chakkos

I just installed mine, it works perfectly as described, no problems at all.
Just took me lots of time to take the radio unit off, it is difficult and you need to be very patient

Scott R

I got mine delivered a couple of days ago and I just took possession of a new '07 RX-8 Sport last night. Is there anyone here in the Chester County, PA area who could recommend an audio installer who could hook this up for me? I'm not positive about where I want everything placed, but I'm thinking that I might want the USB and AUX input to be exposed in the ashtray area, which might mean someone who has experience fabricating/cutting/fitting some plastic pieces to make everything look clean.

Although I like the idea of being able to skip through MP3's using the steering wheel controls, I'm thinking that I'll likely end up hooking up one of my touchscreen-based PDA/smartphones through the AUX input, since I'll want to make use of the GPS functionality that gives me as well. Again, I'm thinking that the ashtray area is a good location for me to have easy-reach access to the touchscreen and I'd like to have wires, charging cable, etc. hidden as best as possible, so if anyone has experience doing something similar, I'd be interested in hearing about it, seeing photos, etc.

Scott R

Has anyone installed this behind the ashtray so that the connectors are exposed at the back-side of the ashtray? Is there enough room behind the ashtray to fit the unit? Is it easy enough for an installer to access that area? I'm thinking that this is where I'd like to have it installed, if at all possible.

DeViLbOi

iTrader: (1)

A few of us in the other iPod thread have done this. We have had some mixed results with this install we believe because of heat. The Axxess box we installed does fit in that area very nicely but seems to cut out from time to time. It is easy to get to; some of us just found that getting there every week was annoying as hell. Others have found the section between the center console and the glove box to be a big handy open spot.

jahfari

For all you audiolink owners out there. Has anybody installed the audiolink so that the connectors are located in the center console? I thought I remember reading something about the cables being a little short.

Keyten

Just got mine installed. Easy install even though I have never taken out the head unit before.

I do have one issue though. When I change songs or if there is silence on the track I can hear distortion. It's very noticeable when I change tracks, its like my Ipod's hard drive is amplified and I can hear the chips through the speakers.

I have a 2006 8 with a 5.5 gen 30gb video ipod. I mounted it by the shifter and ran the wire to the cupholder. Anyone have any suggestions?

DeViLbOi

iTrader: (1)

I noticed this only the first day I had my Axxess box plugged in. Figured it was a minor grounding issue that cleared on it's own. Hopefully your's is the same

Edit: Thanks Scott R for pointing out my confusions. I fixed my post.

Scott R

DeViLbOi, I'm confused...based on your post a couple of posts above, I thought you had a different product than the one this thread is about (the Audio Link).

Keyten...stupid question: are you using the Aux Input or the iPod connector? If using Aux input, make sure you've got your iPod's volume level set around the midpoint and then use the car stereo's volume control to adjust the volume as needed. Otherwise, you'll get distortion.

Keyten

Nah, I'm just using the Ipod dock connector. Hopefully it clears up on its own like devilboi said but I doubt I'm the only one who has had this issue. Anyone else have a distortion problem?

Scott R

So I got it installed the other day. They charged me $125 (which they previously quoted as being about the max it should be). The guy said that he had a lot of trouble with it, and it sounds like it was due to that particular bolt which I read about. The funny thing is that I asked him in advance if he wanted me to give him any special info on the install and he acted like he was a pro and didn't need any input from me. But in the grand scheme of things, whether it cost me $80 or $125, the extra $45 doesn't matter much to me.

More significantly, he wasn't able to get it pushed back as far as I had hoped. He said there was a hump behind the ashtray, so he had to position it the way he did. I'd be curious to hear from others here who have done the job themselves as to whether this sounds right (though I don't see why he'd have any reason to lie about it). I'll try to take some photos and post them in the forums, but the bottom line is that when you don't have anything plugged into it (USB flash drive or AUX-in cable) you can close the ashtray door, but if you plug in a flash drive, you'll most likely need to keep the door open. Not a big deal, but I'm a little bummed about it. I was hoping to have some extra space in there so that I could have a USB flash drive inserted with the ashtray door closed or cram in my AUX in cable, power charger, or whatever.

I guess the important thing is that they did the job for the price they quoted, didn't break anything, it feels solid (no wobbling/flex when I plug in my flash drive), and it works as intended.

Good product and highly recommended (so far). It's too bad AUX input and/or USB input is such a rarity on '07 cars such that an aftermarket product like this is necessary.

Keyten

So anyone who has this installed, could they do me a favor?

Play music like normal then pause your Ipod. Turn the volume up, do you hear distortion?

I am getting hard drive noise feedback in my songs. I'm trying to narrow down what the problem is. I dont think its a ground loop issue because it only happens with the Ipod converter, not with the standard CD player. Right now, my guess is that the docking connector is somehow picking up the EMI from the Ipod hard drive and amplifying it through my speakers.

laythor

Just tried and didn't hear a word. Email Donny over and therpmstore.com and see what he says. He'll most likely just replace it if it turns out to be a problem.

PS

Check to make sure your mini-din connector is firmly in place going into the audiolink unit from your Ipod


They are pretty short to run to your center console and leave you any slack to easily use the Ipod. You can purchase 8 pin mini-din extender cables, but they're not easy to find anywhere but online.

jahfari

So I got my audiolink last tuesday and installed it friday.

