USA SPEC Honda iPod® Interface Connects your iPod to select 2003-up Honda/Acura factory radios Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this item for my Honda Pilot 2003 and have not been able to use it at all. It is not compatible. This company did not answer to my inquiries. They should not advertised this as for all models 2003 and up because is not true.


Click Here to see more reviews about: USA SPEC Honda iPod® Interface Connects your iPod to select 2003-up Honda/Acura factory radios

iPod connection adapter for select 2003-up Honda factory stereos * manage the iPod via your radio's CD changer controls * adjust volume, track up/down, fast-forward/reverse * use up to five playlists (select five favorites, or Auto Playlist will let you choose from the first five on your iPod) * Direct Mode lets you control everything via the iPod itself, giving you access to all playlists (requires a DIP switch change on the USA SPEC adapter) *

Click here for more information about USA SPEC Honda iPod® Interface Connects your iPod to select 2003-up Honda/Acura factory radios

DICE i-Honda-R2-5v iPod Integration Kit for Acura (RSX, TL, TSX) and Honda (98+) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)We bought this cable to enable us to play our iPod and iPhone through the speakers of our Honda van. Delivery came as promised and installation guide was very straightforward. It took about 30 minutes to do the complete installation and test. While it gives a warning when connecting my iPhone, it still works very well. Really enjoy the capability it has given us.

Click Here to see more reviews about: DICE i-Honda-R2-5v iPod Integration Kit for Acura (RSX, TL, TSX) and Honda (98+)

The DICE i-Honda-R2-5v iPod Integration Kit for Acura (RSX, TL, TSX) and Honda (98+) is a factory iPod intergration kit that gives CD quality sound. It can be controlled from the ipod, radio and steering wheel. Includes an extra auxiliary input. Connect your iPod to your vehicle's factory entertainment system and hear what your iPod should sound like in your car. Provides CD-quality sound and controls from your radio, steering wheel and the iPod. Always keeps your iPod charged and ready to go. Features:\' Charges the iPod\' Direct audio from your iPod to your car radio.\' Controls the iPod from the radio controls.\' Gives you an extra audio input as well as the iPod interface.

Get 16% OFF

Click here for more information about DICE i-Honda-R2-5v iPod Integration Kit for Acura (RSX, TL, TSX) and Honda (98+)

Peripheral PXAMG/PGHHD1 Honda/Acura iPod Adapter w/Aux In+Text Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had aftermarket direct connect units for kenwood, FM transmitters, cassette units, and have installed the USA spec in my gf's car. I can tell you that if you are considering this and it fits your vehicle...stop thinking and BUY IT. Amazing...follow directions and it almost seems the ipod came with the car. Text...controllability...ease of use...amazing...really. Enjoy!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Peripheral PXAMG/PGHHD1 Honda/Acura iPod Adapter w/Aux In+Text

Complete iPod adapter for select Honda/Acura vehicles- includes adapter and vehicle specific harnessCompatilble with factory in-dash cd changer radios, navigation and satellite radio.Overall Honda/Acura compatibility notes: Radio must have a "XM button to be compatible (except Civic, see below) Not compatible in vehicles equipped with Rear Seat Entertainment Vehicle specific compatibility notes: 2006-2008 Civic: Not compatible with DX or LX trim. Not compatible with "Premium Audio System", this will be written on the face of the radio. Civic radio can have a "XM/AUX" button, or just an "AUX" button to be compatible. 2007-2008 Acura TL / TL Type-S equipped with nav traffic are not compatible.

Click here for more information about Peripheral PXAMG/PGHHD1 Honda/Acura iPod Adapter w/Aux In+Text

Pioneer CD IB100 - iPod in-vehicle interface adapter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am using this with the Pioneer DEH-P670MP head unit, which had a radio and CD. Although the unit does control the iPod, and does give access to the features, it does so in a very awkward way.
First, simple actions like pausing the song are not mapped to dedicated buttons like "pause," which seems to be unused when in iPod mode. Rather, you must first make sure you are in the right function mode (of 4) and then generally use one of the four-direction joystick pads. The same is true for selecting songs, playlists, next track, setting repeat and random mode -- everything but volume, in other words, is overloaded onto the four-directional buttons to the right side.
The final blow is, as others noted, the excrutiatingly painfully slow scrolling through playlists. There is no clever acceleration to get letter-at-a-time or 10-at-a-time, there is lag between press and result, and you cannot just hold the button down. It took me 11 minutes to get to 'R' in my album list, and I only have a 30G iPod. I can't imagine doing it in traffic.
This seems vastly inferior to a visible holder where you can use the iPod controls, connected to a standard aux input and a charger. The ability to hide the iPod away is a false hope since you can't do much to control it.
The control instructions for other comaptible head units are equally painful sounding.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer CD IB100 - iPod in-vehicle interface adapter

