I know this has been beaten to death, but I just had a quick question. I'm driving a 2005 RL and would like to connect my iPod to the stereo system. I know that there is an iPod dock made by Acura, but from what i've heard it totally sucks and also was made for 2006 and up. So, i've read something about a USA SPEC attachment kit. Sounds good! Pull out the radio, attach the cable, feed the wiring, voila! Right? Well, I called the dealer to see if they attach it for me (don't like the thought of messing up any moulding) and it was a no go.

So, how the heck would you connect something like this? Does it require a PhD in Rocket Science to disassemble the dashboard to get to the radio? Any pics?

 

Try the Music link instructions on this thread for the RDX.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=898

There is also some info on the neo ipod installation thread in the same forum.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=686

Different subject==

I went to a car stereo store named Hurley's in McLean, VA.

The owner is more of a curmudgeon than Andy Rooney, and uses the F word in about every other sentence. I asked him for a quote to install USA Spec adapter, and he refused and went on tirade about how bad they are, and he going to trash $6K of inventory because it is all sh%t, etc. I think they have been there over 30 years, and he says if I really want, he will install it, and charge me for a couple of hours of labor with not promises. I cannot believe how he trash talked the USA Spec even though he advertises them on his website...at least used to...I have not checked lately.

Any feedback?

By the way, he ended by saying Welcome to Hurley's. sorry if I offended you, but that's the way it is.

 

I tried out both the Musiclink and USA SPEC and ended up with the USASPEC adapter... I would say that the USA SPEC is much better that the Musiclink and allows you to control the iPod directly... It cost me $40 to have the USASPEC installed in my RL... With all the electronics I would suggest going to an installer and having them install the USASPEC (if you are going that route)...

 

i had the usa spec one installed as well. the audio shopgave me the choice to control it directly or threw the audio controls. I chose through the audio buttons ofcoarse since the ipod stays in the glove box fully charged.. i got mine installed for less then 200 dollers. I love it. there are also audio in sockets for other things you may want to add later on like headrest monitors etc... awesome product.

 

I had my USA SPEc installed in my 05 at the cost of $60. I told them to run the cord to the arm rest and haven't had any issues with it at all. It's been installed for about 2 months and it took them less than 1 hour to get it done.

 

Here are the Musiclink install sheets for an 06 RL. 05 can't be much different to disassemble.... And the USA spec hooks up the same.

2006 MusicLink Install Instructions

 

USASPEC all the way...

awesome adapter, operates smoothly and without hiccups....

at one point, i was also considering NEO, however, almost everyone recommended USASPEC (even the local car audio shop where i got it installed)!

 

Crutchfield says installation of USASPEC will "replace the CD changer." I guess that means you can't play CDs at all since the only changer I know of is the in-dash changer... Is that right - no CDs with USASPEC?

 

I have just gotten the DICE unit which replaces XM, but displays the IPOD info on your nav screen. Will have it installed next week.

 

Not true - the CD changer is in-dash and you don't lose it with the USA Spec adapter. It plugs into the slot where the XM radio cable goes, but comes with a "pass-through" cable so you don't lose XM either.

 

I believe the USA Spec adapter plugs in where you would plug in an external CD Changer. You don't lose the in dash CD changer.

 

I have a 2005 RL and just had the USA Spec ipod adapter installed. It works great.
I like how it pauses the Ipod automatically when I turn the car off and then starts it again automatically when I start the car just like a CD. I don't even have to take the iPod out of the glove box until I want to change to another Artist or album. Big thumbs up.

 

I have a usa spec in my Envoy and it works great. The question though with my RL is will it utilize the display in anyway? If not, are there any options that will show the songs, playlists, etc in the display and not force me to get rid of XM?

 

Which button on the radio do you use to switch to the iPod? I know there's a button for XM, CD, etc. Which one will send it over to the iPod?

Also, I want to make sure I'm getting the right adapter. Is it Item #581PA11H2Y? Is Crutchfield the best place to buy it? I would like to get it local (near Winston-Salem, NC) and have it installed, but I'm new to the area, so I don't have any experience with any shops.

