A hands-on review of the Pioneer SPH-10BT car stereo
The Smart Sync app turns your phone into a touchscreen
In a nutshell: We review the Pioneer SPH-10BT smartphone receiver. Some of the points we looked at are:
- Setup and phone connection
- Customizing the stereo's features
- Using your phone as the stereo's display
- Potential drawbacks
Read on for the full hands-on review.
The Pioneer SPH-10BT digital media receiver shatters boundaries by turning your smartphone into a touchscreen display for the stereo, giving you easy access to music, maps, and messaging — without the need for a large dash opening.
In this review, we get hands-on with the SPH-10BT receiver and Pioneer's Smart Sync app to see how well they work together in a controlled environment.
Along similar lines, we recently reviewed a pair of groundbreaking modular touchscreen receivers from Pioneer for difficult-to-fit dash openings.


Pioneer's SPH-10BT digital media receiver turns into a touchscreen receiver with voice control when combined with a smartphone. (Use the slider to see the stereo with and without a phone.)
A stereo designed for smartphone integration
The first thing I noticed about the SPH-10BT is its fairly minimal design. The head unit itself sports six large hard keys across its face, with very little room for a display. Most of the screen load is carried by the driver's smartphone, which fits into a cradle that folds out of the receiver.
Without the smartphone in the cradle, the receiver offers fairly limited utility. It's fair to assume that most folks will be using the stereo in conjunction with their phone, and that the phone will be mounted in the receiver's cradle. If you already have another spot on your dash where you prefer to mount your phone, that's fine.
Mounting your phone
To get the cradle out, I had to detach the stereo's faceplate, then pull the cradle out and fold it up to form a base for the phone. The faceplate then reattaches pretty easily, but you cannot put the cradle back without removing the faceplate.
The cradle's sliding backplate adjusts upward a couple of inches to accommodate the width of various phones — it clamps down on the phone rather forcefully to ensure the phone doesn't fall out. The cradle's "legs" also adjust horizontally to let them touch the phone's sides without impacting any phone buttons.
Behind the scenes: To conduct this review, we used a simulation dashboard you might've seen in one of our many head unit demo videos shot by fellow Crutchfield writer Ken Nail.

The Pioneer SPH-10BT's cradle offers a safe home for most smartphones.
Big buttons make it easy to control
The buttons along the SPH-10BT's faceplate mimic the functions of the Smart Sync app:
- Musical source selection
- Voice assistants (including Siri® and Google Voice™)
- Navigation (including Waze and Google Maps, plus Apple Maps for iOS users)
- Messaging (including Facebook and Whatsapp)
- Phone
- Smart Sync application launch
They're easy to find without even looking down while driving. There's also a USB port (with a somewhat annoying port cover) above the left-hand buttons, and a small display screen in the middle of the stereo's face. You can see a little bit of text on the display, but most of the action will be on the phone's screen.
Setting up the stereo and your phone
When I got everything hooked up and turned on, I went through the setup. The first thing I did was to check Pioneer's website to see if a firmware update was available for the SPH-10BT. Sure enough, there was, so I downloaded it to a thumb drive and updated the stereo to make sure it was current.
Then I went through the initial setup with my Apple iPhone® 6s. This included pairing it with the SPH-10BT through Bluetooth® and choosing a language, clock setting, and whether the app control function would be done through Bluetooth or a wired connection. On this initial setup run, there were no issues pairing the device with Bluetooth.
Color options
Once I paired my phone with the stereo and placed it in the cradle so that there were no issues with the buttons, I started going through wallpapers and illumination settings. There were about a dozen wallpapers to choose from, a few of which feature "live" moving images (nothing too distracting, though). There are also a dozen illumination colors for the faceplate, or I could choose a constant cycling through of all of them.
Navigation and messaging settings
There are more settings to play with that go beyond cosmetics. I was able to choose the default navigation app (Google Maps please, although Waze is available for both kinds of phones and Apple Maps for iPhones), as well as my messaging app of choice (between iMessage, WhatsApp, or Facebook).

