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Kia Soul Audio Experiements iPhone PSP USB

Kia Soul Audio Experiements iPhone PSP USB

I got a new Kia Soul last week. So far Im really enjoying it, and Im thoroughly impressed with the audio and bluetooth setup. I got the Soul + with the audio system upgrade. This package also includes the bluetooth option.

When I got the car, the dealership was not quite sure how all the USB functions and iPod integration on the system worked. Now that Ive had a chance to thumb through the manual and run a few tests, I thought Id post a few things for folks who are considering a Soul, or just got one themselves.

• iPhone and iPod integration. The owners manual doesnt list support or iPhone, and the dealership didnt know anything about it. Youll have to buy their $35 iPod cable. It splits a standard dock connector to fit the USB / Aux setup on the car.
  
  My 1st gen iPhone popped up the "unrecognized accessory" warning and asked me if I wanted to use Airplane Mode. I tapped no, and everything worked. The cable charges the phone and Im not hearing any radio interference on the audio. You can control the iPod easily from both the steering wheel or the head unit. Artist & Title show up on the dash display. I also tested my old iPod Mini, and it works fine as well.
  [EDIT 7-1-09] I have tested an iPhone 3G and 3GS as well, both work fine with the Kia cable. A warning will popup for Airplane mode, but just cancel it. Charging and playback work fine.
  

• USB mass storage device - Works fine, put MP3s on it and plug it in. The jack on the dash doesnt supply enough power for large hard drives, and larger disks take longer to scan for tracks. Drives need formatted as FAT16 or 32. The manual lists the compatible bitrates. They recommend you not use larger keychain-style drives, as they may get bumped and damage the connector.
  
• PSP - There are two ways to do this.
  
  1. Plug in via USB and go into USB Storage Mode. The PSP will charge and the audio system will scan the Memory Stick for MP3s. Just remember it probably wont be able to play any wierd MP4 or ATRAC files you have on there. My PSP seemed to charge intermittently this way. I think it may be wanting more power than the USB jack can supply.
  2. The other way to utilize a PSP is to navigate to the Music folder on the PSP and use it as a MP3 player and then plug it into the AUX jack on the dash. Youll need a 1/8" stereo mini cable to do this. You might want to use a car charger when doing this.
• Bluetooth - The bluetooth integration on this car is great. You can pair a phone from either the head unit controls or from voice prompts. The car will automatically link with your phone when you get in range and the ignition is on. You can select from multiple phones or turn bluetooth on or off via voice commands. There are control buttons on the lower half of the steering wheel that control the voice dial, answer, and hangup commands. I was suprised how well it works with my iPhone since my phone has no voice dialing support. It imports my contacts in about 5-10 seconds, and voice recognition seems to be very accurate. My wife says the call quality is great.

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