dmtsx13

Ok I originally posted this in performance mods the first time not realizing what I had done, so I apologize for that and I am re-posting it here; where I think/hope it belongs.

Hello, I am kinda new to all this stuff and radios I understand the least. I am sorry if this has already been posted somewhere else but I have searched and searched and cannot find anything. My quest is to add a USB port to my factory radio. This way I can plug my droid or ipod in through the usb port and it will charge either one through the usb port and I can play music from my phone or ipod through the factory radio. I also want to keep the functionality of my 6 disc changer if possible. I have a 2004 tsx no navi. Thanks in advance.

samnguyen

grom audio dot com has some nice products, you can get it with bluetooth, usb, and aux. Had mine for about 1 year now; works great. Good luck < ----- click there

darowa

I don't have an specific recommendation for how to add a USB port.

But I do have a couple of technical comments.

USB is a digital connection which can carry any one of the several digital music formats (MP3, AAC, WMA). But the '04 (and '05) TSX audio systems can only process one kind of digital data - delivered from a CD (WAV data). There was an (expensive) option to add a MP3 player (from CDs containing MP3 files) into the audio system - it was mounted in the storage bin below the climate controls. The reason that this MP3 player was expensive is that it contained a computer to process the MP3 files and a digital-to-analog converter to create analog audio. Analog audio is what you hear with your ears - earphones, headphones, line-out jacks.

Therefore any adapter that provides a USB jack will have to also provide computing to interpret the digital data and a digital-to-analog converter. This analog data could then be routed into the TSX audio system.

One of the most cost-effective ways to get a "computer" and "digital-to-analog converter" is a music player - iPod, cellphone with earphone jack etc. The analog output of these players can be sent into audio system for playback.

There are a number of converters that interface the iPod into the TSX audio system. They provide remote controls at the steering wheel and radio while sending the analog audio from the player into the TSX audio system.

I have an Isimple interface which works well in my '05. My understanding is that these interfaces won't work with the '04 because they rely on the radio button that switches to CD/XM - and the '04 didn't have the XM radio.

jameswu000

if you want to play pm3 player or I pod/Iphone in your tsx 04, the only thing you need it a aux car kit. check this video out. it may help you to solve your problem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYmWHnLWPhI

Mifilosophia

Thanks for the video! Helped greatley!!!!

AZN.M3NACE

if you have navi, the USASPEC adaptor is great also. That is what i use

fujiteam

Before you buy from Grom check out their twitter feed! I got like $15 of my GROM USB, I went back 2 months later and bought the AUX in (still do not own an iPod). It is fantastic I have an 8GB USB stick in my cubby (Pulled the light to drop the cable in) with more than 600 songs. The headunit will play song 99 on a disc then play the second '#1' song and continue. I can also stream internet radio/podcasts with the AUX. BT is very tempting too...

DannysTSX

i had a question, do you guys think it'll still work if my cd player and button do not function? my 04 tsx only plays radio and i want to put at least an AUX cable for my ipod cause im tired of the radio? any comments?

dmtsx13

Thanks guys for all the feedback, I greatly appreciate it. Looks like I have a little more researching/deciding to do before I make my decision on what I want to do.

CMEJATT

old thread but ... can anyone direct me what is needed or where is best place to buy one

calisoulsurfer

No worries on an old thread. So, the cheapest option I found was going to Best Buy. I can't remember the brand, but it was the same one they carry for other cars and years. I had it installed at Best Buy too and spent about $100 total. While I'm not a fan of Best Buy usually (since they're rarely the BEST buy or have the item in stock I'm looking for), in this case it was quick, easy and they do have a great warranty on parts/labor that can be serviced at any Best Buy in the country.

Sclass88

Sorry for the thread revival...

I want to install the Grom unit in my '04 Non-Navi, mainly for Bluetooth use. My questions is where is the microphone for use of the phone when making calls? Will I have to install one somewhere?

