Pioneer Smart Sync Reviews

by Bummed On Smart Sync App

The Pioneer customer service person I spoke with said the Smart Synch app doesn’t work or has limited functionality on newer mobile devices. I get no Home Screen and no connection to the DEH-S6200BS head unit. It worked fine with my iPhone 7. Had full functionality. Now, no way to use any of the custom audio features, or to customize the screen colors with PioneerSmartSync . Seems ridiculous that an app designed for head units still being sold will not work with modern mobile phones.

by ••OC••

I wish there was a way to downgrade. This new UI is just not right! It might be clean and trendy but the new design is not functional! I would like to have those features from before. Music skip by swiping, altimeter! Custom background, the ANALOG CLOCK! Bring it back please!
I don’t see the point of this new interface. I am open for new things, but hey, this is going backwards. Tiny little buttons, sorry I can’t say anything positive from the new design. Perhaps for a new customer it will be great, but who experienced the old one, it’s disappointing! PioneerSmartSync was the reason, I bought the Pioneer radio in the first place. Someone tell me, how to go back to previous version?

by Sneekerbox

You would think with a company with such a big name and technology behind their products,that they would actually create an app that works properly. When we first downloaded PioneerSmartSync about 6 months ago it worked ok not good or great. Now with the new updates and bug fixes it’s actually worse. I am beyond disappointed in PioneerSmartSync . Hopefully they invest more time and money into their app to at least make it ok.🤞Honestly i don’t see it happening and it’s just wishful thinking in my part.

by VAF84

Purchased this months ago. Worked awesome the first time. Struggled the second time to connect to Bluetooth. Now I just have a brick in my dash.

Emailed customer support, and they said to do a hard reset which I did by following the instructions they sent me. Still no use.

I can see where I can connect with Bluetooth on PioneerSmartSync . However when I click on it, I get an error message that pairing was unsuccessful. Very frustrating to say the least, especially when I know it worked the first time I turned it on. Basically, I’m starting to accept the fact that I’ve lost my money on this product.

by 0000011111ooooo

Do you guys not realize how ridiculous it is to have music in PioneerSmartSync? Whenever I am playing music through my music app (like any other person would do) and then try to charge my phone it jumps to play music through PioneerSmartSync. At least have the music sync up so whenever you are playing through your normal music app it doesn’t change songs when you start to charge your phone. If anything you are making drivers look at their phone because when PioneerSmartSync changes songs they have to look at their phone to change whatever PioneerSmartSync is messing up for them

by Traphousek Soundcloud

PioneerSmartSync was decent for awhile, but then the most recent update was released and all hell broke loose. My Bluetooth connectivity stopped working on my radio even though it had worked prior to updating, (I have a “DEH-S4120BT” model), some features went missing altogether from both PioneerSmartSync and my radio, and PioneerSmartSync won’t even load the caution screen when I try to connect via bluetooth, forcing me to use USB connection which is not of the best quality between the two options to say the least. I liked my radio a lot and didn’t even mind having to use an app to access most of the functions because I thought it gave me better access to the customization, but now it’s made my radio a living nightmare to use.

by Art Love

I have been struggling with PioneerSmartSync and compatible Pioneer receiver for about 2 years, and it’s not getting better. Save yourself the aggravation and don’t get this.

It is always having Bluetooth connectivity issues, difficulty connecting during startup and random disconnects. Even when “running” you will never know what kind of virtual button push latency you will get, from split second, to seven seconds, to half a minute. My wife hates it and so do I.

It’s the final straw now, so I will be either returning it, or just simply throwing it in the trash, before the thing literally kills me while distracted driving. Way to go Pioneer!

by Whetheredweather

One star for the good equalizer settings. The way PioneerSmartSync turns audio on and off drives me crazy and is in no way smart. Even my old $36 bluetooth head unit was better and when my truck is turned on the music starts. Not so with this. And then the having to click the “ok”every single time for safety while driving is so annoying. And while having a navigation app open and then abruptly having PioneerSmartSync cut in and over mu navigation in crucial moments is again annoying. A company that produces quality equipment bit not a functional app is highly disappointing and they haven't put effort to resolving the smooth function of PioneerSmartSync even tho its obvious in the ratings how sucky PioneerSmartSync is.

