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View Full Version : USA-Spec Device Screwed Up Wireless Headphones in Honda Odyssey


graystrickland
06-23-2007, 06:24 AM
I drive a 2005 Honda Odyssey EXL with RES ("rear entertainment system" -- what Honda calls the video screen for the 2nd and 3rd row) and NAV (gps navigation). Since installing the USA-Spec iPod device to play my iPod through my factory sound system, I am not getting any wireless (infrared) headphone sound in the rear of the van when playing DVDs, but the headphones work fine for all other inputs (AM, FM, XM, CD and AUX). This is weird, and it shouldn't be so.

The Odyssey is designed so that the 1st row (driver + front passenger) can listen to any source they like over the front speakers, while the 2nd/3rd row listen to any other source over wireless headphones. Any combination is possible. Until I installed the USA-Spec device, it worked fine.

The Odyssey has audio and video input RCA jacks in the 3rd row armrest. You can plug in there an iPod, xbox, playstation, etc. Anything plugged in there is the "AUX" source. Until I bought the USA-Spec box, I had an audio cable which ran over the floor from the front row to the 3rd row armrest so I could play my iPod while the kids watched (and listened on headphones) to their movies. It worked fine, but the signal level was a little low with all all that cabling and it did not charge the iPod. I wanted the convenience of plugging and charging my iPod in the front row without cables on the floor. Now I have that, but my kids can't listen to their dvds any more, although their headphones work fine for all other inputs.

I think that my newly installed USA-Spec PA11-HON-2y has somehow disabled the wireless infrared headphone system when used with DVDs, but I can't imagine why. You can listen to AM, FM, XM, CD or AUX on the headphones. You just can't hear DVD movies on the headphones since installing the USA Spec device.

Is there anyone out there with an 2005 or newer Odyssey and the USA Spec PA11-HON-2y device? Have you lost headphone sound for dvds? Is mine installed wrong?

graystrickland
06-23-2007, 09:07 AM
Replying to my own message...

It *MUST* be the USA-Spec PA11-HON-2y iPod device, because:

1. The wireless infrared emitters and headphones do work for everything except dvds, so there is no wire or harness cut;

2. The three *output* jacks in the 3rd row armrest are identically afflicted. They have a good signal for wired headphones/earbuds on every source except dvd.

Somehow the USA-Spec device is cutting off audio to the rear, on both wired and wireless (but only when dvd is selected as source in the rear). If this is how the USA-Spec is *designed* to work, then I'm taking it back for a refund. One of the main reasons I bought this van was so that my kids could watch and listen to movies while I listen to something else! Now I'm facing an 8 hour drive listening to the kids' movies over the car speakers. Grrrrrrr....:mad: