USA SPEC aux and rear-seat audio?

[AngryJohnny]

Hello, I am obviously new here. I have an 05 Sport V8 with in-dash 6-disc JBL system and I need to get some iPod and/or XM radio action going. After all of my searching/reading:

* There is the Pie which will still work with steering wheel controls and rear seat audio but is out of stock for another month or so.
* There is the BlitzSafe which will NOT work with rear seat audio.
* There is the USA SPEC Aux Interface which has TWO sets of RCAs rather than ONE.

Because of the extra set of RCAs (and the PIEs being out of stock) I am leaning toward the USA SPEC for both an iPod and XM hook up. I have a few quick questions:

- The BlitzSafe still allow you to use the steering wheel right?
- Does the USA SPEC still allow rear seat audio?
- Does the USA SPEC allow you to use the steering wheel controls?
- Any [dis]advantages USA SPEC vs PIE aside from the PIE playing louder?

Thanks in advance and please be nice to the noob!

 

[leebay88]

Would love to hear some remarks on this. I may consider this mod instead of replacing the headunit. Ohh year first I need to find my car. Man I'm dieing here

 

[AngryJohnny]

I ordered a Terk Commander XM radio and USA SPEC last night.

If nobody replies (anybody here know?), than I'll let you know next week, at least about the steering wheel controls, I don't have the headphones.

 

[wkparker]

Angry, the USA SPEC unit connects to the CD changer input. The HU "sees" it as a changer, and you select between the RCA inputs by changing from "Disc 1" or "Disc 2". In short, the steering wheel controls work - volume, source, and preset/track. I installed one a few weeks ago (see the thread about my OmniFi installation) & it works great.

 

[AngryJohnny]

Thanks! Actually, I plan on mounting the Terk control panel in the same fashion as your (no cutting req'd as it is much smaller!), thanks for the inspiration!

Not that I have the headphones, but you don't happen to know about the rear seat audio, do you?

How's the volume level?

Also, can you post a pic of the USA SPEC mounted in the car, if it is easy, otherwise, not a big deal. I was thinking about mounting the USA SPEC to the vertical plastic to the right and up from where the gas pedal is.

Thanks!

 

[wkparker]

Sorry - no idea on the rear seat audio. I don't have it, so I'm not sure what you're asking - does it allow back seat passengers to listed to a different source? If so, using the USA SPEC, which the HU treats as a CD changer, shouldn't matter.

On mine, the volume level is fine - I don't have to make significant adjustments when switching between the radio and the OmniFi. I think it depends a great deal on the "volume" of the RCA signal you feed it than the interface itself.

I mounted it under the plastic cover just beneath the steering wheel. Once the plastic is is off (or just hanging down), there is a metal shield behind it. I mounted the interface on the backside of the metal, just below the ignition switch with the jacks pointing towards the floorboard, with a coupleof small nuts & bolts. There was just enough room, and I put a piece of cork on the top to prevent rubbing against the metal brace above it. With the plastic cover in place you don't see it. I tried taking a picture as I was installing it, but it's pretty tight in there and the pic didn't make much sense.

Hope that helps.

 

[lojeff]

This unit looks great. I just ordered it yesterday. I expect it early next week. I cannot wait to get rid of the FM modulator!!!!

Did it come with all the needed adaptors. I know there were some post on another board about either a y-harness or some kind of 7 to 5 adaptor? Was is just plug and play?

Has anyone used this with the Camry Navigation from OEMvalue? Crutchfield said it would work with all models. I hope they are correct!!!

 

[wkparker]

Lojeff, it comes with everything you need. The y-cable has two plugs for different HUs - plug the appropriate one into the CD changer input, connect the cable to the interface, and you're ready to go. It doesn't even need a power connection.

 

[lojeff]

I have the Camry Navigation. Has anyone used this USA SPEC Aux input with this unit. I just received it and it said it may not be compatible with navigation systems.

Before tearing the dash apart can anyone tell me if they have used it with OEMVALUE's camry navigation?

 

[toys4life]

:hello: Hi everybody!! I'm a newbie here but I've been checking out this site for quite a while. Lots of great info and tips. Anyway, I've got the answer to the USA SPEC/Rear Seat Audio question. I got my aux input adapter last night and couldn't wait to install it. It worked very well for what it is supposed to do. It emulated an external CD changer. Now the bad news The Rear Seat Audio does not recognize it as an input. I wanted to use it with a portable DVD player and wireless headphones for the kids on trips while we surfed the radio up front. When you try to select it in the rear, it just skips right over any CD funtions (if you have no CDs in the in dash changer). Luckily Crutchfield is easy to work with on returns. Their Tech Dept had no notes on this JBL in-dash changer system and the USA SPEC compatibility with RSA. Hope this helps somebody out there. Any ideas besides a cassette adapter for DVD player and RSA?

 

[AngryJohnny]

Thanks,

So the rear seat audio still works on the JBL radio, except for the additional aux input (the USA SPEC input) right?

My only suggestion to you is to buy a simple fm modulator that plugs into a headhpone port (powered by batteries) and let the kids listen to 88.9 or whatever to hear the DVDs. That should work right?

I'd still keep the USA SPEC installed for and iPod or whatever you may want to add in the future. Not worth the $60 to pull it out, IMO.

--EDIT--
You can buy something like this

 

[toys4life]

Yes, the RSA works just fine other than not seeing the aux input/"ext. CD changer". I was trying to stay away from a modulator because that woud tie up FM in the front. When I hooked up the USA SPEC, I did not do a complete install, just connected it. The total time spent in the garage was only 45 min. start to finish and most of that was trying different things to make sure I wasn't missing something (did all other functions work independently and together etc...). Come to think of it, the only thing I did not try was loading 6 discs in dash to see if the JBL would use the aux. input as a next diac or an "overflow" .
Could someone try this and post back? That would be great if that would do the trick!

 

[sharp4runr]

The PIE unit works with the RSA, though it only has 1 RCA input.

 

[toys4life]

You can single out the aux adapter for RSA while using another source up front? Also to clarify, do you have the in dash changer?

 

[toys4life]

:awais: Hello, anybody???