Did Acura discontinue their Musiclink integration for the IPod? I know it wasn't executed very well, but I was thinking of picking it up anyway.

 

As someone who is, unfortunately, stuck with the Acura Musiclink, all I can say is -- don't buy it. It's total crap, and you're much better off with an aftermarket solution.

Acura keeps promising they're fixing it, but they haven't.

Stay far, far away from it. Trust me.

 

Any suggestions? Do any aftermarket solutions integrate with the stereo?

 

Everyone I know uses Neo http://www.neocaraudio.com/ and they love it.

 

Depends on what you mean by integration. It is unclear to me if any of these can be deeply integrated into the navi unit to the extent that text is displayed, and you can browse through play lists, etc. with perhaps the exception of the Dice. However, I have read, but not confirmed that the Alpine head unit can only take one set of text inputs, either XM or something else. For me, I also have to have the XM because of my wife and also the XM nav traffic seems useful to me.

There are at least four manufacturers of devices, although perhaps manufacturer may be too lose a term because many of us suspect, myself included, that the Neo may just be a rebranded USASpec...and I own a Neo, which I am happy with.

Anyway, check out:

Blitzsafe (very little info)
http://www.blitzsafe.com/blitz_catal...z_catalog.html

Dice (potentially the most integrated of them all, allowing iPod text on the head unit, but not clear if it is at the expense of XM)
http://www.diceelectronics.com/ipod_integration.htm

Neo Car Audio
http://www.neocaraudio.com/

USASpec
http://usaspec.com/

Let us know what you find out, and how the state of the art has progressed in the last couple of years.

 

I just received an email from Blitzsafe in response to an email inquiry:


"We make two interfaces for your application. The HON/M-Link1 V.2X will allow you to connect your iPod for audio and charging only. There is no control or display of the iPod tracks via the factory radio, only from the iPod. Our HON/AUX DMX V.2X will give you an AUX audio input only. Both of these interfaces allow you to retain all factory options other that the external CD Changer. The in dash changer and all other options remain functional."

I interpret this to mean that the Neo and the USASpec units do with one box, what Blitzsafe does with two boxes. I do not interpret the external CD changer to be the same as the XM receiver or the DVD unit.

 

Thanks everyone!

 

I use the dice unit in the mode like the USA spec where it is in the extension I run the IPOD & Sirius Star Base through it. So I have sirius & XM.