Ipod interface adapter ip-bus connectivity to pioneer headunits compatible with all pioneer cd players, a/v receivers, etc. With ip-bus connectivity external unit operation alpine only supports 2004+ headunits advanced touch-screen intertace for avh-p5700dvd including multi-line display & list search ipod battery charges while connected compatible with 3rd/4th gen ipod & ipod mini with dock connector pioneer cd-ib100 ipod interface adapter

Get 18% OFF

Click here for more information about Pioneer CD IB100 - iPod in-vehicle interface adapter

PAC UPAC-HON1 Ipod and Auxiliary Input for Honda and Acura Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Just put it in my 2010 Ridgeline after Best Buy's installers never returned my call to set up a time to have them install it for me. Popped the dash cover of like the below link shows. I unhooked the wiring harness to the A/C knobs and the dome light, unscrewed the radio screws and was able to pull the radio out with the dash cover pulled back slightly. When you unplug those wiring connections look for the clip to push in to release the plug...don't just yank them out. I tried not to have to unhook every wiring connection behind the dash but the space was tight just unhooking those two items...but doable. Anyhow, removed the male plug (farthest one on the driver's side) and pushed in the same looking male plug from the upac-hon1 wiring harness into that female slot on the back of the radio. Drilled a hole in the cubby below the radio and fed the ipod cable through (from the front). Hooked that into the upac-hon1 and tested everything. Then I basically put everything back. I guess I wasn't prepared that I would lose my XM because that now became my ipod setting but for me that was fine. Maybe that doesn't have to be that way but it is fine for me. The programming instructions refer to a tuning knob but I just have a tuning rocker button. It performs just like the tuning knob when it comes to setting up the programming. Turn off any equalizer settings on the ipod so it sounds better. There you have it. About 30 minutes. I was shocked how easy the dash cover comes off. Good luck
[...]
HONDA IPOD AND AUXILIARY INPUT TO FACTORY RADIO

Click Here to see more reviews about: PAC UPAC-HON1 Ipod and Auxiliary Input for Honda and Acura

Ipod and auxiliary input for Honda and Acura vehicles is compatible with navigation, non-navigation radios, factory satellite tuners and DVD video systems.

Get 48% OFF

Click here for more information about PAC UPAC-HON1 Ipod and Auxiliary Input for Honda and Acura

USA-Spec PA15-HON2 Honda to iPod Interface Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I ordered a USA Spec PA15HON2Y to use my iPhone 3G in my 2005 Accord. I looked at multiple products including a parrot MKi9100 and DICE. Ended up choosing going with a USA Spec and a separate Parrot bluetooth unit (MK3000) since it 1) was price right and 2) offered integration with the factory radio.
My Accord has built in Navigation so I wanted something that would play nice. The USA Spec unit does integrate with my nav and radio. You can set up the USA Spec to display using text of what is playing (Artist, name, category). This will scroll through the upper radio display on the Accord as well as on the Audio menu on the navigation screen. If you want text, it will put the iPod menu on the iPhone into accessory mode and will not allow you to select specific songs directly from the iPhone. You will need to use the stereo controls or the steering wheel controls to scroll. There is the option to give you direct access to the iPod screen (you adjust modes by the pre programmed XM stations ie XM station 1 would be Artist, 2 would be by Category, 3, all songs, 6 is direct ipod). If you do choose to toggle to the direct iPod control, you lose the text - it'll just show as iPod.
The USA Spec unit will also allow you to keep XM functionality in the Accord. The XM stations show up on XM2 mode.... I don't subscribe to XM but can still hear their barker/preview stations.
One concern I had was that I definitely did not want to lose my navigation controls... safe to say it all still works... the Nav still shows maps, etc as well as provides voice directions. It will continue to mute (like it normally does) XM, FM, and iPod music when it gives you directions.
Installation wasn't too bad - took awhile to get everything out (and yes you have to take out the factory navigation to get to the right plug). After you pull out the nav unit, it's plug and play (unplug the blue plug from the back of the Honda Nav, plug in the male end of the cable that attaches to the USA Spec unit, plug in the additional adapter, then plug in the original Honda Nav plug right into the additional adapter (the adapter allows you to keep your XM).
I used some heavy duty auto tape to secure the litte USA spec box on top of the nav DVD drive and ran the ipod cable through the empty slot below (had to cut a small opening). I put everything back together and everything is hidden and seamless (except the adapter cord that plugs right into the iPhone). It does charge the iPhone too!
It sounds great.... (at least the same quality of the CD player). A couple of other great things about the USA Spec - it has another set of audio inputs. I plan on using these eventually when I add video through my navigation to get sound in since all of the video adapters still require another sound adapter. Also, it works great with Pandora or streaming podcasts through itunes (if you're in an area that has good AT&T coverage).I added the Parrot CK3000 bluetooth since I didn't want to have to unplug the iphone to answer it... the iPhone plays nice with both at the same time... if I'm listening to my podcasts and get a phone call, the music gradually softens and the phone rings.
The new DICE silverline units looks like it performs the same way but it was $40 more than the cheapest price I could find with the USA Spec.
Overall, I give this 4 stars and would recommend it.... only thing I wish it would do is also show song text even if it was in direct mode.... maybe this is a limitation on apple's part where it doesn't send text data if your using it as an accessory. Also, each time you plug your iPhone in, you get a nag screen about it isn't made for the iPhone and if you want to turn on Airplane mode to minimize interference... I hit no and it works fine.


