Best ipod incar interface

[bucciface]

I own a 2000 Honda Accord. My car is compatible with pretty much every manufacturer. So I'm confused over which interface to buy. Which is best? Dension iceLink, PAC Aux-Pod, iPod2car, the Nio, iCruze or the P.I.E ipod interface. There's tons out there, I'm not sure which one is best.

There are differences between units. Personally I care about good sound, being able to use my stereo deck to flip between songs and charging the ipod. Display I couldn't care less about. I do like the ability to pick playlists from the deck but I think I would also like to use the iPod controls at the same time which u can't do with some systems.

Crap I'm rambling now. Well let me know your opinions, which one is best.

Thanx :)

[bhb399mm]

i think a majority like the ice link... interesting to see other opinions tho

[mxer210]

Can't go wrong with Monster.

Honda Interface Cable (http://www.purefiveaudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=78&products_id=1887)
+
iCruze (http://www.purefiveaudio.com/product_info.php?cPath=78&products_id=1649)

[audioscience]

I just installed a nice Alpine/ipod system in my car and I'm very happy with it. I'm not sure if you are just looking for an iPod stand alone add-on or an entire head unit to control it.

I got the Alpine CDA-9851 (http://iweb.alpine-usa.com/pls/admn/item_info?p_item_name=CDA-9851&p_category=10&p_subcategory=20&p_main=10) head unit and the KCA-420i (http://iweb.alpine-usa.com/pls/admn/item_info?p_item_name=KCA-420I&p_category=10&p_subcategory=20&p_main=10) iPod adapter. It's sweet with a flip down face and wonderful display. You can control your iPod and do artist, album, song and playlist searches through the head unit controls. My iPod Mini is installed in a conspicuous place where I don't have to worry about accessing the controls.

I don't have photos yet but I'll get some soon.

[dwiller1]

My vote is for IceLink. I have it for my 2003 Accord. Been using it now for just about a year with no problems.

http://homepage.mac.com/davewiller/IceLink

[GavinD]

Originally posted by bucciface
I own a 2000 Honda Accord. My car is compatible with pretty much every manufacturer. So I'm confused over which interface to buy. Which is best? Dension iceLink, PAC Aux-Pod, iPod2car, the Nio, iCruze or the P.I.E ipod interface. There's tons out there, I'm not sure which one is best.

There are differences between units. Personally I care about good sound, being able to use my stereo deck to flip between songs and charging the ipod. Display I couldn't care less about. I do like the ability to pick playlists from the deck but I think I would also like to use the iPod controls at the same time which u can't do with some systems.

Crap I'm rambling now. Well let me know your opinions, which one is best.

Thanx :)

I have the neo ion - it works really well for me...

[BigFatDuck]

i've seen a few mentions of the dension "icelink" and the "neo ion", but even browsing their sites it isn't entirely clear exactly how functional these units are, say in comparison to the alpine, pioneer, and kenwood options also available. i realize either of the first 2 can also be used with factory stereos which is a bonus and you can retain the use of controls on the ipod while plugged in, but are they more or less functional than the latter 3 if you intend on buying a new alpine, pioneer, or kenwood stereo already?

say i buy a new kenwood headunit, will i have better control of my ipod using an icelink or neo ion than the kenwood ipod adapter? does it have any of the same limitations (such as it beginning to play each track as you scroll through and slow scrolling in general, the 250 song listing limit, the lack of search within search)? will it display the track info better or worse?

[the4starish]

I've been wonder the same thing. I've changed my mind from Aux input to RCA-alpine adapter-pioneer adapter-aux to rca- and now maybe the kenwood. The reason i strayed away from the alpine and pioneer was because of their sub-par searching and scrolling ability. I was wondering if anyone knew how quick scrolling through your ipod with a kenwood was?

[audioscience]

Originally posted by the4starish
I've been wonder the same thing. I've changed my mind from Aux input to RCA-alpine adapter-pioneer adapter-aux to rca- and now maybe the kenwood. The reason i strayed away from the alpine and pioneer was because of their sub-par searching and scrolling ability. I was wondering if anyone knew how quick scrolling through your ipod with a kenwood was?

I haven't been able to find much info on this site about the Kenwood, it seems nobody has one. Maybe that's a sign?

