Just buy an aftermarket head unit and make sure that it has either a 3.5mm input jack or a pair of RCA cable inputs in the back.
1st case) Buy a 3.5mm to 3.5mm jack, like $2 on eBay
2nd) RCA to 3.5mm, like $2 on eBay
I've used both and they both sound great.
1st case) Buy a 3.5mm to 3.5mm jack, like $2 on eBay
2nd) RCA to 3.5mm, like $2 on eBay
I've used both and they both sound great.
/agreeCapnNismo wrote:
Just buy an aftermarket head unit and make sure that it has either a 3.5mm input jack or a pair of RCA cable inputs in the back.
1st case) Buy a 3.5mm to 3.5mm jack, like $2 on eBay
2nd) RCA to 3.5mm, like $2 on eBay
I've used both and they both sound great.
/disagree - it's not much more expensive to get one that charges the unit as well ... and that's so much handier, especially for longer trips. Take a look into something like this: http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/roadtripGodFather wrote:
/agreeCapnNismo wrote:
Just buy an aftermarket head unit and make sure that it has either a 3.5mm input jack or a pair of RCA cable inputs in the back.
1st case) Buy a 3.5mm to 3.5mm jack, like $2 on eBay
2nd) RCA to 3.5mm, like $2 on eBay
I've used both and they both sound great.
It's a nice add-on but not worth the $160, if you just won the lottery then go ahead, otherwise stick with a 3.5mm cable and a Car charger.
Shows what you know, kyle.
FM transmitters are total fail when it comes to sound quality. Hardwire it.
And for charging just buy a car to USB charger. Simple and it works and you have an input cable and charging system for less than $15.
FM transmitters are total fail when it comes to sound quality. Hardwire it.
And for charging just buy a car to USB charger. Simple and it works and you have an input cable and charging system for less than $15.
CapnNismo wrote:
Shows what you know, kyle.
FM transmitters are total fail when it comes to sound quality. Hardwire it.
And for charging just buy a car to USB charger. Simple and it works and you have an input cable and charging system for less than $15.
The idea of any hi-fi system is to reproduce the source material as faithfully as possible, and to deliberately add distortion to everything you hear (due to amplifier deficiencies) because it sounds 'nice' is simply not high fidelity. If that is what you want to hear then there is no problem with that, but by adding so much additional material (by way of harmonics and intermodulation) you have a tailored sound system, not a hi-fi. - Rod Elliot, ESP
I agree. Those FM transmitters are terrible when it comes to quality. 3.5mm to RCA/3.5mm is the way to go. If you need a charger, just get a cheapo car to USB charger and plug you ipod into that
once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.
you can get a cheap head unit for like 40 buckskylef wrote:
/disagree - it's not much more expensive to get one that charges the unit as well ... and that's so much handier, especially for longer trips. Take a look into something like this: http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/roadtripGodFather wrote:
/agreeCapnNismo wrote:
Just buy an aftermarket head unit and make sure that it has either a 3.5mm input jack or a pair of RCA cable inputs in the back.
1st case) Buy a 3.5mm to 3.5mm jack, like $2 on eBay
2nd) RCA to 3.5mm, like $2 on eBay
I've used both and they both sound great.
Id probably do that rather than getting a radio transmitter, as the quality isnt so great sometimes, especially when driving long distances, you tend to get interference
As for a hard-wired solution i still say a head unit is the best thing
I think Pioneer had made iPod adapters too.
Although i've never been a fan of wireless FM transmitters, Alpine's EX-10 does a pretty good job as an FM transmitter solution to Ipod connectivity. I've fitted plenty of them to cars such as Porsche 911, new Jag XK and S types due to them using Optical connectivity for audio and data transmission. It's proved a popular option to us when we've not been able to gain access into OEM car audio for ipod. Dension's Gateway 500 only stretches so far across the vast amount of manufacturers now using optical data transmission in their vehicles.
All that said, if we do gain access into OEM car audio the protocol between the OEM radio and the Ipod interface generally turns out to be slow and limited (especially in non optical cases) so i'd always recommend buying and installing (when possible) a radio that is dedicated to Ipod.
In all fairness, what damages FM transmitting devices quite badly is poor engineering and people buying cheap devices in the first place. Most people expect a £9.99 device they picked up off the shelf at their local supermarket to be the last word in audio quality.
All that said, if we do gain access into OEM car audio the protocol between the OEM radio and the Ipod interface generally turns out to be slow and limited (especially in non optical cases) so i'd always recommend buying and installing (when possible) a radio that is dedicated to Ipod.
In all fairness, what damages FM transmitting devices quite badly is poor engineering and people buying cheap devices in the first place. Most people expect a £9.99 device they picked up off the shelf at their local supermarket to be the last word in audio quality.
Last edited by baggs (2008-11-04 02:24:08)
You guys are crazy if you think I'm going to ruin this sexy ass interior with an aftermarket head unit.
