So after researching here for an Ipod connect solution I decided to go with the Neo Ion SP from mp3yourcar.com. This turns out to actually be the Dension Icelink plus.

I installed it in about 20 minutes last night. This means it is pretty easy as I have not touched a car stereo since High School which was 10+ years ago. Anyway, overall I am very happy with it. The I only thing that bothers me a little bit is the sound quality. It is pretty good, however CDs sound noticeable better. I thought it would be CD quality. The question is:

Anything I can do to increase the sound quality?
I have the EQ settings on the Ipod off, is this the way to go?

Thanks in advance for any advise.

P.S. By the way I just installed it so the Ipod stays in the large storage bin under the stereo. This gives me easy access to the Ipod and keeps it hidden. Also I'm using the Ipod UI rather than the Dension. I messed with the Dension Ui for about 5 minutes and really didn't like it. I leave the Ipod in shuffle mode most of the time anyway.

 

Did you set your output correctly - I think it is 0.5mV. CDs will always sound better than compressed music (mpeg, wav, ACC, etc.)

 

Okay thanks. I was just reading over the icelink manual and noticed that. Is that under the Audio Level setting? Where can I find out for sure what it should be? I'm at work now, but I'll mess with it on lunch.

Thanks for the quick response.

 

I have an Icelink and it sounds great.

I find that the codec used has a ton to do with it. If you use Lossless or something better it sounds very good to me, but a lot of customers bring theirs in with free downloaded files sound awful.

When I use our store unit with good quality files, sounds much better, on the same system.

 

You should check how you ripped the music to your ipod, there are all kinds of quality settings, you might not notice the degradation through the earbuds but will through your car stereo...

 

Okay. Thanks for all of the advise. I messed with the "audio level" setting at lunch and it sounds best where it was (4). Volume was much lower at the other settings. Most of my music is either ripped CDs or from itunes. I'll check the setting I used when ripping the CDs.

By the way, it definitley doesn't sound bad. It actually sounds really good, just not quite as good as CDs.

Thanks again!

 

Oh, yeah, 4V is the best sounding setting in the TSX.

 

I think the difference in sound quality is barely noticeable. If anything there's just a little more "presence" with cd's, but I'm happy with the hookup. How do I adjust the audio level? Is that on the iPod itself through the Apple UI or under the Dension settings menu?

 

The difference is far more noticeable when you upgrade the crappy TSX sound system amp and speakers.

Icelink Setup. Hard to get to...