It was pretty easy to install, thanks to all those who posted pics and how to's and thanks to Rosenthal for having all of the technical bulletins available (in this case the stereo removal bulletin.

I ended up running the cable through the center console with the control unit placed right next to the shifter and into the cup holders (I hardly ever bring drinks in my car so I can afford the space).

There's a little piece in the front of the cup holder area that comes loose. I took that out and dremeled a small hole on the side for the cable to run through. The cool thing is that the cable stows nicely in the cup holder with both the iPod connector and 3.5mm jack accessible, and there's still about a foot and half of cable length so I can pass the iPod around to anyone in the car.

Some notes:

1) When prying loose some of the panels in the car, use a small flathead screwdriver with some electrical tape or masking tape wrapped around it. It makes the prying way easier than by hand and keeps you from snapping some of the clips.

2) The stereo will not pull all the way out when the wiring harnesses are attached. The wires are too short. The best way to access the harnesses is to remove the glove box. There is a gap big enough to fit your hand through, allowing you to remove the harness.

3) The audiolink control box fits nicely in the area of the center console where the shifter is (I have a manual tranny and no nav kit so it might be different otherwise).

I'll post pics of the install in a couple days.

Finally, after about 4 days with the audio link I've had no issues. Everything works great and as expected. There is a little bit of a delay when sending commands from the head unit or the steering wheel controls but not a show-stopper by any means.

I'll test for the distortion issue tomorrow and write back.

vrpirata

I just got the audiolink last friday and install it over the weekend. My iPod is newer 30GB model (video + audio).

Right after installing it I test it with my iPod. Everything works as descrived. However, there is a hissing noise in the background of the music.

When the song starts, for the first few seconds it sounds great, but then the hissing kicks in. It is not really loud, but I can hear it easily.

When I try the ipod using the 3.5mm connection only (phonejack) the sounds is great and no hissing.

Did I get a defective audiolink?

laythor

Check you connections on the back of the radio and the mini-din connector into the audiolink unit... if they're both firm then send an email to therpmstore.com and they'll take care of you.

jahfari

I checked the distortion issue today.

1) Turned on the car, iPod started playing.
2) Paused the iPod and turned up the volume.

I didn't hear any distortion or hissing.

Keyten and vrpirata, it says in the manual that cell phones near the connector can cause interference, so the logical but dumb question to ask is: do you have your cell phones near the audiolink control unit?

Keyten

Well its a good 4 feet away in my pocket. I'll try it with my cell phone off but I'm getting the feeling I have a defective unit.

vrpirata

I didn't read you message before.... I have the same issue... when I pause it I can hear hissing. I can also hear the HD spinning up when switching songs.

No, no cellphone near by. I still haven't close the bottom pannels, so I can tell the noise is the same no matter where I put the audiolink.

Connections seems firm and fine.

Keyten

vrpirata, do you have a custom system or is your's all stock?

laythor

If you can hear the HD spinning as distortion from your line out connector then it's actually a known issue with your Ipod.

Keyten

Source?

Not calling you a liar but I would just like to know where to read up more on this. I hooked up my brother's ipod and I still heard the HD spinning and distortion. I doubt both iPods have the same issue.

vrpirata

my system is stock...

The HD spinning noise is only when changing songs, so that doesn't bother me. What bothers me is the hissing during the song playing.

laythor

www.ilounge.com

search the forums and articles and you'll find numerous reports of issues with the line out on various models of ipods.

I don't remember if you posted about trying the headphone jack out to see if the sound is still there, if it is then that's most likely a problem with the unit and you should contact Donny over at therpmstore.

emexfive

I haven't replied yet but thanks for sending out the new unit so quickly Donny. I just want to say there has been one interesting update in firmware since the last one. It now resumes even from the middle of the song, which was the biggest annoyance with the last one, and you can't fast forward to the second half either. I would be listening to a one hour mp3 but usualy only travel for 30 minutes so I would never get to hear the second 30 minutes.

If there are any firmware upgrades that add fast forward/rewind etc. I'd love be to be able to buy them, the same way as you're selling the other chip replacement upgrade.

About the hard disk noise, is everyone sure it is hard disk noise from the ipod? I've found I got a lot of background whine or none at all depending on where and how I run the cable.

One more thing, does anyone know of a decent double sided sticky tape or some kind of non-permanent bluetac like thing. I'd like to stick the audiolink to the ceiling of the glovebox. It really works for me there because you can't really see it even with the glovebox open. But everything I've tried lasts less than a week before it unsticks and falls into the glovebox.

jahfari

So I lied earlier about not hearing the "HD spin up noise".

After about 2 1/2 weeks of owning the unit, I am now starting to hear that noise during start up of songs and when I pause the iPod and turn the volume up.

I don't hear any distortion yet though.

The "HD spin up" noise is so faint to me that I'm not to bothered by it, considering the trade off between using my crappy stock CD player (the CD player was so sensitive to tiny little blemishes on my CD's it pissed my the hell off).

Anyway, I'll stay tuned to see if anything else happens but so far I'm satisfied.