I did find some reviews on Crutchfield.com though:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-u77whWxAPro/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=227550&id=review&i=113IP500

Sounds much like the same issues with the Alpine and Pioneer.

It is a bit of a pain but I find that playlists remedy my most listened to music. Either that or remembering which album you are searching for. If the album is higher up in the alphabet than the artist (eg. Elephant, White Stripes) then search for it that way. It will save you time and heartache.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I enjoy my Alpine setup thoroughly. With ~1300 of my most favored music on shuffle I rarely have a problem with what I'm listening to and don't rely on the search controls too often. The built in Alpine HU sounds better than an AUX input solution and looks better too. (I personally think that mounting your iPod on a cell phone holder off of the side of the dash looks ghetto, but that's just my opinion)

Good luck whatever you choose!

[mjarski15]

I would recommend the USA Spec interface from Crutchfield but it depends on how important it is for you to be able to control the ipod interface itself. You basicly do everything from the headunit and it will charge will it is playing and I believe that it charges for an hour after the car is turned off (not positive on that one), sound is great and it works with factory radios. Only thing is that you do lose control of the ipod itself.

[the4starish]

Originally posted by audioscience
The built in Alpine HU sounds better than an AUX input solution and looks better too. (I personally think that mounting your iPod on a cell phone holder off of the side of the dash looks ghetto, but that's just my opinion)


I also dont like the cell phone holder look. Im going to build a sophisticated tray (when i get the chance). Does the Alpine iPod adapter really sound better than the Aux input? Thats the first time ive heard that, but maybe ive just been ignoring it. Anyone else agree with audioscience?

[AloneInTheDark]

I imagine the adapter would sound better than an AUX connection, because it's bypassing the iPods headphone amp. I think if you used a dock connection for the AUX it would be up to par with the connector.

I'm really stuck on what to do, is the Alpine adapter controls really that crappy? I don't plan to really be scanning through songs all that much, I will probally have a playlist with about 100-200 songs that I want to select and shuffle. Will it be a good speed to control? Does it take like 10 seconds to change a song?

[consumerq]

Hello
Only thing is that you do lose control of the ipod itself.
Well that is not completely true with all the USA Spec units, now is it? ;)

[mjarski15]

Originally posted by consumerq
Hello

Well that is not completely true with all the USA Spec units, now is it? ;)

Well as far as I know I am the only lucky one.:D
Don't want to get anyones hopes up.

[GavinD]

I got both the adapters from www.mp3yourcar.com - they seem to have a variety of them and low prices.

[the4starish]

Originally posted by AloneInTheDark
I think if you used a dock connection for the AUX it would be up to par with the connector.

Thats what I planned on doing. I want to control volume completely through the deck, plus, it tends to sound distorted through the headphone jack unless you can get the volume level perfect.

[mp3m0nk3y]

I keep coming back to these forums, every few months, just to see if there have been any breakthrough products. I’ve yet to find anything that I’d be really happy with. I too am trying to avoid hacking my head unit, with cables and cradles. I have an older car that can use a standard after market stereo, but every option out there seems to have limitations. Scrolling performance problems, limits for the number of songs in a playlist, etc.

I’m willing to buy a new head unit and any supporting iPod interface, but if I do that, I’d like to plug in my iPod, put it in my glove box, and have full access to playlists, songs, and song information. With the number of iPods already in the hands of consumers, you’d think some company would have gotten it right by now. If Apple would produce such a car stereo, just how many do you think they’d sell?

Until then, I’ll just keep checking back…

[audioscience]

Originally posted by AloneInTheDark
I imagine the adapter would sound better than an AUX connection, because it's bypassing the iPods headphone amp. I think if you used a dock connection for the AUX it would be up to par with the connector.

Yes I think this is true. Also, there has been some arguement on these boards as to whether or not the Ai-Net is digital (we have yet to find a true answer). I resonably argue that the dock connector transfers PCM audio to the KCA-420i or headunit before it is converted to analog.


I'm really stuck on what to do, is the Alpine adapter controls really that crappy? I don't plan to really be scanning through songs all that much, I will probally have a playlist with about 100-200 songs that I want to select and shuffle. Will it be a good speed to control? Does it take like 10 seconds to change a song?

