c0nsumer
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Hi there. I just finished a write-up on the Honda Music Link iPod Adapter which I purchased and installed this week. The article is available here if you'd like to read it.
I don't want to see anyone else waste nearly US$200 buying what is in my opinion an awful piece of kit, so please, give this a read before you make that purchase.
Take care...
-Steve
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Grotto
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I read your review. I installed the Music Link in my Civic last week. I am also disappointed with the lack of user friendliness. However, my TTS seems to work better than yours. So far, for every artist or album it's announced, if that's the one I want to listen to, when I push the appropriate buttons, it's selected correctly. I am using a PC instead of a Mac, so I don't know if that has anything to do with it. I do wish that the song title & artist name were displayed on the Navi unit. I have to admit that the sound quality is excellent. Hopefully, the system can be updated to add some needed features.
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c0nsumer
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Grotto wrote:
I read your review. I installed the Music Link in my Civic last week. I am also disappointed with the lack of user friendliness. However, my TTS seems to work better than yours. So far, for every artist or album it's announced, if that's the one I want to listen to, when I push the appropriate buttons, it's selected correctly. I am using a PC instead of a Mac, so I don't know if that has anything to do with it. I do wish that the song title & artist name were displayed on the Navi unit. I have to admit that the sound quality is excellent. Hopefully, the system can be updated to add some needed features.
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I agree, something does seem to be going wrong with TTS on my end. I think that I'll try to trim the songs on my iPod down to just a few hundred all non-extended-character names and see if maybe it handles it better. That said, I can't imagine the end user experience being that great even if TTS does work. There is an amazing amount of inflexibility in Honda's implementation of this system, so much so that I wouldn't be surprised if Apple wishes not to have their name tied to it.
-Steve
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c0nsumer
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Just FYI, the review has been moved to here:
Honda Music Link iPod Adapter Review
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rancho1
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Sounds like the best thing is to organize your music properly and make a lot of play lists. Then just skip to the play list containing the kind of music you want instead of manually searching for individual songs one by one while driving.
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tchill03
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i installed a denison icelink adapter on my 05 accord,,,,it works really well and recommend it
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Accord513
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Despite the negative reviews I went ahead and had the Honda iPod Link installed in my new Accord EX V6 sedan, w/out navi. I will have to give you an update after I have used it for a few days, but for now let me start with my initial experience.
Installation. First, the dealer I bought from had no experience with the iPod Link. They had to order the kit and I went back a week later to have it installed. Mine was the first one they had ever seen. The service mgr looked worried--which made me worry!--when he showed me the 14 pages of install instructions and told me they may need the car for 5 hours or more. Ugh...what have I done?
Per the suggestion of one of the sales people I met while purchasing the car, I talked to the service mgr about having the cable run in thru the center console storage compartment rather than into the glove box as is pictured on all the Honda literature. It worked! The cable is plenty long enough. They drilled a small hole in the upper right corner of the storage compartment and brought the cable in thru there. So now I don't have to open my glove box to access my iPod...the center console is much easier to reach from the driver's seat. Good news! Oh, and the install only took about 2 hours, thank God.
Operation. Well, the criticisms of this item are fair and justified. Not terribly user-friendly. Installing the TTS and formatting my iPod took about 90 minutes! (FYI, I have a 20 GB iPod which is almost full.) What's worse, if I read correctly it seems as though I need to run thru this process with TTS EVERY TIME I update my iPod, i.e. add new music. Yikes! It better not take that long each time.
I only played with it in the car for a few minutes, but so far it seems like a real pain trying to find the song/artist/playlist I want using the car's controls. On a positive note, the sound is great. (It better be!) I may just end up preselecting what I want to listen to on the iPod itself before connecting it to Music Link...that seemed to work fine.
Like I said I'll have to play with it some more and give an update later. Hopefully I can figure out the trick to using the car's controls by then. Any suggestions?
