Hey Special-ed,

Good luck on that install. Let me know if you want to race that rice-burner bike against my Victory 8-Ball. LOL

jjh1234

 

Haha, funny you mentioned the avatar. I was about to post an avatar too of my old cbr black/silver but was feeling to lazy to swtich the pics. This Augusta is the bike I'd get if I ever win the damn lotto LOL. In the meantime however, I may be back in the seat on a black Honda RC51 v-twin come spring time. Ride safe man!

 

update: Ten Technology gooseneck just arrived. Gonna pick it up now. Will post pics of at least the ipod mounted on the neck just to give you guys a good idea of whether or not this product may suit your needs. See you in a few.

 

I decided to jump in and order one of these too and I just got done installing it. For now, I just have rca -> micro jack adapter to go into my iPod headphone jack. I plan on going with the Blitzsafe Universal iPod Interface if everything works out like I hope it will.

I'm very satisfied with the audio quality and how this works in the TL. It does over-ride the XM audio (not the data, you still see what the XM receiver thinks it is playing on the Navi display). HFL and Navi voice commands do mute it like you'd think it should.

I do however have one gripe. I'm noticing some of the XM audio bleeding through to the other three inputs. Anybody else notice this? I'm hoping I just got a defective one and that this isn't a design issue. At normal listening levels, you can't hear the bleeding audio, but if you put your volume level to around 25 or so and then switch to an input that isn't playing anything, you can faintly hear the XM radio. I'm following up with PIE but I'm curious to see if any of you have experienced this?

 

oh man.. i hope this isnt true for the PIE adapters in general

 

Definitely let us know what PIE has to say about this. This can't be normal.

 

I was able to do it by carefuly prying with a flathead screwdriver and puliing with my bare fingers. Screwdriver didn't leave any visible marks, but you have to be careful. The silver trim pieces were the worst.

 

So far I've had no response from PIE about this, but Logjam is sending me a new X-3 unit... they think mine just may be defective.

I'm pretty impressed with Logjam's customer service so far. They've already shipped the new one to me and are including a pre-paid UPS return label for me to ship the defective one back.

 

I found the PIE cable and converter for $71.95

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT

Can someone confirm that these are the same as listed earlier in this thread?

 

Looks like that's it. Logjam electronics wants $89.90.

 

Hey guys, sorry been sick with the flu. But the ten technology gooseneck came in and is pretty slick. Hopefully it performs as well as it looks. I'm not gonna get to this though until next week geesh!

 

MY UPDATE:
I have received all parts below except one, so hopefully I'll have my install complete by this time next week. I'll post the results. I ordered the following:

AUX-IN:
- P.I.E. X-3 Auxiliary Input Converter
- P.I.E. X3-HON03 X3 Wiring Harness

iPOD:
- Blitzsafe Universal iPod Interface (connects to X-3 and provides charging)
- ProClip mount for Acura TL
coupled with the ProClip Padded Tilt/Swivel iPod holder (for my Apple 60GB 4G iPod)

SIRIUS:
- Sirius Starbase satellite receiver (to be mounted inside lower storage slot in center of dash, next to cigarette lighter.)


I like that this combination of products will result in no visible wires (other than a bit of ipod cable coming out of the mount) and will not require the use of cigarette lighter-based power.

-Chris

 

For those of you with the P.I.E. X-3 Auxiliary Input Converter, where exactly did you choose install the unnecessarily large selector switch? Any pics?

I am trying to find the cleanest location for install.

Thanks!
-Chris

 

If you really loved your TL (and the rest of us at Acurazine), you would not let a little flu keep you from your install. You just lost points in my book.

PS - Hope you feel better soon

 

hmm---question. It says you need a functioning XM----I assume XM does not need to have an active subscription does it ? I currently have sirius and xm---xm is going to be cancelled as soon as I have an aux in for my car for the sirius. Also with the ipod module---It looks to me like the only function of this is to charge your ipod. I have an iriver player that has 16 hours of battery life so I would imagine I would not need this...

 

No, you don't need to be subscriped to XM. The demo channel always works. When you say iPod module, I assume you are talking about the Blitzsafe Universal Interface, and yes it allow charging of the iPod as well as access to the audio line out. You don't want this if you want to use your iriver.

jjh1234

 

Hmm--this is looking better and better.
Is the sound quality on this solution just as good if you were to do it the other way(splicing wires and using relays) ?

