Does anyone with the service manual know if an auxiliary input exists on the TL? I am gunning to run a line-in for my TL so I can hook up my Ipod. Cassette adapter sounds like crud!

 

FWIW my salesman claimed that there were AUX inputs. He also claimed that there is an Acura MP3 player that will show song title info on the NAVI screen. The only thing he could tell me about the MP3 player was that it was ~$500. I haven't received any more info than what I've just posted.

Has anyone else received any info on Audio/Video inputs, or an Acura MP3 accessory?

 

Here's a device that creates an AUX input.

http://blitzsafe.com/blitz_catalog/b...itz_acura.html

Didnt do much research on it, but my be what your looking for.

 

And one other product that has more information:

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/logjam/sounsnhond3.html

 

None per the svc manual. The XM radio took that connection. TSX has them as it has an optional cassette player/mp3 player.

 

Heres a picture diagram of a SNHOND3 install in a TSX for an IPOD

http://www.webspan.net/~nsw/iPod_install/Pages/0.html

 

After seeing the posts about the MP3 acc'y for the TSX, I'm thinking the sales guy confused the TSX with the TL. I'll still continue to ask.

Even if the input on the radio is used by XM, there is still an input. That would allow for externally switching between XM and another source. I'm starting to feel a little more confidant if the XM receiver is not part of the main radio.

I've ripped dashboards and panels out for years, but with my brand new TL I'm pretty gun shy. Everything fits together so nicely I'm afraid it won't go back quite the same. Also, I don't see many exposed screws. That makes me think it has those dreaded plastic clips. I don't want any to break off and have loose fitting, rattling stuff.

Any comments from anyone who has attempted this on the TL?

I've looked at the web sites shown above (Thank you for posting) and didn't see anything for the '04 TL. Maybe they just don't have it yet for the TL.

Why can't OEM radios include all the features of after market stuff and more? If the DVD-A deck could read MP3 files from CD-R and DVD-R disks we would not need to even discuss here. With 4.7 GB of data per disk x 6 disks = LOTS of music. If only...

About the only things I've found that I can complain about on my new TL is the lack of MP3 support, standard AUX input, and that rediculous legal disclaimer every time I start the car! Give me a break, give me a check box to select not to show it anymore!

Has anyone investigated more on the TL rather than the TSX?

 

I've looked into that Blitzsafe product; they're just about done with the BMW product but have no news about the Acura ones.

However, I think Blitzsafe's product requires the availability of an AUX input, which I do not know if the TL has.

 

technogeek,

Here, try this thread, it talks all about what you want, the guy had a hard drive MP3 player installed in the trunk with a switch over from sat radio to the mp3 player (plus plays DVDs on the screen all in the new TL:

http://www.acura-tl.com/forum/showth...threadid=67879

The XM reciever is in the trunk, seperate, and over the pass rear wheel per the svc manual.

Have fun!

 

Yes - The XM receiver is in the trunk, and the output is line level. SO - you can add a relay and switch at that point to add other line level devices.

I plan to add a trunk mounted CD/MP3 player there.

 

Thank you automophile and need4spd!
That kind of makes sense that the XM receiver would be near the antenna. I'll have to start digging around in my trunk. I plan on ordering the svc manual, hopefully it will have some info.

I spoke with my sales guy again today. Not much more info other than to say that he was not mistaken, it is not the TSX, there will be an MP3 player for the TL. According to him, which is according to his parts department, there will be many accessories coming for the TL. However, he claimed that many of them may not be available until the summertime. Has anyone else heard similar info from their dealer?

Even if it is available, I'd still like to have an Aux input.

As for some of the comments about MP3 quality, I agree, it is not as good as high resolution DVD-A. I haven't found many stores selling DVD-A though. Ask in the store in the mall and they will tell you "sure we sell music video DVDs!"

High bit rate MP3 DEFINITELY sounds better than most of what I've heard on XM. I'm still checking out multiple channels, but most of what I've heard I'm very dissappointed with. I had my kids in the car over the weekend and played XM Kids and Radio Disney. They sounded TERRIBLE! I'll listen more to some of the Jazz channels and see if they sound better. For news they don't have my favorite, NPR, so I will probably continue to listen to FM.

I'd really like to have gigabytes of MP3s available!

Thanks again for the info!

 

technogeek,

Sorry, your sales guy is still wrong, all the acura press releases said NO MP3's as the audio quality was not up to the ELS system (probably ELS himself said, no MP3's if I design this, ie to stop copyright issues).

Go to www.hondanews.com and search around for the TL, it is there.

The svc manual is very helpful, you will enjoy it (even tells you which wires are line level, and which ones are the RGB inputs to the video screen.

Lots of diagnostic goodies too.

 

need4spd,

Thanks, I will order it. Do you have only the svc manual? According to the Helm Inc web site the electrical trouble shooting manual is not available yet. I was gonna wait for all the manuals to be available, but I guess I'll order 'em as they are available..

Thanks.

I'm only reporting what my sales guy is telling me. Maybe they realize the error of their ways by not providing what buyers want. By the logic of MP3 not sounding good, they wouldn't have included AM or XM from what I can tell. Cassette tape is clearly inferior to a good quality high bit rate MP3.

As for copyright stuff, the chicken s**t should still sell it. Diamond fought this battle a long time ago. This must be the reason though. No OEM is providing it.

When I was looking at cars it was a question I asked every salesman; will the stereo play MP3 files? Every time I got the same answer, almost verbatim: "I don't know, I'll have to check on that. No one has ever asked that before." Either all the salesmen are totally clueless, or they are coached to say exactly this. I asked at an auto show last summer, and recently when I bought my car. Acura, Lexus, Volvo, BMW, all of them said the same thing!

 

Technogeek, I only have the svc manual, it is pretty detailed, shows all the electrical connections and diagnostics (in addition to all the mechanical stuff), I can not imagine what the electrical trouble shooting manual has (I too thought I would need that, but can not see a reason for it after getting the svc manual).

I don't disagree, MP3's are better than AM or FM anyday (especially with the crappy rear window antena, without dual diversity mode).

The ELS guy is the only thing I can think of that stopped it.

FYI - the TSX has an optional MP3 player, and I heard the Mazda 6 plays them standard (you asked about OEM applications).

 

You can also get one in the Honda Accord....

Peeze out

 

Its funny, how Acura doesnt have things that a lower class car does..

No Built in Key Fob, No Mp3 Player, so much more, and this stuff is available in a Honda Accord..

BTW I also heard the same stuff, when the TL was first coming out, that it would have a MP3 CD Player, that would display Full ID3 Tags on the Navi Display. Maybe it wasnt installed in time so it might be on 2005..

I have a feeling it will and the key in one fob, since Acura might be trying to hold things back for future years, but still the MDX is the same way, and the key is cheap, vs. the accord key which is double sided.. My 1998 Avalon even has a double sided key, for god sakes ACURA!

 

I agree....the Acura is supposed to be the superior car, that's why I paid 35 for it, and not 25 for the accord! What the hell are they thinking!!