Koji_H

UPDATE (1/5/06): Here is the link to the tutorial:

LEGENDtuner.com iPod w/ G2 Legend OEM stereo installation

You can also get to it at LEGENDtuner.com in the upgrades section under the AUDIO/VIDEO ELECTRONICS category
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Finally got around to installing the iPod in my Legend.

Here are some photos:




I will have the step-by-step photo tutorial hopefully by tomorrow.

The iPod is connected using a USA-Spec Aux interface that is available for around $50 at Circuit City. The interface can connect up to two separate stereo RCA inputs to the OEM head unit via the CD changer DIN cable (FYI, CD changer is disconnected). You get the audio signal to the USA Spec interface via the dock connector at the base of the iPod using a Belkin combo car adapter/charger. The audio from the iPod's dock connector provides higher fidelity sound.

The hardest part of the installation was the custom mounting bracket on the center console.

Overall installation time should be between 30-60 minutes if you have all of the supplies.

The sound quality is as good as the sound from the CD changer.

Late,

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snake

I was just looking into these sort of things because i'm going back to the stock h/u. Good to know that it isn't just designed for ipods. The ones that i had been looking at require the headunit to be 'versatile-link' ready, which i assumed ours weren't.

Gerald

Great mod man! Can't wait for the write up!

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Help Me Find White/Black KA8

B+O

greasy hot bacon!

that's very nice Koji! Leave it to Koji to always be a step ahead of the game.

Koji_H

Tutorial is now on-line at LEGENDtuner.com! Enjoy!

BTW, it can be used for pretty much any other brand of MP3 player, XM/Sirius, or anything else you need.

Also I have a simplified diagram of the installation to give you an idea of how easy it really is:

click here for the diagram

Late,

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sfearing

There are dedicated iPod connectors out there as well. I just installed one in my daughter's Legend that connects through the iPod base, charges it as it plays, and allows you to continue to use the CD changer in the trunk as well. Here's the link at Logjam electronics ... http://www.logjamelectronics.com/blitzhonmlink1v1d.html

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94 Legend GS 6 spd. - Desert Mist Metallic - 108K
92 Legend L Coupe auto - Phantom Gray Pearl - 204K

Koji_H

I realize this and it is mentioned in the introductory section on the tutorial page. Because of the popularity of the iPod there are many other offerings on the market right now. However the advantages of the USA*Spec unit are the lower cost and greater flexibility/expandability because of the extra set of stereo RCA inputs. For those with video systems (DVD, playstation, etc) the extra AUX inputs would be perfect. Also, for those with non-iPod MP3 players the USA*Spec would still work.

USA*Spec makes an iPod specific unit with one built-in iPod connector and one RCA stereo input but it is quite a bit more expensive than the one in the tutorial.

I've been using my iPod in my NSX as the sole music source for over 1 year and found that I didn't miss the CD changer at all. I tend to change albums/artists quite often while listening in the car so the iPod is much more convenient. And with my entire CD collection stored in the iPod who needs to carry around CDs? So when it came time to decide on an installation in the Legend I didn't think twice about disconnecting the CD changer. Besides I'm sure everyone knows that the sound fidelity through the OEM stereo is not audiophile quality so you probably won't notice the difference btw CD vs MP3 in the car. On the home system, however, I like to listen to CDs, DVD-A, and SACD.

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