 

Sorry for the late reply but this isn't correct. I installed a USA Spec adapter in my 05 RL. The USA Spec comes with a pass-through cable. It connects into the port where the XM radio connects into the back of the head unit. You then connect the XM connector into the pass-through connector so you get iPod/AUX and XM connected.

 

Looking at the USA Spec site they have PA11– Hon2y that has the new hybrid mode. Is that the one that Crutchfield has? No one has answered my other question yet on which button on the radio will switch over to the iPod. I have an 05 RL.

 

Did you call USASpec. Manufacturers can be pretty helpful.

 

Push 'CD' button until 'CD-C' appears - this is the input for the iPod.

 

Thanks miner for the helpful answer.

 

I bought the Neo Car Audio iPod ProLink on advice from sasair on the RDX site. In retrospect, I think we have since discovered it is a relabelled USASpec, but I could not really tell that from the website since the picture is totally different. Anyway, from the looks of the product, next time, I would just buy a USASpec, at a cheaper price. I want to make it clear I don't believe sasair gave me bad advice at the time I purchased the Neo.

Anyway, I finally got off my butt and got this installed. I have been riding around with this device in my trunk for 8 months. I finally paid a car stereo shop to install it, which included drilling two holes through the center console storage compartment and grommetting the two cables, one an iPod connector, and one a 3.5 mm headphone jack. I have about 2.5 feet of cable to work with, and I think they did a good job.

It works really well. The sound through the iPod connector is superior to the headphone jack. Use the mode button on the steering wheel or the Disc button on the dash to toggle to CD-C. The iPod plays, charges and all iPod controls are still functional. The iPod pauses on a HFL call. No complaints. There is a noticeable difference in sound quality between sources. DVD A is the best, CD next, and XM and iPod about the same.

No iPod text, but that was never a product feature, so I had no expectations of any. XM still works well, you do not lose it.

Sorry about the bad picture quality, it is a telephone shot.

 

Will the ipod connector fit up through the cutout slot so that you can have the ipod in the top section of the center console? Did the 3.5 mm headphone jack cable come with it?

 

I did not think about that. The answer is yes, but not after it is installed as shown in the photo, because the iPod connector is wider than the cut out.

I also believe there is not enough cable to comfortably do it, and still lift up the console armrest and not have an awfully tight cable. This can be mitigated somewhat by the placement of the USASpec/Neo unit closer to the console. Alternatively, there is a cable that goes from the back of the radio to the USASpec/Neo unit, then the iPod connector is a separate four foot long cable. There is also a 6 foot long iPod connector you can buy. See the diagram below.

I may do a reinstall later if it bugs me too much, but that should be much easier because getting the radio out was the tough one for me. I could not easily get to the 8mm bolts without fear of losing them in the guts of the console.

I think there may be a DIY out there...in the end, I was too pressed for time.

http://www.neocaraudio.com/product_i...oducts_id=1002

No, the RCA to 3.5 mm headphone jack cable did not come with it.

Buy whatever cable and quality you want. I have seen cables over 20 feet long, so length is not a problem. I have seen "Monster Cable" type versions that are as thick as a ball point pen, or the typical Radio Shack variety. I just had the car stereo place install it. They did the usual overcharge--it cost $11.00 for a run of the mill stereo cable. And make sure you get a STEREO cable, and not a mono cable. They look almost the same, except the stereo has two insulators (they look like black stripes on the "pin" portioni that goes into the female jack on the audio device) and not just one.

 

Thanks. I've got mine on order from Crutchfield. I'm going to take it to an installer, so I'll see what options they suggest. I wish the center console had a groove cut out for cables. Then I could run it like you did and keep the iPod in the cupholder during use, and store it in the console.

 

I looked at it briefly, and I mean less than 10 second, and there is a rubber lip that prevents the cables from leaving the center console "nicely" I wonder if some kind of notch cut into the rubber lip would suffice? Then you could run it out of the bottom compartment in to the top. You would still have the issue with slack if you lifted the whole console lid up. But I think the more elegant solution is below:

The 6 foot extension cord would fix that problem immediately. That would allow you a total of 10 feet! Have the 6 foot cord grommeted into compartment wall, and then the four foot long iPod connector would could plug into that whenever you wanted to. No slack problem and no problem running it through the top console lid cutout. If anything, you might have to worry about too much cable!

