Harman Kardon's standalone auto iPod adapter

Harman Kardon is planning a fall release for a new car iPod adapter that'll add a back-lit display and separate controller for more convenient operation of the ol' white player while driving. Both will be mountable anywhere in the vehicle, and are united in audio goodness by the small "brain" that's the central hub for all the physical cable connections as well as a charger for the iPod. Connection to the car's audio system can be of the direct line-in variety if you opt to have the unit professionally installed for an extra $70 fee; otherwise you can set up the $199 adapter kit yourself and use the built-in FM radio transmitter to pump the audio signal to your can stereo. More pics after the break.

[Thanks, Seth A]

[Gordy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Interesting. If they get the details right, I'd buy it.

[housedigital @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Um yeah...how about the DLO Transpod for 99. Am I the only one who likes it?

[HPC @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Is it just me or that thing looks like a PSP with no screen

[Hiro11 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

How is this different that any of the 50 other integration kits already available? Also, who would spend 200 bucks for a crappy fm-mod solution?

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I agree with Hiro. Anyone dropping 200 bones on this thing better be looking at setting up a line-in. Every FM transmitter experience I've had has been terrible.

[Ryan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

You can get hard-wired FM transmitters that sound 100x better than the wireless kind. Because they're wired right onto your antenna, they can transmit strong enough to over-power the station they're tuned to and give you much better sound quality.

It's not quite line in, but it's like using composite video cable vs. coaxial with RF modulation.

Anyway, I'm willing to bet that if you're hard-wiring this into your car, you're going to get a professionally installed, hard wired FM modulator.

[Phil @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

what a waste....

[Kojo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

well as to what #4 said, its made by harman/kardon a high end audiophile company so its going to be good quality, and it even said there you can conect through a direct line in

[GreenLine @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Not Exciting, I would prefer something fully integrated, not 4 components with wires going everywhere. Give me a Dock connector direct to my head unit.

[m @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Why show it in a BMW? BMW/Mini already have an iPod integration system in which the iPod can be controlled by the audio buttons on the steering wheel...

[Mark Allerton @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

#9 - because the BMW solution doesn't work in a lot of BMWs, including those with the "premium" stereo like the X3 shown here.

[blayn @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

as long as there is no lag on the display, i'd almost buy it for that alone. and how can they say it's $70 extra to have it professionally installed? why can't i direct-line-it myself? I'm VERY interested in the specs to come though.

[Neil Goldstein @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Anyone know if this will work in a 2005 BMW 645 with the Harmon Kardon Logic 7 premium audio system and iDrive, GPS, and 6 disk changer???? Where could I possibly find this out?

[Segura @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

It better charge the iPod too while it is connected . . .

[Daryl @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

THat is amazing. I want one. This is what I need, I hook my ipod up to my stereo using a linein, and run all my cables under my center console to my ipod (have a dock under the cc and cut a hole so the dock is not visable), But the problem with this is I cant really see the ipod, and it was a pain to reach over and change the song. So this heads up display would be perfect, and I could return that Griffin Airclick (since the line out is ampless it has no volume control). This device looks awesome, Hopefully we will see it in applestores.

[Gordy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

THe only competitor to this device is Monster's iCruze, and this is better on all fronts at-a-glance. iCruze is make-specific.

[DJFriar @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Regarding #12 - It will work with anything, as it is an FM Transmitter as well. As for the Line-In it should. I recall reading that all the BMW Premium systems had a line in, either within the glove box or in the trunk by the changer.

[Seth A @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

blayn: $70 is the price they're working with right now it may change when they release it to the public. Also, a lof of people aren't savvy enough, have the money, or are just plain lazy and wouldn't want to figure out how to hook it all into their system via a direct line.

[blayn @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Thanks Seth, i would love to find a product which just mirrors the display on a 4G ipod. Cause i mean, the ipods interface is so intuitive that obviously you don't need to look directly at it to know what's what. But, holding it in my hand infront of me would be much more of a hazard than if i could have the display on my dash, and just control it with a free hand. I dunno, i think it's a "should-be-around" technology. I this and icruze are about as close as you can come. I really don't want to use another interface for control, mainly just an external display.

[Rynryn @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

FM transmitters blow where I am because the presets are already taken, also I agree for $200.00 I want line in!

[MilesDeep @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

This is shown in a BMW because Harmon Kardon makes the premium sound systems that you pay extra for in BMWS

and the premium systems themselves should still be iPod compatible .. i dont know for sure on the X3, but i know that on the regular 3 series it is ... and also with the X5... the X3 is a mash of the two, so logically it sounds like it should work.

