By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
If you want to burn at MP3 quality, you can probably burn 500 songs on one DVD. I haven't tried this as I am happy with 99 songs at CD quality.
You will find a link with instructions on creating DVD-a's, including free downloadable software.
I followed the instructions; however, I use Nero to create the WAV files, usually about 4GB's for six albums at CD quality. Running the MakeDVDA batch file will create a DVDA iso image file. I then use Nero to copy the image file to a DVD disk.
I use regular DVD-r disk. In fact, the disks I'm using comes from a cheap batch of DVD's that didn't work well for other backup applications.
It would take me twenty minutes to create the WAV's from CD's, twenty minutes for MakeDVDA to create the iso image, and twenty minutes to copy the image to a DVD.
The DVD-A's works greate in the TL. Maybe jimmyrice14 can compare vehicles by playing DVD-A's.
Must you convert them to WMA before going to DVD or can you use MP3's? I'd have to convert my MP3's to WMA if this is not the case. Thanks.
Jimmyrice14
I use the downloads from 'Version 2'.
I use Nero 7 Ultra Edition, ver. 7.0.1.2. I use Nero Express to convert CD's to WAV, MakeDVDA to create DVD image, and Nero Burning ROM to burn DVD image to a DVD-r.
Since MP3 files are quite a bit smaller than your WAV files, I assume MP3 may be converted to DVD-a at a lesser quality than CD while using less disk space. Also, a DVD can have more than one group where each group contains no more than 99 titles. I don't recall how to access each group, but I read it in a forum somewhere.
Oh, by the way, I never mentioned that the ipod music link does sound excellent as far as sound quality goes, it's just the searching feature sucks to the extreme. If you are into just putting a few songs on the ipod or a few albums at one time it might not be so bad.
Sorry to hear the disappointing news. I am still trying to decide if it is worth havin this iPod attachment in my '06 TL. If possible, could you (or anyone else with knowledge) please answer a few questions?
1. Does the song information (artist, title, etc.) show up on the "navi" screen? If so, what information does it include?
2. Is voice command the only way to access songs? For instance, once you select "artist," does a list of the artists shows up on the "navi" screen and allow you to scroll through? If not, can you still use the iPod to select songs, etc. when it is plugged into the car?
3. Assuming voice command is all you have, once you get to "ZZ Top," can you then use the seek/scan or steering wheel buttons to move through all of the ZZ Top songs?
I appreciate any information you can give me. Thanks for your help and I am sorry for all of th equestions.
1. No. The "navi" does not display song information. It will display track number (not very useful) and time of song, but nothing else. The "audio feedback" will announce the artist, album or playlist before it starts playing the song. (However, it will likely mispronounce it.) Others who have spoken to Honda of America/Acura have been told the display of song/artist information this is something that might come in the future and have been told to look for "software updates" on the corporate site. In addition, when plugged in, the iPod loses its own display and simply shows a big check mark or something like that.
2. Accessing artists/playlists through pushing buttons on the head unit and listening to the alphabet and pressing more buttons is the only way to get to your desired artist/album/playlist. However, contrary to previous posts, you can descend through the alphabet (start at "Z" and work backwards) in the event you are looking for something from say "ZZ Top." As of yet, nobody has figured out a way to speed through the alphabet in either direction. From there you can seek/scan through the various songs. Also, no, you cannot use the iPod controls when it is connected to the music link. It can take anywhere from 10 seconds to 30+ seconds to get to the song you are looking for. However, you never have to take your eyes off of the road.
3. Yes, once you get to the artist or album, you can use the head unit buttons to skip through the different songs. However, I am unsure about the functionality of the steering wheel controls.
Additional Issues: The PC software can be difficult to use and has some bugs. However, most people I "spoke" with were ultimately able to figure it out.
Overall, everyone is disappointed and feels misled by Acura. (Myself included.) However, nobody disputes that the sound quality is great and the fact that it is covered by the Acura warranty is a plus. Also, after getting over their initial frustration, most people have started to "enjoy" the music link by creating a few playlists of their favorite tunes and saving the tedious searching for rare songs they just feel the need to hear.
Given that I am not a fan of aftermarket integration systems and lack any mechanical ability whatsoever, I will probably get the Music Link and enjoy the ability to have all my tunes with me. Given that the cable is hidden in the glove box, the only true "risk" I see is the money. Hopefully, Acura will upgrade the system in a few months and we will all be pleasantly surprised.
Hope this helps.
I would love to find out how to reverse the order of the alphabetizing, if you find this out please post it.
One final note for everyone with the ipod music link. Instead of using the built in microsoft sam voice, I found a bunch of voices that sound WAY better and are easier to understand. Unfortunatly you have to buy them. They are called AT&T Natural Voice. http://www.naturalreaders.com/
biffh, any luck with getting the Alpine unit to work with the TL?
http://forums.thecarlounge.net/zerothread?id=2008182
Anyone want to try with thier TL?
If you want I can send you the PDF of the music links instruction manual. Just let me know.
Jim
Also, thanks to this forum, I was able to burn some DVD-audio disks of mp3's I have and listen to them in the TL. I used Ulead's Burn Now program which allows you to burn mp3, wav, wmv, etc to a dvd-audio disk. I did find that I could only use dvd-rw disks and not dvd-r. Now I can listen to my Howard Stern in the car, along with the ipod.
Quick question for you... Which AT&T nautral voice were you able to use? Can you have windows uses a AT&T Natural voice as its default? It is my understanding that the Acura TTS uses what ever voice you have selected as the default. Also how much did the AT&T voice cost you?