The reason I want to get the item in the OP is because I can control the iPod through the factory navigation display.
The reason I want to get the item in the OP is because I can control the iPod through the factory navigation display.
Sorry i kinda digressed there due to the thread taking a turn towards the FM transmitter.
But anyway be aware of this:
But anyway be aware of this:
That text there from the website kinda disclaims that the interface can run slowly, this is due to the sheer amount of data the interface has to look at then relay that to the slow protocol on the OEM honda unit. So tho it will work, it may work very slowly depending on certain factors. What looks to be the key to having fluid use of the Ipod to the Honda OEM unit is to build up your playlists but keep them relatively small, the more data the interface has to deliver to the OEM unit the worse it will run.Browsing on the iPod is intuitive and easy with the new I-HONDA-R4 Silverline series interface, because it was designed for content navigation. Unfortunately, car radios do not present such a versatile user interface, and selecting between the 1000s of songs can be difficult. To ease content navigation the Silverline Series now includes a hierarchical filtering. First the contents are narrowed by selecting a Playlist, and then further narrowed by selecting an Artist. If desired, further content filtering can be achieved by selecting an Album. Of course, having Playlists is not a requirement, and users are free to explore music in their own preferred way. Best of all, while browsing for new content, playback of the current selection is not interrupted until an actual selection is made.
Go to Best Buy ...
Having used one for a year the quality is pretty decent for most music at car stereo level. And now having used hardwire for about 2 months while the quality is better, I question the cost. A car charging FM transmitter is only about £30 and is well worth it.CapnNismo wrote:
Shows what you know, kyle.
FM transmitters are total fail when it comes to sound quality. Hardwire it.
And for charging just buy a car to USB charger. Simple and it works and you have an input cable and charging system for less than $15.
Fitting a car to USB charger is pretty complicated if you're a bit of a newbie - which most are. However if you do know how to do it then I will concede it's a vastly better solution...!
Last edited by kylef (2008-11-04 07:43:43)
fm = the worst quality
i have a tape thingy and it's OK for my iphone music
aux input = the way to go if you can
i have a tape thingy and it's OK for my iphone music
aux input = the way to go if you can
OK, that last paragraph ... I'm no tech expert, but I am PRETTY sure that it doesn't take much technical know-how to install this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Universal-USB-Car … 240%3A1308kylef wrote:
Having used one for a year the quality is pretty decent for most music at car stereo level. And now having used hardwire for about 2 months while the quality is better, I question the cost. A car charging FM transmitter is only about £30 and is well worth it.CapnNismo wrote:
Shows what you know, kyle.
FM transmitters are total fail when it comes to sound quality. Hardwire it.
And for charging just buy a car to USB charger. Simple and it works and you have an input cable and charging system for less than $15.
Fitting a car to USB charger is pretty complicated if you're a bit of a newbie - which most are. However if you do know how to do it then I will concede it's a vastly better solution...!
Ohh ok, well that explains it.phishman420 wrote:
You guys are crazy if you think I'm going to ruin this sexy ass interior with an aftermarket head unit.
http://reviews.cnet.com/sc/31756953-2-4 … rior-4.gif
The reason I want to get the item in the OP is because I can control the iPod through the factory navigation display.
If you have $160+shipping +tax to blow, then Do it and get pics,
I thought the screen was small like a standard head unit so using something like that would be pointless, but yeah.
Personally, I wouldn't buy it because I don't see it worth $200, but if you like it and have $200 laying around, send pics.
I was referring to hooking it up to the stereo directlyCapnNismo wrote:
OK, that last paragraph ... I'm no tech expert, but I am PRETTY sure that it doesn't take much technical know-how to install this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Universal-USB-Car … 240%3A1308kylef wrote:
Having used one for a year the quality is pretty decent for most music at car stereo level. And now having used hardwire for about 2 months while the quality is better, I question the cost. A car charging FM transmitter is only about £30 and is well worth it.CapnNismo wrote:
Shows what you know, kyle.
FM transmitters are total fail when it comes to sound quality. Hardwire it.
And for charging just buy a car to USB charger. Simple and it works and you have an input cable and charging system for less than $15.
Fitting a car to USB charger is pretty complicated if you're a bit of a newbie - which most are. However if you do know how to do it then I will concede it's a vastly better solution...!
Those Acura's SHOULD actually have a built in iPod jack in the radio. I remember seeing an advert for them one time that a lot (if not all) had a 3.5mm input jack.
Why the hell would you hook up the USB charger to the stereo directly? That's just making more work for yourself. That very same FM transmitter went in the cigarette lighter, it just had a dock instead of a cable.
Why the hell would you hook up the USB charger to the stereo directly? That's just making more work for yourself. That very same FM transmitter went in the cigarette lighter, it just had a dock instead of a cable.