[Seth A @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

#20 Did you not read that it does support a direct line in.

[Mark Allerton @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

#21: I know for a fact that the official BMW iPod adapter does not work with the X3 premium stereo because that's exactly what I have, and when I tried to order the adapter I was told it will not work with my car by the dealer. I was quite surprised to hear that but since then I have found many sources that confirm it - including, sadly, people who've tried installing the adapter.

[Arnor Bogason @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Isn't it "HarmAn Kardon", not "HarmOn Kardon"?!

[christy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Why does it look like a video game controller? I would like to see a nice apple-inspired (ok, ok, ripoff) design.

[Mister Stimulation @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

First of all... I hope it doesn't suck like the Monster Icruise. (1) You can't use the IPOD while its connected to the Icruise. You must use the Icruise interface while in the car. This is nice b/c the Icrusie looks cool and allows you to pay attention to the road. However it sucks becuase...(2)You can't browse your collection of songs with the Icruise. You have to create a (limited) number of playlists in advance. No browsing by artist or genre and all the other things you love. Thus, if you want to hear something thats not in one of the Icrusie Playlists - ur screwed. At the end of the day I just want something that lets me access all of my music by any means currently available on the ipod (genre, artist, all playlists, composer, etc.). The Monster Icruise does not. You spend $200-400 on an iPod and $200 for the car connection - but you can't access all of your songs on the fly? Come on!!! Give me a break! I'll pass until someone gets it right. I smell vapor.

[will @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Personally, i think this sounds awesome... Let's not forget people, that it is Harman/Kardon we're talking about... not some never-heard of before, low-profile, third party, aftermarket label... They were the ones who made the Creature II and the Sound Stick II speaker systems, !JBL's onStage iPod sound dock, and teamed with Apple to create the original iMac orb speakers... This company makes quality products, and has already proven its devotion to making great Apple compatible accessories and devices... If you ask me, there is no question that this interface will blow the DLO, the >>ice, and the iCruize out of the water. Features people... It costs the same as the iCruize, but comes with a display. It has a controllable interface... true, I'd like to see it designed with more of an Apple look, but hey, this is their thing, not Apple's.

[Greg @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I am using BMW/MINI iPod interface in my 2005 Cooper S. The sound is perfect, but I can't say the same thing about usage. I have to create 5 playlists max and call them MINI1, MINI2 and so on, and memorize what songs I have in each playlist. I can list more cones-in general I hate its interface and usage, on the other hand this is the best I've found. I tested more than 3 in-car iPod solutions, but didn't like any of them. I personally never will spend money on enything else than HK's Drive + Play iPod at this point. I think this new product from HK is perfect solution for me, since my car's original sound system and head unit are HK as well and I hope I'll have full(?) control.

Does anyone know where we can find full specs. I heard something like BMW/MINI interface offers full digital sound while AUX out doesn't. Is this true? Does HK's Plus connect the same as BMW's or it uses AUX?

[Jake @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Does anyone know if this HK Ipod device will operate "line-in" with the 2006 Jeep Commander with premium Boston Acoustics audio + NAVI??

I love the way it looks, but anticipate that it won't work with Jeep vehicles w/ NAVI.....

Advice?

[David Aldea @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Jake - curious if you figured out interfacing IPOD with Jeep Commander w NAVI - have the exact same quesion - once my commander arrives that is! thanks. dave

[Neil Hunt @ Dec 23rd 2005 2:09PM]

I bought one of these at Frys.



It does a good job of bringing iPod functionality to the dashboard. The fonts are large enough, and 98% of all iPod functions are replicated. Missing: chapter marks in Audible.com books, and the Select/Scroll gesture to scan rapidly to a particular place in a long track (like a book) and the Select/Select/Scroll gesture to "rate" a track. People griping about the FM re-transmit are missing the point. It's got an aux output, and a capability to wire it to the antenna if you don't have an aux input. Its not about the hookup, its about the interface. Most of the "other" hookup kits are about the connection, not about the interface. And the ones that *are* about interface (Kenwood, Pioneer, etc.) are terrible at it. Even the BMW interface is very limited (5 present playlists?).



Build quality is typical asian ODM. Not quite what I would have expected for HK, but adequate.



I would guess its not really anticiapted that people will do pro-level installation - that's why there are stick-pads and surface-mount wires.



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I previously used the Pioneer adaptor which is a complete UI disaster. Its almost unusable. You can find my lengthy review on epinions.



I am planning to rip it out and replace with the HK interface - much better.



I tested the HK product on the kitchen table - with radio re-broadcast to the living room HT. Worked pretty well.