Answering the aux input questions

[JoshH385]

I've finally finished a job that I arguably shouldn't have had to do at all: I got an auxillary input installed in my Ridge. I say I shouldn't have had to do it because quite honestly it is a painfully simple feature to ask for from the factory and it couldn't possibly cost Honda any significant amount in manufacturing or R&D. Besides, it's now 2007 - people have portable audio devices they like to use. Anyway, I digress..

So my dilemma was this. I have an '06 RTL with moonroof (and XM), no factory nav. My requirements were simple:

1) Install a fully functional, clean auxillary input into the factory stereo.
2) Retain XM functionality

I installed the Soundgate SNHOND3 (http://www.logjamelectronics.com/sounsnhond3.html) a couple months ago with a Y harness to enable keeping the XM connected and was partially there. I could plug in a device, say an IPod or aftermarket Nav, but there were a couple problems. First, the volume wasn't what it should be. MP3s that would hurt your ears with headphones on the IPod were a moderate listening volume at max on the factory stereo. What's more the factory XM was essentially useless. Although it "worked" it too was horribly muffled. So much so that you couldn't make anything out when the vehicle was moving. Finally, alternator whine (even with a ground loop isolator) was so bad that listening to it for any period of time would leave a ringing in the ears. Back to the drawing board...

Recently I came across the Blitzsafe DMX V.2X (http://www.logjamelectronics.com/blitzhonauxdmxv2.html) which by description seemed absolutely perfect. It added the simple RCA input that I wanted and had a connector right on it to plug my XM harness into. I did a little research and found very little mention of it on the forums here, and what I did find didn't seem too favorable. I checked out the boards over at Logjam and found that people were having success with the new units (shipped since Sept 06 ish) that apparently had a new version of the firmware installed. The trouble was none of that was specific to the Ridgeline. Well, since the specs said specifically that the DMX V.2X would work with the '06 Ridge I bit the bullet and ordered it. It came today, it's instaled and I'm happy to say my goals are met!

-The aux input works just as it should. The volume feels on par with what it should be out of that stereo (that is, inline with the CD player's volume. It's not necessarily what an aftermarket amp could provide, but that's just what the factory stereo is). The sound is clean - no more alternator whine. Apparently something in the combo of the Soundgate and the Y harness was introducing that whine.
-XM now works right again! I signed up for a year at $77 (the winback promotion if anyone is thinking about it) and can actually use it now. It is working just like it did from the factory, and the volume is right back up there.

So, hopefully this can relieve some concerns about the Blitzsafe. I ordered it from Logjam (see links) and they're only shipping the most recently released units which do work in the Ridge. I also want to make sure everyone understands that the Soundgate SNHOND3 is NOT the problem here. The fault was mine - I didn't have the right part for the job.

Basically it comes down to this - if you DO have factory XM that you want to leave plugged in, using it or not, you want the Blitzsafe. If you either don't have factory XM or don't care if the harness for it is left unplugged then you can go with the SNHOND3 and plug it right into the 14 pin plug on the rear of the stereo.

BTW, if anyone wants to buy a SNHOND3 in like-new condition (again, make sure you don't want that Honda XM!) I'll make ya a good deal on it.

[LATEOTT]

You are of course correct that the SNHOND3 cannot be used with XM plugged in, as it says that very clearly on the ordering page.

It's great to hear your success with the Blitzsafe DMX V.2X, and please keep us posted as to it's continuing performance. Blitzsafe has made some great products but it took them a long time to get this one to work correctly. One thing I really like about the DMXV.2X is it's small footprint compared to the other options. The price seems to have been reduced a bit to make it competitive with other options.

Can you confirm what is displayed on the OEM HU when you are using an AUX input source? Can you select between the XM and the AUX source through the HU, or does the AUX automatically play when you plug it in?

Does it remember what source is playing (XM vs. AUX) when you start and stop the ignition?

(I'm wondering if it is acting as a simple switch like the PIE device and just switching over the audio, or if it is actually communicating over the data bus with the HU.)

The other alternative that will work in this situation (XM installed subscribed or not, non-iPod AUX input) is the P.I.E. X3 ($52) with the P.I.E. X3-HON03 ($26)
http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=857
http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=856

The two downsides to the PIE adapter are the larger cords and footprint, and the fact that it passes through the XM display data to the HU display even when you are using an AUX source.

An advantage of the PIE is it gives you an additional two audio inputs.

For those withOUT XM installed, and for those wishing to specifically use an iPod, ther maybe better options.



Anyway, thanks for the great writeup and please continue to post your experiences with the Blitzsafe module.

[JoshH385]

It sure does say that it won't work with factory XM. It was kind of an experiment for me because when I read that I thought "Why? If I put this Y harness in surely it will work!" Obviously I was wrong!

When you use the AUX source it displays CDC on the factory head unit (accessed by pressing the CD button twice). You can select between AUX and XM, but an interesting note is that if you have the AUX source playing and you switch to XM you'll hear both the XM and the AUX, so you have to either unplug or pause the AUX source when XM is selected. No biggie.

It does remember what source you had selected even after the vehicle is turned off.