See link below for Neo. Get the USASpec equivalent, of which there must be one.

http://www.neocaraudio.com/product_i...oducts_id=5031

 

I was talking about a notch or groove between the bottom section and outside of the console. A lot of other cars have this small feature. It would allow you to have the ipod plugged into from the bottom section of the console, but run the cord to the cupholder or passenger seat, etc when you wanted to without have to pinch the cable with the console closed. It wouldn't affect the upper small split console area.

 

You can buy it from crutchfield and pay them for an install and they set you up with an installer who will do it.

Of note I did this for my 2006 acura rl and there is a high pitched background noise that I called USA SPEC about. They told me they think it is from the ipod recharging and they are going to send me a unit where this has been disabled. When I get it I'll know if it works well enough to recommend. If it does not then the sound quality is NOT good enough.

 

You'll have to forgive me here but isn't a large part of it's useful functionality being that it charges the iPod? Now you're going to have to plug it into your wall every night.

 

I had my USA spec installed today. But I have a problem. I have the iPod touch and it won't let me use it in direct mode. It's stuck on the screen that says 'Accessory attached' or something like that. I plugged in my old iPod video and it works fine (I'm able to browse through on the iPod itself or use the controls in the car). Anyone hooked up the new iPods yet? Is it a setting in the new iPod or am I just out of luck? What's also odd is I hooked up the iPod touch in my other vehicle with an older version of USA spec (non-hybrid mode) and it worked fine. So maybe it's the hybrid mode / iPod touch combination that doesn't work.

 

Nick
will my dice unit from my RL work in my new 07 MDX?

 

Unless your DICE kit is very old it shouldn't be an issue. It would also depend on how old your RL is, if it's the current generation you should be fine.

 

For me that's not really an issue. I use my ipod in my alarm clock at night which charges it. Heck I use it when I swim, bike ride, sleep/alarm clock, so leaving full-time in the car is really not an option for me.

 

I was thinking aout getting the dice for my 2006 RL.

I found a site that sells a P.I.E. HON03-F/MM 2003-2007 Honda/Acura Navigation Pass-Thru Harness cable that you install with the iHonda-R3. From what I gather, this setup will allow me to have text with track info on my LCD car display, still have functionality of my navigation system and allow me to continue to use my XM radio, CD player (factory installed) ....

True ?

 

You need to read it again

"IMPORTANT NOTE: If your vehicle has the factory XM installed, you will still have to disconnect it in order to install any auxiliary input converter or iPOD interface. This 'Y' connector does not allow XM to remain connected"

 

The USA Spec unit I had in my old 05 RL had a pass-through cable which allowed both XM and AUX/iPod capabilities to be utilized.

 

Yes - but does it allow the Ipod information to be displayed.

 

iPod text info is not displayed.

Apparently this is a limitation of the head unit. There is supposed to be a unit or two out there that does allow the text to be displayed, but, and here is the rub, XM or Sirius must be disconnected, and the text capability that they allowed is then transferred for use by the iPod.

 

So - as I said - abeishter needs to read it again - AKAIK - there currently is no way to hook up an Ipod WITH XM and have the track info displayed. It IS possible to hook up an Ipod with XM - but again - just to be clear - you will not be able to have the tracks displayed.

In my case - with my '07 - I have a Cigarette Lighter cable for my Ipod that ALSO has a 1/8" mini jack on it (it also has a fold out AC plug on it for charging from a household wall jack ). The power and audio connection to the Ipod is all via the dock connector on the Ipod. I have the Cig. Lighter cable plugged into the outlet in the center console and then a short 1/8" mini plug patch cord going from the adapter to the aux input jack in the console.

Works great, sounds great - I can't imagine how it could sound better by any other means available. I mean - compared to your living room - ANY car is a rather noisy environment for audio when cruising down the road at 70 MPH. The only way I have been able to improve over this setup with my home theater system was using a direct digital optical output from my PC with I-tunes into a optical input on my home theater amp. That does sound remarkably better then the Ipod.

 

No, a P.I.E. kit does not display text in Honda's. DICE is the only company that knows how to do it. :o