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There are numerous reports of clean Sirus and XM installs over at the TSX enthusiast site.
I did a search for "MP3" in this thread and only came up with 14 entries...and not all referring to the MP3 player of the TSX and not one of them could answer my questions about it.
I went to an Acura dealer on Sunday and their salesman were at a loss to my questions. The guy I initially talked to didn't even know the TSX came with an MP3 player option. The second salesman I talked to knew of the MP3 player, but didn't know any details about it. A third salesman behind a desk thought the MP3 option was available for both the TL and TSX. I'm pretty sure it's not available for the TL...but if it is, could someone please verify?
If someone has one installed with Nav, could you please describe how it works, i.e.:
Does it use the Nav screen to display song titles? If it does, does it use the filename as the title, or (for you computer savvy people) does it use the ID3v1 or ID3v2 tags that can be associated with MP3 files?
Will the MP3 player take both CD-R's and CD-RW's?
I'm looking into purchasing a TSX. The option of an MP3 player won't make or break my decision. But one thing is for sure; I do want an MP3 player of some kind and knowing how the factory player works will allow me to decide whether to use theirs or just get my own.
Thanks in advance for any help!
On the flip side, I wish that my TSX (and all other cars) included an auxillary input mode in the stereo that used a simple 1/8" stereo plug. This would enable us all to use any portable device (iPOD, mp3 player, laptop sound, etc.) through the stereo. Some aftermarket decks have this, but why not factory systems? Does anyone else hate using FM transmitters (especially with an antenna in the rear window)? And any TSX owners have an FM transmitter that works well?
I also wish the stereo dash layout wasn't so proprietary so you could easily swap the factory stereo with a prefered in-deck audio system. Maybe they do this in order to coerce the consumer into keeping/buying their accessories.
I've tried using an FM transmitter (not in a TSX though) and found it to be lacking. You can still pick up engine noise and other background influences; you can't really have a pure sound with FM.
Anyway, still looking for answers to my original posts...
When connected, you can press the "CD" button twice (display says CD-C) to select the aux-in. Basically, the adapter hijacks the CD-changer input jack for a generic aux-in. Being a direct line-in, the sound quality is very good. I believe the adapter is made by P.I.E., and it was easy to install. Check out some of the TSX-centric enthusiast web sites for more info.
CRaig
Craig
Can u give any additional info on where u found/bought TSX adapter to use the AUX feature for an I-pod, or the product/part number? Its exactly what I have been looking for!
I spent 2 hrs at the Acura dealer on Mon, and another hour on the phone with Panasonic (radio maker)
I have the Nav version, not certain if yours does or if that matters?
Thanks very much.
George, Long Beach, CA
Craig
I purchased fog lights because I live in upstate NY and they are very useful in the winter with the snow "falling sideways", as it often does.
I got the dealer to throw in the mud flaps, trunk tray and wheel locks for free.
I bought the wind visor because my previous Hondas would be far to noisy without the visor. I would barely open the moon roof. With the visor, it is very quiet. It is noisier to open a window than the moon roof. So totally worth it.
I also bought the MP3 CD player because I have a large number of MP3 CD collections with Bible studies that I have purchased (although most people just have personal MP3 players instead, so this would not be the best for them). I agree that a line-in connector would have made a lot of sense. I love being able to listen to my MP3 CDs directly in the car. I must point out that I am very disappointed that navigating through the disk is difficult, since the MP3 titles don't show up on the screen, although since it does display the titles from the XM radio, it is obviously capable of doing it.
Anyone know of a firmware upgrade that can provide the text?
I bought a TSX with the MP3 CD player. I have only used it for CD-Rs. It has recognized every single one that I have used (purchased or created manually).
I don't have a navigation system, so I don't know where it would display it there. On the other hand, I would presume that it would display the data in the same place as the XM radio display.
As far as what is visible ... it is disappointing. It displays "D-# T-#" where # is the number of the disk and track. It treats the directories as disks and the MP3 files in the directories as tracks. They could have come up with anything better than that (even 8.3 format would have been better!). It makes it virtually impossible to select a particular song that you want without memorizing the number of the disks and the number of tracks for each (and the directories are probably alphabetical). I have many MP3 CDs that are for Bible teachings, so I still find value in this option, but if I wanted it just for music, I would not have bought it.
My only hope is that sometime in the future, someone will come up with a firmware upgrade, since the radio can display text, as it does with XM.
Thanks.