The Blitzsafe doesn't pass the XM data to the HU when AUX is selected like the PIE does, which is nice.

I wanted the option to use an IPOD but also other AUX sources that would be standard RCA connections, so this was exactly what I was looking for!

I use the AUX a lot so I should have a pretty good idea of the lasting performance of the Blitzsafe. I'll update everyone on it down the road.

[bongus]

It's good to hear that you're having success with your setup. I too believe that an auxiliary option should have been included with the RLs. In the early stages, I did not have the options that are available now so I went with an aftermarket HU solution. It ended up becoming a bigger labor and financial investment than the initial auxiliary adapter I purchase but I'm glad I did it. Hopefully Honda figures out how attractive an auxiliary adapter would be for a prospective buyer and we'll see it in future models.

[PharmFrank]

Thanks Josh for the write up. I had posted the Blitzsafe option after a buddy of mine recommended it (though no experience specifically for the RL). I still have yet to find the time to install the option, so I had not gotten around to getting one. Sounds like a good choice, I'll look into it when I'm ready.

[JoshH385]

So far so good, hopefully that continues to be the case. I too knew of people who had success with the Blitzsafe, but no specific RL experience. I can appreciate the time thing, it is a bit of a commitment to tear into that project. Still, I have to say I'm impressed with how easy it all comes apart and goes back together. Compared to other vehicles I've done similar work on, even other Hondas (01' Civic) this was a piece of cake.

[GHOSTHAUNTER]

HEY HAS ANYBODY HEARD OF www.autotoys.com they claim to have the best aux input jack but when u try to email in a question nothing happens. there adaptor is a simple little harness with rca r/l very simple and cheap but i don't trust the site ALL SALES FINAL. the usa spec one is good but you are paying for the ipod feature. i don't have an ipod nor do i want one. all i want is a simple jack just like the one equiped with the RTL w/ NAVI. i'm try to find a way to make one using a factory harness and the jack for thr RTL model.

[LATEOTT]

Originally Posted by GHOSTHAUNTER

HEY HAS ANYBODY HEARD OF www.autotoys.com they claim to have the best aux input jack but when u try to email in a question nothing happens. there adaptor is a simple little harness with rca r/l very simple and cheap but i don't trust the site ALL SALES FINAL. the usa spec one is good but you are paying for the ipod feature. i don't have an ipod nor do i want one. all i want is a simple jack just like the one equiped with the RTL w/ NAVI. i'm try to find a way to make one using a factory harness and the jack for thr RTL model.

Let us know how your project goes.

Of course if you don't want to use an iPod, there is no reason to get an aux input made for an iPod. You do have other choices.

The Ridgeline is not listed in the Autotoys compatibility list, nor is any other 2006-2007 Honda. I wouldn't worry about ordering from the company, but why would you order a product from there if you don't know whether it will work?

[tcj]

Just wanted to chime in here to say that I've got the SNHOND3 with a charger that also grabbed the audio from the Ipod's bottom dock connector and have found that with the newest Ipod (5.5G, 80gb) you will need a ground-loop isolator to eliminate the very issue the original poster is talking about. Something about the video display on the Ipod caused a large amount of hiss and the typical alternator whine. I installed a ground-loop isolator and it still didn't get rid of it. Again, this is only a problem via the dock-connector audio - running sound out of the headphone jack does not seem to have this problem, so that's how I have to do it, unfortunately, which defeats the entire point of the setup I was trying to go for: one cable, not two. Oh well.

Also, keep your receipts on your Blitzsafe units. The two that I bought for our vehicles are on the fritz and are now long out of the warranty, unfortunately. Blitzsafe had a LOT of problems with their previous units. This is why I replaced the unit in my truck a few weeks back with the SNHOND3, in fact. It was getting to the point where it wouldn't recognize my Ipod until I restarted the truck once or twice. Pretty shoddy piece of equipment, but if they've truly solved the problems, I'd buy them again because they really were the only ones around for the price that did charge AND get sound out of the dock connector.

[zuhl]

I got my blitzsafe installed saturday. It was pretty easy and seemed to work pretty well. One odd thing I noticed is that if you dont have the left channel connected, then the right channel does not work either. But as long as they are both hooked up then all is fine.

I hooked it up to a JVC MP3 CD changer that is RF modulator controlled. But I tapped the signal before it gets to the RF box and connected RCAs. It sounds good. And with 12 MP3 disks I have almost 10GB of MP3s at my fingers to use and change at will. It sounds great. I mounted the chager under the passenger seat and it fits like it was made for it. I put the controller on a belt sander to make it narrow enought to fit in the under-radio cubby hole so I can close it and makle it totally stealth. For the constant 12v power to it I used the rear power outlet that I modifed to be always hot by removing the relay and for the switched power I tapped into the front power outlets that I left switched.

The only wierd thing is that the changer only outputs in mono, so I had to split it. I dont know if that is just how it is because of some control it receives from the RF box, or if it something I messed up when soldering (I doubled checked for continuity though and was good), or if it is because the changer is a POS since I got it used on ebay. For now though it is fine. I may eventually just go to a plain old MP3 player but I kinda liked that I can add new MP3s without having to charge the unit or take it in to the PC.