Best solution for Ipod in car?

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Ok, here's the deal. I'm gonna be outfitting my car with a deck, sub, new speakers, blah blah blah and a way to control my Ipod easily is a MUST. I don't want to have to hold the Ipod itself in my hand or d!ck around with the deck itself.

So I've been looking around for some "standalone" if you will, Ipod controllers. I've found two for a decent price. The first one is this Alpine unit and the second one is this older model Harmon Kardon unit. From the reviews I've been reading, the Harmon Kardon seems better, but the Alpine unit more attractive. They have a newer HK unit but it's like $400, yeah right. The old HK is like $40 and I can get the Alpine for $60.

Here's what they look like.

Alpine EX-10



HK Drive + Play



If anyone has any info/reviews please post. Or if there's anything better out there for $100 lmk. I'm sure I can't be the only one that likes to use their Ipod/mp3 with their stereo.

[Broadfield]

Uhhhh dude, just buy a radio that has iPod control. Done deal! If you want the best radio out there for iPod control(ease of use, sound quality, looks etc.), and don't mind losing the ability to play CD's, then you absolutely want the Alpine iDA-X305. If you absolutely need the ability to have CD playback then you could always buy a CD changer that will hook into the Alpine.

4th one down:

zerothread?id=403610

Toby

[AZ89two4Tsx]

But I don't want to have to look down every 4 minutes to change the song. The advantage of these is you can mount them in your line of sight to the road. Maybe if that deck had a remote that worked similar?

I don't need anymore distractions lol. I'm gonna have a hard enough time being a new driver and all ya know? Plus driving a stick.

[zerepdivad]

Best thing i always tell people at work is to get a deck with ipod integrated. many new alpines have usb built into them as well as kenwoods and pretty much everyone now. THey will keep the ipod charged and play everything through the radio and you dont' have some ugly thing sitting up on your dashboard.... And i can't think of any decks now that don't come with remotes.

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Well, if you can browse through the music on the Ipod with the remote, I'll do that. You're saying all decks do that?

[zerepdivad]

Well, if you can browse through the music on the Ipod with the remote, I'll do that. You're saying all decks do that?

No not ALL decks but most decent ones.

[EW]

Do not buy the EX10.

Parrot MKi9200BluetoothSD Card1/8" jackUSBiPodLCD screensteering wheel remote

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Holy s***! That's $240 for the Parrot thing. Not interested anymore lol.

Bear with me here. If I just buy a deck, lets say the Alpine iDA-X305 Broadfield suggested, can I control it like the Parrot, EX10, HK with an Alpine remote?

Like this remote Alpine RUE-4140:



By control, I mean browse through artists, songs, playlists, etc... just like the add-on units I was looking at. If so, I'll just do that.

[Broadfield]

Holy s***! That's $240 for the Parrot thing. Not interested anymore lol.

Bear with me here. If I just buy a deck, lets say the Alpine iDA-X305 Broadfield suggested, can I control it like the Parrot, EX10, HK with an Alpine remote?

Like this remote Alpine RUE-4140:



By control, I mean browse through artists, songs, playlists, etc... just like the add-on units I was looking at. If so, I'll just do that.

Believe it or not, in the hundreds of Alpines that I have installed with iPod control, I have never tried one with a remote. It controls so easily from the unit that it would probably actually be more difficult from a remote. I will check tomorrow on mine though.

Toby

[Stev0n]

my vote is for the Fusion ca-ip500.

I have this for my v8 240 project right now & it's so f*ckin cool. The only way i'll change is IF i decide to put a tv in.

And these things go for less than $100 on ebay all day long. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPuCpyo_Vm8

[EW]

By control, I mean browse through artists, songs, playlists, etc... just like the add-on units I was looking at. If so, I'll just do that.

No, but I have not tried the remote that comes with the EX10 on a X305 (Alpine tech says the EX10 remote will not work on the X305).

[Johnnie]

I've regularly used the ipod controls on the Alpine decks, and a panasonic deck in comparison, the alpine is incredibly easy to use. I've got one in my 240 and it's as easy as cake to operate, no need for remote or anything, and it will readout the song name. it even reads song names that my computer can't recognize! I'm very impressed with Alpine's decks and would absolutely recommend it to anyone

I hope this helps!

[the converted]

I bought an alpine deck from Broadfield for my GF to use for her ipod. If that doesn't mean easy, nothing does.

[Broadfield]

I bought an alpine deck from Broadfield for my GF to use for her ipod. If that doesn't mean easy, nothing does.

Good call on the whole ease of use for the GF

[nitsujvg]

i used to have the Harmon Kardom and i loved it!

that was back before the headunits came out.then they came out and i loved it even more.

i like it because it replicates the ipod wheel, so its super native to navigate with. it looks and flows just like a real ipod (albiet not in color like the new ones) but it plays music and if you mount it well, it looks pretty damn sexy too. i had the screen taken apart and flush mounted, and the wheel controller sunk into my shift knob which worked nice :]]

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Update.....I guess.

I just ended up getting an Alpine CDA-105 local. They're right. It's so f***ing easy. No remote needed. I love it!!!

Too bad alpine RAPES you buying making you buy that dumbass cord for like $40.

[zerepdivad]

Update.....I guess.

I just ended up getting an Alpine CDA-105 local. They're right. It's so f***ing easy. No remote needed. I love it!!!

Too bad alpine RAPES you buying making you buy that dumbass cord for like $40.

yeah mark up is a b****... not a bad unit though. not an alpine guy myself but i don't hate them. put one in my girls car as well.

[Broadfield]

Update.....I guess.

I just ended up getting an Alpine CDA-105 local. They're right. It's so f***ing easy. No remote needed. I love it!!!

Too bad alpine RAPES you buying making you buy that dumbass cord for like $40.

Dang, I throw that cable in for free with the purchase. You do realize that you could have used the standard white cable that comes with iPods instead!?!

[Uberck]

Too bad alpine RAPES you buying making you buy that dumbass cord for like $40.

Same aux cable they sell at walmart for like 8 bucks?

[DudebuD]

Update.....I guess.

I just ended up getting an Alpine CDA-105 local. They're right. It's so f***ing easy. No remote needed. I love it!!!

Too bad alpine RAPES you buying making you buy that dumbass cord for like $40.

what cord? the ipod connector? my cda-9884 came with it, dont all alpines come with it?

[zerepdivad]

Same aux cable they sell at walmart for like 8 bucks?

no i don'[t think he meant aux cable.

And not all alpines come with the ipod cables. generally the cheaper ones don't.

[LIVEFA5T]

IMO the cheapest and easiest way to hook up your ipod is to get a head unit with an aux cable and case closed.

[Didderson]

My friend has the lower one you pictured. He loves it because I guess you don't have to take your eyes off the road, and it charges the ipod when its hooked up. Like other people said you don't need this though, just a good head unit that is IPOD ready, not just aux cable or you'll still have to control the music via touching the ipod.

I manage with just the ipod plugged into the head unit in the back of it (via aux/headphone cable thingy). I could use my USB cable with it but the kenwood doesn't organize it like an ipod with playlists, just file folders which is lame.

dammit I'm bumping your threads. Couldn't find the wreck one lol... fail

[Hoffman5982]

i got my ipod cable for 12 bucks on ebay. It was from hong kong if that means anything