No, I don't think the Alpine controls are that bad. They are definately slower than the iPod itself but I can scroll through 2-3 songs a second or so. You should go to a place that has one setup with an iPod and check it out for yourself.

If you plan on using the shuffle mode mostly I say go for it! That's what I do. If I hit a song and I want to continue listening to that album I just take it off of shuffle until I get bored with it and hit shuffle again. For my most favorite music that I want to access quickly I use playlists to minimize the searching.

I love my setup and I don't think I would get any alternative. That is until a "true" clickwheel solution comes around but even then I don't think I'd spend the money to upgrade what I have.

[audioscience]

Originally posted by mp3m0nk3y
I have an older car that can use a standard after market stereo, but every option out there seems to have limitations. Scrolling performance problems, limits for the number of songs in a playlist, etc..

I'll let it be known again that with my 2005 Alpine unit I have ran into absolutely no limitation issues what-so-ever.

I can functionally listen to all of my 1350 songs on my iPod through search or MIX (shuffle) functions. I have not run into repeating of songs using MIX, nor have I had any problems finding an artist or song that is on my iPod.

There is no mention of the limitation regarding iPod in the 9851 manual and I have yet to find it regarding the 2005 Alpine HUs. If there is a limitation it certainly isn't visable through my usage.

[mp3m0nk3y]

Thanks for your reply, audioscience. That's encouraging information. When speaking about Alpine playlist limitations, I was going on what I read on the alpine-usa.com/driveyouripod/ site. If you follow the links for broadband, how it works, and then select get control, there's a bit about optimizing playlists. Your 9851 model is not mentioned specifically, so maybe it has a lot more memory than the models listed.

[TheBlackDragon7]

I think it's because audioscience's HU is 2005, and I'm guessing that Alpine, seeing the growing trend of iPod owners, decided to increase the memory in the newer HU's. That list of limitations applies to the 2004 units, because that's when HU's that could play MP3's played them off of specially burned MP3 CD's, which were only 700Mb capacity. Alpine didn't need to make their units accomodate more than 255 (or whatever it is) songs, because the MP3 CD's couldn't hold more than that (I'm guessing.) At least that's why I think there are limitations on the alpine (2004) units. don't quote me though.

[GavinD]

The Alpine adapter just doesn’t compete with the neo ion, and ice link OEM adapters. They offer more features with your stock radio then Alpine does with theirs… Unless you hate your OEM deck I would go with the neo ion or ice link - I have the neo and am very happy with it. :cool:

[TheBlackDragon7]

I was wondering, GavinD, if you ever tried the Alpine setup that audioscience has? I did actually want to go with an adapter that would work with my stock HU, becuase it makes the whole setup invisible (read: less tempting for a theif).

In fact, I went ahead and bought the Monster iCruze unit (didn't do much research on it though, apparently it hasn't been out long enough for anyone who writes reviews to make a review.) Unfortunately, I found the iCruze to be very unreliable, at least for the Honda headunits. I contacted Monster about it and I should recieve a new one (updated firmware) tomorrow. but I'm still looking at other options... I kinda like being able to see what track is playing, and be able to choose any Album, song, artist, or playlist, and it seems like Audioscience's setup is what I've been looking for... any bad experiences guys?

[TheBlackDragon7]

Plus, the Alpine head unit and the alpine iPod adapter are both made by the same company, so they should work together pretty well, right?

[GavinD]

My friend is an installer and has worked with a lot of the adapters on the current market. He said the Alpine interface is below average and that you loose the iPods controls. He recommended the www.mp3yourcar.com adapter and said it makes a direct connection with your OEM radio. I looked around online and saw a lot of positive things said about them so I ordered one. I have had it for a few months now and have really enjoyed the sound quality / user friendly interface…

[TheBlackDragon7]

Yeah, but I also read about that... some people ordered the Neo iOn, or something, and got a Denson Ice>Link instead? and some Ok reviews on the Ice>Link, at that. With most iPod to stereo interfaces, you lose the iPod control, for safety reasons (so they say). But at least Alpine's demo on their site made it look like it was pretty easy, almost like using the iPod itself...