Sonic setups galore
A 31-band EQ could easily provide hours of fun tweaks if I was using it in a car with a decent stereo system; it even includes several presets and a pair of customizable options that I can save. I don't really know much about "Super Todoroki Sound" but there are three settings for it, or I can just turn it off.
"Simulated Sound Fields" add the ambience of different types of listening rooms to my tunes, like concert hall and stadium. And there's "Easy Sound Fit" for making no-hassle time correction tweaks depending on what kind of car I'm in. More advanced settings include manual adjustments to time correction and fader/balance controls.
All in all, this SPH-10BT offers a lot of audio adjustments to ensure it'll sound good in your vehicle.
Another cool feature is "source level adjuster," which lets me set the volume levels for different types of sources — I find that Bluetooth audio is usually much quieter than FM signals and USB media, so it's nice to be able to boost that volume level without getting blasted when I switch sources.

The main screen
Upon pairing the phone with the SPH-10BT and launching the Smart Sync app, I took in the main display screen, which is divided into three parts: musical source, clock/date, and speedometer with altitude reading. I question the utility of including the speedometer (or at least not making it optional), but perhaps Pioneer imagined people mounting their phones over their vehicle display panels and covering up the speedometer.
You can also choose to have the shortcuts for source, voice commands, navigation, text, and phone dialing along the bottom of the screen or not. With the display split into thirds, I can only see part of the song info as it scrolls along, but it does show album artwork when using a wired connection (more on that in a minute).
In-depth screens
By pressing the musical source button either on the radio or my phone, I can explore the different options available, whether it's songs stored on my phone, songs on a thumb drive (if connected), streaming apps like Pandora or TuneIn, or even podcasts.

The main music screen shows album artwork, artist/title/album/genre info, what EQ setting is in play, and whether or not any effects are being used. I can also see the time elapsed and remaining on the track. And from this screen I can quickly access all my albums and playlists or filter songs by genre if I want.
The navigation screen looks pretty much like the navigation screen on my phone. I can type in a destination or use my voice to speak it, and I can choose between different kinds of maps depending on how I plan to get around.
The voice button lets me compose a text and it also lets me choose to have an incoming message read aloud to me. This is definitely one of the most handy features of Smart Sync, and I found the incoming text being read aloud quite easy to understand.
The phone button pulls up my phone's contact list and lets me dial with a fingertip touch or by speaking the name aloud.
Launching the Smart Sync application from the receiver just brings up a couple of more options, including showing the button shortcuts on the phone screen or not, and card/list display options for albums, artists, and titles.
Switching sources
One aspect of the SPH-10BT I was concerned about was how seamlessly it would move between different sources. When I was connected to the radio via Bluetooth, there was only a slight lag when moving between streaming music apps, stored music files, and the FM tuner.
In some cases with the streaming music apps and stored music files, I would not see the album artwork, although the song titles and artists would always show up. Moving between the phone sources and music on a thumb drive took a little bit longer, but that's to be expected.
iPhone compatibility
When I had my iPhone plugged into the SPH-10BT's front USB port, the artwork was always present for whatever was playing off my phone, whether streaming or stored files. And switching between those sources was quite seamless.
One thing that took a while to figure out was the "App Control" setting at setup — if I hadn't launched the Smart Sync app on my iPhone, the stereo would use the iPhone as the audio source whether I had chosen "Wired" or "Bluetooth" as my App Control default.
It was a pain to try to get music off my thumb drive without engaging the Smart Sync app first. When I launched the app and connected to the stereo, then the app became the command center for sources whether the iPhone was connected via Bluetooth or a cable.
Android compatibility
I didn’t play much with an Android device, but according to the manual, as long as you're using the Smart Sync app, everything will work the way it should, whether you use USB or Bluetooth to connect to your phone. After all, that's how the stereo is designed to be used — in conjunction with the app.
