I have a 2004 Acura TL. I am not great at all these electronic stuff. from what I have read on this site I guess I can have the USA SPEC PA11-HON12 installed to use my Ipod (30GB). Can you also let me know if I will be needing the PIE HON03-F/MM (08A31-0F1-000 adapter cable to retain the XM. I have navigation system. Please let me know if I will be needing any other accessories to install the USA SPEC PA11-HON12. What are the installation charges and where can I get the installation done. Has anybody installed it on a 2004 TL car. Also let m e know the pros and cons. Thanks.

 

Harry,

You have a few options for integrating your iPod into your TL.

1 - Acura Music Link

Pros: 100% compatible with 2004-2006 TL.
Flawless sound quality
Can be installed by Acura Dealer
Won't void warranty
Clean install with no visible changes in car
Great if you like random albums or songs played

Cons: Expensive - Figure about $400-450 installed depending on dealer
No artist or song info displayed anywhere
Limited ablility to find a specific song, artist, ablum, etc
Only works 100% with 4th Gen or higher iPods
The text to speach (TTS) plug-in for iTunes is buggy
Can't play videos on 5G iPod

2 - Harmon Kardon Drive+Play

Pros: Dedicated display and control wheel.
Should work with all iPods with dock connector
Has an aux audio input
Not too expensive at $199

Cons: Still requires an aux input solution such as the PIE X3 in order to connect to
radio unless you want to use the wireless FM transmiter (not recommended
for quality)
The display and controller need to be mounted somewhere

3 - PIE X3 Aux input with Blitzsafe Universal iPod Adapter

Pros: Allows you to retain control of your iPod and use it normally
All info is displayed on the iPod screen
Reasonable price - about ~$125 + installation
2 extra audio inputs

Cons: Need to mount iPod in reach of driver
Need to mount X3 controller in reach of driver

4 - USA Spec PA11-HON12

Pros: Similar to Acura Music Link - only better
Allows control from car and iPod
Allows display on iPod
Reasonable Price - ~$135 + installation

Cons: Not oficially compatible with TL
Users have noted some operational bugs

To answer your question, yes you will need the y-cable for any of these solutions to keep XM. Search these forums for additional info on these solutions.

jjh1234

 

I appreciate your response. I recently bought aHonda Odyssey 2006 and fitted the Music Link system. I agree with you on all the pros and cons. The cable is so small that the ipod has to be in the glove compartment through which the cable comes. In fact I shld have installed the USA Spec PA11-HON12 on my Odyssey. But again do you have any idea how long the cables are . I did check with my Acura dealer the Acura Music Link system is only compatible with 06 model and not the 04 model.

If you wanted to install one of these which one would you have opted for. Thanks again for your inputs

 

I'm very happy with my USASpec interface with my '04 TL. Did the install myself and didn't have to remove any trim, panels or the radio. I posted the link on how to do this in the Silver Trim Removal Question thread.

 

Rick,
Thanks for your input. did you have to drill a hole fotr the cable. If so where. How long is the cable. where do you place your ipod.

 

No, I didn't drill a hole. The cable is long enough to keep the iPOD in the center armrest if that's where you want it.

I ran the cable under the side of the center console, then came out and straight up. Look at the flat area around the shifter and follow that going up the dash. Right where it starts angling upwards, imaging the cable going off the center console on the right side then straight down and tucked in between the console and carpet and runs towards the front of the car in between the console and the carpet near the floor. I know, take a picture! Hope this helps.

Oh yeah, I did it this way so the iPOD rests in the upper cubby hole in the console for now until my Proclip mount comes in.

 

So with the USA Spec does it desplay any track, artist info or anything on the navi screen? Also how do you scroll through songs and playlists on it. I came from a alpine hd with the interface that goes with them, so I'm have a hard time understanding why some things wouldn't show up. Thanks

 

Right now, there is NO aux input solution that displays Track Name, Artist Name, or Album Name on the OEM nav screen. At best, you will see Track Number and Time. This is because the TL head unit is only set up to display names with XM. There is no RDS for the FM Radio, and no CD-TEXT for the internal (or external) CD Changer.

Most generic aux inputs like the PIE X3 just hi-jack the audio input from the XM radio, so you will still see the XM info on the screen.

