If you go through Cruthfield and read the reviews, it seems like every aftermarket radio Ipod interface straight up sucks.

I know people on here like the Alpine, but it apparently still disables the controls on the ipod itself which seems completely idiotic. The ipod interface is the key to its success so why would I want to use some other interface exculsively? I could see using radio buttons to fast forward a song every once in a while, but it don't really use playlists. I just skip around from artist to artist.

On the other hand it seems kind of stupid to spend $140 on an factory interface when a new HU can be had for $200.

So my question is this. If I am gonna spend $200 on a HU, $30 on an interface cable, and another $100 for a DCI, I want one that allows me to use the friggen Ipod to pick my music.

Does such a thing exist or is every manufacturer out there stupid enough to lock the Ipod's built in controls?

 

Yes, there are plenty of universial Aux adapters you can use provided the HU you are going to purchase has an optional auxiliary input. These optional aux adapters will allow you to retain all the IPOD's function as well as control all your playlist directly from the IPOD. This will also charge your IPOD. HU will not control nor display text.
Here are some links:

http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=896
http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=940 (alpine HU)
http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=923 (jvc HU)
http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=942 (kenwood/pioneer HU)
http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=880 (jvc HU)
http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=891 (kenwood)

Good Luck. I hope you find what you're looking for.

 

I use the alpine, and don't mind not having the ipod interface to use. The iPod is mounted completely out of site and I can switch tracks, etc using the dash controls.

 

Well, my advice is to learn to use playlists. Playlists with just about any HU to iPod interface will work really well.

Look at some of the functionality of the Smart Playlists.

I have one playlist (for example) that picks every song on my iPod except for a couple of generes of music that are too mellow for daily listening, then excludes any song that I have rated less than 4 stars, then I have it exclude songs that have been played anytime in the last 3 mos. So once a song plays, it is dropped from the playlist for 3 mos. This keeps me from hearing the same songs over and over again.

At the simplest option, duplicate your functionality by creating playlists for each artist. You can create a Smart Playlist that lists the artist (and perhaps other variations of that artist) into a single playlist. In this way, if you add more songs by that artist, they will automatically show up in the playlist. An example of multi-artist thing would be: Eric Clapton, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominoes. You could make the Smart Playlist for EC pull ALL of these "artists" into a single playlist since they all contain EC.

I never used Playlists on my Gen1 iPod, but with the one I have now, I can't get enough of the playlists.

 

check out and see if it will suit your needs:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-w6cuCe1Rpk4/c....asp?I=108DP1US
http://www.harmankardon.com/drive-1/default.aspx
(I've never even seen one in real life, but the reviews I've read seem
pretty good).

 

Yeah, I've learned to love playlists. The Alpine interface is good, but slow.

 

I think you're thinking of the Alpine interfaces that require a separate interface module. The Alpines with the fullspeed cable (9856 and above) are extremely fast; in fact they are not noticeably slower than the ipod itself.

 

That's good stuff. Basically a cd changer to ipod cable should charge and play music all using the original controls.

http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=881

for $35

Too bad there isn't a cable like this for the factory HU

Instead we get

http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=908

for $90 and it looks like it doesn't work with my06.

So if I stay factory I have to get this...

http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=879

But if I go aftermarket I have the option of using their cable or one of these changer cables.

I guess now I have to read about DCI to see if I want to jump through that hoop.

Thanks!

 

I've been using the stock HU on my05 and a working interface for my Ipod 30gb photo

http://www.mp3yourcar.com/search.asp

but it $200

I can go through my ipod or channel on the dash, yes I have a couple playlist

 

[QUOTE=Will,Aug 4 2006, 09:22 AM] I think you're thinking of the Alpine interfaces that require a separate interface module.