USA SPEC PA11-GM45 - iPod in-vehicle interface adapter Review
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
by Vera Smith
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Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)try to back up and play the last song again, and it is troublesome.I starts the song after that, and occassionally jumps two or three back, when you try to back up one and it doesn't take it and then suddenly it succeeds too well.
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I lose my right channel fairly often when I hit a bump, or even when I don't.I now keep it accessible so I can jiggle it some to fix it.
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I also am getting some interference, which is caused by this unit--it comes and goes, but is not a issue when I use the radio.
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I've used it for 3-4 years now, and can't really complain about it.I would like to find something better which displays playlist names and artist/song information.\.
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For long trips this has been wonderful.
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Product Description:
The USA Spec iPod Interface Cable connects, controls, charges, and plays an iPod through the factory stereo system. Get pure Digital Sound of your iPod into your factory radio. Also adds optional auxiliary input to connect any standard portable stereo device plus iPod connection.
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USA SPEC PA12-BMWDSP - iPod in-vehicle interface adapter Review
Friday, October 15, 2010
by Vera Smith
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(More customer reviews)It took all of about 10 minutes to install this in my 2000 BMW 540i.I didn't bother running the cord back into the passenger compartment.I just leave my iPod nano in the trunk.I set up 5 special playlists - BMW1, BMW2,... BMW5 on my nano and it works flawlessly.Even after switching from one playlist to another, it remembers where you were on the old playlist when you go back.Pretty cool.Sound is great.The only thing that sucks is that I didn't buy this 3 years ago when my CD player went kaput.
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Product Description:
The PA11-BMW iPod Interface Cable connects, controls, charges, and plays aniPod through the factory stereo system of your compatible 1996-2005 BMWand Mini Cooper factory radio with external Changer controls. This unitallows you to connect an iPod to your factory radio and operate the iPod justlike a CD Changer.Get pure Digital Sound of your iPod into your factory radio. Also adds anextra auxiliary input to connect any standard portable stereo device plus iPodconnection.Just connect the adapter cable to the CD changer input on your compatiblefactory radio. Then plug your iPod into the interfaceyou can control volume,source, song selection, and up to five different play lists right from theradio's CD changer controls. And the interface charges your iPod while it'sconnected!Features:Easy Installation - All cables are plug and play for easy installationAdds Additional Aux Input - Besides connecting to an iPod, our iPodinterface provides an additional aux input to connect other audio devicesSuperior Sound Quality - True digital quality sound through factory radioUses CD Changer Function - Uses the CD changer mode to operate an iPodjust like a CD ChangerAuto Maintain - Maintain current playlist when migrating your iPod fromportable use to in car useAuto Playlist Select - If no play list are created, the interface autoselects the first 5 playlist on your iPodRich in Features - adjust volume, track up/down, fast forward/rewind,select playlist, shuffle and random play are some of the useful featuresprovided by this interface, through a factory stereoAuto Memory - Auto locates the last song listened to on each play listAuto Skip - Skip 10+ songs in each playlist with the factory CD Changer FFbutton. Or, skip to the end of a playlistAuto Charge - Charges iPod battery and auto stops after 1 hour of non-useAuto Playlist Select - If no play list are creat NOTE: This product description has been cutt-off (is not complete) due to the size limit of Amazon.com's description field.
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USA SPEC PA15-HON3 Review
Monday, October 4, 2010
by Vera Smith
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(More customer reviews)My first adaptor for my Acura TSX 2008 with Navigation was from DICE DICE i-Honda-R4-5v iPod Integration Kit for Acura and Honda (03+) with Navigation. The DICE worked OK, although when it emulated an XM radio it flashed info on the LED display and scrolled info on the LCD touch screen constantly. This constant flashing and scrolling I found so distracting that I configured the DICE to emulate a CD changer and used the iPod itself to choose my tunes.This worked fine for a year but then the DICE stopped functioning despite much help from DICE technical support, and I bought a second DICE. Unlike the first DICE, the second DICE wouldn't let me use my iPod to choose the song I wanted to listen to. I called Tech assistance and they saidto the effect, "Oh well that happens with some iPods." This was disappointing because the CD changer emulation doesn't allow one to see the song title. I used this second DICE for about 6 months, but that stopped functioning too. So I gave up on DICE and bought a USA Spec IPod adaptor USA Spec iPod® Interface Connects your iPod to select 2004-up Acura factory radios . This works much better in both CD emulation and XM ratio emulation, with no scrolling or constant flashing.And it lets me choose songs on my iPod. I suppose I could complain that the info on the LCD screen is truncated, so sometimes I have toguess the song title and artist, but I know when to quit while I'm ahead. So as long as the USA SPec keeps on working , I'll be happy.
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Product Description:
Connect your iPod, iPod Touch or iphone to Honda/Acura vehicles including MDX 05-09, RL 06-09, TL 04-08, TL 04-06, TSX 06-09, RDX 07-09
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Metra 40-CR30 Antenna Adapter Kit for Select 2002-up Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, and Jeep Vehicles (Black) Review
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
by Vera Smith
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Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I needed these cables to connect an older style XM radio. I was happy to have received these cables in less than a week from the order date.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Metra 40-CR30 Antenna Adapter Kit for Select 2002-up Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, and Jeep Vehicles (Black)
Product Description:
Antenna Adapter Kit for Select 2002-up Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, and Jeep Vehicles
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USA SPEC PA11-HON - iPod in-vehicle interface adapter Review
Friday, September 10, 2010
by Vera Smith
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Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I ordered this from Crutchfield (same price as here) after someone complained, according to their review, that the other leading Honda ipod interface (I forget the name) cut down on the volume.
