iPod (again)
- Thread starter broomco
- Start date
I assume the Dice "not a DIY" warning is one of those standard blanket warnings; it is no easier or harder than installing the factory switch box. So yes, it requires disassembling the console; etc (the Mazda instructions tell exactly how to do this).
Everything connects to the Mazda wiring harnesses, headunit, etc with proper adapters. There is zero cutting so it could all easily be undone.
It took me about two hours; but that was because I was very slow and cautious having never opened the CX-9 console before. I think I could do a second one (switch box + Dice) in about 45 minutes.
The hardest part for me was figuring out exactly where to position the Mazda switch box; the Mazda instructions are really good, but not 3-D
The Mazda wire routing instructions make the switch box a no-brainer and result in everything nicely secured. Minus the switch box; the Dice-to-headunit wire alone would easily route from the headunit to the glove box without complication.
I routed the iPod cable out of the glove box per Mazda's instructions for their iPod kit. This works great for the Dice. The Dice is so small and light that I just left it in the recess behind the glovebox next to the fuse box. This means I can just pop the panel out of the back of my glovebox and disconnect the Dice to reset it's DIPs, etc (it also has it's own aux input that could be used from their too; but unnecessary since the CX-9 has aux)... also easy access for upgrade if they eventually have good news on the Playlist display issue.
The iPod cable stays in the glovebox when not in use and I route it out the lower left side of the box when in use. The glovebox closes easily and I leave the ipod in the little dash box below the headunit.
Here's a link to the relevant Mazda instructions:
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3624990&postcount=7
Also; it's clear from the Dice Electronics site but not from some online vendors; you need the "i-Mazda-R2" for text and CX-9 not the older "i-Mazda-R" version.
-Jeff
Everything connects to the Mazda wiring harnesses, headunit, etc with proper adapters. There is zero cutting so it could all easily be undone.
It took me about two hours; but that was because I was very slow and cautious having never opened the CX-9 console before. I think I could do a second one (switch box + Dice) in about 45 minutes.
The hardest part for me was figuring out exactly where to position the Mazda switch box; the Mazda instructions are really good, but not 3-D
The Mazda wire routing instructions make the switch box a no-brainer and result in everything nicely secured. Minus the switch box; the Dice-to-headunit wire alone would easily route from the headunit to the glove box without complication.I routed the iPod cable out of the glove box per Mazda's instructions for their iPod kit. This works great for the Dice. The Dice is so small and light that I just left it in the recess behind the glovebox next to the fuse box. This means I can just pop the panel out of the back of my glovebox and disconnect the Dice to reset it's DIPs, etc (it also has it's own aux input that could be used from their too; but unnecessary since the CX-9 has aux)... also easy access for upgrade if they eventually have good news on the Playlist display issue.
The iPod cable stays in the glovebox when not in use and I route it out the lower left side of the box when in use. The glovebox closes easily and I leave the ipod in the little dash box below the headunit.
Here's a link to the relevant Mazda instructions:
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3624990&postcount=7
Also; it's clear from the Dice Electronics site but not from some online vendors; you need the "i-Mazda-R2" for text and CX-9 not the older "i-Mazda-R" version.
-Jeff
wow I didn't realize it was actually shipping and you already installed it.
I checked today and when I added the R2 unit (haha) to the basket, it showed up saying NO TEXT. I am going to assume this is a typographical error.
Questions:
Do you have to purchase the mazda switch box? Or can you instead use the AUX input for the Dice if you no longer require the AUX plug anymore?
Also, is there enough cable to route the Dice unit into the center console? My goal is to keep the iPod in the center storage unit as well as route the cable from there. I figure I could drill a hole to pass the cable through.
Lastly, does it sound the same as the factory AUX connection?
thanks.
I checked today and when I added the R2 unit (haha) to the basket, it showed up saying NO TEXT. I am going to assume this is a typographical error.
Questions:
Do you have to purchase the mazda switch box? Or can you instead use the AUX input for the Dice if you no longer require the AUX plug anymore?
Also, is there enough cable to route the Dice unit into the center console? My goal is to keep the iPod in the center storage unit as well as route the cable from there. I figure I could drill a hole to pass the cable through.
Lastly, does it sound the same as the factory AUX connection?
thanks.
I guess NO TEXT was a typo; I bought it from an eBay seller so I didn't go through that ordering flow.
I haven't tried the Dice aux plug but I assume it would work fine. If you don't care about the factory Aux port (and the Media button) then you don't need the switch box. You'd use the dice controls via the Sat button to turn on Dice-Aux.
I'm not sure about enough cable to reach the center console; I'm pretty sure Dice offers extension cables. I think it would depend on whether you keep the Dice module near the glove box (so hidden but easy access) or if you can find somewhere to put it inside the center console (no easy access). Then you could use the HeadUnit-to-dice + dice-to-ipod cables to span the distance. I think you would need an extension cable to put the dice module near the glovebox and have useful slack left for an ipod in the center console...
I need to test the audio quality more. For causal listening it sounds fine. But when I first turned it on; I did think I initially heard interference. I'm using an iPhone so the airplane mode (GSM off) thing could be part of it.