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Jayman
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Hello all- unfortunately I have the Honda Music Link (luckily, I did NOT pay for it!)
I would like to ask if you guys have some suggestions. I have a 2006 Honda Accord EX V6 6MT Coupe W/O Navi... I have XM.
However, I'm not pleased with the Music Link at all and have not even installed TTS onto iTunes/iPod as I feel this overcomplicates a simple device. I'm also worried about iTunes/iPod performance issues with additional software installed. I thank c0nsumer for his review, he is right on. I've read Accord513's idea of just having the desired music lined up, but I feel this is an unacceptable compromise.
Anyway, I'm looking for an iPod integration alternative and I wanted to ask how people feel about the Denison Ice Link and whether this interferes with the XM as I have read on some threads. I also wanted to ask if anyone knows if any of the Honda Music Link equipment can be re-used, such as the cable, etc. Lastly, Crutchfield recommended (website) the USA SPEC iPod interface, but this seems not to be compatible with a CD changer, which I have.
I apologize that this is such a long post, but I'm quite frustrated with this (and confused) and wish that my car just had a simple AUX IN like many, many cars have. I don't even care about head unit integration, I just want the iPod to sound decent and be able to charge. I've tried FM transmitter and found this to be cumbersome and prone to static, etc. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Obviously, I am not too technically adept and would not be installing myself, Thanks!
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6SPDTL
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Here's my take on the acura link:
http://vtec.net/forums/one-message?message%5fid=595821
I must agree that its far from user friendly at all. The control function of the link is half assed, period. The sound however, as can be demonstrated through the RL's fabulous stereo, is fantastic. Based on that fact alone its worth the buy.
I tried the other options on my TL, cassete adapter and a few FM transmitters. They were all terrible. On my ody I simply jack it to my rear accesory jack and operate it through the pod itself. This, of course, is very user friendly since your using the pod's wheel but the sound is nowhere close to the sound you get through the digital connection.
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Jayman
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Thanks 6SPDTL for your take... it pretty much confirms everybody's opinion about the Music Link.
If you're satisfied with a "jukebox" operation to the iPod then it's satisfactory. However, between the $ spent on the iPod and the Music Link I don't think that's acceptable. I expect much more from Honda, Alpine and Apple.
Does anyone have some other suggestions? Such as the Dension Ice Link? Can anyone explain why the Accord doesn't have an AUX IN? Thanks!
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Accord513
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Hi all,
I have not posted here in a long time. But it seems one of my old go-to threads has resurfaced, so I'll share my thoughts on the iPod link since I've had the car for a few months now.
No arguments from me about the Link NOT being all that we want it to be, NOT being all that we expect from Honda, NOT being ideal. However, my experience with it, as previously described, has been fine for the way I typically use the iPod in my car. It works and sounds fine. I do not use TTS--what a pain that was. But I am satisfied (for now) just to have the ability to have clear digital sound from the music library I have stored on my iPod.
I was in my friend's Scion tC the other day. I have not researched Scions at all so I don't know what is standard or not in their cars. But she has an iPod link in her armrest compartment that seems fully integrated into the car's stereo. She can access the music on her iPod by searching Song, Artist, Playlist, etc. from her car's audio controls...and it seems to be what we wish we had in our Hondas! All I can say is that the current Hondas are a bit behind the times in this regard and I can only assume they will catch up in a big way with future generations. I guess 2008 is the year for the truly all-new Accord. But maybe they will update the audio later this year for the 07's. Does anyone know?
Sorry, I have no new knowledge to share regarding Dension or any other product. But good luck to all of you in getting over this hump and enjoy that new Honda! While it may not be perfect, I'm still loving my car!
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Jayman
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Thanks Accord 513 for responding. Being the stubborn SOB that I am, I had not used the Music Link for a couple of months because I was so disappointed in it. However, on the way home from work I did connect my iPod and queued it up to a playlist, so I was able to listen to that. Of course, if I don't want that playlist, and want to actually find other music... well you know how it goes. So, for the next week or two I will use it as you and 6SPTL use it. I won't be installing TTS anytime soon.