Appreciated.

calisoulsurfer

I could be wrong, but I don't think there is one for non-Navi cars.

amanc

I bought a Grom Usb/Ipod/Aux unit from ebay for my 04 non Navi. It comes with all three cables usb/ipod/aux. I have about 8gbs of music on usb and it works flawlessly.
If you want handsfree bluetooth just buy the optional bluetooth dongle available for use with the same adaptor, the bluetooth dongle comes with a wired mic that can be placed wherever you like.
Heres the ebay link. My best offer of $135 was accepted, try $130 . http://www.ebay.ca/itm/GROM-Acura-Ho...item484382dd0e

jskinnyh

I got this for christmas with the bluetooth, works great and the wire for the microphone is long enough to run behind the trim, up the pillar by the passenger door to where there is a slot that looks like a microphone should be by the sunglass holder. I've asked people and they can here me good and don't here themselves so id recommend putting it there.

amanc

Instead of a usb cable hanging some where I did this custom install

alltracst185

For those of you with nav in your TSX, did you have to unplug anything? I have what looks to be the right plug but, has a wire loom coming from the drivers side plugged into the said spot?? Is this correct?

Thanks in advance

alltracst185

^^^I'm talking about the GTA car kit in my post above.

npolite

Does the grom adapter plug into the same loose hanging wire that the Ipod device that james wu posted or is there more involved?


Seems pretty straightforward if that's the case. I may be interested in trying this out.

dallison

If using an ipod, how easy is it to get to songs/artists without looking at the ipod while driving?

We have an 04 that my wife drives and controlling it through the radio controls or steering would be desired.

My biggest complaint with my old 03 rl was that i had to look at the ipod while driving and that was unsafe.
I love my 09 tsx where i can see all titles on the screen and never have to even touch the ipod.

jr000

hows the quality of the sound coming out? Thats my only concern with it

fanbanlo

wow that's awesome. DIY or have it professionally installed somewhere?

burijon

I just bought the whole kit and kaboodle from Gromaudio.com. I'll make a new post with install pics when I'm finished. I bought the USB/iPOD/Bluetooth/3.5mm media device kit.

I really wanted it for the BT which was the most expensive add-on.

zigenx77

I look forward to your update burijon. I got the TSX over the IS250 and I'm annoyed with all the nice electronic goodies the IS has, but this could make it all better.

burijon

I have had the Grom for about 2 weeks. It does do all that it claims to do. I can make Bluetooth calls and stream Bluetooth audio. The iPod adapter works for charging as well as music playing.

I have a 2004 with NAV. You don't see anything on screen. You only see the track number. You can change playlists with the Disk Change button.

It's just so nice not to have to burn a CD to play some songs anymore! I'll get used to making some favorite folders and playlists and then I'll never think about a disc again.

The Bluetooth picks right back up where you left off on a song!

I'm doing Bluetooth from a Blackberry 9930(don't laugh) and it's great! I put in a CD of the song I was streaming and listened to it back to back at the same section. It could be dependent on how the CD was engineered but the CD did seem to have more bottom end to it. It could also be the audio guts of the Blackberry etc etc.

Bottom line is if you heard the music streaming from my phone you wouldn't know anything is streaming at all. It's very clean! I can't really tell a difference as far as audio quality with the iPod connecter.

I have not tried a USB stick with MP3s on it just yet.

I'll make a separate post with install pics and other rants and raves as I get time.

zigenx77

Awesome. Thanks for the update. I hope to narrow down my choices and select from one of these devices this summer. I'm still annoyed that we have Bluetooth hands-free, but no music streaming. Confuses the hell outta me.

mixxmstrmike

For my case, I have a 2004 TSX non-navi USA-spec. I'm looking to purchase the GROM-USB2P-HON1 unit.

If you installed it yourself, did you have to remove the entire radio unit from the center stack to install the included wiring harness?

FLOORED

word of advice. DO NOT BUY a dice mediabridge. ive had mine for a little over a year and had it swapped out once. then the unit would stay on after the car was turned off draining my battery several times. i had to buy 2 new batteries and an alternator. contacted the company on multiple occasions with 0 answers. wound up tracing the main power wire and hooked it up to an ignition wire. the bluetooth streaming and phone is horrible. i think dixie cups are clearer. what a waste of over $200 to a company that sold to audiovox right after i bought my unit.

planning on switching out to the grom unit since everyone here seems to have such great success with the ipod,bluetooth and streaming capabilities.