Click Here to see more reviews about: USA-Spec PA15-HON2 Honda to iPod Interface

New model includes the new #G Cable enables full charging of all ipods including new 3G iPhone, New Nano and new 2nd Gen iTouch Selected model years of Acura TL, TSX, RDX, and Honda Element, Accord, Civic, CRV, Ridgeline, S2000 Easy Installation - All Cables are Plug and Play for Easy Installation Adds Additional Aux Input Direct Mode Allows You to Control Everything via the iPod Superior Sound Quality - True Digital Quality Sound through Factory Radio Uses CD Changer Function - Operate an iPod Just Like a CD Changer Auto Maintain and Auto Memory Auto Playlist Select - Selects the First 5 Play Lists On Your iPod Other Features, Track Forward/Back/Select Playlist/Shuffle/Random Play Auto Skip - Skip 10+ Songs In Each Playlist Auto Charge - Charges iPod Battery and Auto Stops after 1 Hour of Non-Use

Get 24% OFF

Click here for more information about USA-Spec PA15-HON2 Honda to iPod Interface

Clarion CCA673 iPod Audio Control/Video Playback Interface Cable for MAX675VD, MAX675VDII, VRX755VD Audio Only, VRX765VD, VRX775VD Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This product is great. I installed it myself to my Clarion-VRX765VD DVD MULTIMEDIA STATION and works great. I am able to play my music and videos from my i-pod from the stereo itself. Works great!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Clarion CCA673 iPod Audio Control/Video Playback Interface Cable for MAX675VD, MAX675VDII, VRX755VD Audio Only, VRX765VD, VRX775VD

iPod Audio Control/Video Playback Interface Cable for MAX675VD, MAX675VDII, VRX755VD (Audio Only), VRX765VD, VRX775VD

Get 25% OFF

Click here for more information about Clarion CCA673 iPod Audio Control/Video Playback Interface Cable for MAX675VD, MAX675VDII, VRX755VD Audio Only, VRX765VD, VRX775VD

TomTom Car Kit for iPhone (compatible with iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was very hesitant about purchasing this mount for two reasons:
1. I have the Navigon software, not the TomTom application.
2. Everyone says you mount falls into portrait mode when you hit a bump.
Regardless, I bought one because I found it for $119 at the Apple Store. I can say it works flawlessly with the Navigon software. The bad reviews the device is getting are from the fact that the mount will fall into portrait mode when you hit a bump. This is not really accurate. You don't notice it at first but you can slide the mount up and down which fully prevents that from happening. The people who gave the device bad reviews probably didn't realize this. When you take the mount out of the box it's all the way extended and will fall into portrait mode very easily unless you slide it to the right a bit so the weight is balanced. Once you do that it will stay in the correct position regarldess of how bumpy the road is.
One other thing I really liked about this mount is the fact that I didn't have to take my iPhone out of the case to use it. I highly recommend this mount. It is compact, well built and gets great reception. The speaker is also loud and clear. The design of the suction cup is excellent as well, it's got a dial on it that lets you really crank it down so it won't come off the window regardless of the humidity or temperature. Great device.