If you want to listen to music without using the Smart Sync app, then connecting the phone via USB is probably the best way to go. The stereo uses the AOA 2.0 protocol to talk to your phone. As long as you have a newer phone, you should be able to have control and see album artwork. If your phone doesn’t seem to be up to speed, you might have better luck going the Bluetooth streaming route if you don’t want to turn on the Smart Sync app.
The connection issue
Before the testing, I noticed a few complaints on our site and elsewhere online about both the SPH-10BT and the Smart Sync app itself. One of the main issues seemed to be that the app would work fine at first but then eventually have issues connecting with the stereo. I experienced a bit of that on my third and fourth rounds of testing with my iPhone 6s.
It took me roughly 15 minutes each time just to get Smart Sync on my phone to pair with the stereo after the first couple of times doing the test under similar conditions. For round five I tried connecting with an iPhone Xs Max and had no issues, but I didn't do much testing beyond the connection because I really wanted to see how the cradle would work with a larger phone.
Another potential issue I read about was the tendency of the Smart Sync app to lose all its programmed settings (radio station presets and EQ curves in particular) every so often and for no apparent reason. I didn't run into this specific hurdle, but it was in the back of my mind as I encountered connection problems with the app on the third and fourth rounds of testing.
The phone fit issue
The fit of the phone on the cradle was another major complaint I saw about the SPH-10BT, the main thrust being that it doesn't accommodate thicker phone cases. That may be the case for some folks, but I have a thin Laut case on my iPhone 6s and experienced no issues. I didn't have any problem putting the iPhone Xs Max on the cradle (without a case), either.
My impressions might be different if I were driving and needed to adjust the angle of the phone for a better view or hit a nasty pothole, but in the simulated dash it accommodated a couple of different sized phones easily.

The SPH-10BT's USB port is conveniently located but the cover's not friendly to big fingers.
That darn USB port cover
This is a small thing, but the cover on the faceplate's USB port feels extraneous, bordering on annoying. I understand the need to keep that area free of dust, but the cover can get in the way of large fingers like mine when trying to attach a thumb drive or USB cable. If you're inclined to use the USB port often, it seems likely that the cover might break off eventually.
Final thoughts about the SPH-10BT
The Pioneer SPH-10BT presents an exciting way to combine your phone and your stereo into a seamless experience. It's also a great way for single-DIN dash owners to get the convenience of a touchscreen stereo without paying big bucks for a fold-out receiver or something requiring major modifications.
In general, it works pretty well for basic music, mapping, messaging, and calling functions, and the voice command aspect of it is very attractive from a safety perspective. Sonic enthusiasts will definitely dig all the tweaks available through the app.
On the first few passes with the iPhone 6s, the Smart Sync app and receiver performed admirably together. However, the stereo/app combo is asking a lot of the Bluetooth connection, which is not always as robust as I'd like it to be. As Bluetooth chips for both the stereo and phones improve, perhaps Smart Sync will prove to be a reliable alternative for those who love their phones but can't invest in a touchscreen receiver.
Interested in the Pioneer SPH-10BT?
If you want to know more about the Pioneer SPH-10BT or other touchscreen digital media stereos, contact us by chat, phone, or email. Our friendly and knowledgeable advisors will be glad to help. And you get free lifetime tech support with every Crutchfield purchase.
Reader comments (28 responses)
-
Eric from Grass Valley, Ca
Posted on 11/16/2020
I will not be using the cradle feature of this head-unit. Are there any features on this unit that are NOT on the DEH-S6220BS? Will Smart-Sync work with all the same features? What would be the reason to choose this unit over the DEH-S6220BS? Thank you for your input. Eric
on 11/16/2020
-
phillip lewington from Winchester
Posted on 11/6/2020
Hi,i see there is SPH-20 DAB version.Could you tell me what the differences are please ? and could i use my phones data allowance to listen to music through either of these unit ?.Thankyou for your time.
