[Isaiah5411]

Just wondering which app you guys are using to play ALAC and FLAC music files. I recently downloaded the Onkyo Hi-Fi Player with the HD pack (9.99). ALAC music files sound great, but the app crashes about once a week and requires an iPhone restart.

[taibanl]

Originally Posted by Isaiah5411

Just wondering which app you guys are using to play ALAC and FLAC music files. I recently downloaded the Onkyo Hi-Fi Player with the HD pack (9.99). ALAC music files sound great, but the app crashes about once a week and requires an iPhone restart.

How is this different than playing ALAC via the iPod app

[Isaiah5411]

Originally Posted by taibanl

How is this different than playing ALAC via the iPod app

A separate app like the Onkyo allows you to have ALAC files on your iOS device while keeping iTunes Match activated. Otherwise, iTunes Match replaces your ALAC files with AAC files from the cloud. The cloud does not upload ALAC, only "temporary AAC".

I found this out the hard way (before later reading about it on MAC forums). I had downloaded all of my CDs in Apple Lossless before my laptop crashed. When I put in the new hard drive and reinstalled the operating system and iTunes, all of the music came out of the cloud as AAC. Stupidly, I had not backed up all of my music onto an external drive, so...I had to reload all of my CDs again.

Now, I have most of my iPhone's music downloaded as ALAC on the Onkyo app and some (what I've purchased through iTunes) as AAC, which shows up in both the Music app and the Onkyo app (under iPod).

Before going to ALAC, I liked using iTunes Match, but...it's an either-or thing if you use the Music app of the iPhone as your source with iTunes Match activated. In other words, you can download ALAC into that Music app but you have to turn off iTunes Match or the music will get replaced with AAC files when it refreshes....at least that's what I've read numerous times.

Again, I like the Onkyo app. It has some cool features. But...these crashes are getting annoying.

UPDATE 3-30-15: I downloaded some (supposed) ALAC files into the Music app of the iPhone and listened to them. Although they sound considerably better than AAC files, the Onkyo HD player sounds much better...more open, better stereo separation, more "alive'.

[mickyboy1]

So I planned to get the y cable so I could access the music on my phone via the idrive knob.

will the box shown in the original post connect to the cars I drive so I can select though my stores music using the idrive know and the names of the songs etc will come up on the BMW idrive screen?

[LsuGeaux]

Now that this DIY has been out for a year, is there any other airplay devices that are more compact/better.

[CertifiedOfficial]

Mine is up for grabs if anyone's interested. I traded my 330 in for a 528 that has the USB/aux connections.

[jyjimenez3]

hey i would like to know if i can air play(using airenabler) through my ipad mini while its on my iphone hots spot.

[Markandersonus]

Originally Posted by j13jjs

To help negate the 20 second start up time I'd suggest using the power from the glove box flashlight port if you have it. It gets power when you unlock the car or open the door and shuts off a few minutes after you exit the car.

You can either plug in with one of these

Or just splice into the wires behind it.

where do i get one of those adapters

[Orlando335i]

is there something like this available for Android?

[ccraig13]

If the new Chromecast Audio can create its own ad-hoc network to connect to your phone, it may be a great alternative to the AirEnabler. Plus, it works for our Android brethren and is super cheap


Edit: Requirements do say WiFi network, but that could just be saying that because it communicates via WiFi. Either way, I'm getting one and will report back my findings!

[Meeni]

your phone can act as a wifi AP if needs be, but chromecasts now have wifidirect so it should work just like that. Let us know how it goes.

[Larrye90]

Just order mine let's see how it goes. Thanks this is the best thing I found so far .

[Larrye90]

Originally Posted by jyjimenez3

hey i would like to know if i can air play(using airenabler) through my ipad mini while its on my iphone hots spot.

Nope if the iPad is using hot spot u can't connect the iPad to AirPlay. That's exactly what I wanted to do

[roastbeast]

I just saw this thread and went to purchase the AirEnabler, but it seems as though it's no longer available. Anyone know of a good alternative?

[zero2sixtyZ]

Originally Posted by Markandersonus

where do i get one of those adapters

Did this recently, if it helps. Flashlight was dead anyways, and useless.