 

ozone, where are you going to put the P.I.E X-3 and the Blitzsafe iPod Interface? Do you think both of them will fit in the back of the radio? I want to do the same install minus the sirius.

 

So to anyone in general who may have the idea or have done it, with this I can add an MP3 CD Changer (a 7+ Disc CD player that plays mp3s) to the trunk? This would not require any splicing or anything right? Just plug and play? And maybe running the wire to the front?


Gammah

 

Why are you guys using the Blitzsafe adapter. It seems like it doesn't really have any extra features than this ( http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...More=T6715LL/A ). Wouldnt be a lot cheaper to just get this and use the line out port and then use a regular Y-cable convertor to connect to X-3. I did a simple installed in my brother's Civic and we just used a simple cable and everything worked, ofcourse he had an extra aux input that we used.

 

The blitzsafe is only $59 and it is a cleaner install. Plus the belkin has an internal amp that could possibly add noise and distortion.

 

I ordered the PIE X3/HondX3 03 ($89) and i will be having it installed this weekend along with the Harmon Kardon Drive Play ($130 i get an EPP/discount on HK products through my job)...it's gotten great reviews and I've seend posts with this combination...it sounds like a great combination...total was about $220...i will take pics and post...but i will need help posting them.

 

You did exactly what I want to do! I am probably going to go with a different Sirius receiver though. I also want to add video to the mix...

So thanks a million for the shopping list! Looking forward to some pics and a mini-review maybe?

 

AUX-IN:
- P.I.E. X-3 Auxiliary Input Converter
- P.I.E. X3-HON03 X3 Wiring Harness
I'm in! I ordered the above parts. --I intend to hook up my sirius starmate replay and an iriver mp3 player. Looking forward to this solution.

 

Long time reader, first time posting. I just finished installing this setup. I ordered the Blitzsafe so I have everything installed but that. First impression, quality was much better. I came from a tape adapter. I installed the base unit right under the dash and the selector also under the dash but to the left. Both are well concealed and I can easily reach the selector. Only my ipod is plugged in and thats all I planned on. Maybe in the future I will plug in other items. I was going to take pics but its tough to get under there and snap a shot. To get to the harness behind the radio I just removed the drivers side dash. From there it was easy. Total time was about 90 minutes. I spent some time on different locations for the base and selector. If I had to do it again it would take 30-45 minutes to do. Feel free to ask any questions. Cant wait for the Blitzsafe to come in.

 

emartins, you said you removed the drivers side dash.. meaning you took out part of the dash from the left side of the radio or you reached in the back and pulled the plug on the driver side??

 

For me to reach around seemed impossible. I even tried laying down with my head resting on my gas pedal and still I couldnt do nothing. So yes I removed the whole left side of the dash. Wasnt hard once I knew were all the screws were.

 

Hey, we're still awaiting pictures of the install. Pretty please?

Since Acura's iPod solution was such a loser, this one is what I plan to go with.

Thanks so much for this thread, you have all given hope to those who want an iPod input but want to keep XM-- imaginary rep points to the OP....

 

I'll get some pictures for you of where I put everything. Post them later on today.

 

OK ladies and gentlemen, my iPod and Sirius integration is now complete!

Please view all of the pictures and details here:
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...25#post1379225

 

I was brawsing through PIE site, and noticed that they have a line of adaptors for Honda and Acura cars with 14 pin connectors. They state, that these adaptors will only work for cars, which have an external CD changer support. We thought that 3G TL doesn't have this support, because it has a in-dash CD changer, and the external one isn't offered as an option. Then Music Link came out, and it presents itself as a CD changer to the car's head unit, which means that TL supports it after all. Thus any PIE adapotrs for Honda shouldwork too.

 

I installed my unit and now I have static from the driver side tweeter. I only hear it when I'm playing XM and changing channels. Will the music is on I dont really hear it but its there. The louder the music the louder the static. What do you think could be the problem.

I tapped the power wire of the cigarrette plug below the radio.

 

Sounds like a bad connection. Check all of your connections. Try using different RCA cables. Check for a good ground. Could be a bad unit.

 

Check the RCA's...there's no external ground on the unit so it must be using the ground in the OEM harness. I, too, powered via the cigarette lighter (+12V switched). No problems!


