IPD or USA Spec iPod adapter question

Post by **j_cd** » 12 May 2010, 22:42

I see that the IPD iPod kit comes with an instructional DVD, but do they add anything else that differs from the USA Spec Honda kits that are available for much cheaper? In the picture it looks like maybe they've added a different ground cable or something, but they might just use one picture for all their adapters. Anyone have experience with these? This is for a '98 S70 with an Alpine 6-CD changer which I've just removed from the trunk.

whoa · Post by **whoa** » 12 May 2010, 23:34

I've had good luck with the $60 or so Blitzsafe adapter.

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 13 May 2010, 03:56

Do these Ipod adapters only work with a CD player/changer?

Post by **jblackburn** » 13 May 2010, 07:28

The majority of them plug into the CD changer port on the back of the stereo. It's like an Auxilary input.

Post by **j_cd** » 13 May 2010, 09:42

The USA-Spec units use the input from the CD changer in the trunk. I think with the Blitzsafe ones you just plug into the back of the stereo. I was just wondering if IPD adds anything to the kit that makes it worth $179 as opposed to $110, etc... I'm pretty sure the answer is no.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 13 May 2010, 13:05

They both use the 6 disc changer input on the HU.
There's often a cable that extends that connection to the back, where the optioonal
changer goes, but I don't know why anyone would plug their iPod adapter in way back there.

It's also worth knowing that some adapters are just auxillary input adapters for any RCA type audio input
and then there are adapters that also give you limited iPod control from the stock HU controls. Prices vary.

Post by **matthew1** » 13 May 2010, 13:43

BEJinFbk wrote:...but I don't know why anyone would plug their iPod adapter in way back there.

Grasping at straws here, but tailgating or camping would see that connection used. But yea.

whoa · Post by **whoa** » 13 May 2010, 13:59

Aux-in adapters that plug into headphone jacks are nicely device-independent, but they suck because you have to fiddle with two volume controls and it doesn't power and charge your device. I don't care about controls on the head unit other than volume and mute. I'd rather search for songs on the ipod holding it in front of me than look at the head unit.

http://enfigcarstereo.com/shopsite_sc/s ... K1_V2.html

MaxIcon · Post by **MaxIcon** » 14 May 2010, 14:02

I have the USASpec PA-11HON iPod adapter with the CDL-VOL cable on my 99 C70 with the SC-901 stereo, and am mostly happy with it. It works better with my Nano than with my iPhone.

I know there are a lot more negatives than positives in my list, but it's the best option I've found that works from the head unit, and mine hasn't read burned CDs well for 6-8 years now.

You need the newer cable to be able to charge the Gen4 Nano or iPhone 3G/3GS, so make sure it comes with that. I had to buy a new one, as I got mine right when the Gen4 was released.

I recently put a $110 JVC KDR-600 in my Miata that supports iPods, external input, and thumb drives, and it's a far, far better interface than the USASpec. If it weren't for the amazing sound quality of the SC-901, I'd put a modern head unit in instead, but my budget doesn't support it right now.

All these experiences are with a unit about 18 months old, mostly run in playlist mode. They may have fixed some of the most annoying bugs since then, but I've found USASpec's support to be virtually non-existent.

The cable plugs directly into the back of the stereo (and you have to T off of the power and accessory wires). I pulled my ashtray and stuffed the PA-11 and cables back into the hole, and also keep the Nano tucked back there when not in use, since people around here will bust out your window to steal anything Apple related. I should spend a few hours to mount it up properly, but that's on my B list.

Good:
Lets you control the tracks, randomization and 5 playlists from the head unit.

Great sound if your source files are good quality.

You have the option of leaving the aux input active for using other devices, which sacrifices one playlist mapped to a CD.

It's flexible in which mode you run in. Running direct mode (controlling through the iPod rather than the head unit) may get around some of the bugs, but I don't use mine that way.

Bad:
When you turn off or restart the car, it reloads the CD maps and starts again at CD1, track1, which bites if you're in the middle of something great and have to start the car. This is only in playlist mode - in direct mode, you control it through the iPod/iPhone, and it plays whatever is playing there. I don't use it that way, and haven't experimented a lot with it.

Loading the tracks from the iPod can take about a minute, depending on how much music you have. Once they're loaded, it's relatively responsive, if a little slow.

When you turn the car off, if you don't either switch the stereo to something else (FM, CD3, whatever), the Nano stays on, keeps playing, and will run its battery down. This makes it take a few minutes to restart when you start the car next.

The interface is quirky. I never got the track naming convention they describe to work (VOLVO1, etc), and it just maps the first 5 playlists to CDs 1-5 (CD6 is the entire iPod). My Nano is dedicated to the car, so this is fine, but if you have a lot of playlists, you'll have to work out a system. I make huge playlists and shuffle them with the random button, but this is my preferred method anyway.

Trying to move ahead or back by a lot of tracks is also quirky. If you spin the selector, say, 20 tracks ahead, it'll often jump back to something else.

Wrapping past 100 tracks works, but my Volvo only displays 1-99, and it gets confusing after that. Still, I mostly shuffle, so no problem.

The cable is too big to fit some iPhone cases. I had to file out the hole on my case for the cable to make a good connection.

There's no useful info displayed on the Volvo stereo. The Nano shows all the MP3 info (though in those tiny fonts they love), but the iPhone only shows "Accessory Connected". There's no way to find out the info on a song playing from my iPhone 3G.

No support from USASpec. No replies to multiple emails, poor documentation, terrible website updates. I had to get my new cable on ebay, as I couldn't get them to sell me one, or even say if they were available.

Doesn't sound too compelling, as I read back

. If I had anything but the SC-901, I'd put the money towards a modern head unit.

Post by **j_cd** » 15 May 2010, 10:20

MaxIcon, thank you for the detailed info. After reading that I think maybe I'll just get a new head unit. Alpine has a nice one, Sony has some, etc... or even just a cheapie for now.

Does it have to be double DIN to fit properly or can you mount a single DIN in there with no problems?