I just bought an iPod this past weekend, and was wondering if the AUX jack under the power outlet in the center console if you get the correct cable, or is the Honda iPod Link a requirement for it to work?

 

Aux jack should be just fine for your purposes. Just get a line-out (I recommend the SiK din) and you should be good to go. From what I've read about the Honda iPod link, I think I'd pass.

 

I have my iPod and Sat Radio connected directly with to the AUX port. Is ther an advantage to getting something like the Sik connector?

 

The iPod will sound better with the signal coming out of the dock than the headphone jack - the headphone jack on the iPod is known for a weak bass response. The frequency response of the line out is flatter, and will give you better sound.

 

Sweet! Thanks for the info. Now I need to find a way to make the wires look decent. Its a bit of a mess in there now with all the cables.

 

So basically your saying go buy the Monster for the plug and play installation?

 

Yeah, the Monster should be a good choice too - although you might be able to get it done cheaper with the SiK and another charger of your choice.

 

aside from brand names, all you need is an 1/8" to 1/8" cable. with the aux jack, you can connect the ipod and use the controls on the ipod to control the music and you're just using the speakers in the car to listen to the music. with music link, you are controlling the music with the head unit, as opposed to the ipod

 

In essence, this is true. All you *need* is a mini-to-mini cable from Radio Shack for functionality. I'm just an unreformable audiophile, is all. At any rate, props to Honda for making it easy to hook up our iPods!

 

I went for the Honda Music Link for a few reasons
1. Frees up my power outlet for charging cell phone and/or laptop
2. It directly integrates with my stereo though I am still trying to figure out the voice activation software on the Apple website.
3. The stereo controls make it pretty easy to search my Ipod for songs and the larger text allows me to weave in and out of traffic/sidewalks etc. while keeping a good partial eye on the road.
4. It charges my ipod for me while playing music.
5. I feel the sound quality is just as good as an aux cable and a hundred times better that an FM broadcast based setup.
6. I dont have to look at wiring or fumble with my ipod while driving
7. I have already reserved that spot under my A/c controls for my "Miniature Buddy Christ" dashboard figurine and he get kind of mad when he can't give me a thumbs up when I decide to commit some act of wreckless endangerment.
8. I know cost wise the parts are a little more costly. But I was able to install it myself and had no problems the parts guy even printed me some instructions.
9. I read you get to use a power drill during the installation process so I recieved instant permission "until I got home" from my wife to take a few trips down to sears and stock up on some of what I felt were very necessary tool purchases, though she did not quite feel the same about the tool cabinet and professional grade metric socket set she may get over it soon.
10. I did notice that if you slide all of your owners manualls and books to one side in the glove compartment you do have about 3 or four inches of space that would have been otherwise filled with junk and such.
Well thats my top ten

 

I like the top ten but a few things seem a little confusing.
#3 states that "the larger text allows me to weave in and out of traffic/sidewalks etc. while keeping a good partial eye on the road."
What larger text? Is your stereo displaying track info besides the track number?

One note to #5 it definitely has better sound quality than using the ayx connector with the headphone out, if you get some sort of device to use line out in the car like a monster car charger then it is basically the same quality.

#6 is what did it for me.

#2 has an interesting comment in it "I am still trying to figure out the voice activation software on the Apple website." Is there voice activation software or do you mean the TTS(text to speech software) any way it is not an apple product so looking at the apple site is not going to be helpful.

 

By larger text I mean track information it pops up on my stereo display when i scroll through songs with the Ipod link.
As far as the Voice recognition software I read in the owners manual for my Music link that you can talk to your Ipod with a software download instead of using the stereo controls to navigate the I pod. though I did find out that this is software designed for voice recognition Navigation equipped Honda's so I am out to find another neat software to use

 

By larger text I mean track information it pops up on my stereo display when i scroll through songs with the Ipod link.
As far as the Voice recognition software I read in the owners manual for my Music link that you can talk to your Ipod with a software download instead of using the stereo controls to navigate the I pod. though I did find out that this is software designed for voice recognition Navigation equipped Honda's so I am out to find another neat software to use

 

Curious, What country are you in? I am in the USA and my stereo does not display the track info. Is it a Fit or a different vehicle? What kind of screen, do you have pictures?

 

Does anyone else use something other than an IPOD for MP3s besides me. I use an Archos AV420 and using the AUX input sounds great so much better than the FM modulator in my old Jeep. I'm sure people love their IPOD's but I like the ease of use and removable battery on my Archos as well as some other things. Also for people that have IPOD's what made you decide to buy one, besides being the popular thing to do?

 

Dear Hicks,
Apple has made products that I like. I have been an apple man for many many years, well like 50% of my life. I am 24. That is why I purchased and ipod. I like apples products for style and ease of use.

One thing to Note is that Honda sucks at trying to interface with the ipod. The Honda Music Link with TTS software in my new Fit just stopped working about 30 minutes ago. It won't recognize that the ipod is connected.

I AM SOO PISSED RIGHT NOW
But the Aux jack should work just fine for your archos which I have heard are pretty good mp3 players.

I also have had non ipod mp3 players but they were either lost or broken.

 

Sorry about your music link that sucks but anyway, everyone has at least one brand that they are loyal to mine would be Logitech, keyboard, mouse, joystick, Driving Wheel, and Speakers. Not trying to bash Apple or the IPOD. I use to use a Creative Jukebox MP3 player which was great just really didn't like the software to load the music on it. I got my Archos for another reason to record video from my helmet cam and then I started loading MP3's and other stuff using windows explorer and I forgot about my jukebox. By the way how do you load songs onto your IPOD, do you need software or can you use windows explorer?

 

I think that on windows you need to use itunes to put music on the ipod. I am like 99% sure of that.

 

Yes it does require iTunes to load files from windows -

Also from my nephew's issues with TTS on his Civic -
Have you recently changed any of your iPods rundown (deleted songs, podcasts etc?) If so you may have to "re-TTS" all the iPod's drive content to get it working again

 

Considering that I did not connect the nano to the computer in between when it worked and didn't work. I do not think I would need to redo the TTS stuff.