I've spent quite a while searching, but no one seems to have the same set of wants that I have, so I'm hoping for yet more information.

I have an 80gb ipod, very full of music, all very anally sorted by artist and album and tagged. I don't use playlists, I just listen to albums (or singles).

With that in mind, which of the various ipod adapters is going to give me the easiest use without having to resort to the scrollwheel/looking at the ipod? Or am I just going to have to give in and use the scrollwheel? I'm really hoping to get whatever kind of functionality out of the stock in-dash LCD and steering wheel controls, but if I can't, I can't. In the end, I just want to be able to access my music via the simplest method possible.

 

to go to an individual artist or song, i'm pretty sure none of the adapters are gonna help, and that youre gonna need to do it by hand... sorry?

 

the audiolink lets u use the steering wheel controls.

but it won't make use of the navi screen or the red display.

 

So it doesn't let you scroll through folders using the track forward/track backward or seek or anything like that?

 

My description of the OEM unit from my IPOD post in the Canada forum

If you want to select a menu you hold down the cd change button (up or down) for one second or more. The number scrolls but you ignore that. When you release the button the time counter shows the menu number for a second or so before the next song starts counting.
The cd change button also is used to change the list number within the menu you selected. The list is changed if you press the button for less than one second. The only issue here is if you hit the cd button twice in one second it will change the menu instead of the list so you have to change lists slowly.
The menu numbers are documented in the manual and the list in each menu is selected in the order programmed on your IPOD


By selecting the artist menu you could flip through them with the cd change button.
I hope that helps!

 

Can you view the currently selected artist on the in dash led then, scrolling that way?

 

No text display. You need to make a cheat sheet of your lists in each menu and then go by the numbers on the red display. Also the OEM unit doesn't let you use the IPOD screen. Not ideal but workable.
The good part is that the OEM unit is solid and reliable.

A power user like you might want to look at Phatbox.

 

No text display on the OEM? Lame...

Does the audiolink have text display?

 

Nothing of real value, other then how long the current track has been playing.
Audiolink is the way to go. It's easy to install. You can run the cable to your glove box or center console. It sounds great and allows you control through the steering wheel.

I have mine currently mounted in the glove box but will be moving it once i can find an 8pin mini din cable extender. I'll have it in the secret compartment behind the drink holder.

 

So, in summary, neither of them have anything resembling useful text display, but at least the audiolink lets you retain use of the ipod controls, while the OEM takes it away? Bleh. Neither of those are particularly appealing.

 

true, but even with text display, what youre asking for is still a little bit ludacris...

i mean, i have at least 500 artists on my ipod... it'd be dangerous to try to scroll through those, even if it was displayed on the dash.

 

Not really. Hold down button for 2 seconds - look up, see "D-something", scroll down some more, see "F-something", then slow down and go to the right one. Not hard. A lot safer than looking down at the damn ipod as I scroll through it on the road, no?

 

I got the audiolink and its great. Has an extra audio input that i'm hoping will plug right into my Navigation unit. I'd like to see current track information scrolling through the built in display on the radio, but no dice. However that doesn't effect the audio quality so in the end who cares. I suggest you get the audiolink, and get one of those mounts that hold your ipod right next to your radio, so you can easily scroll through your music, find what you want, hit play, then step on the gas cause you just ran over 6 kids while you were looking at your ipod instead of the road.

 

i like the audio link, it works clearly and is only $110(with code)+shipping

 

Oh and did I mention that I wrote my off as a deduction, since it is an iPod accessory and I work with Macs & iPods :-D

 

^nice

 

Harman Kardon Drive+Play. Hands down the best iPod control around. Displays the same menu as the iPod and the control **** mimics the scroll wheel. I have my display mounted up above my RV mirror and the control **** is mounted (with double-sided tape) just in front of the seat heater switches. I also use the Auxmod by Sylfex as my input. The D+P also has an external input, so I attached am extension to that, routed to the cupholders. (This way I can plug other stuff into it, like an XM tuner or cellphone)

My 2C.

 

ive seen that before. it looks really nice. i went with the audiolink because it is the cheapest but also the most basic. i would i highly consider that Drive+Play

 

What about the Harman Kardon Drive + Play 2?

It is not out yet but I will be getting one I think once it is released when I get my rx8.

http://www.harmankardon.com/drive-1/

Click on the one on the right hand side

 

This is where I would put mine (thinking of doing this getting tired of waiting for AuxMod Advance). So the "stock" equipment with Audiolink wont reach here?

 

I have the DiCE system installed, and my iPod rests in the hideaway console behind the drink holders.

It does not display the artist/track name, but it does allow you to change songs via the steering wheel, radio or on the iPod itself. It also charges the iPod for you, and turns it off when you shut the engine off (or switch to FM/CD/etc).

Also has a separate aux input for non-iPod devices like other mp3 players, laptops or XM.

http://www.diceelectronics.com/ipod_integration.htm

 

I ended up picking up an audiolink. The Drive & play looks nice too, but I noticed that there wasn't any RX-8 integration package for it, so even if I did pick it up, I'd need to use the radio link (ugh). So, I figured I'd start with an audiolink, and if I got too annoyed with having to use the ipod manually, I'd pick up a drive and play, and hook it into the aux port on the audiolink.

Got the audiolink and ipod last night. Today, tore into the center console and installed it. I'm not sure what people are talking about, the wires were long enough to run it to the hidden panel behind the cup holders, with enough extra wiring to pull it out and look at it at eye level as I'm driving to change songs.

 

after reading similar threads to this one i ended up getting the auxmod. $60 is cheaper than anything else, as far as i've seen.

http://www.sylfex.com/products/AuxMod/

 

Yeah, but it doesn't give you any ability to change songs with the stock setup, nor does it charge the ipod as you use it. That's what sold me for the audiolink.

 

as mentioned in:
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...4&postcount=12

My $232 Phatnoise;
1. Turns on and off with car
2. Remembers last played song
3. Sorts via Artist Album Genre Playlist
4. Has steering wheel controls
5. Has radio HU controls
6. TALKS to me and recites the Artist/Album/Playlist/Genre
7. I can sort by Artist and then by Album within that Artist
8. Can quickly toggle through the alphabet AUDIBLY thru car speakers.
9. Works with Audible books
(10. Does NOT have text display either - just shows EX:1 and track time)

My eyes never leave the road and I can toggle through a wide variety of song sorting methods. It worked fantastic last year to/from a Tail of the Dragon.

I was beginning to be bummed about the advent of Ipod and OEM or aftermarket adapters. You all just made me feel a whole lot better about my choice!