Anywho, I just bought my '06 TSX and I was wondering which cable would work best with the AUX jack for iPod integration. The guys in the accessory department at my local dealer don't offer just the cable but an entire $300 package for cars that don't already have the AUX jack. So basically I need to find/buy a cable. Any suggestions?

 

This is what I use on my 06 TSX and the sound is very, very good.

I give it a definite



The gold piece below the power cable on the dock connector is where you would plug the cable (3.5mm male-to-male stereo) that goes into the aux port.



Excited

 

Isn't it just a 1/8" minijack?

 

try a 15 dollar power cable from amazon and a 7 dollar 1/8" stereo mini plug from radio shack and your all set, works wonderful for my ipod video. no distortion or interference what so ever. so there you go, ipod connection for under 30 bucks

 

Is that one that recieves through the radio (the monster cable one) or is it made for the AUX jack. Is that just one cable that takes up both the AUX port and the 12V port next to it? I'm not entirely clear... Thanks for your help

 

Yes, if you have the 2006 TSX, which you say you do. there is a 1/8 inch stereo min jack and 12volt power outlet in the center console. you dont need to spring 60 or 70 bucks for a fance integrated connector where the power and audio output go through the ipod dock connector on the bottom of your ipod. all you need is a ratshack 1/8 inch cable and buy whatever brand dc power connector on whatever website you like to use or bestbuy or whatever and your ready to go.

 

Works for me, I've used several audio devices with just a regular cable and minijack and it sounds great. Mabe I'm missing something.

 

Another vote for the monster cable



i've had this and the $7 cable from radio shack. Nothing wrong with the radio shack cable but, to me, it sound better connecting to the dock connector then it does connecting to the headphone jack. I also like that the ipod shuts itself off when i turn the car off.

 

Thanks for your help. I'm going to buy the Monster Brand cable. Last question, is the 1/8 jack a separate cable that I need? Or does that Monster cable do it all in one?

 

Belkin makes a cable very similar to that Monster cable, but I prefer it because the aux out port is on the power plug end, not the iPod plug end, so you only have 1 wire running to the iPod, and its just a dock connector.

But all you need to get a signal into the aux port of the TSX is a $7 radioshack 1/8" mini stereo cable. Plug one end into TSX aux, plug the other end into the headphone jack, turn up the volume and rock out.

 

MHeat3 and Others.

There are different cables or adaptors to solve the problem but they will not produce the same audio result. I am not a high end audiophile. but I have connected my 3rd Gen ipod to my auto (I have that same Monster Cable adpt shown above) and also connected it to a semi high-end home stereo (a friends)

My experience is that connecting directly into the iPod headphone jack gives the worst results. Usable? Yes. Tolerable? To a degree. But, only at medium volumes.

Just try this test....

PART I:
You need: an iPod, a male to male mini-stereo cable, direct input jack(receptacle) to car stereo like the stock 06 or a custom install as needed on <06 TSX (BUT do not use the iPod dock base, or convertor connector--that comes later!)

a) plug the one end of male to male mini-stereo cable to car stereo input jack
b) plug the other end of male mini-stereo cable to the HEADPHONE jack of iPod
c) set car stereo volume to mid way
d) set ipod volume to mid way
e) while listening to music slowly turn up the IPOD volume only ....Hear anything?
f) now that the iPod volume is at max, Slowly increase car stereo volume. How does that sound?

The above is the baseline sound.

Part II
You need: an iPod, amale to male mini-stereo cable, direct input jack(receptacle) to car stereo AND an iPod dock or a Monster cable or Belkin adapter that has long connector.

a) plug the one end of male to male mini stereo cable to car stereo input jack
b) plug the other end of male mini-stereo cable to the AUX out jack of iPod Dock -or- AUX out jack of MonsterC style adaptor cable.
c) set car stereo volume to mid way
d) set ipod volume to mid way
e) while listening to music slowly turn up the IPOD volume only
AHH haaa!! the volume does not change does it? turn it up and down...vol won't change
f) Now slowly increase car stereo volume

The difference is that using the AUX out jack on dock or adapter bypasses the amplification that is used for the iPod headphone jack. The iPods low quality amplification works fine for (most) headphones. But then amplify that with the Car Stereo amplification and it sounds like crap.

But the iPod dock or a Monster type connector adaptor (like the one shown above) produce an UNamplified signal to the stereo. Bottom line is less distortion than using the headphone jack. Granted compressed audio files can only sound so good.

Well, honestly some won't know the difference because most of their MP3 are 96kbps or 128kbps (maybe bootleg'd? ) encoded audio files. I feel that 192kbps+ files are much better sounding over a full stereo system (car and home.)

happy listening. -ed

 

that's really interesting. makes sence

 

I second the Belikn. The unit also has a preamp built-in with a volume control so you can adjust the level to match.

 

I agree the Belkin is a simpler design, but the AUX out connector location near power plug is more susceptible to picking up noise again adding to colored/distorted sound.

BTW: Check out iPodlounge.com's Accessory Review Section for more information than you really need.

 

I use the monster cable also and a 1/8" mini stereo cable from Radio Shack and so far it totally works fine . . . but all you really need is the 1/8" mini stereo cable . . . although I do like how the sound is from the dock than the headphone jack . . . which the monster provides . . . but to each their own . . .

 

This thread needs to be posted here instead:

https://acurazine.com/forums/audio-video-electronics-navigation-22/