Help Needed - Head Unit and iPod connection

[Mike]

I have the same crappy double din rubbish that came with the car and this far I've 'put up with it'... thinking I'll get a 12 disc changer thingy with head unit (...and get people to call me 'The Iceman' etc.) at some point in the future...

Recently my very nice other half got me an iPod for my birthday( :woot: and :love: ) so it looks like my in-car entertainment blues could be over...

I've checked out the various iTrip and cassette things, but all seem to be a bit rubbish - then a friend suggested a Dension (http://www.dension.com/) cable - I don't want the usual FM hook up, which I think, if I stick with this rubbish head unit I would have to - so I'm looking to get a new head unit (not spending a fortune, under £150) and the required cable - so the head unit would have to be Alpine, Becker(?), Blauplunkt, Grundig, Kenwood, Panasonic or Sony (http://www.cooltopia.com/section.php/201/0/807833961c2d86cd124af817641cdbd9) - does anyone know if they take the track text from the ipod and dispay on the head unit? a minor point I know being that the iPod would be right next to it...!

I found this (http://www.halfords.com/opd_product_details.asp?type=3&vehicle=8919&Id=20588) at Halfrauds... seem's alright and plays MP3 cd's which is a bit of a bonus... digital radio would be nice, but apparently this is still quite expensive?!

So my question is, has anyone used a Dension kit? and what would be the best Head unit to go for...? or what to avoid?

Also I realise I'm going to have to get the facia converter thing from Toyota - does anyone know if this just blocks off the unused part or is it a 'cubby hole' type thing...? would be useful storage area for used parking tickets, snickers wrappers etc.

I've found a good garage to fit it, so not too worried about that part..

Thanks!

:thanks:

[saahild]

personaly may i be the first to say from experience that ITrip ROCKS. it is the best invention on earth by far. i used it on the motorway and while i was in the lake district few weeks ago and it was simply great. amazing piece of kit. i would completly recomend this then getting some after market thing that will be realy hard to get installed. with this all you need is an anti slip mat to put on your dashboard and you are set. not even that if you have somewhere else you can keep the ipod. my vote is on Itrip al the way

[Scoboblio]

The iTrip is great, used it for a while before I got the Pionner iPod connector.

BUT.... I simply couldn't use it in London because of the large amount of legit / pirate radio stations taking up the radio frequencies. Because I didn't have a dashboard holder for the iPod I had quite a bit of static at times, and the sound quality wasn't always 100%.

Personally I think that if you have a modern headunit with an ipbus connector then go for a proper adapter - the one I went for was easy to wire in, charges the iPod, and allows you to control it via the headunit controls :thumbs:

It also ensures that your iPod holder isn't visible on the dash, something which I insist on now, certainly don't want to advertise that you may have an expensive piece of kit in the car!

As for the blanking plate, the universal DIN sized socket from Halfords will fit fine, and holds cd's etc :)

Because I have an old-ish Pionner stereo it doesn't display the track names properly, and takes aaaaaages to move through albums / artists etc.

[Scoboblio]

This is the one I went for.... budget stuff really, but does the job;

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=4174&cadid=aa1a8b0bf1ca4d9d1724a811eab83747

[Mike]

Fantastic mate, thanks a lot for the advice.... very much appriciated..

I'll pass this on to my mate who advised the Dension cable.. I'm sure he'll be interested too.

Thanks again ;)

[Guru]

Did you sort this Sonic. I would love to know what you got and how it did as I am considering doing this now ;)

[Mike]

I've just bought one of these;

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=4519&cadid=5311d8de314b9153d40763f7d4909111

...I should be getting it installed next week, so I'll let you know how it goes... ;)

[Guru]

That looks quite good and nice and cheap. Would definitly consider it if yours goes well :)

[Guru]

Any luck Sonic?

[Mike]

Well, no... my other half's car failed it's MOT so I've been ferrying her round and not had chance to do anything with it....! hopefully she'll be sorted next week and then the install will commence!

God, even I've lost interest with this it's taking so long... I'm kind of used to the crappy cassette adapter and sat at the lights furiously scrolling through artists I've never heard of and didn't realise had collaborated with Outkast..?!

As soon as it's done, Mr Guru you will be the first to know.... ;)

[Soonto"HAS"soop]

I've just got the Kenwood adaptor, will be fitting it this weekend. It was £65 delivered so I will let you all know how it is aswell.

For anyone with a Kenwood HU, the adaptor is KCA-IP500.

[Guru]

Thanks guys its much appreciated for the update. I will probably buy very soon but you will install first no doubt :)

[SupraJames]

Same as most on here, I went for an adapter, for my Alpine unit , KCA-420i, little grey box under my seat, one end plugs into the I-Pod, other to the head unit, can control the I-Pod from the head unit easy stuff, quick to install to..!

[Guru]

Just got a Sony headunit and ipod adapter and will be fitting soon. Have the others been succesful?

[Mike]

Your depressing me now... how long have I lived with this stupid cassette adapter thing...?!?

Pick up the Missus Clio (1.6 Si) tonight... :flame:


So hopfully I can get mine fitted... it's been sat there in it's box looking at me for weeks... can't wait...

OK, no more talk of car audio until I get mine fitted... :cry:

[Guru]

Your depressing me now... how long have I lived with this stupid cassette adapter thing...?!?


Oh I have only had my Supra for a month and its been off road having stuff done to it for most of that lol

[Mike]

Finally got the new head unit in(!) and the iPod connection in the centre box...

Sound great... scrolling text.. my god this is like a breath of fresh air after the crap I've been using... seems like it's going to be easier to get a few play lists together rather than scroll through Album/Artist etc. ....but all working fine and looks ace... well chuffed is a bit of an understatement... I'm easily pleased me....

:ecstatic: :ecstatic: :ecstatic: :ecstatic: :ecstatic: :ecstatic: :ecstatic:

[Guru]

Dammit I have to wait a week for mine :(