I had some difficulty locating this particular model.... it's not the easiest to find. Also, if you go to a generic place (like Best Buy), they won't always know exactly what you need. Crutchfield has an online 'quiz' that asks you questions about your particular car, make, model, year, and what options you have installed, and then gives you a list of applicable options.
We have a factory radio with built in CD player, no cassette player, no CD changer, and no navigation system. If you DO have a changer, chances are you will have to unplug it in order to have a space to plug in the ipod adapter cable thingie in its place (the choice is yours - - 6 hours of music, or 16 days of music - - whichever you prefer)
I also like that it has two interface possibilities, depending on the simple flip of a dip switch. Default setting is 'playlist mode.' You set up playlists in iTunes, labeled HONDA1, HONDA2, respectively, up to 5, and control them with the corresponding '1-6' buttons on your radio/CD player. In essence then, your ipod mimics a CD changer, but with each playlist having an unlimited number of tracks (although the display stops counting at 99 - - a limitation of the CD technology, not the ipod's). This is perfect when travelling with persons with diverse tastes in music - - you can program something for everyone. There is no 'HONDA6' because the '6' button plays all tracks on the ipod.
Drawbacks to playlist mode, as far as I can tell, is that if you're addicted to the 'shuffle' feature of your ipod, you're out of luck (as far as I know - - haven't had a lot of time to play around with it just yet).
However, flip dip switch #2 to the off position, and you can directly access all of the ipod's features (according to the installation manual) - - volume, treble, bass, etc. etc. In this particular case, the ipod plays through DISC 5, trk 1 on your radio.
To recap then.... in playlist mode, the adapter completely takes over the controls on the ipod..... buttons don't work, etc. In direct mode, you can control and have access to all of the menu features and settings on your ipod.
Steering wheel controls also work on this model - - volume up or down, and hitting the button in between on the steering wheel will advance to the next track.
I had the installer install the actual interface module in the left side of the glovebox, so that I can have access to the dip switches. Also, the ipod can stay in there with it, out of site.... handy (but don't forget it in there on hot days).
Furthermore, the adapter also features a set of standard RCA audio plug-in jacks, if you want to plug in some other external source of music or video (like a portable DVD player). To use this setting, simply change dip switch number one from on to off.
BTW, I tried virtually ALL of the highly recommended FM transmitters for ipods - - and returned EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. With this, I look forward to many happy hours of music in my Honda. Money well spent, I'm already convinced.
I'm giving it 4 stars because I just got it today..... I'll let you know later if I'd give it 5 stars.
(A bit later):
OK, I just absolutely adore it. 5 stars.
I like the direct setting even better. I confess, I'm addicted to the shuffle setting on my ipod, and I like the 'giant jukebox' aspect of the shuffle play.
Couple of extra notes:
This adapter also charges your ipod. No need for an external charger.
In both modes (direct and playlist - see above review for explanation), the music will start where you left off. In fact, in direct mode, it went back a few seconds and gently faded in when I restarted the car.... very nice.
Sound quality is very good. Your mileage may vary, as they say..... it depends on what you listen to and the quality (or bit rate) at which you import your songs into iTunes. I import my songs at a fairly high rate (224 kbps), because I don't care for Apple's default rate (128, if I remember correctly). Also, and is this is fairly obvious...... Blind Lemon Jefferson is going to sound differently than say, Bruce Springsteen. When listening to some Hank Williams Sr. earlier today, I could have wished for a bit more bass. Fortunately, in direct mode, I can change those settings to my hearts content.
This was installed in a Honda Odyssey 2000 minivan. The above complaint (about wanting a bit more bass) is also a general complaint against the Honda factory stereo system..... it's a pretty good system, but not great. (Sigh) I guess a speaker upgrade from Crutchfield is the next step......
Also, if you order from Crutchfield, they claim to have installation instructions for the do it yourselfer - - in this particular case, they didn't...... only info on how to remove the dash panel from around the stereo. I'm pretty handy, but opted to have someone else do it instead...... $30 bucks cash got it done nice and neatly..... be sure to shop around tho', as prices are likely to vary greatly.
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Product Description:
The PA11HON Honda / Acura iPod interface provides direct connection for an iPod plus an optional audio source such as satellite radio, DVD, or video game system. Both the iPod and the additional audio source can be selected from the factory radioâ?TMs front panel. The interface adapter connects the iPod to your factory Honda or Acura radio as if it were a CD changer, allowing direct selection of iPod playlists through the radioâ?TMs preset (or disc) buttons and is compatible with iPod models featuring the dock connector, including the iPod nano and 5G iPod video.
The PA11 series iPod interfaces have two operating modes available. Playlist Mode uses the controls on the factory radio to provide basic navigation functions including song up/down, playlist up/down, repeat, shuffle, scan, and FF/REW functions. Direct Mode uses the iPod's click wheel to navigate through the iPod's menus and select songs, artists, playlists, etc. and the radio buttons are used only for volume, bass and treble. Both modes still charge the iPod while connected, and stops one hour after the iPod is paused to prevent over-charging.
Note: Display of artist and song title information, track search by artist, song title, album or genre are NOT supported. Only the Playlist and track numbers are displayed.
Honda Applications:
Accord - 1994-2002
Civic - 1994-2005
CRV - 1995-2004
Odyssey - 1995-2004
Pilot - 2003-2005
Prelude - 1995-2004
Acura Applications:
Integra - 1992-2001
Legend - 1991-1997
Vigor - 1991-1997
See PA11HON2y for other 2003-2006 Honda vehicles.
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