Customer Reviews

iPod to Factory Radio Interface PA15-TOY USA Spec iPod Interface Connects your iPod to select 1998-up Toyota, Scion, Lexus, Honda, and Isuzu factory radios

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is one of coolest "black box" gadgets I have had in a long time. I got this USA Spec PA12TOY ipod adapter for my 2008 Toyota Tacoma with 6 CD changer factory stereo (not JBL). Installation was a breeze (simple plug & play). I popped out the stereo, where there is an empty plug waiting on the back side. A cable from the USA Spec plugs into the empty plug of the radio. Then an additional cable runs from the USA Spec to your ipod. This USA Spec has additional RCA plugs that I connected my Sirius radio into (cable not included but only a few dollars). The unit is pretty small and was easilly hidden up behind my glove box. If you search the internet you may be able to find photos of individual installations and advice on how to take your radio out (I was for the Tacoma). Important to note that your CD changer is disabled with the use of this (but who needs CDs when you have your ipod?). For my radio/vehicle, the ipod operates under CD1-CD5 (corresponding to the first 5 playlists on my ipod). CD6 is the auxillary RCA plugs (my Sirius radio). I control the ipod either on the ipod itself, through the controls on the stereo, or on the steering wheel stero controls. USA Spec appears to upgrade the unit from time to time, so you should check their website for the latest unit that goes with your vehicle. I am extremely happy with the product and will be looking for one to go with my other vehicle. Highly recommended!!!

I love my Toyota iPod adapter! It was very easy to install and I am not a particularly technologically savvy person. It plugged right into the CD changer port in the back of the radio and took less than an hour to install. Also for looks, I was even able to hide the converter behind the glove box and I ran the wire under the center council to plug it into my iPod. This way the wire is out of the way and it looks a lot cleaner. After you have installed it, I realized that you can change the songs through your iPod or through the regular dash board radio/cd player buttons. The iPod adapter shows up as the CD # 6 changer. If you want to listen to CD's you can also have up to 5 in your CD player and easily switch between your CD's and your iPod. It will even reveal the song and artist of the song being played on the radio screen. This has been very convenient especially since I have a ton of songs on my iPod, some of which I do not know. One of my favorite features is the fact that the adapter charges my iPod while it is plugged in. This is such a nice convenience when I want to go and workout with my iPod right after work and I had forgotten to charge it before I left. Another great feature of the Toyota iPod adapter is that it works with the iPhone too! If you are listening to music and you iPhone rings, the music will automatically turn down so you can answer and hear the person on the other end. I highly recommend this product to anyone who owns a Toyota and is in the market for an iPod adapter. It looks like it came with the car and it works amazingly!

It's true you can use this to plug in your iPod to your Toyota, but it's not as easy as "plug it in and have it work".

The process is more like this:

1) Plug in your iPHone
NOTE: it will start playing the first song alphabetically in your first playlist alphabetically
2) click "OK" to the "this device not made to work with this version of the iPhone" message on your iPhone.
3) change your car stereo to CD 8
4) Select your song/playlist on your iPhone

YAY it finally works.

You *do* gain the ability to skip tracks with your steering wheel and you only have one jack to plug your phone in for charging, which is also audio out, but for shorter trips because of all the steps I find it easier to just use the AUX jack and a car charger.

ALSO if you have an iPhone 4 you MUST Dremil/file down your bumper otherwise the really fat jack won't plug into your iPhone.

Once I learned how to take the dash off my 2008 Toyota Tacoma, this was a breaze to install. It works great with the factory radio, and sounds so much better than using an FM transmitter. Plus, now I do not have to try and find an empty station on the transmitter (or one that does not pick up a station next to it) so that I will not get a lot of static when I am driving!

Bought and installed in my 2006 Tacoma (w/factory stereo). Installed in 15 minutes (pry out the climate control panel, remove four bolts, slide out radio and plug in the new cables). Works great in hybrid mode (lets you use the factory CD player controls or the IPOD's controls to control the IPOD). Text display works fine with the Tacoma stereo.

Installed in a 2006 Tacoma with 6 CD in dash JBL stereo. This thing works awesome. It was very easy to install just plugged it in to the only open port on the back of the stereo. I plugged in both the iPod cable and the standard headset jack cable. Both work perfectly without having to change anything.

What I can do now:

Play an iPod shuffle, or any mp3 player with a standard headset output
Play a regular iPod, or iPhone
Play music from an iPad using the standard headset cable
Charge an iPod, iPhone, or iPad with the iPod cable
Still play CD's (just push the disc button on the radio again)

The only thing that I've found that it can't do is charge my iPad with one cable and play music from the other cable. But really who cares.

This ipod adapter works as advertised. Installation was fairly simple and straight-forward, even for a first time installer such as myself. HOWEVER, the instructions provided with the adapter were incorrect on the dip switch settings chart. It took me about 15 min. to figure out the correct setting for my 2002 Camry with JBL sound, without NAV and with tape. The instructions stated that all three (#2, #3, #4) dip switches should be in the ON position. The correct position is #2 OFF, #3 ON, #4 ON. The adapter works fine now with my Ipod Touch 2nd Gen, even in hybrid mode.

I have a 2007 Toyota Tacoma with a six disc factory stereo. I love everything about this truck except the fact that the stereo had no aux. input. Crutchfield recommended the USA Spec iPod Interface and even gave me their tech. support phone number. After calling USA Spec and talking to the tech support person I was very excited. I ordered the device from Crutchfield and have been very satisfied with the item. This interface not only allows my iPod Touch to be controlled by my factory stereo (even the controls on the steering wheel), it charges the iTouch! In addition there is an Aux. Input for my Sirius Satellite Radio.
I recently purchased an iTouch 2nd Generation and found that it will not charge like the 1st Generation did. I called the USA Spec Tech Dept. and they are sending an updated cable for the changes that Apple made to the Gen 2 iTouch so it will also charge. The total cost for the upgrade $14.95 including shipping.
This interface is completely worth the money and it was simple to install with the excellent instructions provided by Crutchfield.

This adapter is built well, and is a breeze to install. I haven't used the iPod connection only the RCA inputs. Quality is good although audio level is pretty low. Not a deal breaker just something to know up front; overall I'm very happy with the device.

Works just like you would hope, plays as clearly as you would expect and is easy to hook up once you remove the factory radio.

The unit allows up to six play lists, or you can just leave it on "all-shuffle."

A great way to lose the FM or tape-deck adapter, power cords and visible iPod inside the car as the player stays charged in the glove box (or hidden elsewhere) without the need to fiddle with it as you drive. The controls are now part of the head unit.

The little box also features RCA type inputs for non-iPod MP3 players and a XM radio jack for portable XM units and it came with all cables needed.