BeSpoke Stereo System

[FRSjeff]

Who has the BeSpoke stereo? Do you like it?

I am trying to get the 411 on the BeSpoke stereo. I am suppose to take delivery on my FR-S next week. It is arriving with BeSpoke installed from the factory. I am cool with that since I was seriously considering adding it on anyway by the dealer. I really don't like the look of the stock stereo. The BeSpoke does look nicer. I'm not big on doing aftermarket add-ons as I'm a bit of a purist. I do have an iPhone. So, those who actually have the BeSpoke in their FR-S please let me know how you like it and feel free to give details. Thank you!

[Ricepuddin]

Not worth it Imo as you can get a nice nav system for the same price or cheaper.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Wigmasterflex]

I have the bespoke and an iPhone of course. I like everything except the bespoke app itself. That app is a joke and a pain to use. But I too like the clean look of factory. The radio and pandora and definitely the bluetooth are all very nice. But... It's still not very loud, the nav part of it like I said is a joke and honestly ... I'll probably end up with an aftermarket unit anyways. I can honestly say its the only regret I have with this car, I made myself wait an extra week for a $895 head unit that although looks very clean is worth about 200 bucks at most :/

I have read people having issues with the Bluetooth in these cars but I carry my iPhone and a droid for work and have never had any issues with either. Just wish it was louder and about 600 cheaper lol.

Oh well the 900 bucks wasn't going to break me so I thought I'd try it but overall I wish I would have just done aftermarket instead and I probably still will.

[FRSjeff]

Thanks Wig. You have covered the concerns I have. The extra money won't break me either and am maybe even willing to justify the extra cost just to have the prettier look. I am wondering if they will quickly upgrade the software app? That's suppose to be one of the selling points about this unit: that it can change and improve through the software.

[lordtakuban]

The main problem for me with the unit is that you can't use the BeSpoke app and listen to a different audio source at the same time. So you're stuck with the crappy internet radio stations. Also, no ability to input an address to get directions is lame. I might move my Pioneer AVIC-X920BT HU over from my MR2 if I can figure out how to reuse the existing mic and USB/accessory cables with it. At least then, I'll have a real navigation system (Not as good as OEM Toyota navigation, but better than the bespoke app) and I'll be able to stream Pandora and control it from the HU just like the Scion unit.

If I were doing it over again, I might opt for just the cheap unit. But the $821 or whatever it was didn't kill me and it isn't a bad radio. It's just not that great.

[|-Goku-|]

I have the bespoke, and I like it, and my only grip is what lordtakuban stated, not being able to use the bespoke app and listen to music on your phone or the radio at the same time.

I went with the bespoke because I like OEM over the aftermarket units

[karma003]

I also have the bespoke radio. I love the clean look of it compared to the base model radio, but I agree. Shouldn't be 900 for it. I hate that I can't have any of the apps or even used my USB cord to listen to my android phone. That was the biggest down side. But then I figured out I can listen to my phone & Pandora off my phone using the Bluetooth. I wouldn't say I regret it (especially since I didn't order it this way, I just got it) but I would agree If I had a choice, id go aftermarket for something that had touchscreen as well but w real navi & android compatible

[|-Goku-|]

I'm hoping that alpine comes out with a perfect fit kit for the car. That would be awesome. Then again. All it would take is some fiberglass and some skill to modify the bezel around the radio so it would fit the standard double din.

[lordtakuban]

The radio opening is a standard double din with the rounded edges. Skoshi makes a plastic trim kit that I am using in my MR2 that should make any 2D HU fit nice and snug.

The reason I went with the BeSpoke is because I thought there was more integration with other features on the car. But that is also not the case (no steering wheel controls, vehicle dynamics, reverse camera, etc). I'll keep using the BeSpoke HU for a while though since it doesn't bug me enough to make me want to go through the installation of another HU just yet. And, I'd like to see if there are some nice updates to the BeSpoke app that will make better use of the internet connectivity the iPhone provides.

[FRSjeff]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I'm probably going to go ahead and try it out because:
1. It looks better (way) than the stock. Even if I someday upgrade, in the meantime this looks clean.
2. I will hold on to hope that sometime soon they'll do some significant upgrades to the software and/or the iPhone 5 will enhance the radio somehow (I will update my iPhone 4 when 5 arrives)
3. It's already installed by Toyota, I like oem.

Thanks again guys!

[Trojan_SC]

Originally Posted by |-Goku-|

I'm hoping that alpine comes out with a perfect fit kit for the car. That would be awesome. Then again. All it would take is some fiberglass and some skill to modify the bezel around the radio so it would fit the standard double din.

I hope either Kenwood or Alpine do. Haven't heard too many good things about the Bespoke. But then again, not many people have them so pretty small sample size.

[lordtakuban]

Originally Posted by FRSjeff

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I'm probably going to go ahead and try it out because:
1. It looks better (way) than the stock. Even if I someday upgrade, in the meantime this looks clean.
2. I will hold on to hope that sometime soon they'll do some significant upgrades to the software and/or the iPhone 5 will enhance the radio somehow (I will update my iPhone 4 when 5 arrives)
3. It's already installed by Toyota, I like oem.

Thanks again guys!

I heard that the iPhone 5 will have a different connector. Hopefully, it will just be a simple matter of getting a different cable to plug into the USB for the BeSpoke system (Or any other HU with iPhone integration for that matter).

[Project_GT86]

Thanks for the reviews. The Bespoke was the only addon i had planned on getting but now i will be taking that off the list.

[eriktherod]

Judging from the OP's comments, I think it'd be a good addition. I don't plan on doing much with the sound system/radio anytime soon, so I got the BeSpoke system. It's loud enough for me but could use a sub (which Scion is/will be offering to go with it).

I like the interface and the response from it. I don't feel like it's laggy at all, and it works very well with my iPhone 4S via Bluetooth. As soon as I get in the car and start her up, it resumes playback of my Pandora/iPod. As others have said, I couldn't care less about the BeSpoke app because I use Waze for GPS (which works great with music playing).

I'm a fan of the touchscreen over the manual buttons as well, has a nice display for what's currently playing and makes it easy to accept/decline incoming calls.