by Smithn8or

Overall, I’m very happy with PioneerSmartSync. I’ve been using it for about 2 months now. I’d say my biggest complaint is that the head unit doesn’t recognize when you’re using other navigation apps, other than Apple’s Maps app. Everyone knows Apple’s Maps app is horrible. I mostly use Waze. So whenever it’s open and I’m using it, the voice will come through the truck speakers, but if I hit the nav button on the unit, it will not open the Waze display. If I’m using the Maps app and am viewing something else, hit the nav button and it takes you right to Maps. Great feature, but it needs to work with whatever nav app is open!

by Guscaralarm.com

App allows you to save your audio settings and it’s suppose to stay like that, it changes back to flat settings without me doing nothing I have to go back and load settings again. Would love to know is it’s posible that on the unit display I could have the hour as default Also their is no way I could end a call from the head unit , you should add a feature on any key to end the call Unit I’m using is sph-c10bt

by Hrhjeur

The radio provides excellent audio, but I haven’t been able to use PioneerSmartSync at all because it won’t connect to my radio. I have tried both the usb, and the Bluetooth setup methods but neither seems to work. I even tried installing a new copy of the firmware from the website, but wasn’t able to locate the firmware for my specific model stereo(DEH-S31BT). All in all, I really regret paying $90+ for a brand new radio that doesn’t properly function like it’s supposed to. If you can fix PioneerSmartSync connectivity issues all of us newer device owners are having then maybe I will reconsider the rating I have given based off the performance and functionality of the device and services. Until then, I remain in disappointment especially with this type of issue coming from a company that is so widely known and commendable for its products.

by Bishopj24

The SPH10BT does a great job in terms of the radio itself. PioneerSmartSync and connectivity is where certain aspects begin to fail you. PioneerSmartSync itself doesn’t seem to function on newly released or newer versions of the iPhone. I’ve tried everything to connect my XR to utilize PioneerSmartSync to get the most out of the radio but can’t make it happen. It will connect via Bluetooth however to listen to music. If the other issues get resolved it would be 5 stars all day long!

by Wingoversteve

Please add to your next update a vehicle speed volume adjustment feature that doesn’t require a speed input from the car. Instead, it uses the connected cell phone GPS speed to adjust the volume on the output. It should have a low, medium, and high setting to adjust for different vehicles road noise. It also needs a sort function in the album view, so that it has the option to sort by artist like the iPhone music apps sorting. Right now it only sort by title, which is dumb.

by Ruff31Ryder

PioneerSmartSync has potential for the customizing scene. I designed a custom mount for my single din stereo plus iPad and it has the potential to be amazing. I understand the low ratings because I originally had all the same bugs, but the recent updates have seemed to squash them. I also understand that making a dedicated iPad app might take away from their touchscreen head units, but it would be an amazing, definitely useful, addition to PioneerSmartSync . Overall, this is a useful app. It makes sense for cars that can only have single din head units, but still want useful apps such as maps and a music collection with album art. So, please keep the updates coming :)

by Amber Starfield

Perhaps I just got lucky, but after testing PioneerSmartSync with my new stereo system for 2 weeks, I have not had any problems with it. The stereo I installed in my 2003 Dakota is the Pioneer DEH-S4220BT. Audio from any music app I have tried streams seamlessly from iPhone 11. I haven’t used navigation much, but did find it interesting that Maps now marks the location of my parked vehicle. Siri works fine over the stereo as well. I only wish support would be added for controlling SiriusXM app.

by UnknownSoles

What is there no to love about PioneerSmartSync !! Everything you need on PioneerSmartSync !! Don’t need to play with radio just adjust on PioneerSmartSync . The new update today is different but I’ll get used to it, but I don’t know why SLA is disabled (Source Level Adjustment) hopefully a new update will enable it. But overall PioneerSmartSync is simple to use and make adjustments for the EQ easy and simple to use. I don’t understand why everyone has a problem or complain about PioneerSmartSync when it’s basically simple. Btw I come from using Kenwood HU, the Pioneer MVH-S622BS is my first Pioneer HU and I was impressed by the quality it put out and features it has.

by Jahshdbevd

I received a SPH-10BT from my dad a while back and he told me to get PioneerSmartSync . It's a very user friendly experience especially with the Maps Integration. Turns your phone into CarPlay essentially without the need of a CarPlay radio. At times it takes a while to connect but other than that it's a great experience.

by Bertolinovb

Ok so my first review was a 1 star because PioneerSmartSync needed an update for ios12. Well now pioneer has fixed the issue and PioneerSmartSync is amazing. So much easier to navigate the options (biggest is the equalizer). I am happy with my (now 4 month old) stereo.