But since the initial install I haven't actually noticed any background noise with real music playing even with GSM on. I'm planning on putting a silent MP3 on my iPhone to compare Dice to Factory-Aux (and I check Dice-Aux too for good measure). I'll post the results when I've done the experiment.
-Jeff
I haven't tried the Dice aux plug but I assume it would work fine. If you don't care about the factory Aux port (and the Media button) then you don't need the switch box. You'd use the dice controls via the Sat button to turn on Dice-Aux.
I'm not sure about enough cable to reach the center console; I'm pretty sure Dice offers extension cables. I think it would depend on whether you keep the Dice module near the glove box (so hidden but easy access) or if you can find somewhere to put it inside the center console (no easy access). Then you could use the HeadUnit-to-dice + dice-to-ipod cables to span the distance. I think you would need an extension cable to put the dice module near the glovebox and have useful slack left for an ipod in the center console...
I need to test the audio quality more. For causal listening it sounds fine. But when I first turned it on; I did think I initially heard interference. I'm using an iPhone so the airplane mode (GSM off) thing could be part of it.
But since the initial install I haven't actually noticed any background noise with real music playing even with GSM on. I'm planning on putting a silent MP3 on my iPhone to compare Dice to Factory-Aux (and I check Dice-Aux too for good measure). I'll post the results when I've done the experiment.
-Jeff
I just bought the one from Griffin. I am now using it together with the ground loop isolator from Crutchfield and it works fine.
UPDATE-
I finally installed the Dice ipod controller. I did a custom install as I wanted the unit and my ipod to live inside the center console. As someone pointed out earlier, there is not much room in the console under the storage box due to the A/C vents. Therefore my solution was to dremel out a hole in the storage box floor, sit the Dice unit inside the hole, and then build a false floor that sits 1/4 inch higher than the old floor since the Dice unit wouldn't sit low enough to clear the storage box. Not an ideal solution as I had to cut through plastic, but since I own the CX-9 and don't lease it, I can do stuff like this. The end result is, the system is totally invisible, and it sounds great. Tracks are very hard to select accurately however as you have to hold the button on the steering wheel for a period of time. Too short and the Dice changes modes. Too long and it will skip past 2 or 3 songs. I am going to call the company to see if they can improve this.
I am still satisfied, as my main goal was to have a way to keep the iPod charged inside the car and to see the track names on the NAV screen. The sound is perfect too. In fact I burned a CD of a playlist and the CD sounds worse than the iPod playing through the Dice.
I recommend this product over the standard AUX input. However it is not perfect, and the install took about 3 hours and it looked pretty scary. I did take pics all the way through and I will build a DIY web page if anyone is truly interested in doing this install on their own CX-9. For now, below I have attached a before and after.
I finally installed the Dice ipod controller. I did a custom install as I wanted the unit and my ipod to live inside the center console. As someone pointed out earlier, there is not much room in the console under the storage box due to the A/C vents. Therefore my solution was to dremel out a hole in the storage box floor, sit the Dice unit inside the hole, and then build a false floor that sits 1/4 inch higher than the old floor since the Dice unit wouldn't sit low enough to clear the storage box. Not an ideal solution as I had to cut through plastic, but since I own the CX-9 and don't lease it, I can do stuff like this. The end result is, the system is totally invisible, and it sounds great. Tracks are very hard to select accurately however as you have to hold the button on the steering wheel for a period of time. Too short and the Dice changes modes. Too long and it will skip past 2 or 3 songs. I am going to call the company to see if they can improve this.
I am still satisfied, as my main goal was to have a way to keep the iPod charged inside the car and to see the track names on the NAV screen. The sound is perfect too. In fact I burned a CD of a playlist and the CD sounds worse than the iPod playing through the Dice.
I recommend this product over the standard AUX input. However it is not perfect, and the install took about 3 hours and it looked pretty scary. I did take pics all the way through and I will build a DIY web page if anyone is truly interested in doing this install on their own CX-9. For now, below I have attached a before and after.
Attachments
I did finally do the test at some point. Definite interference compared to aux in. To be fair I cannot hear it with normal music or at moderate volumes but with a silent MP3 and the volume cranked up; the Dice had interference I didn't get through the aux jack.
I haven't tried a standard iPod or any other combos; so it could be an artifact of the unamplified out on my iPhone as much as the Dice; too little info to be sure.
-Jeff
I think I might hear a very slight hum when no music is playing and engine is on, but when iPod is playing, it sounds fine. I do still have trouble selecting tracks with the steering wheel. Dice informed me that there is a firmware update for my controller, and they are in the process of exchanging mine via mail, free of charge. I am glad I installed the Dice box where I did now as the sway is a simple plug and play.
It sounds like the people with the Dice unit are pretty happen with it, is that correct? I just got a CX-9 and am trying to figure out what our best iPod interface will be. For now, I just have the Belkin charger/line out from the previous car, but I think I'll want something better.
Also, I don't think the current unit is compatible with the iPhone 3g yet, but it sounds like they are working on a new iPod cable to fix that.
Have they updated it so that if you hit the up/down button on the steering wheel it does track up/down or do you still need to do a longer press for that?