I installed the PIE adapter in an 05 this past weekend. Also, the X3 Honda harness is perfectly plug and play for the TL. Looking at the back of the radio, there are 3 harnesses at the bottom. The bottom right is a white harness with the XM connections. The X3 is a Y adapter that allows the PIE adapter to be placed inline and provide a pass thru for the XM. It worked quite nicely. I'd definitely recommend it for anyone looking to add AUX inputs to their Honda or Acura

 

It must be a bad unit because only the XM is bad and this is connected through the Y harness.

 

ok guys back in the saddle. Flu pretty much gone but coughs still linger. Time to get this damn install done......here's a couple of pics in the meantime.









I'll probably put some black tubing around the neck to keep the color more consistent with the black dash in our cars. Since I have camel interior, the grey really sticks out on the Ten Technology gooseneck. Also, the cigarette adapter part is pretty stubby and the neck won't fit correctly/all-the-way into the lighter on the bottom tray. But I don't mind since I like keeping both the tray doors closed and wanted something cleaner.

The gooseneck is pretty trick though....has small mini jack output where I'll wire a right angle mini-jack-to-rca-out cable along the with the positive and negative leads of the lighter socket I purchased (1st picture...thing on the left) and a low/high volume switch as well integrated into the adapter itself. Plus this neck will charge/supply power to the ipod also so no blitzsafe required.

With the lighter socket flat on one side, my placement options are pretty flexible. May make a custom bracket, attach it to the flat side, and mount it behind the dash then cut a hole to where I can plug the gooseneck from the outside the dash for a more "flush" look. We'll see......I'll keep you guys posted.

 

I finally did my install (2005 TL NON-NAV)...I installed the PIE X3/HondX3 03 along with Harmon Kardon Drive Play...A friend of mine, who works at Circuit city's Road Shop, helped me do the install (i.e. he knew what he was doing...i didn't). The install was clean...I think this is the perfect combination.

see below







[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e91/bh1906/HKDPandPIE4.jpg[

 

Very nice. Congrats! This HK unit does appear (cosmetically, at least) to be one of the more polished iPod integration solutions. I do have a few questions:

- The uppermost picture is rather dark so I cannot tell where the wire from the LCD display unit runs. Is it visible?

- When the controller unit is tucked down into the cup holder, are you able to comfortably navigate with it, or must you pull it out a bit as you've shown in the last picture.

- What is your impression of how the HK controller works? Does it feel as easy and natural as navigating the iPod itself? Any complaints?

- If you were to add a second external device (such as a Sirius receiver), do you think you would add it to the extra Aux-in source that the Harmon-Kardon unit provides? or would you add it to the X3 switcher? (I assume the answer depends upon whether you use XM today. If not, it seems that going the HK route would be cleanest...as you'd never need to use the X3 selector that you've embedded into the armrest storage area).

 

Great work! This is exactly the option I'm considering, and I love how you did it.
I have a 2006 TL without Navigation. Is this what you have? Or a 2005?
So to summarize, this is a complete list of what you installed?

-PIE X3
-HondX3 03
-Harmon Kardon Drive Play
-Did I see the Belkin cup holder?

1) How is the sound quality? The Acura Music Link gets good reviews for audio quality, and this was my fall-back plan.

2) Did you consider other spots to mount the control? I was thinking on the left of the steering wheel, just below the air vent. The cup holder is the best place, but my wife will even use the ones in the rear when she's driving.

3) Do you have a picture of how the PIE controller was installed? Did you consider mounting this in the glove compartment?

4) Did this invalidate any of your warranties?

5) Lastly, if you don't know the installation details, would you mind telling us what Circuit City store your friend works at? I'm going to use Circuit City, too, but they aren't familiar with this kind of setup. At the very least, maybe I could get his code name so I could put the installer here in touch with him/her.

I'd really appreciate feedback, as I'm probably going to have to walk the installer through what needs to be done, except tearing my 1-day-old dash apart.

 

Just picked up TL yesterday. Previous car was 03 accord. Installed sirius tuner (using FM modulator)....interested to better understand what you mean by "hardwired" sirius line out??? In the accord, I simply laid the ant at the back of the rear deck adjacent to the brake light. Always wondered if this effected reception???? The new TL gave me a chance to compare inside mounted ant to top of car mount. Compared known signal loss areas (bridges, tunnels, etc.) and TL's XM drops out in exactly the same places. So now the point of the post! You may want to try placing the sirius ant on the rear deck. I used velcro to stop it from sliding around.