Here is what I’ve learned. If you depend on PioneerSmartSync working with your stereo unit 100% of the time then I advise you not to update your phone until smart sync updates too. I was running ios11 when I first bought my stereo and it worked. I updated the phone the following day and it would crash every time after that. I realized PioneerSmartSync and iOS12 weren’t compatible so I used an older phone to tune my system.

by Littleone2017

It is giving me problems not letting me pair my phone to PioneerSmartSync and just early yesterday my phone was working with PioneerSmartSync and when I was connected my controls would pop up but now there not coming on my phone can you guys please fix this issue

by Jrussell80

generally companion apps like this are a complete disaster from my experience. I didn’t even plan on using this one for that reason. But the additional functionality it adds to my radio and how conveniently and intuitively it is set up has completely changed my mind. Based on the reviews it seems like these guys have done a lot of work on PioneerSmartSync, because I have none of these issues and I couldn’t be happier with it

by MDHracing

I got PioneerSmartSync to pair specifically with a pioneer car stereo. 1) Bluetooth quality is terrible. Connects to everything around me except my phone. 2) when app won’t “automatically “ connect as it should you can’t adjust any of the equalizer settings. Sound is flat. I bought this radio to pair with an app on my phone and clearly PioneerSmartSync is not of pioneer quality. Worst app ever. Wish I could give it less than a one star rating.

by Mad Parent Too

It doesn't support Siri. PioneerSmartSync should not try to invent new features. Just use what's on my IPhone. I don't need Pioneer Voice recognition.

It doesn't remember which music was played. It keeps starting in a random place in my library. When I turn the engine off in the middle of a playlist, I want to continue listening to the playlist when I start driving again. Takes too many steps to play my Apple Music.

by FAMOUS MATT

I bought the stereo over others mainly for the fact that it had an app to make the user experience better and I have not been able to connect PioneerSmartSync once since I bought it. The Bluetooth is connected as I am able to play music from my iPhone X, but as far as connecting PioneerSmartSync it shows the device in list it shows the spinning connecting wheel and then the device box just disappears. If I hadn’t lost my receipt I would have taken it back. 🤣🤣

by Casabolton

I purchased the DEH S 4200BT stereo four days ago and when I set it up everything was working fine with my iPhone 8+.
Next morning it kept telling me PioneerSmartSync had lost connection with installed device.
I have troubleshooted it multiple times and still can not get it to link. So my Bluetooth calls aren’t working clear and I can’t access app features. Not very happy! 😠

by SteveLInMN

The good: it no longer crashes when I open it and phone alert sounds play through the receiver even when I’m listening to the radio or some source other than my phone.

The bad: EVERY time I start the car I have to grant permission for PioneerSmartSync to communicate with the stereo.... EVERY TIME... I would think granting it once would imply that it’s okay for the foreseeable future to keep connecting.

by IKyle_Hamann

I was really excited after installing a SPH-10BT in my older car to have all these new features. Then I found out that there’s no way to access my text messages unless I download a third party app for texting. iMessage is the only thing most iPhone users text with because it’s just that good and you’re telling me you can’t figure out a way to let me use it? Very disappointed.

by Kody82

This is great for tuning the Radio and I can see where it can be useful but it doesn’t work with Apple Music so it could be better. If they could integrate Apple Music into PioneerSmartSync instead of just opening the Apple Music app it would be a 5 star review.
However, if you own all of your music and don’t stream then PioneerSmartSync is perfect for you. It only can play music that has been synced through iTunes.

by Woodtiger2

I have an Iphone SE and it keeps losing pairing with the Bluetooth. Smart Sync keeps saying device not found and my Iphone shows other devices but doesn’t show the Deh-6120s stereo. Clear the Bluetooth memory on the stereo and then open smart sync app and it finally asks to pair. Not sure if PioneerSmartSync is the issue or the Bluetooth in the stereo.

by Vinaha

I did a lot of research on what head unit I wanted for my classic car. Eventually I decided to go with this and I’m really impressed. The phone becomes part of the head unit, so it is excellent as a touch screen and PioneerSmartSync makes things very seamless once you get it figured out.
I’m very happy with this!