Is anyone using this with an iPhone? If so, can you still use the on screen controls as well? I gather there are two modes for the device, but it still isn't clear to me what the pros/cons of each are. Certainly, I'd like to be able to control it from either place if possible.
And do you get any functionality out of the touch screen or does it just list track names?
Thanks for any help or other ideas for a better iPod integration option.
Also, I don't think the current unit is compatible with the iPhone 3g yet, but it sounds like they are working on a new iPod cable to fix that.
Have they updated it so that if you hit the up/down button on the steering wheel it does track up/down or do you still need to do a longer press for that?
Is anyone using this with an iPhone? If so, can you still use the on screen controls as well? I gather there are two modes for the device, but it still isn't clear to me what the pros/cons of each are. Certainly, I'd like to be able to control it from either place if possible.
And do you get any functionality out of the touch screen or does it just list track names?
Thanks for any help or other ideas for a better iPod integration option.
Well, for those keeping score, I am one disatisfied NEO customer. Last evening, it suddenly just stopped making any sound at all. This was second time; first time, I brought it back to installer, who by trial and error, disconnected and reconnected and it seems to have rebooted it. Not a good solution, as this required taking apart console.
Bringing it back today; may reboot or may remove, as the unit has disabled the aux input.
Bringing it back today; may reboot or may remove, as the unit has disabled the aux input.
Follow up on Neo:
After the unit stopped functioning, I let the folks at NEO know. Their comment was to reboot the Ipod. When I told them that I had tried that, after 24 hours their response was to return it to the place I purchased it.
Apparently, their warranty doesn't include having units sent back directly for replacement. Given that most retailers would likely tell you to do that, and that in any event, this was a gift, that's a pretty lousy response.
My experience with this NEO unit will cause me to avoid them like the plague. The unit malfunctioned, and it never controlled playlists or songs from the radio controls. It was professionally installed, but never worked well.
Your mileage may, of course, vary.
FiveG
After the unit stopped functioning, I let the folks at NEO know. Their comment was to reboot the Ipod. When I told them that I had tried that, after 24 hours their response was to return it to the place I purchased it.
Apparently, their warranty doesn't include having units sent back directly for replacement. Given that most retailers would likely tell you to do that, and that in any event, this was a gift, that's a pretty lousy response.
My experience with this NEO unit will cause me to avoid them like the plague. The unit malfunctioned, and it never controlled playlists or songs from the radio controls. It was professionally installed, but never worked well.
Your mileage may, of course, vary.
FiveG
As for the DICE box, I got the newest firmware box recently. They swapped the box for free and included free shipping for the old unit.
There are some great improvements- now I can always accurately and quickly go to the next track by hitting next track on the NAV screen. HOWEVER, and this is a big negative, the sterring wheel button for next track no longer functions. I always assumed the steering wheel switch was the same as the up/down on the main screen, but this is not the case.
It is not too much trouble to hit the next song button on the NAV screen, but the steering wheel buttons would obviously be ideal.
Now the second big negative- this new firmware does not let you use the iPod controls anymore. They said the reason is that it speeds up the interface. This blows. No longer can my wife search for the next song or build a on-the-go playlist as we are driving.
With the new Dice firmware, if you don't have your playlist set up before you drive away, you are never going to find the songs you want to hear.
You can search by song or artist, but since I have 100s of artists and thousands of songs, this is just not realistic without a scroll wheel.
My overall rating then is about a 6. If I knew the Dice would be so limited, I would not have paid the $150 and wasted a day installing it.
Now that I have it, I do prefer it to the regular AUX in, because it charges the ipod that I now keep in the car permanently, and it pauses the iPod and turns it off when you switch to FM or shut off the car.
There are some great improvements- now I can always accurately and quickly go to the next track by hitting next track on the NAV screen. HOWEVER, and this is a big negative, the sterring wheel button for next track no longer functions. I always assumed the steering wheel switch was the same as the up/down on the main screen, but this is not the case.
It is not too much trouble to hit the next song button on the NAV screen, but the steering wheel buttons would obviously be ideal.
Now the second big negative- this new firmware does not let you use the iPod controls anymore. They said the reason is that it speeds up the interface. This blows. No longer can my wife search for the next song or build a on-the-go playlist as we are driving.
With the new Dice firmware, if you don't have your playlist set up before you drive away, you are never going to find the songs you want to hear.
You can search by song or artist, but since I have 100s of artists and thousands of songs, this is just not realistic without a scroll wheel.
My overall rating then is about a 6. If I knew the Dice would be so limited, I would not have paid the $150 and wasted a day installing it.
Now that I have it, I do prefer it to the regular AUX in, because it charges the ipod that I now keep in the car permanently, and it pauses the iPod and turns it off when you switch to FM or shut off the car.
not_too_shabby
Member
- :
- 2008 CX-9
Just had a dice unit installed in my car today, 2008 CX-9 GT w/ bose and NAV. I will concur that the steering wheel controls do not seem to work. I need to play around with it a bit more when stuck in traffic next week, but overall it sounds good but not being able to change tracks from the steering wheel is disappointing. At lease it charges and turns the ipod on/off with the ignition.
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