Thanks,
Jim
As a programmer, i would have though the nav screen would be the obvious thing to exploit in order to make an awesome system. Even if they just duplicated the ipods interface, that would have been great.
I hope some good 3rd party solutions are released.
First, the sound quality is amazing. It is by far the best I have heard. I find it to be superior to aftermarket "aux in" set-ups that I have heard(unless they are run through a separate amp., etc.).
Second, navigating your iPod is really not as difficult as you might first think. In the event that I have a song, playlist, album that I know I want to listen to. I can pop the connector off of the iPod when I first get into the car (or while I am driving), "cue" up the song, playlist, album on the iPod, plug the connector back in and the selected track immediately comes up when I select the CD-C mode. Doing it this way completely bypassing the TL search functions. With respect to navigating on the fly, yes the voice is "clunky," but in many instances I am able to get to a song faster than if I was trying to do it directly from my iPod. (Keep in mind, my iPod has 6000+ tracks on it so searching for anything takes time.) However, this morning I tried to find songs by "Poison." (I have no idea why.) One button push and approx. 7 seconds later, I was at "P". Two more button pushes and 5 seconds later I was at "Poison." I then tried the same search directly on the Ipod and it took my close to twice the time to get to my music files, get to the "artist" search and scroll back and forth until I hit "Poison." As an added bonus, I never had to take my eyes off of the road like when using the TL to search like I had to do when I was searching on the iPod.
Third, yes I would prefer to have title, album and artist displayed on my Navi screen. However, I really do not miss it. Moreover, the screen does show track number and elapsed time so at least there is something. When I think about it, I never really looked at that information on the iPod much given that I know my music collection pretty well.
Fourth, the Acura appears to allow you to "shuffle" in all of the search modes.
Fifth, creatively developing playlists streamlines things a ton.
Finally, you can skip through tracks with the steering wheel controls.
Yes, installing all of the gear associated with the Harmon-Kardon or similar set-up might give you more features (at likely a greater cost). However, the Music Link is a "clean" solution, that is "invisible," is fully covered by Acura's warranty and allows you to "navigate" the iPod without taking your eyes off the road. This in and of itself is worthwhile given that you cannot do it with the iPod alone if it is your backpack, etc.
Overall, I think my disappointed stems from the fact that I expect so much from the TL because it really is a great care. Even so, with FM/AM, XM, CD, DVD-A, Tape and now iPod control, the TL is, in my opinion, the best overall stock car for an audiophile.
I figure I can save on some of the easier to install accessories such as mats, door edge trim, etc.
thanks
While I was at the dealer I noticed that the advertisements for the iPod integration that is on the parts counter shows the iPod's menu screen visible while the iPod in connected to the music link. I personally feel that this is false advertisement because the iPod menu screen is not visible at all while connected. Instead, you see a big check mark that says “safe to disconnect" or something along these lines.
So keep reading this because I about to make my point of this post...
While I was showing the dealer the fact that you can't navigate the iPod using the iPod click wheel while it is connected to the music link my iPod's menu screen came up. I was able to use the iPod to find a song and navigate around my music.
I have no idea how this happened and I have not been able to reproduce the experience.
It does leave me with some hope that there is a way that the iPod can be connected to the music link and not display the "check mark of no fun". Has any body else had this experience yet?
I personally feel that the music link would be 100 times better if you could just use the iPod controls as an option to navigate you music library.
Jim
I have purchased several things from them for my wife's Accord and everthing went smoothly.
On the downside, the dealers are countering(the low prices offered by some web sites) by not wanting to install OEM parts not purchased from them.
Thanks
Jim
Good Luck!
I changed the bulbs in the fog light on my 04 TL to a whiter HB4 light. I noticed they actual did less than the original, yellowish light. When you toggle the fog light switch on/off while driving especially in the dark areas, you'll see the yellowish fog light actually contributes quite a bit of extra light, especially to the far right and left. Fog lights are supposed to provide a very wide low beam in the fog to enable you to see more of what is in front and sides of you. Drivers who want their fog lights to work with their high beams are missing the point of their use. I also got even more people flashing their high beams at me when coming over hills than before the change. When people see the low HID's and see 4 lights coming at them, they think I have my high beams on and retaliate. There was an Acura, older TL or Vigor, can't remember which one, that used YELLOW fog lights. I may change over to them if I can find some to stop the people flashing me or not use them at all unless there is fog. My uncle used yellow fog lights on his Porsche and they were impressive. Problem is I like to be seen by other drivers as much as possible. I don't like dented Acuras, especially mine.
A Yellow Star bulb is an Ion Crystal coated bulb that emits a yellow color - this is commonly called an "all weather" bulb because the yellow/amber color makes it significantly easier for on-coming traffic to see you in bad weather. The color is toward the warmer end of the visible light spectrum and has a longer wavelength which does not diffract as much as cooler colors therefore causing less eye strain.
Item# Description
Price Quantity Add to
Order CP9006AW 9006/HB4 Bulb, 12V, 55W, Philips, each Weathervision
website and none of the DVDs I burned works--the Acura sound system rejects them. I have tried DVD+RW and DVD+ disks but neither works. This is really frustrating.
What year is your TL? I saw the TSB for the '04 and '05 models where Acura is replacing the old ones with new updated EL42s that have a different manufacture code. Was wondering if the newer EL42s on the 06 models were still not well thought of.
Does anybody have any information on this converter?
Thanks in advance.
Here is a link to the DRL module
http://www.autobarn.net/des20013.html