USA Spec Ipod Adapter

[brunski22]

Just to let everyone know--I recently bought the USA SPEC IPOD Adapter from Crutchfield (www.crutchfield.com) for $149.99. I went to a mobil audio place and was told that Hondas are really hard to install radios in so it would be about $200 to put it in. Well I got mad and did it myself. It took about 25 minutes and was ridiculously simple. All you do is take off the dash, pull out the factory radio, and plug it in the back.

It works great on hybrid mode and I would recommend it to anyone. Just do it yourself. All you need is a phillps screwdriver (for the radio) and a flat head screwdriver (to pry up the dash).

[e_piph_a_ny]

Brunski,

You've joined a large crowd of ROC'ers with USA Spec. And you're right about the easy install. That mobile audio installer was trying to rip you off!

Too bad you didn't see some of the posts referencing Crutchfield coupons for $20 off. I wish the hybrid mode came out earlier, oh well...

BTW, welcome to the ROC !

[SeminoleRob]

Originally Posted by brunski22

Just to let everyone know--I recently bought the USA SPEC IPOD Adapter from Crutchfield (www.crutchfield.com) for $149.99. I went to a mobil audio place and was told that Hondas are really hard to install radios in so it would be about $200 to put it in. Well I got mad and did it myself. It took about 25 minutes and was ridiculously simple. All you do is take off the dash, pull out the factory radio, and plug it in the back.

Yep, installed one in both the Ridgeline (20 minutes) and my wifee's Accord (at least an hour... pain in the rear). I still wouldn't pay $200 to do it. Welcome to the ROC!

[photodork]

I received my USA SPEC ipod adapter last night, and went right to work installing it. It took about 25 mins, and I was able to remove the dash panel with no tools (and therefore no potential scratches or marks) by pulling on the panel with my fingers on the top right of the radio. Once one clip is out, the rest is easy. Then just 5 phillips screws and you are done.

I mounted the unit in the glovebox so I don't get any mystery rattles later on.

The unit works great. Just as described. Thanks to all who posted info on this item here on the boards.

[supermman62]

I was just looking to buy that myself, but does it work with the head unit in the RT? dont wanna spend that money for it not to work. I LOVE MY RIDGELINE!!

[djeaux]

Originally Posted by supermman62

I was just looking to buy that myself, but does it work with the head unit in the RT? dont wanna spend that money for it not to work. I LOVE MY RIDGELINE!!

It works with the RT, RTX, RTS, and non-nav RTLs. If you have factory (((XM))) you need a Y-connector cable.

I have a Car2PC adapter (http://indashpc.org/new/adapters/car2pc-hon1.html) which is about half the price of a USA Spec & includes a USB cable and software for controlling a laptop (Winamp). The same outfit makes an iPod adapter & a Palm/Axim adapter (yes, it works with Treo phones), as well as a plain jane aux adapter that has options for RCA or iPod connectors but doesn't do head unit control. I'm not affiliated with Car2PC, but the product works great.

As others have pointed out, this is an easy installation. Most anybody with opposable thumbs should be able to do it in less than a half hour.

[shovelhd]

This truck is one of the easiest I've ever worked on. The only exception is removing the rear seat bottom, that's a PITA. Everything else is cake.

[TCW]

Originally Posted by djeaux

It works with the RT, RTX, RTS, and non-nav RTLs. If you have factory (((XM))) you need a Y-connector cable.

I have a Car2PC adapter (http://indashpc.org/new/adapters/car2pc-hon1.html) which is about half the price of a USA Spec & includes a USB cable and software for controlling a laptop (Winamp). The same outfit makes an iPod adapter & a Palm/Axim adapter (yes, it works with Treo phones), as well as a plain jane aux adapter that has options for RCA or iPod connectors but doesn't do head unit control. I'm not affiliated with Car2PC, but the product works great.

As others have pointed out, this is an easy installation. Most anybody with opposable thumbs should be able to do it in less than a half hour.

I'm about to pull the trigger on the USA SPEC, but..... Are there any other benefits with it over the Car2PC or Grom-IPOD-HON1? Are the extra RCA inputs worth $70 more?

[e_piph_a_ny]

Yeah, save $20 by using Crutchfield Coupon Code: 3A706 for purchases over $100. Expires Saturday Jun 30

Actually opposable thumbs are optional.

[TCW]

Originally Posted by e_piph_a_ny

Yeah, save $20 by using Crutchfield Coupon Code: 3A706 for purchases over $100. Expires Saturday Jun 30

Actually opposable thumbs are optional.

Thank you! The wife said we just got a $25 off coupon for Crutchfield from her Discover Card. At $105 the USA SPEC is a go.