It's too bad the Scion has the right set up and Honda does not. That will change eventually, but too late for me.
Again, if anyone has installed the Dension or other iPod integration products, I would appreciate them sharing their experience.
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JLH444
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I have seen a lot of very bad reviews for the Honda Music Link,
therefore, I bought the USASpec PA11-HON2 adapter:
http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=879
for my 2006 Civic LS Sedan with the factory CD player.
I don't think that it has all of the features of the Honda Music Link,
but its cheaper ($139). It plugs into the back of the factory CD player, into the unused CD changer control port. It allows the use of the in dash radio controls to skip forward and back on the iPod, but it does not display the song title. However, it does allow for manual control of the iPod, which I prefer anyway. The sound quality is very good.
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Jayman
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Thanks JLH444 for your write-up of the USASpec product. Crutchfield has recommended this and I like being able to use the actual iPod. When I have some xtra $$ I'm going to have to upgrade my Honda Music Link.
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Marauder
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I just got a new EX V6 Accord and ordered the music link, but haven't had it installed yet. I'm thinking I should cancel it and switch to something else. Any suggestions?
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HondaChuck
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Buying a 2007 Accord EX V6 Navi. According to the website, Honda has discontinued the Music Link. If I can't integrate my iPod into the factory sound system in this new car, it might be a deal breaker. Anyone have info on how to attach your iPod for the highest quality sound?
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cforez
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I have the USA Spec PA11-HON2Y iPod adapter in my 2006 Accord EX-V6 Navi.
http://www.usaspec.com/ipod_product_sheets/pa11-hon2y.pdf
I have it set up in direct mode- it works great. You can track up/down using the steering wheel controls, but do the heavy browsing (artist, album, etc.) using the iPod itself. With the 2y, you can have XM, Honda accessory multimedia player, and iPod attached at the same time. In addition, there is an auxiliary input which can come in handy if you ever plan to get an aftermarket RES.
The 2Y doesn't let the HU display ID3 text, so you still have look at the iPod screen, but at least you don't have to grapple with TTS.
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HondaChuck
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Thanks for the information.
How much did it cost?
Did you install it yourself?
Does the dealer blame any flaw in the car on this device?(used to happen to me in my Integra GSR w/ after market CD changer)
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cforez
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H&A:
http://www.handaaccessories.com/accelect06.html
Crutchfield:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-ruzVLJk09yC/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=305250&I=581PA11H2Y
The instructions for the Honda accessory MP3 player works for the USA Spec adapter, just plug in the adapter instead of the MP3 player. Skip the player panel instructions.
http://www.handaaccessories.com/accord/06-accord-audio.pdf
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HondaChuck
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Where did you run the plug for the iPod? Glove box? Center storage bin?
Did you install it yourself? Difficult?
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HondaChuck
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I have installed a A-SPEC Honda iPod car stereo interface in my 2007 Accord EXL V6 Navi. It sounds fantastic and works perfectly. I am open to addressing anyone's questions about this product.
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the_hard
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And we put in a Dice Ipod Adapter. Very straightforward interface - let's you do all the browsing from the steering wheel.
Only downer is you must disconnect XM Sat if you want to use all Dice features.
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HondaChuck
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I have the USA SPEC Honda iPodŽ Interface installed in my 07 Accord EXV6. It has worked fine with my 3rd gen iPod and 1st gen Ipod mini. When you turn off the car the iPod continues to charge for an hour. When you turn on the car they start playing again where you leftoff. Now I have a iPod classic and the plug must be different. When I restart the car it plays about half a sec of music and then goes on pause. I have to hit play on the iPod to get it to play. Anyone have any isight as to how to get it to auto play like the earlier models?
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