on 11/7/2020
-
Kim C Callis from ALEXANDER
Posted on 8/7/2020
That is cool, but is there a head unit like this that can also do Sirius/XM radio?
on 8/7/2020
-
Jon from Southend
Posted on 7/25/2020
I read many places where it says there is a port for an optional wireless reversing camera but for the life of me can I find out any other information or what camera would even be compatible with this?
on 7/26/2020
-
Jessie Kehoe from canyon country
Posted on 5/18/2020
I read some comments about the app always running in the background and draining your phone battery. I would install this in a truck I only use once in a while. How do you stop the app when I am not in the truck for days at a time? Also, when the vehicle turns on, does the app automatically open itself or do I have to open the app manually? Just curious and thank you for your help.
on 5/18/2020
I had the app on my phone for about a week and interacted with the SPH-10BT radio over the course of a few days in a controlled environment (not a car), but I don't recall battery drain being an issue at the time.
According to the SPH-10BT's user manual, the Smart Sync app should start automatically on your phone when the phone is paired via Bluetooth with the SPH-10BT, but there is a setting within the app that needs to be engaged first to make this happen, so I guess if you don't want it starting automatically you can avoid it by not changing the setting in the app. Hope this helps! -
Tony Hook from Sydney
Posted on 5/5/2020
HI Dominic, A couple of questions: 1) Both my wife and I drive the car. Does the app/unit recognise different users? 2) I would like to add a wireless reversing camera which would display on the iphone. This obviously would be totally independent of the Pioneer. When engaging reverse gear would the reverse function take over from the Smart Sync. i.e. display the camera footage? Or would it involve activating on the iphone screen? Thanks in advance. Tony
on 5/6/2020
-
Jim from Palm Springs
Posted on 4/26/2020
1. Does unit turn on/off when car is turned on/off? 2. Will unit activate a power antenna when turned on/off? 3. To charge cell phone does it require a cord hanging out of USB port that goes to the mini port on phone..(Cumbersome?)
on 4/27/2020
-
Graham from London
Posted on 3/14/2020
Hi I can program the clock via the app and via system but when you turn the unit off it goes back to 1200 each time ,am I doing something wrong
on 3/16/2020
-
Jim McGuan from Grand Island
Posted on 2/9/2020
Can you use the radio without having phone linked?
on 2/10/2020
-
Norm from ABERYSTWYTH
Posted on 2/5/2020
There are virtually no written set up instructions included. I have the 3 section panel on the phone (Android) Huawei. Music appears to be playing on the phone but no sound. What am I missing. Also where actually are the sound settings?
on 2/5/2020
-
Andy from London
Posted on 10/22/2019
Hi when playing music using Spotify, neither songs or artwork appear on the main smart sync screen. The only songs or artwork that appear on the screen are ones from Apple Music library, even when Spotify is playing. How can I rectify this?. I'm using an iPhone 8. Cheers Andy
on 10/25/2019
-
Nick Roess from Bruxelles
Posted on 10/18/2019
Hi, Can I use y own iphone (windshield) cradle and still get all functionalities of the smartsync app ? ie with the pionneer cradle in its un-ejected position ?
on 10/23/2019
-
brian thomas from london
Posted on 10/11/2019
is the radio an independent function? will it work without using the mobile data?
on 10/14/2019
-
Scott Parkin from haledon
Posted on 8/11/2019
I cannot figure out how to adjust the fader can you please offer some assistance
on 8/12/2019
-
Robert from San Francisco
Posted on 8/9/2019
Hi, Does one have to use the sync app? Or can one go straight thru native iPhone apps? In other words, can I: play directly from Spotify, iTunes library etc? And can I make calls directly from the phone without using the Pioneer app? Thanks, Robert
on 8/9/2019
-
Mike from Loveland
Posted on 7/25/2019
I suppose the phone would have to be charged by a separate car charger while in BlueTooth mode. Does the USB connection charge the phone?