Click Here to see more reviews about: TomTom Car Kit for iPhone (compatible with iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS)

The TomTom app is just the beginning. Combine it with the TomTom car kit for iPhone to experience enhanced GPS performance for the ultimate in-car navigation; from safe and secure docking all the way to taking calls on the move and playing your favorite tunes over your car stereo.


Note: TomTom GPS application must be purchased separately. Requires compatible car audio system and audio cable.

Secure Docking Keep your iPhone secure while you're on the move. Our specially designed award-winning EasyPort mount attaches your iPhone securely to your windscreen or dashboard--perfectly within reach. It lets you rotate the screen for exceptional widescreen route display. And it folds flat, so moving it from car to car is easy and simple.

Enhanced GPS Performance Don't let a weak signal slow you down. The TomTom car kit boosts your iPhone's GPS signal, to ensure that you get the best possible navigation experience. Its built-in receiver increases the GPS performance of your iPhone to give you an incredibly reliable signal--even when driving in high-rise urban areas.

Clear Voice Instructions With built-in volume controls and its superior speaker, you'll hear every voice instruction loud and clear--so you'll never miss a thing.

Hands-free Calling Receive calls without taking your eyes off the road, using the car kit's built-in extra-sensitive microphone and speaker for crystal clear sound. And don't worry about missing a turn. The app automatically starts navigating again as soon as the call ends.

Charges iPhone While Driving Always on the go? Dock your iPhone in the mount to charge it as you drive, so it will always be fully charged and ready to go, wherever you're going next.

Rotates for Optimal Positioning View your route in either portrait or landscape mode. The TomTom car kit rotates easily, in order to give you the view you prefer.

Line Out for Music Playback* Enjoy the perfect driving soundtrack. Play all your favorite songs through your car's audio system with the optional audio cable*. It even fades music out when receiving calls and giving directions.

Compatibility The car kit will fit the iPhone, iPhone 3G, and the iPhone 3GS. Note: Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later. Designed to work with the TomTom app for the iPhone and iPod touch.

Specs

Dimensions: 5.17" x 2.70" x 1.96"
Weight: 4.13 oz
GPS receiver: SiRF star 3
Hands free: Bluetooth CSR BC05MM
Speaker: 300 to 15 kHz/ 2.0 Watt
Microphone: -44 +/- 3 dBv
Operating temperature: 14 to 131 degrees F
Dock connector: 30 pin Apple connector
Audio out: 3.5mm audio out
Volume control: Yes
Portrait/landscape support: Yes
Windshield and Dashboard mounting: Yes
iPhone charging via CLA: Yes

*Requires compatible car audio system & audio cable.

What's in the Box Car Kit for iPhone, USB Car Charger, Adhesive Disks, Docomentation

Get 20% OFF

Click here for more information about TomTom Car Kit for iPhone (compatible with iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS)

Magellan Premium Car Kit for iPhone and iPod touch Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Well I have been using this for a bit over a week now and here are my impressions:
Pros:
-Excellent build quality; very solid and holds my iPhone (in a Speck PixelSkin case) very sturdily.
-Good mounting of iPhone with swivelling dock connector and flexible/adjustable top clip.
-Fits iPhone perfectly with my Speck PixelSkin case. But be warned - it was adjusted to its highest point, so it wont fit a case larger than the PixelSkin.
-GPS fix more accurate than iPhone's internal GPS. This resulted in less jerky movements and less jumping around during GPS application usage.
Cons:
-GPS signal dropped out far more often than my standalone TomTom PND. This is unacceptable in a product meant to improve GPS reception that actually uses the same GPS chip as the TomTom PND I am comparing it with.
-With kit mounted on windscreen the iPhone overheated and stopped working (displayed a temperature warning message and forced itself into sleep mode) once. Mind you this was after three hours of driving, directly towards the Australian summer sun on a 35C/95F day. This is not a shortcoming of this Magellan kit, but rather an issue with mounting iPhones in car windscreens in general.
-When switching the car ignition from 'accessories' to 'run' and then to 'on', the Magellan kit naturally loses power momentarily. However when it powers back on, it often would not sync with the iPhone's Bluetooth as the power cycle was too fast. I would need to manually power cycle the Magellan kit (ie. remove power plug, then reconnect) allowing enough time for the iPhone to lose Bluetooth sync before re-establishing the power.
MAJOR MAJOR CON:
-When you plug a 3.5mm audio cable into the AUX connector on the Magellan kit (for attaching to a car stereo, or external powered speakers, etc.), the music and application sounds CONTINUE COMING OUT OF THE BUILT-IN SPEAKER!!! This is a ridiculous design, as it means to listen to music through your car stereo without the crappy built-in speaker ruining the music for you, you need to turn down the volume on the Magellan Kit (as this only controls the volume of the built-in speaker). But then if you receive a call, the call audio (via Bluetooth) cannot be heard (as you have turned the volume down on the built-in speaker, which is where the call audio is sent), so you have to manually turn the volume up on the Magellan kit again (using a fiddly little dial that is difficult and dangerous to find while trying to concentrate on driving). You have to do this EVERY TIME a call arrives... STUPID!
Why oh why was the kit designed like this? We will never know. However Magellan have responded to my question about it and have indicated that they will release some sort of firmware/software/application fix for this speaker problem in the near future.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Magellan Premium Car Kit for iPhone and iPod touch

