Wired For Sound...

[ChrisRS6]

...No, nothing to do with Cliff Richard, but I have now had a Dension iPod kit installed in my RS6.

Having to put up with 'only' 6 CDs was growing tiresome so it's good to have my whole music collection available in the car

[bam_bam]

Spill ya guts Chris. Cost, where from, fitment, usability, look and value vs a really good blowjob/titwank from Christina Hendrix? i.e. report.

[marmite]

I fitted one about a month ago and launched myself into the 21st centry!
Only thing is not being able to choose tracks on the System and controling it by the Ipod only

[drybeer]

...No, nothing to do with Cliff Richard, but I have now had a Dension iPod kit installed in my RS6.

Having to put up with 'only' 6 CDs was growing tiresome so it's good to have my whole music collection available in the car

Does this let you search by album/artist or only by "disk" and "track" numbers?

[ecain63]

I used to have the Alpine Ipod dock when i had the RNS-D. Was pretty crap to be honest. Get yourself down the tochscreen route mate.

[ChrisRS6]

The local car audio place in Bristol fitted it for me. No outward signs of the kit being fitted - just a connection cable in the glovebox. There is enough slack in the cable to have it connected and resting down by the ashtray if you need it, or for the passenger to take it out and choose tracks. Think I'll keep it tucked away in the glovebox all the time though.

I can switch between the CD changer and the iPod. I just disconnect the iPod and I have control of the CD changer again.

With the iPod connected I can skip tracks using the skip track button on the RNS-D unit, or on the iPod itself (although it'll normally live in the glovebox).

Parts and fitting came in at £200, so cheaper than a touch-screen replacement head-unit!

While connected, the iPod is also charged. Unfortunately, the display on the RNS-D unit only comes up with 'Track xxx' and does not support the text of Artist / Track (nor does the DIS).

Sound quality is good. No better or worse than CDs. Choosing a different 'CD' from the head unit while the iPod is connected, lets you choose a different playlist that you have set up on your iPod (up to 6 different playlists relating to CD numbers 1 to 6). I think I'll probably have it on 'shuffle' most of the time though, and just skip a track if I choose to.

[ecain63]

I got my £1000 Pioneer touchscreen off ebay for £300 so its worth considering.

[RS4XS]

I want to get this up and running also,

What pioneer do you reccomend

[ecain63]

Mine is an avic-d3, I know a few guys here have them. There is a newer model which took the d3's place so the d3's should be well priced now. Kenwood also do a very good one that competes with the pioneer equivalent. Ask in the Ice section.

[wiresplitter]

You can also get a Parrot MKi kit, will give you iPod and bluetooth for similar money to the dension. You get a small screen to select playlists, artist's, albums etc. I have fitted the MKi9100 in mine and it works well.

[Rilla]

Mine came with an Ipod connector in the glove box already, I havent got a clue what make it is, but I control my ipod off the head the head unit. Only negative is the head unit wont display the track title or artist, just says track67 etc

[Dannyk]

I have just purchased a GROM Audio iPod adapter with a separate connection cable (not on the pic) to hook it up to the CD changer cable in the rear. This way, the CD changer itself is disconnected (who listens to CD's anymore these days?) but the big advantage is that the radio/satnav unit did not have to be removed. So, plug and play within 1 minute, even for someone with 2 left hands....

Like some other devices described in this thread, the iPod / iPhone can be operated from the satnav/radio unit (or from the controls on the steering wheel) and, like the CD changer, it shows 6 discs on your screen which you can choose from. Disc one is for operating the iPod manually (choosing the songs by tapping on the iPod itself) and the other 5 discs correspond to the first 5 playlists on your iPod (you will have to number them).

Unfortunately, name of song/artist is not displayed. On the upside, the GROM unit is rather cheap (approx. 100 euro) and can be easily installed. It also charges the iPod / iPhone while connected.

[tb]

[quote="Dannyk"]I have just purchased a GROM Audio iPod adapter with a separate connection cable (not on the pic) to hook it up to the CD changer cable in the rear. This way, the CD changer itself is disconnected (who listens to CD's anymore these days?) but the big advantage is that the radio/satnav unit did not have to be removed. So, plug and play within 1 minute, even for someone with 2 left hands....
quote]


excuse me if its a moronic question, but i'm looking to get my iPod working in the car too, but i dont get all the posts talking about connecting a cable in the boot, does that mean you have to leave your iPod in the boot, or is there some way it connects in the glovebox that everyone keeps talking about?? cheers!

[Dannyk]

excuse me if its a moronic question, but i'm looking to get my iPod working in the car too, but i dont get all the posts talking about connecting a cable in the boot, does that mean you have to leave your iPod in the boot, or is there some way it connects in the glovebox that everyone keeps talking about?? cheers!

It is not a moronic question. Basically, you have 2 alternative ways of creating a wired connection for an iPod/iPhone interface:
1. plug the cable from the interface to the head unit (head unit will have to be removed in order to have access to the rear of the unit);
2. plug the cable from the interface to the CD changer cable in the boot (CD changer will have to be disconnected but this is really easy)

On the other end of the interface is a cable which connects to your iPod/iPhone. The interface I purchased came with a rather long cable, so after connection of the interface (either alternative 1 or 2) you can put the iPod wherever you want it (boot/armrest/glovebox), as long as your cable is long enough. If it isn't, just order a longer cable. Obviously, depending on where you want to put your iPod, you will have to spend some time on hiding the cable under the carpet, etc.

I just leave my iPod in the boot, behind the lid, on top of the metal frame from the CD-changer where I "glued" an iPod case where my iPod will slide in easily and which keeps it in place upon cornering/acceleration
No one will know that it's there so it's rather safe to leave it there. But perhaps it would be easier/more user friendly to stack it in the armrest or glovebox so that the passenger can operate it during driving. And if you choose the glovebox then perhaps the connection to the rear of the head unit would be more logic than the other alternative.

Good luck!

[tb]

thats awesome i really appreciate that. i'd just be happy having a loose cable i can plug it into and have the passenger work it, maybe i'll try removing the head unit...am i likely to screw anything else up doing that?? and is it possible to put a splitter on that cable, i wouldnt mind having a DVD player + iPod + having the CD player working? Actually is it possible to get a DVD player working through the TV?

Oh and anyone know how I turn off the in-motion, I'd like my passenger to be able to watch it whilst car moving (and is this legal??)


sorry for so many questions!