on 7/26/2019
-
Steve Pullen from Roswell, GA
Posted on 7/25/2019
The advertised voice-activated functions for Telephone Calls and Navigation through the Pioneer microphone and Smart Sync App for iPhone do not work (i.e., not using Siri and the iPhone microphone, which are 2.5 feet from the user when iPhone is cradled). Senior technical support at both Crutchfield and Pioneer are unable to resolve these issues. I am a long term Crutchfield customer. This is the worst performing electronic product I have ever purchased.
on 7/26/2019
-
KC Connor from Mesa, AZ
Posted on 7/17/2019
You neglected to cover the biggest glaring deficiency of this radio: There is no way to program user-settable radio presets for AM and FM bands.
on 7/17/2019
Valentina from Naples
Posted on 4/12/2021
Can you set up the voice comand button so that siri answers? Or is siri only available by using the "hey siri" function?
Dominic DeVito from Crutchfield
on 4/15/2021
For the SPH-10BT please be sure to use version 3.2 or newer of the Pioneer Smart Sync App. And the latest firmware for the SPH-10BT.
First, When the iPhone is connected to the receiver through Bluetooth and the Smart Sync App is connected to and, controlling the receiver, the microphone button on both the receiver and the microphone button on the app will operate the Smart Sync App voice options such as "navigate to xx" or "play album xx".
Second, When the iPhone is connected to the receiver through Bluetooth and you are NOT using the Smart Sync App, pressing the microphone button on the receiver activates Siri on an iPhone. Speak to Siri using the SPH-10BT Bluetooth microphone as you would with any other phone call.
To reconnect the Smart Sync app with the receiver, press and hold the receiver's Home button hard key on the far right.
AB from San Ramon, CA
Posted on 3/8/2021
Is the external microphone required? or can voice commands and phone calls use the phone's internal microphone?
Dominic DeVito from Crutchfield
on 3/8/2021
Robert from Sydney
Posted on 3/4/2021
Hi thanks is for review, I can't seem to get an external microphone to work, the instructions don't really assist.
Dominic DeVito from Crutchfield
on 3/5/2021
Diego Curt from Meridian
Posted on 2/13/2021
Do you think the head unit will accommodate an iPhone 12 Pro Max with a thin case? Can the USB port be used as a charging port and would you recommend that for keeping the photos e charged on long trips?
Dominic DeVito from Crutchfield
on 2/13/2021
Richard
Posted on 2/4/2021
Hello Dominic, Is it possible to connect the USB port (without pairing with BT) and output sound through the SPH-10BT? Sound would be played by a music app such as Spotify or Pandora. Thanks !
Dominic DeVito from Crutchfield
on 2/4/2021
Jasper from Den Helder
Posted on 1/24/2021
Does anybody know how to turn the radio off? No where in tge manual to be found!
Dominic DeVito from Crutchfield
on 1/24/2021
Ethan Connor Hodges from Savannah, GA
Posted on 1/3/2021
When connecting the ASWC-1 Steering Wheel Control does it plug into the Wired Remote jack in the back of the radio?
Dominic DeVito from Crutchfield
on 1/3/2021
francisco edwards from santiago
Posted on 12/14/2020
hi, does is run apple car play?? what about spotify???
Dominic DeVito from Crutchfield
on 12/14/2020
Dominic DeVito from Crutchfield
Posted on 11/17/2020
Hi Dick - thanks for your comment. It appears that on November 10, 2020, Pioneer updated the Smart Sync app with version 3.0.0. This update seems to have changed some aspects of how the app's home screen looks and functions in a major way. Unfortunately, there's not much advice I can offer on how to remedy the issue outside of reverting your phone to an earlier version if you use a program like Time Machine. Hopefully Pioneer will listen to customer feedback (which does seem to be pretty negative so far) on the app and provide options for future updates to behave more like the pre-3.0 version.
Dick Casaf from Billings
Posted on 11/16/2020
my screen does not have the speed altitude or time clock on the main screen anymore