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39...l-adapter.html

[callmetofo]

The Airenabler is no longer available. did anyone find an alternative?

[300e]

Is everybody's still working ? Mine has gone flaky and I can't get it to connect. Lights up as usual but no connection.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by 300e

Is everybody's still working ? Mine has gone flaky and I can't get it to connect. Lights up as usual but no connection.

It's probably because of your iOS upgrade that's preventing you from connecting to an unsecured network.

[zero2sixtyZ]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

It's probably because of your iOS upgrade that's preventing you from connecting to an unsecured network.

Is this a thing? My car is in storage, and only have the AirEnabler in the 335.

[BlueSander]

Are you guys being serious??? This method is very out-of-date at this point. Still going through AUX to your stereo, also, the original method actually make you join in a wifi network that does not have Internet. Just go to amazon and pick up a Bluetooth car made by Aukey or Anker. Connect it to power and AUX, have your phone connect to its Bluetooth and done. Easiest way to stream music and great sound quality (coming from a guy that invested heavily on B&W 802 and Rotel equipments).

[cdgatti]

Originally Posted by BlueSander

Are you guys being serious??? This method is very out-of-date at this point. Still going through AUX to your stereo, also, the original method actually make you join in a wifi network that does not have Internet. Just go to amazon and pick up a Bluetooth car made by Aukey or Anker. Connect it to power and AUX, have your phone connect to its Bluetooth and done. Easiest way to stream music and great sound quality (coming from a guy that invested heavily on B&W 802 and Rotel equipments).

especially true if you use an APTX enabled bluetooth receiver and your phone can do APTX. I know androids can, but don't think iphones can.

[flowserver]

Originally Posted by kenbrinkman

Hey guys, just finished installing the AirEnabler Adapter Kit that arrived this morning from Amazon. The box was smaller than I expected so I was hopeful that I could find a spot to hide as much of it away as possible. I decided to pull up the center trim to have a look at any potential spots and there's the perfect one in between the rear edge of the center trim and the front edge of the glove box.

1. Purchase the AirEnabler Adapter Kit from Amazon. It comes with everything you need: 12v power adapter, USB to USB micro cord, USB DAC (Digital to Analog Controller), and 3.5 mm audio cable.



2. Pry up your center trim. First remove the shift boot by pulling one of the corners away and out, working your way around the boot. Then, grab the rearward edge of the storage binnacle (iDrive is different) and just pull up. Should pop out relatively easily. You don't need to remove the whole thing, just enough to provide space to maneuver in.



3. Here's the location of the perfect spot to hide the box.



4. Pull up the rubber mat that lines the bottom of the glove box. Arrange the box and wires so that it's seated nice and securely inside the area of dead space. Tuck the wires through to the glovebox, underneath the plastic bottom of the glove box. It'll be obvious when you see it what to do. There's plenty of space to hide everything.



5. Plug in the 12v adapter, usb power, and 3.5 mm audio jack.



6. Replace the rubber mat, pop the trim back in, reseat the shift boot and you should be left with a reliable and clean airplay installation.



7. When starting the car, the box takes about 15-20 seconds to boot (not nearly as long as an AirPort Express) so you don't really notice it. Join the AirEnabler_XXX wifi network. The box is preconfigured to send all data from the phone to your cellular network, not wifi. It's pretty smart. You'll notice that I'm connected to the wifi network, but there's still the LTE logo in the corner, letting you know it's still connected to the cell network as well.



8. Set the car's input to AUX. If you're on iOS 7, swipe up from the bottom, hit airplay, choose the box (I named mine something different, the default is the same as the wifi network) and enjoy high quality, wireless music.



TIPS:

- Turn down the volume on the car's head unit all the way, set the iPhone's volume to 80-90%, then readjust the car's volume. This will ensure the best sound quality.

- This is a good guide on the box from the manufacturer. It has everything you need to know about setup, advanced settings, etc.

- The box is plug and play out of the box, but any advanced configurations require Telnet it access the box. It's still pretty simple. The guide above has more info.

- Because this interfaces with the car solely with the AUX IN, there's no control from the steering wheel or head unit. Only volume. This is essentially the same as a wireless AUX IN.

What model is your USB adapter from Belkin?