Car radio with DAB and ipod controls

adidas

I've had a look around for such a thing and I'm slightly confused. Firstly, I'd like an in-car radio with DAB and the ability to control what my ipod plays somehow. I've got my eye on the Sony CDX-DAB6650. So what's the best way to control what your ipod is playing out of a car....I've seen people in various threads talking about ipod controllers, but I can't seem to find many when I googled them. I saw this one http://www.paramountzone.com/icontrol-wireless-ipod.htm but seems very cheap, ranging to http://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/alpine-ex10-advanced-ipod-controller-with-bluetooth-p-3494.html
Anyone know of any others or know which ones are decent?
I was thinking of getting an FM transmitter to connect the ipod wirelessly to the car radio....anyone got any advice of what best to do? Or how you did such a thing? Ahhhhhh so confusing lol. Comments and suggestions are welcomed as always

goldspanners

what about this? it has an aux input in the fascia so you can get a 3.5mm jack lead and connect your ipod via this.

http://shop.audioimages.co.uk/jvc-kd-db101-dab-cd-mp3-wma-car-audio-receiver-front-aux-input-p-345.html

and it seems a good price aswell.

goldspanners

or get a jvc head unit with dab and buy this add on and you can control the ipod via the stereo.

http://www.incarexpress.co.uk/view_product.php?partno=KSPD100

Stephen_Webber

The Alpine stuff is good, integrates well with the Ipod, but it is a bit more expensive.

IDA-X100
IDA-X200
IDA-X300
CDA-9887R
CDA-9886R


They do more, but they are nice units.

adidas

Thank you very much for the response, that is what I was talking about. I've been surfing and have found a few radios with 'direct' ipod control, but they don't come with the DAB bit. This seems like an ideal solution anyone know of any other brands or radios which offer similar features?

Stephen_Webber

Alpine ones don't do DAB Not that I've found anyway. I have the IDA-X100 along with the optional bluetooth handsfree kit.

adidas

Yeah, ideally I'd like a high spec one to last me a while....how about this? It seems too good to be true! http://www.icebuyer.co.uk/cdxdab6650i-cd-mp3-dab-player-ipod-ready-p-11181.html

Edit: is this just the DAB-6650 with the sony interface for ipods added on??

Stephen_Webber

Looks similar to what the Alpine units do, with the addition of DAB :T

BigJohnD

The Sony DAB-6650 is an OK DAB radio. The display is small and lot of button pressing is required to check basic items.

It is not fully iPod compatible - it only accepts the output from the iPod headset socket. There is no track/playlist display facility nor any control from the head unit. It does not charge the iPod either - it is like many other car radios in that it just has a simple AUX input. It does not accept a CD changer either, even some old literature says it does.

In general, you need a DAB radio which accepts a CD changer, as the CD changer port can often be used as the full iPod port (sound, control, track/playlist data and power/charging)

Has a look at Bosch Blaupunkt Nashville DAB47 (you should be able to find it for under £200) or similar which should fit your requirements.
http://www.bluespot.co.uk/stock/nashville_dab47.asp and http://www.bluespot.co.uk/stock/auxin_ipod.asp
http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/4436.html
http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/Bosch_Blaupunkt_Nashville_DAB47_DAB_car_radio.html

Also, make sure you have an excellent additional external aerial for your DAB reception. A poor signal will drive you crazy as the radio will give "pixellated" sound or go silent displaying "no reception" or similar error message before automatically moving over to the same channel (if it exists) on analogue FM.

Regional multiplexes are generally broadcast from a single transmitter and your car can move into DAB shadows behind tall buildings in cities and cuttings on the motorway. This does not happen with mulitpath national multiplexes (like the the BBC) whose reception is good throughout urban UK and the motorway network.

FM iPod interfaces (iTrip) are less than ideal, and a fully integrated system (sound, HU control, track/playlist data and charging) is what you need when driving.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Be sure whatever DAB radio you purchase that it is upgradeable or compatible with the new DAB+ standard:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Broadcasting

...because DAB radios cannot receive DAB+.

pulliptears

Stephen_Webber wrote: »

Alpine ones don't do DAB Not that I've found anyway. I have the IDA-X100 along with the optional bluetooth handsfree kit.

I have that one too No DAB but a fabulous head unit anyway!