ICE Link

[lonnie_20]

just wanted to get some feedback and see if anyone has installed the ICE Link in their cars...

[dulinor]

I'm very interested in this too - it's *nearly* perfect.

I'd rip out my head unit and changer if someone would offer a combo that would give me headunit (or steering wheel) controls for play/pause/next track and *next playlist* with the ipod in a nice charging dock out of the way.

If it mirrored the full display of the ipod, that would be perfect, but that may require apple to sell car head unit/computers. What wouldn't I pay for that?

For now though, the Ice-Link sounds like the best option available. Very curious to hear about ones "in the wild"

[nightlife]

Originally posted by dulinor
For now though, the Ice-Link sounds like the best option available. Very curious to hear about ones "in the wild"

Just placed my order 5 min ago!

It's for the BMW version... this is going to be interesting because my car uses DSP (digital signal processing) but has the standard, analogue connections for the CD changer. But, the (extremely responsive and helpful) tech support staff at Denison assured me that this would work, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

As soon as I give 'er a whirl, I'll post my full feedback.

[keiron99]

I just got mine and installed it today, which was dead easy (I have an after market Sony head unit). Simply plug in the bus connector and left and right audio jacks, which lead to a small pcb covered in black shrink wrap and from that a black cable terminating in a jack that plugs into the top of the iPod, just like the iPod remote does. There's also a firewire socket on the pcb into which you can plug your iPod firewire cable, this providing power/charging the iPod (I haven't installed this). It's all extremely professionally made and nicely packaged.

Featurewise it's just what I was looking for. The best feature for me is not the next/previous track, but the fact it switches off when you switch on the radio or siwtch off, and back on again when you select CD. Maybe not a big deal for some, but I'm often doing this ie to tune in to the news or sport headlines, or to scream at the kids in the back! It's certainly a benefit worth thinking about if you hadn't thought of it.

Yes, it seems implausibly expensive (I daren't tell 'er indoors), but the sale of my CD changer will probably cover it, and the alternative was buy a new head unit with aux in.


Another detail is that I had to make the hole larger in my iSkin to accomodate the jack, which is slightly larger than the iPod's remote jack, and unfortunately I made a botch of it.

Now I'm on the look out for a decent mounting system that'll hold the iPod in its iSkin. Unfortunately, here in the UK, I can't find anything.

[iterrier]

Can you tell me what the sound quality is like? I am presently using a cassette adapter and I am wondering how much of an improvement the Ice-link would be. Thanks.

[keiron99]

Well I've no experience of a cassette adaptor so can't make a comparison. However, the sound quality is excellent. Maybe if I'm being picky and listen very hard, it doesn't have quite the clarity of my cd player, but in a blind test I'm not sure I could tell the difference. I have no hesitation in recommending it - I'm sure it will be better than the cassette adaptor.

[huggies]

Here's a point I brought up in an earlier post a while back. Am interested to hear other thoughts on this.

====================================

here's a problem i see...future compatibility. They have different versions for the 3rd Gen and 2nd Gen ipods.

A kit that just adds aux capability is compatible with *any* device with a line out. I have a 2nd gen but will probably get the newest version a year from now (4th gen by then?) With this product (ice-link), I'd have to get a new system with each ipod upgrade.

Right?

[nightlife]

Woo-hoo! Mine shipped. Will be getting it today. Can't wait.

[lonnie_20]

is anyone using the ice link in a bmw? i am waiting for the extension to come in so i can run it from the trunk to the front of the car...since the changer wires are in the trunk...

[dulinor]

here's a problem i see...future compatibility. They have different versions for the 3rd Gen and 2nd Gen ipods.

A kit that just adds aux capability is compatible with *any* device with a line out. I have a 2nd gen but will probably get the newest version a year from now (4th gen by then?) With this product (ice-link), I'd have to get a new system with each ipod upgrade.

Right?

Well, considering that the ICE contains charge capability, not to mention the play/pause contro, I don't see how they could have avoided it. The power connectors changed radically.

If Apple keeps the current Dock connector, we should be fine for another generation, but you're right the headphone jack is likely to be the longest-lived standard on the device.

[netrack]

could some one please post a link to the site? thanks

[dulinor]

http://icelink.densionusa.com/

[kman1666]

I would love to see pictures from someone's install :D

[keiron99]

I meant to take pictures of the actual cable (as there don't seem to be any on Dension) but in my excitement, I forgot. Sorry. However one thing I should add - the cable isn't very long - don't know whether it says on the site but I don't have a lot of spare to play with.

Now I just need a suitable mount - why do us Brits have so little choice?

[nightlife]

Well, ain't that something!

I received my iceLink yesterday, only to find out that a trunk-install in my BMW X5 isn't possible. After sending them an inquirry, I got this response from Denison: "...the X5 the_kit connects to the back of the radio direct (the trunk version is not long enough and you'd have to buy an expensive extension cable)."

Looks like I'll have to take it to an audio shop-- I'm not brave enough to remove my radio and dig around there on my own.

[STAT 007]

None of you guys are bothered by the fact that the Ice-Link uses the headphone jack on the top of the iPod instead of a higher-quality Line Out feed, such as that which comes from the iPod's Dock Connector (or the Dock's Line Out jack)?

[lonnie_20]

would the sound quality really be much different? if so, why/how?

[dulinor]

some of us have pre-dock iPods, so that's the only option.

My understanding is that the headphone jack is quite high quality, but of course has gone through an amplification step that you'd really rather avoid. In a car environment, I could certainly live with that. (Will still be worlds better than FM or Tape, and most importantly can be controlled by your head unit.)

[VideoFreek]

Originally posted by dulinor
some of us have pre-dock iPods, so that's the only option.


Actually, ICE-link comes in two different models for "classic" and 3G Pods, so utilizing the bottom connector would have been an option for the 3G model. In fact, as I posted in another thread, there have been some indications that it may be possible to pass remote commands to 3G Pods through the dock connector (one guy claimed to get confirmation of this from Apple). If this is true, the 3G version of ICE-link could have been truly elegant, with a single bottom connector providing power, control and line out functionality. Oh well!!! :(

[gvenditto]

Hmmm.

I was all set to order the Blitzsafe AUX adapter for my BMW 528.

ICElink is twice the price but you get an iPod holder and the track advance feature.

But huggies brings up a good point about compatibility with other iPods and other AUX devices.

I suppose there's a good chance the ICElink will play other AUX devices, albeit without the track advance.

Still, a $99 is a lot to pay for track advance and a holder.

[awmac]

I have just come across FULL BMW mounting instructions for their AUX input to a Business CD - hope this helps someone!

http://homepage.mac.com/bmw_m3/.Public/Installation_Instructions/AUX_Connector_Retrofit.pdf

Rgds

Alan

[gvenditto]

It looks easy -- *after* you have removed the glove compartment and radio. The Blitzsafe (and ICE-link) adapters are easier to connect to the trunk changer. The only problem with them is that you have to run wires up to the front.

[lonnie_20]

you are absolutely right...the hardest part was running the wires under the carpet!