| jayslu |
Hello, I'm a new forum member and first-time poster.
I'm about to purchase a new MDX, and I want to have satellite radio installed. I do not want to use an FM modulator (because of poor fidelity) nor do I want to use a cassette adapter (too kludgey looking).
Am I correct that if I buy an MDX with a navigation system but WITHOUT the Rear Entertainment system, I can directly connect my satellite radio unit using a Blitzsafe adapter?
Thanks in advance. I want to be 100% sure about this before I buy my MDX. |
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| laborlitigator |
| Yes you can and I recommend it since I have it installed in my system. |
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| zbaker |
I just install satellite radio and I have the BlitzSafe adapter and I found the sound quality is much better with the tape adapter.
I was worried about the way that it would look also but I spliced the wires and ran them under the dash and I looks very good.
If you're interested I can post some pics. |
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| jayslu |
Thanks for the replies. Zbaker, I would like very much to see the photos of your installation with the tape adapter. If I decide the tape adapter is an acceptable alternative, I could buy an MDX with the Rear Entertainment System.
laborlitigator: I also own a BMW M3! (2001 Convertible) |
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| Mr. Mom |
quote:
Originally posted by zbaker
I just install satellite radio and I have the BlitzSafe adapter and I found the sound quality is much better with the tape adapter.
I was worried about the way that it would look also but I spliced the wires and ran them under the dash and I looks very good.
If you're interested I can post some pics.
Your the first one who has said this about the tape adapter, so I'm interested in finding out more about which unit you used, etc. I have the res. so this would be my only option. Lets see the pic. please.
:4: |
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| zbaker |
| I'll post some pictures later this week. |
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| asn |
quote:
Originally posted by jayslu
Thanks for the replies. Zbaker, I would like very much to see the photos of your installation with the tape adapter. If I decide the tape adapter is an acceptable alternative, I could buy an MDX with the Rear Entertainment System.
laborlitigator: I also own a BMW M3! (2001 Convertible)
If you buy one with the RES, you also get a AUX input. I would think you could use that. The input is in the back, but I bet you could get creative with the wires.
As far as your M3, Nice car, too bad it's a BMW. My last car was a (2001) 330 Convertible, had too many problems, that's why I went back to honda (Acura) |
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| johnh123 |
| Also, I believe that you can use the blitzafe with the res and navi if you don't use the cd changer. I think xm is more important. |
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| zbaker |
Sorry it took so long to post pics.
This is the Tape adapter |
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| zbaker |
| Here is where I mounted the unit. |
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| zbaker |
| Here is another angle. |
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| Mr. Mom |
| Thanks for the pictures, I had to look twice to find the wire coming out of the tape deck. Excellent job with the wiring. Do you still rate the adapter better than the blitzsafe? |
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| zbaker |
quote:
Originally posted by Mr. Mom
Thanks for the pictures, I had to look twice to find the wire coming out of the tape deck. Excellent job with the wiring. Do you still rate the adapter better than the blitzsafe?
Thanks.
In my opinion it does sound better. It might be because I have a DVD player installed and it's plugged into the BlitzSafe. So there might be some signal loss.
The XM radio has built in volume and that helps. If I switch from the radio to the XM, the XM is much more clear and loud so almost CD quality. |
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| DaleB |
I had a professionally installed 12 disk changer in a minivan before, that used an FM modulator to couple with the stock audio system.
It actually sounded very good. Very clean and loud. But did not have have the full audio bandwidth, when you compared it to directly connected systems. For my use it was just fine, but more and more listening to different systems tells me tape adapters are ok when nothing else is practical. I never considered them superior to FM modulators.
If tape sounds better, I would say something is not working right when using the blitzsafe, IMHO as was suggested. |
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| zbaker |
quote:
Originally posted by DaleB
If tape sounds better, I would say something is not working right when using the blitzsafe, IMHO as was suggested.
I think the XM tape adapter is better quality then the others. There are 4 wires instead of 2. I discovered this when I had to splice the wires.
