Icelink Plus FROM Neo

[sundevil]

I ordered (or thought I ordered) a Neo Ion SP from the mp3yourcar.com website. The site shows pictures of the Neo and describes it.

Today I received my shipping confirmation from Neo Car Audio and it lists a Dension Icelink Plus as the product being shipped.

I was under the impression that they were competing companies. If this does not work flawlessly it will be going back. Anybody have a similar experience or know of an arrangement between the companies?

[sundevil]

This is part of the email I received back regarding the Icelink I was sent by Neo:

The pictures you were looking at were for the iOn, not the SP version. The
iOn is exclusively for factory car stereo's. We stock the dension piece b/c
of all the interest and inquiries for aftermarket deck compatibility. We
offer many solutions for products that our customers ask for, regardless if
we actually were the manufacturer or not, unlike many companies that can
only offer a limited product line.


It doesn't bother me that they sell Icelink, but it does bother me that you think you are getting a different product and don't know it until it ships. Their websites need a major overhaul.

[wibadger]

It's no mistake. I ordered the "Ion SP" for 2003 Accord and received what appears to be an Icelink Plus. (Along with a dension manual.) I emailed the company and received a call the next day.

They claim that they have "integrated" the icelink and their product. Never having seen the dension "little black box" I can't argue that the one I received from mp3yourcar is exactly the same. I'll check when I get home, but I'm pretty sure the circuit board is lacking any identifying marks.

I'm not entirely sure about all this, but I do know that:

1) If it weren't for the neo ion, I would have ordered the icelink plus.
2) They seem committed to keeping me as a happy customer and have been very response pre- and post-sale.
3) I saved a whopping $10 by ordering from them.

Odd. But it may work out in the end.

[wibadger]

Sundevil,

My sentiments exactly. What car is this going into?

wb

[defaoite]

First if it was advertised as a Neo ION and you got something else then you can send it back (not before getting an RMA) and are entitled to a refund for the full cost including shipping, this is an advertising thing.
Second I have the Ice link ,just got it a week ago, currently works ok ,have a few issues like the menu not working ,but dension have replied to me telling me of a firmware upgrade to resolve this later this week. But as for how it sounds and charging no problems as of yet. However the instruction are very poor ,nto supplied with the unit instead have to be d'loaded.
I will be posting as soon as I have everything finished ,as to the instal.

[sundevil]

wibadger,

This will be going into a 2004 Honda CRV EX. I have the in dash 6cd changer but it has no connections on the back. I will be selling it after I install my new Kenwood and the Icelink. They should all be arriving in time to work on this weekend.

The rest of the email said they would refund my money or I could send it back if I was not satisfied with it.

I wanted to order the Neo because of issues I have read about the Icelink and their customer service. Hopefully, the upgrade will solve any problems.

[wibadger]

I checked the little black box. The circuit board is printed with "Honda-Sony v1.1 (c) 2003". I'd be interested to know if the icelink board is the same.

defaoite,

They cleverly labeled this an Ion SP. Their rather uninformative website doesn't tell you how the Ion SP is different from the non-SP version. In that sense, I got what I ordered. Like sundevil, I've been told I can return it if I'm not happy.

[defaoite]

I says V1.1, that as far as I know is the older version ,that doesn't support tags to display them onto the head unit. As for support I found that they suck if you are asking a question before you have bought, but when I mailed them asking a question in relation to not been able to get up the menu they replied straight away. telling me of the upgrade.
I hope all works out , lets us know

[noelisgod]

Exact same thing happened to me - I ordered a Neo Ion sp (Sony) from mp3yourcar and I received a Dension Ice Link Plus

As far as I'm concerned the Dension is an inferior product and unfortunately this was proven when I tried to get it installed last week end. I took it to a sony dealer - purcahsed a sony head unit that was CD changer compatible but it still would not work i.e the Dension menu came up on my iPod Mini but the head unit would not or could not access the CD mode and hence no music played

I wrote to Neo 5 DAYS ago and still have not received a proper reply from them regarding what I am supposed to do next. The bottom line here as far as I'm concerned is the following - I ordered a Neo iON and did not receive it hence I am fully entitled to a refund - its basic sale of goods and services act.......

[Foxnfrau]

Has anyone tried Neo iOn's interface in a 2003 Accord LX? Saw that a couple of folks had had good luck with Soundgate's SNHond3 but that it didn't charge. Neo iOn's is supposed to, but there seems to be conflicting info as to whether or not you can use it in an 03 Accord.

[sundevil]

Like the perfect storm I received everything on Friday - the Icelink Plus from Neo, Kenwood and Proclip. Easy install and everything seems to be working well, although I still have to figure out how to set up some stuff in both the Kenwood and Icelink. Sound is great and the song/artist scrolls on the Kenwood display.

The Icelink came with what I think is the latest firmware 2.05 which I think had some fixes for Kenwood and Sony. All I had to do after install is drop my Ipod in the cradle.

Hopefully, everything will continue to work well after I get into all of the menus.

[NYRngrs24]

does the text on the ipod display on the kenwood hu?

[sundevil]

Yes, the text scrolls and the Icelink Plus works great when connected directly to the Kenwood. But when I tried to connect it thru a switch box because I wanted to connect both satellite radio and ipod to the Kenwood, the Icelink did not function as well.

[NYRngrs24]

do u have any pics? also can u scroll thru the whole ipod. ie.. browse the songs list..albums..artist..etc.. i like looking thru my WHOLE song list 2200+ songs..i usually got that on random.

[sundevil]

I don't have any pics because I sold the Icelink. I am now using the Kenwood Ipod controller because it works better going thru the switch box.

You can use either the Icelink interface or the normal Ipod interface to control it. So it would be possible to use it like you do now. I don't think text scrolls when using the Ipod interface though. The Icelink mode uses playlists.

You should look at the densionusa.com site for more info. I probably don't remember a lot of the details on how the Icelink Plus functions.

[lightning iPod]

If I recall, the dension sales rep mentioned on another forum that dension makes the neo ion and sells it them to brand under their own name. I'll find the link...

[lightning iPod]

Yep, here it is:

Sorry for the dot coms

Taken from E46Fanatics:
forum dot e46fanatics dot com/showthread.php?t=204279&goto=nextnewest


Originally Posted by kevster
www dot neocaraudio dot com/prod-ion.html

I heard this is good too, about the same price

Neo purchases directly from Dension. Basically the same kit, but slightly different parts. You will not receive the Active Cradle with Neo kit.