The Magellan Premium Car Kit transforms your iPhone into a complete in-car solution for GPS navigation. Simply place your iPhone in the cradle and connect the power. There's no need to remove your protective case--the cradle adjusts to your needs.








Magellan Premium Car Kit for iPhone / iPod Touch
Requires purchase of a navigation app. Sold separately.
The Premium Car Kit lets you use great navigation apps like the Magellan RoadMate App for iPhone and iPod touch (2nd generation) and instantly enhances your navigation experience.

This powerful, built-in receiver boosts GPS reception, ensuring accurate directions. Simply place your iPhone or iPod touch into the cradle and connect the power. The cradle even works with most turn- by-turn routing applications available today, including the Magellan RoadMate App for iPhone (sold separately).

The Premium Car Kit connects via Bluetooth (iPhone only) to deliver a superior hands-free calling experience. The powerful, amplified speaker delivers crystal clear calls and turn-by-turn directions. No need to even remove your protective cover--the cradle adjusts to accommodate most cases or skins.

Navigate in confidence with the Magellan Premium Car Kit!

Features
Built-in GPS receiver enhances performance A powerful, sensitive built-in GPS receiver provides faster and more accurate location information to your iPhone or iPod touch
Turns your iPod touch into a GPS navigator The built-in GPS receiver adds GPS capability to your iPod touch (2nd generation)
Fits hard shell cases or silicon skins Accommodates most cases or skins for maximum flexibility when inserting into the cradle
Works with most navigation or location-based apps While optimized for the Magellan RoadMate app for iPhone, the cradle is compatible with most GPS navigation apps
In-car charging The cradle automatically powers and charges when connected. No need to worry about running out of battery.
Noise-canceling, hands-free speakerphone Full duplex speakerphone for crystal clear calls
Powerful, amplified speaker Use the volume control for loud and clear voice guidance
Secure, adjustable vehicle mounting Quickly secure the cradle to your windshield or dashboard and easily adjust for portrait or landscape viewing
Audio line out for music playback on your car stereo Listen to your favorite tunes through your car's audio system

Car Kit Compatibility

iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4
iPod touch 2G, 3G
Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later and purchase of navigation app (sold separately).

What's in the Box Premium GPS Car Kit, Vehicle Mount, Adhesive Disc, Vehicle Power Adapter, Getting Started Guide

Click here for more information about Magellan Premium Car Kit for iPhone and iPod touch