The XM in my wifes TL has the FM adapter and you can notice the sound and quality loss. There are a lot of different options and this is working for me for now. |
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| Warzau |
| My opinions is please resize your photos, its blowing out the margins, even on my 1024X768 monitor. |
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| jcthomas |
FWIW, I have just finished installing XM radio in our '04 X. Initially, I had used the tape cassette adapter until the weather warmed up a bit to do a proper install. I was surprised how good the sound was with the cassette tape adapter. However, I have now installed the BlizSafe and there is an improvement in sound quality as compared to the tape cassette adapter.
For reference. the XM equipment I used in the X was previously used in a '01 Honda Ody and a '03 Acura TL. There was more of a difference in sound quality between the tape cassette adapter and the BlitzSafe in the TL than in the X.
If you do use the cassette tape adapter, try turning off the Dolby processing on the X's tape section. It would appear that zbaker has this turned on in his picture. I found that turning off the Dolby processing improved sound quality somewhat.
Now to plan the balance of the sound system upgrades in the X.
Regards: |
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| perk |
| Just found out that there is another company selling a device that can be used with an iPod to control the iPod through the factory radio controls, including the steering wheel controls. Check out http://icelink.densionusa.com/ |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by perk
Just found out that there is another company selling a device that can be used with an iPod to control the iPod through the factory radio controls, including the steering wheel controls. Check out http://icelink.densionusa.com/
It obviously caters to the iPOD with the other accessories they supply as part of the kit. But should work much the same way. |
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| jayslu |
| Where can I buy the Blitzsafe for the 2004? My local car stereo joints say that it's not out yet and/or they can't get it. |
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| jcthomas |
jayslu:
I purchased my BlitzSafe from:
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/xmfanstore/blauxad.html
I have the '04 X Touring with Navi (no Res).
BlitzSafe part numbers for your reference:
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MDX '01-'04
HON/XM DMX DEL V.1 for Delphi SkiFI or Roady
HON/XM DMX CMD V.1 for Commander
There are also part numbers for Pioneer, Alpine, Audiovox and Sony as well as the V.1D version which allows the addition of an Alpine CD changer as well as the XM receiver to the data port on the MDX factory radio port |
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| jayslu |
I purchased a Blitzsafe from the XMFan website and took it, along with a Sirius receiver I had purchased from Crutchfield, to a local car stereo joint. Now I am listening to Sirius in my MDX...very sweet.
Thanks to all who answered my questions. |
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| dwbentz |
Does anyone know if the Blitzsafe adapter will work in an '01 MDX with the non-Bose system? I have an XM Commander and, while it works well, the sound is much weaker through the FM modulator and very distorted at higher volume levels.
Thanks in advance for any help! |
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| dwbentz |
Does anyone know if the Blitzsafe adapter will work in an '01 MDX with the non-Bose system? I have an XM Commander and, while it works well, the sound is much weaker through the FM modulator and very distorted at higher volume levels.
Thanks in advance for any help! |
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| toddh |
Along the lines of the original post:
I just got my '04 X with the Navi, in-dash 6-disc changer, but no factory RES. I did get the dealer-installed RES -- an Audiovox (Sanyo?) unit. Doing it this way allowed me to keep the 6-disc changer in the dash rather than having the cartridge changer unit under the driver's seat. (I also gained a 110V converter in the deal.)
I've been reading posts and sites for days, but I can't find good answers to these questions:
1. How do I remove the radio/changer from the dash to find out what port I might have? Do I really need those dash tools?
2. Which Blitzsafe unit do I need? I want to hook up a SkyFi to the aux CD changer port, if I have one. I'm pretty confused on this one.
3. The Audiovox is currently using an FM mod to feed audio on FM 89.1. This interferes with all other FM reception when it's on. Can this be done away with? Would a dual-input Blitzsafe work for this?
I have the XM antenna installed, and the SkyFi working via cassette adapter. My goal is to get rid of as many visible wires as I can.
If anyone can help me out, I promise I will post pix and step-by-step instructions on how I did it when I'm done!
Thanx!
Todd |
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