Other aux inputs like the Music Link or USA Spec simulate an external CD Changer and only show a Track Number and Time (Music Link), or no data at all (USA)

The only information displayed will be on yor iPod or whatever device you are using. All navigation on the Music Link is done using poorly executed voice prompts (see the many reviews about this). The Music Link iPod just shows "Ok to Disconnect" unless you cheat it as shown here:
https://acurazine.com/forums/car-parts-sale-361/fs-many-tl-mods-131016/

The USA Spec has the option to allow you normal control and display of your iPod.

Then you have the H/K Drive+Play that has it's own display and controller, although you still need a generic aux input as well.

Hope this sheds some light on the nightmare of TL iPod integration.

 

Ok so I'm interested in doing this setup after reading through all the pros cons in this and other threads. Does anyone know of a place in San Diego that has these items and can install them? I looked at blitzsafe site and it stated that circuit city has them, but I called every circuit city to no avail. This price of $125 would also be great. I seen the pie x3 on ebay for $65 shipped and the blitzsafe for $82 shipped. Where can I get the pair for a good price installed? Also what I can understand that you need the ipod within your reach to change songs etc......but why do you need the x3 controller within your reach?

 

After doing a lot of research I found that the Blitzsafe HON/M-LINK1V.2X Honda/Acura Interface for iPod is relatively good and easy to install. I have ordered it from discountcarstereo.com. It is pretty much in demand that even Blitzsafe does not have any inventory to supply to their dealers. it comes with a 4 feet docking cable. costs 99 (incl of shipping). you are right none of the circuit city stores have it. you donot have to use the Blitzsafe Universal iPod Adapter.

 

OK, if i am considering USA model, how would know what track Im on since no data is displayed anywhere on the HU...? from ipod itself?
and my second question is , is bluetooth going to work?
third...is there such device that allows everything to stay operational?

 

Look into the Alpine VPA-B211A hub.

 

thanks for the advice, but another question here....
i thought TL HeadUnit was panasonic...therefore not compatible with alpine..(?)

 

I think the DVD-A is made by Panasonic, but the head unit is made by Alpine. Either way, I think the bus is Honda OEM, not compatible with Alpine accessories.

 

I am currently working with Movin' On Sounds on Long Island, NY. These guys have won several awards for the work they do - one of which was single location mobile electronics dealer of the year. They are an 8 bay shop with some talented installers. The owner, Bruce, assures me that he can get my iPod information to pop up on my 04 TL nav screen, direct connect the audio, and charge the iPod.

I might have to use the iPod controls (or the mini remote that came with my model a couple years back) but I can deal with that. The best part is that I do not use XM and he thinks they can get that button to become the input for the iPod.

Stay tuned or call Bruce direclty at 516-489-2350. Tell em Dave sent you!
http://www.movinon.com/

 

I think I'm going to talk to my dealer about getting the Music Link in my 04 TL. I expect resistance since its not officially supported, but it seems to work fine from what I've read on the forum here. Any advice if the dealer pushes back and won't do the install? I sure as heck can't do it myself.

 

Just called my dealer, Davis Acura in Langhorne, PA. They said that the 04-05 TLs need a special cable that isn't readily available to do the Music Link install. Kind of a polite way to say "nope, can't do it" I figure.

Anyone have details about this?

 

My dealer said the link works fine with the 04 TL. Get a new dealer. Better yet, call Acura's 800# for yourself. This way there is no confusion.

 

Even better still, have one of the after-market solutions installed that are listed above (USASpec looks to be the best, to my eye). Given the limitations of the MusicLink and the cost compared to the USASpec, I cannot imagine anyone could be satisfied with the total MusicLink package (given that any directly connected audio interface will sound great).

 

Yeah, I was thinking one of these new aftermarket parts but the XM interference issues concern me a bit. All I have to do is unplug the iPod for interference to stop, but it still sounds like a pain. Espically if the iPod is out of reach in the Glove Box.

 

From what I read here, the interference can be eliminated simply but shutting off the Ipod; something I would probably do when it is not in use anyway.

This brings up a good question I am not sure I have seen answered here: How does the MusicLink connect to the stereo? Does it also connect through the XM interface? Amyone?