I did some searches and I'm still torn between the two.

There is the new Dice i-honda-R3/4, with the text display, and the USAspec hon2y.

USAspec
Pros
-Cost $130-$150
-Many people have it
-Aux in
-Can function through factory radio buttons, and ipod at the same time
Cons
-Unresolved skipping problem
-No text display

DICE
Pros
-Has text display
-No skipping problem reported yet
Cons
-$180-$200
-Not sure if it can be used with factory controls and ipod controls at the same time


I personally feel the text display is a GREAT plus, but at the same time I haven't read anything about the controls..if they are able to be used at the same time.

Which one would you go with, and why?

 

do you have a need for XM? I have the USA SPEC and have no skipping what-so-ever. The only problem i had was that the Y cable was bad and they overnighted be a new one. I love the USA SPEC and it is flawless for the most part (needs text).

If you want to keep XM, go with the USA SPEC
If you do not want to go with XM and have the cash and are ready to be a guinea pig, try the Dice

 

I don't use XM, so that free's up a few options for me.

I'm tempted to just go with the USAspec, but the lack of text display is somewhat disappointing.

Which version of the USAspec do you have? The hon2, or hon2y? Supposedly only the hon2y has skipping.

 

I'm kinda torn between both as well. I would like to keep XM and also have text display. I'll just continue to use my cassette adaptor for now until they come out w/ better versions of the Dice (that will allow you to keep XM) or USASpec (that will allow you to have text display).

 

I am talking to autotoys.com right now to get a group buy going for Dice Electronic I-Honda-R4. I get a price back on Tuesday + free SHPIPPING TOO.

 

Anyone know if any local stores sell the dice unit? Best buy, fry's, circuit city or anything?

 

hond2Y, but i know what the problem was for the other units. This problem was corrected. The cable that connects to the ipod was loose and it would come out a little bit and then go back in. He got a new cable and it stopped

 

Do both of these units connect to the same port on the back of the radio? If so, then how come the Dice supports text while the USAspec does not?

 

Because we're very very good at what we do?

The controls on the DICE are superior than the USA spec. You're limited to 5 playlists on the USA for instance but on the DICE, you're not.

Who's a Guinna pig?

 

How about making a bunch of us guinea pigs and offering us a group buy???

 

Costco carries the HD + iPod kits.

 

I can't sell you anything :o

But maybe a certain vendor would want to... we'll see.

 

Are there any voice commands that work on the DICE kit? If it connects to the SAT or Changer port and there are voice commands for that then in theory the track up track down, etc. (if they exist.. i dont know all of the commands) would pass on to the DICE module right? Would the voice command send the same signal/command to the DICE unit as the track up/down hard buttons would?

 

I didn't know we had a dice rep on our forum. That's a huge plus!

I was wondering, since I couldn't find this answer and you are the most qualified to answer.

With the dice, are you able to use your factory controls, and the ipod controls at the same time without having to switch over a switch?

 

Yes. Full control from both all the time. We have no other mode.

 

Do they only carry the package of both, or seperate?

Also, any other local stores besides costco?

THanks!

 

I don't have all the commands either. But yes, track up/track down and stuff like that will work. If you had the DICE kit on the SAT port, you could tell the car to switch to XM/SAT and the iPod would start playing, etc

 

ALOT of installers carry the kits. We prefer to deal with them since it requires an installer or someone who knows how to take a car's dash apart. You can call around or if you have a prefered one, we can deal with them directly and get it to them.

Costco only carries the HD+iPod, not seperately.

 

Do you lose the use of XM by installing the Dice kit? Or can you still listen to XM by just unplugging the ipod?

 

No. You can keep your XM and the iPod and everything will work just fine, except for text display. If you get rid of XM, you'll have text from the iPod but that's the only difference.

 

Sorry for the dumb question but how does it work? If you have the ipod connected to the XM button how would you get XM radio?

 

You wouldn't. :o

If you keep XM, you would use the iPod in CD mode. You would just press the CD button to turn it on.

 

Crap, all the smilies I know don't work on this board. A whole new learning curve.

 

Nick,

Does the Dice unit work with the iPhone? I know many accessories do not, but some do. Apple did something different even though the connector is the same and I have no idea what it is.

 

Sooo..

DICE Unit via XM input = full control, full text, no more XM
DICE Unit via CD Changer input = full control, no text, but XM

is that correct?

 

Does the Dice unit have AUX in as well? I saw on the website that it does but the comparison above says it does not. I've got an external Sirius unit, so that would be a plus for me if it had it.

 

Yes, it works just fine. The only issue is that you get that annoying airplane mode message but you can ignore it & that you can't change the music from the iPhone at this time.

It does have a AUX in. 3.5mm jack that can converted to a L/R RCA with a $2 adapter.

 

couldn't have put it any better myself. You're correct.

 

But then no more cd abilities correct?

 

Nick, I don't see a local vendor locator on your site...is there anyway you can list a few in my area (Southern California, 91307).

I don't have any I know of, and the few I did go to don't have it in stock...I would love to have one by today. Can you help me out?

 

You'll keep your internal CD changer. If you had an external CD changer you would lose that.

 

With a stock 2005 TL you have a 6 disk changer in the head unit. Is it possible to connect the DICE kit to this changer? or is it just for add on changers?

 

If you want you can come by the shop and pick it up. I'm next to the Long Beach airport.

Contact the Al & Ed's in your area.

 

No problem. You'll keep the CD changer and be able to use the DICE kit.

 

By using the XM connection? I am not understanding what you are saying. Is there another connection for an add-on cd changer on the stock head unit or something.

 

No - in CD mode.

Honda added the ability to plug in external audio sources in addition to the ones built into the headunit itself. Nothing can disable the internal CD changer. You can plug in an external Satelite kit or a external CD changer. Both these devices use the same plug - they're just pluged in series. But you can only have one of each type. One external CD changer and one external XM radio.
The DICE kit pretends to be one of those things. Since we're talking about CD mode, The car would think that you would have 2 cd decks, one internal (which would function normally) and the DICE kit. You would just press the CD button to switch between the two.
If honda had the software to use 2 Sat tuners then we would be in business but alas, they don't.

 

So doing this I would not get text on my navi correct? Does this mean I would not need the extra $20 cable?

 

The cable has nothing to do with the text part - you need the R4 cable if you have XM or Navi or both.

You can get text with the R3 cable if you didn't have Navi or XM.

 

I have Navi and XM but I want to connect through the CD Changer. I need the i-Honda-R3_g2 AND the R4 cable to get it to work? Just making sure before I place my order.

 

Just the R4.