Pioneer CD-IU230V Ipod Audio/Video Direct Cable For Avic-F900Bt & Avic-F700Bt Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Yet another product that does exactly what it is supposed to do. I have an AVIC-F900BT and an iPhone 3G, this works exactly as stated. I am able to control everything with the receiver as if I was using the iPhone itself, including audio, video, play list, artist, etc. It also charges the iPhone, so I can enable bluetooth to use the hands free without the battery dieing on long trips.
This combined with the iPhone has to be the ultimate in driving made easy. Yet another product that once you get used to it, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it, honestly. My car is in the body shop right now and I'm borrowing a car from a friend, and it has a headphones style input like I used to use. I hate it, and I have no idea how I used to use it! Connecting the audio jack, power, then constantly reaching for the phone and being like "Where did it slide to now?!" -- It reassures my purchase of this product as a good one.
My only real complaint is that the iPhone detects that the receiver is not made specifically with the iPhone in mind and prompts if you want to enable airplane mode to avoid interference, and it does this every time it is connected. You can simply press no, but it's still a bother. I rarely, if ever, get interference from the iPhone and I suspect Pioneer could easily fix this issue (perhaps in the next firmware release?).
Voice recognition works well for the iPhone/iPod as well. The VR database does take a bit to update if you have a lot of songs, about 2-3 minutes for myself. While the VR database is updating all controls are frozen except for previous/next on the current active playlist (which it seems the default is, if you weren't listening to any music before connecting it, all songs in alphabetical order -- be prepared to be very sick of the first song from your iPod/iPhone!).
That, for me, was annoying; but I found a work around! Connect it once, let it update, then go into settings and disable the VR catalog update. As long as you do not sync your phone, you can leave the automatic update off. If you sync your phone to iTunes (or any other app) you'll need to enable it again so it updates or the VR will not behave as desired. I tried it to see if it'd work, but it seems once you change anything on the iPhone/iPod all the indexes get messed up and it will play the wrong song or play list until it is updated.
That aside, this is a great product, and definitely beats fiddling with the iPhone while trying to drive. The controls are very similar to the iPod. This does use the rear aux in RCA jacks though, so if you intend to use something else along with this you will need to use the front A/V in port for that, which requires a special cable (see your manual for the part number).
One final note, this cable works with the iPhone dock, and I assume it'd work with the universal docks for the iPod as well. Those wanting something a bit fancier can plug this into a dock to quickly attach and remove their phone from their car. I used some special double sided tape to hold the dock down, it makes for a very fast connect/disconnect.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer CD-IU230V Ipod Audio/Video Direct Cable For Avic-F900Bt & Avic-F700Bt

Pioneer cd-iu230v ipod(r) audio/video direct cable for avic-f900bt & avic-f700bta/v direct control for ipod(r);compatible with avic-f900bt, avic-700bt & avic-7010bt.

Get 57% OFF

Click here for more information about Pioneer CD-IU230V Ipod Audio/Video Direct Cable For Avic-F900Bt & Avic-F700Bt

Pioneer CD-IU50V USB Interface Cable for iPod/iPhone Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm posting this after reading the reviews here and then experiencing first hand the difference on my own x920bt between this and a "regular" iPod cable used with the stock Pioneer USB cable.
Technically, the bad reviews here are correct: You don't actually need this cable to use your iPod/iPhone with your Pioneer HU. If you were sitting on the fence like I was about buying it though, read on:
I do agree with the one star reviews that the cable is too short for what it costs. It is possible to extend it with both a regular USB extension cable and a mini-jack cable extender, but of course you have to buy those. So I knocked off a couple stars for that because this thing should be longer for what you pay.
However, there are 3 things you need to know about using the USB cable that comes with your HU over this one with an iPod/iPhone:
1) Without this cable, you have to plug two cables in to your iPod/iPhone - the dock connector, and a standard mini-audio cable. With this cable you only need to plug in the dock connector. Minor detail but if it's something you are going to use every time you get in the car you'll find one connection better than two over time, I assure you.
2) You need this cable to get video from your iPod/iPhone. If you care about video at all, then this is your only choice. One review mentions the video quality is so-so but I did not find that to be the case - as with all videos on iPods/iPhones the source is everything and good quality videos looked perfectly fine to me; I'll agree that the Pioneer HU doesn't go a great job with marginal sources compared to other displays but that isn't the fault of the cable.
3) And most importantly - as G. Ledesma points out in his review - with this cable, you get line-level audio out, where with the USB cable/mini-jack you get audio that's amplified once already by the iPod/iPhone itself. Don't brush this detail off! Having listened to both, same music, same player, I can tell you that you don't need to be an audiophile with the ears of a teenager to hear the difference. It is pretty significant, especially with music that's already lower-quality (like tracks purchased from iTunes prior to 2009). For this reason alone I found the cable to be a necessary purchase.
In short, while yes it is pricey, and you can control and listen to your music without it, you are going to want it anyway. I mean, not to defend Pioneer, but it is kind of a niche item they don't mass-produce, and frankly if you own an iPod/iPhone you already paid a premium for a product, so what's another few bucks for a cable? If it were longer I'd give it 5 stars, but that's it's only real fault.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer CD-IU50V USB Interface Cable for iPod/iPhone

Use the CD-IU50 audio interface cable to connect an iPod or iPhone directly into your compatible Pioneer head unit. Gain full, direct, adapter-free control of your iPod/iPhone via the head unit interface.

The cable is two meters in length.
What's in the Box CD-IU50 USB Interface Cable for iPod (Audio)

Get 35% OFF

Click here for more information about Pioneer CD-IU50V USB Interface Cable for iPod/iPhone