Motorola MA1 review

Installed for a week. Here’s my list:
Pro’s:
Connects within 5 seconds
Has not dropped connection once
Small and easily hidden
Wireless android connection is awesome, especially for maps
Download an android music player friendly app for your tunes, I use Media Monkey which is seamless. You tube music is a complete joke, an absolute disaster in my opinion.
Cons:
Big one, whenever I start the truck and it connects, I have to power off the audio and turn back on for music. It immediately starts playing whenever I do this but I have to do it every time. Every other app is immediately available. It’s a literal second out of my day, but it’s annoying.
Text messages interrupt the audio. Only texts, not notifications. Whenever I get a text I have to power off audio and push back on. Very annoying if you get multiple texts in a row.

Overall I give it a solid 4 out of 5. Is it perfect, nope. Was it worth it, meh maybe. I like not having to tether to the truck with a cord for maps and music, but it’s not seamless.

 

I have been on the troll for one, but there nothing but scalpers out there. I guess I will keep it plugged for now. Glad to hear that you like it.

 

Just installed mine last night. Got lucky and ordered from Amazon and they handed off to USPS to deliver which took 9 days

So far so good, I have not noticed the need to cycle power but it is early days. My Cons: Had to turn off my phone's VPN to get it to connect. Wish it did not have a cord, or that it had a longer cord, but the current length sucks.

 

Just installed mine this morning and it works great!

This is my biggest gripe as well. It's like the 'perfect' length that it can't lie flat but sort of hangs diagnonally at the edge of the tray. This makes it rattle every time you go over a bump. I tucked mine underneath itself, but I really wish it was just an uncorded USB device.

 

Where did you find it? I haven't been able to locate one unless I want to pay $200+ on eBay.

 

It was briefly available on Amazon. I ordered it ~month ago and it just arrived yesterday.

 

Take a look at a 45 degree usb male to female. Someone on here hid it under that shifting panel using double sided tape. I used this accessory for my dashcam plug to route it under my AC control panel to hid the power cord.

 

For those of use using android, what music player are you using? YouTube music is straight garbage, I’m using media monkey which is great with 1 glaring exception, I have to power off and audio on start up and text messages disable it. So frustrated, I want to love this thing.

 

I use Amazon Music.

 

They are on and off of Amazon based on availability. I can do one of 2 things. I can purchase one if they pop up and then sell it to you at the same cost or I can text you when I see one available if you PM your number. These damn things are hard to get. I got mine a couple of months ago....it works very well.

 

I knew about the scarce availability and markup in price......

https://9to5google.com/2022/03/09/motorola-ma1-stock-android-auto-dongle/

 

I would certainly appreciate either gesture. I keep looking on Amazon and every time they are not available. I appreciate the assistance. Thanks.

 

I use apple music only because I get it for free through my cell provider.

 

beside spotify premium, I use paid version of Poweramp but that only plays what's downloaded on the phone.

I've also listened to Tidal premium (standard is hifi I think or something along that line), it sounded great but I don't think the truck's stereo is good enough for it.

 

Update on my MA1, on long drives it has been disconnecting after a few hours of use, then will repeatedly disconnect and reconnect. Unplugging it for a bit seems to resolve it for a while, but after a few more hours it is doing it again. It does not seem to run hot. Not sure what causes the disconnects.

 

I have had one for over a month now and it has disconnected about three times. I noticed it happend when I am sitting at a light. Not sure if it was interference from another car or not. No problems on the open road.
All in all pleased with mine.
I got a new and unopened one off eBay and paid a $20 premium over retail because I wanted it.
Good luck on your hunt for one at retail.

 

I think that's due to the phone thermal throttling & dropping bluetooth. Mine gets pretty hot too when I go on a ~hour drive, so I'll probably keep using it for daily driving but use the physical cord for longer trips.

 

Mine is not so much disconnecting, but I get intermediate pauses. It seems like it is related to my bluetooth connection more than the MA1. Overall, I am very satisfied and glad to cut the cord.

 

Thanks, this may be the cause, the phone does get pretty warm while sitting in the wireless charger on long drives.