What is the difference between: iPod compatible, iPod adapter-ready,
iBus direct iPod, and iPod/satellite radio-ready?

Right now I have to pay for summer school, so hopefully I will get a headunit in July or early August.

I want something I can just plug in the ipod to. I am looking to spend $200-250 for the headunit.

 

thanks, quest51210 That helps a lot.

 

well im not sure about cables being included other then the new usb decks but i know with the jvc exad I just bought I had to purchase the ipod adapter that plugs into the bottom of the ipod. The ipod charges at the same time and i control it through my deck. Nice thing about the JVC ipod adapter was it was the cheapest of them all.

 

I have one for sale where you plug your i-Pod into the head unit $80 less then a year old, Subwoofer control etc. You want more into feel free to get in touch with me

 

I recently bought an Alpine 9856. Nice unit. The Alpine iPod cable is like $30, and I leave the iPod in the glove box. You do all searches using the H/U controls - search by playlist, artist or song. Can also set shuffle modes from the H/U. This is all cool - but being able to search by genre would be cool and you can't. Also, scrolling through the artist or song lists can take a LONG time. Still better than most alternatives however. The 9856 is also in your price range.

 

Ive got a Sony HU with an accessory input on the face - works great with the Ipod; I definitely recommend it, especially for the $95 that I paid.

 

I also have the Alpine CDA-9856. I don't have an iPod yet. That $30 cable connects to the back so you don't have some ugly cable sticking out of your radio. The cable also charges it.

 

quick question guys...does that Alpine support Sirius?

 

I bought myself a JVC Exad and I must say Im in love with it. Great sound especially when playing dvd music. LCD screen is a great bonus for passing time when sitting in the truck. Ipod controls are nice and easy and the deck looks fantastic. Lots of fun and I paid the american price in canadian dollars so couldnt beat it nor pass it up.

 

I ju st got a pioneer deck...I Love the thing...the logic wasnt back either but i needed more subwoofer control with it. If you shop around you can find some good stuff...i think Pioneer, Kenwood and Alpine have the I Pod thing nailed down for the most part, and correct me if im wrong i think all 3 are compatible with Satelite Radio...I know kenwood is Sirius

 

Here's my .02...
I had the ipod cable hook-up that goes in the glove box about two years ago with my alpine head unit. Older headunits require a hookup chord that has a box (that process' the info from the ipod) on the chord that connect from your headunit to the ipod. This set-up is EXTREMELY slow and annoying, as you can only scroll as fast as the box can read the information. It would take as long as a minute for me to scroll from my "a" artists to my "g" artists.

But now alpine has a technology on the new headunits where the chord you buy for the ipod hookup does not have a interpretation box on the chord. The new headunits are "full speed" made for ipod. I have personally used these, and it scrolls almost as fast through the headunit, as on the ipod itself. Notice the full speed icon: http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/prod...model=CDA-9885

Make sure you get the full speed headunit if this is what you want. Otherwise, I prefer the setup of running a Monster Cable to the ipod that plugs into the headphone jack. Although it does not power the ipod, I find using the ipod itself is SO much simpler. Plus you can buy an AC charger for like $10 for the emergency case of needing it. The sound quality is just as good as long as you buy a good chord like monster cable.

Pros of glovebox setup:
- no wires showing/clean
- amazing sound quality

cons:
- Not as simple to use
- Limited play options
* can only play first 250 songs of a playlist
- may forget ipod in car more often over cold nights or hot days(terrible for ipod hardware)

 

Alpine's can do either.

 

^^nice, because im looking for one that will support both my Sirius and my Ipod

 

I have a Kenwood in my Bronco (gunna probably transfer it over to my Ranger) and it's got the iPod interface with it. It cost me about $50 extra for the interface, but I can control my iPod from the head unit and it charges it as well. My Sony in the Ranger only has the aux 1/8" plug in and I'm not about to go get a 6 foot 1/8" to 1/8" audio cable for 3 feet of space.

 

I don't know about other brands, but with Alpine. They have two different plug-ins. One for Sat & one for iPod.