acford

Hello all!

I just bought my TL Type-S about a week ago and I'm already missing my Alpine MP3 head unit from my 91 Honda Accord. I like the stock look in the TL and so I'm going to stick with it.

I started looking around for a way to retrofit an MP3 player. I didn't want to purchase a portable because I hate wires hanging all over the place and stuff like that.

So, I went to crutchfield and did a search for MP3 changer. I wasn't even sure if they had starting making them. To my surprise, there are currently 3 on the market. I bought the JVC CH-X1500RF which is a 12 disk MP3/CD changer that hooked up via an RF modulator(hard wired to the antenna for better reception and sound quality). Here is a link for more info:

http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S...o&i=257X1500RF

Crutchfield sells it for $225 plus shipping. I bought mine on ebay from a place called "Barney's Electronics" sealed in the box for $172 shipped. Just do a search on Ebay for that model number and you will get a good listing.

Enjoy!

Hokie D

That would really come in handy. Even with 6 discs in the dash, there's still a lot of juggling between my CDs, the wife's, and the kid's. This would be a perfect solution! Thanks for making me want one.

shawhite

humm... you may want to look at the alpine s634... 6 disk mp3/cd changer and it will work with the stock headunit... no rf mod crap... rf modulation sound quality sux... just my opinion tho....

acford

No way! I'm going to do some research on it. So you are saying that Alpine makes the head unit on the TL? Isn't that the only way it would be compatible?

shawhite

i believe the headunit is made by either alpine or pioneer but i can tell you that alot of members on this board have used alpine changers without having to go the rf modulation route... you may have to use a blitzsafe adapter but the quality improvement will be well worth it...

acford

The only problem I see is the ability to navigate through folders and over a hundred songs on 1 CD! The Alpine does not have a controller unit like the JVC I purchased.

This controller display unit that comes with the JVC also displays CD text along with many other things. I would not have any of that control using the Alpine and the stock head. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I would definitely like to have better sound quality than RF, but it would be a nightmare trying to control that Alpine from the stock head.

randomwalk101

The alpine s634 will work 100%...how do I know? Cuz I HAVE IT right now on my 2002 TL...did the mod like a year ago. No RF stuffs...I mean come one, you want to play CD quality, why goes through RF to get radio quality? BTW, you need an peripheral (HONIL) or Blitzsafe adapter to connect to your stock TL radio system. Do a little search and find that I discussed this subject like a year ago.

acford

Thanks for the reply. I don't question the fact that you can interface it with the stock head. My question is can you control the folders for the MP3s and does it display the CD Text?

randomwalk101

The alpine s634 can send the text to your head unit to display...however, the stock head unit cannot display anything other than two digit numbers...As a matter of fact, it can only display 99 max. So if you have 101 songs, the last two songs will be displayed as 01 and 02. Stock head unit sucks.

acford

That is exactly what I thought! The stock head unit does stink from a control perspective. However, it looks great and blends very well with the interior. That is why I'm sticking with it.

Because of the lack of features and control in the stock unit, I'm going with the new JVC RF changer instead. It has a new technology built into the RF transmitter which in this case is hard wired into the antenna. JVC also has something called BBE II. Here is a caption from the Crutchfield website describing that feature:

"The BBE II circuitry adjusts the phase relationship between the low, mid and high frequencies by adding a progressively longer delay time to the low and mid frequencies. It also boosts the low and high frequencies resulting in a clearer, more defined sound. The BBE II function can be turned On or Off."

RF technology has come a long way and is pretty darn close to CD quality from the reviews that I've read. It isn't CD quality, but its close enough for me. I really like this unit though because of the controls. This will allow me to see the CD text(ID3 tags) and I will have full control in navigating through my MP3 folders. Attached is a pic.

Tatewaki

I got something similiar: CDX-565MXRF. Works great and plays really well. I love that blue LED remote which matches with my LED conversion It also comes with a IR remote

optimus prime

Excuse my ignorance, but what you guys are saying is that you have full functionality of your 6 disk changer on the stock headunit as well as changer capability?

How do you "activate" the changer (have it heard through the headunit)? I have heard that the first pressing of the CD button is for the in-dash unit while a second push of the CD button is for the changer, correct?

Thanks.

fsttyms1

yes pust the cd button twice and it will cahng to the changer setting. just my.02 but RF in no way comes close to cd quality. there will always be a fuzzyness to the sound. i would go with a blitsafe adapter.

oracion

RF sucks and the changer is just too big.

boe_d

I don't know when Acura/Honda moved to the new systems but I know the BOSE has a different wiring scheme than the newer units. I'm more concerned about the newer units. Has anyone hooked up the CHA-S634 to a navi stereo on an 03 or an 04 model that has the voice activated navigation controls?

Thanks!

boe_d

I just spoke with Blitzsafe and they may have a converter in about 3 months in case anyone is wondering. They have one for the previous models but not the newer ones. There may be other converter companies out there but I don't know who they are.