AFAIK, the display will automatically show the artist name and title of the song briefly when a new song starts, and then it will switch to whichever info screen you had it on before the song started. I don't think there's a way to get it to continually switch through all of the information screens.
I think you should just pick which info you are most interested in and leave it on that one screen. I leave mine on "Name" because that's what I'm usually most interested in knowing: the name of the artist.
I thought I saw it automatically changing during the song when I was test driving the car but it may have been on the nav version. I thought I was overlooking something. Oh well, it is still nice.
Thanks.
Or maybe just leave it as is... for me, being unable to hear Sean Hannity would be a nice feature.
I have some fuzziness with my FM and AM--but with XM I don't use my conventional radio sets anymore. Plus--I had your exact thought about Hannity--I'd beg for static.
First: I notice also that my FM seems to come in and out a little bit, even on the popular channels, it seems that way.
Second: Anyone notice a small "hissing" sound when playing CD's? Like you can hear a small, small sound that sounds like when your TV is "snowy". I noticed that, not that its a big deal, but a little annoying.
And the biggest item I want to talk about: has anyone had 4 or more people in the car and the back speakers do not play? On two seperate occasions, I had the back seat telling me that nothing was coming out of the rear speakers. I didn't even ask them the second time, they brought it up to me. I don't know if it is a courtesy thing where it shuts off the back speakers so it doesn't blow out the peoples' ears in the back. I have checked the fader and balance and everything is fine. When I drive by myself or with a passanger in the front, they all sound fine, just when there is 2 or 3 people in the back. Anyone notice this too?
How do the speakers sound to you when other folks are in the car? If it sounds the same to you, it probably the 6X9 in the rear acting more like subs than reg full range speakers.
I get a crunchingly hissing, sort of crackling (hard to describe) sound from the center of the dash with the stereo off. It seems to come from the tires as it gets louder on rough roads. It has a slight affect on the sound system.
Maybe my next set of tires will fix that.
drps uder bridges and tunnels, it skips around due to weather much more than FM. I was listening to New Orleans on I10 in the Florida panhandle at 2 AMK and San Antonio, just south of I10 on I75 in Florida at 3 AM. FM won't do that You guys must be young. I come from AM only rock stations era.
This thing called a neo iOnaux costs 200 buck and you can install it yourself with no tools.
you don't need to drill any holes nor do you need to remove the radio.
the cord is in the stoage bin right below the A/C or disc changer so your ipod is there instead of in your glove box
if you have the navi you need to buy a special harnss for 35 dollars
this allows you to use the ipod controls, changer controls, or steering wheel controls to control your ipod.
all of this can be purchased from mp3yourcar.com
just selct ipod and then, acura, then year, then TSX
there is a video of installing it on a TSX so ANYONE can do it
it is super easy and sounds great
all spelled out for you on this website
I have an 06 non-nav TSX and would like to add the iPod link but not sure which one. There is also icelink and iPod2Car...
If anyone has comments on any of these after market iPod hook ups, I would love to hear them!
The Acura sales person said that you can haggle with XM to get a better price than the prices advertized at xmradio.com. Has anyone tried this and got a better price?
In my urban area we have some excellent FM choices. Personally, I'd pay $3/mo for XM, not more.
Has anyone been using aftermarket connectors, like Logjam or others, and can share some suggestions for getting good sound from the iPod? The previous posts on this topic were pretty old, so I was hoping for some fresh info, maybe updates on new technology, adapters. Thanks.
I just purchased 2004 TSX with 31,000 miles on it. I noticed that, when driving at night, it's hard to recognize the buttons on the audio system because it is completely dark! No lights on any of it, except for the display. I don't have navy, by the way, just a regular audio system. Can you help me find out what's wrong?
Thanks
Can I also install my Kenwood excellon radio, that would then allow me to add my sirius equipment and kenwood changer?? I'm thinking it could install in the little door under the factory radio. BUT, I would need to do something about the wiring harness. Is their a dual harness made by anyone? One that would allow plug into the factory as well as the Kenwood? Any thoughts?
I am not sure I would do that, I would keep the factory as your main system, while trying to see if you could add the kenwood as an auxilary into the main system, therefore leaving access to all features of the car. I hope I understood what you were saying.
Any sound shop, not bestbuy or stores like that, but a sound shop, will be able to tell you whether you can hook this up like an auxilary. Therefore you can hook your surris radio up to that. It can be done.
Anyone recommend an installer in the San Fernando Valley???