, so you can connect smartphones for audio without necessarily using an AUX cable. To connect, turn on Bluetooth on our mobile phone, then search the on-board computer for the settings to be able to configure Bluetooth; let's go back to the smartphone and tap on the name of the car, so as to start the association (a PIN may be required to connect). In a few steps we will have associated our smartphone with the car wirelessly and we will be able to play music from apps or MP3 songs saved in the internal memory, in addition to using the speakers of the system as speakers for calls.
If our car does not have Bluetooth but a removable car radio, we can add the wireless connection with a car radio like the one recommended here -> Pioneer S300 0bt Multifunctional (94 €).
4) Bluetooth adapter
If we do not want to use cables inside the car but the car radio does not have Bluetooth, we can quickly fix it using a small Bluetooth AUX adapter, such as the one available here -> Mpow Bluetooth receiver (€ 10).
This device connects to the car radio's AUX input and allows you to wirelessly associate up to two smartphones simultaneously, so you can listen to music wirelessly. The adapter can be battery operated or connected to the cigarette lighter socket or a USB port.
5) Bluetooth FM adapter
If the car does not have a car radio with AUX, we can listen to music from ours or from an MP3 player using a Bluetooth FM Adapter, such as the one available here -> Mpow Bluetooth FM Transmitter (17 €).
This small device connects to the car's cigarette lighter socket and allows you to transmit audio via a free FM frequency (the classic radio). To use it, simply connect a smartphone or MP3 player via Bluetooth or USB, then choose a free FM frequency on the adapter; as soon as the frequency is set, tune in to it also from the car radio, so you can listen to our personal "radio station", with the songs broadcast by the streaming services or the songs saved on the MP3 player.
In addition to streaming music it also provides two good USB ports for charging the smartphone on older cars. It should be noted, however, that in cities where each FM band is practically occupied by frequencies, this method will not work.
6) AUX cassette
If our car is very old and only has a radio with cassette player, it is better to use an AUX cassette like the one available here -> AUX cassette (€ 9).
This device fits like a normal cassette but has an AUX cable with which to connect an MP3 player or our smartphone, so you can listen to any song in infinite song mode (the tape will scroll endlessly).
A good method to convert old car radios without having to change everything, while still listening to streaming music or favorite MP3 tracks.
7) Android Auto and Apple Carplay
If our car is modern enough (3-4 years), it may already have everything needed to connect the smartphone or MP3 player directly to the management system. We check if in our car there is Bluetooth, an AUX cable or a USB cable to connect the devices and we navigate inside the on-board computer, so we can play your favorite music without having to buy anything. To this we also add support for the Android Auto and Apple Carplay protocols, which allow you to interface the mobile system and apps directly on the on-board computer, so as to have streaming apps and the MP3 player within reach of the steering wheel controls.
To deepen the discussion, we refer you to reading our guides Better Apple Carplay or Android Auto "> Guide to configure Android Auto in the car .
READ ALSO: Connect the smartphone in the car: support, music, speakerphone and charger
