Customer Reviews

SoundGate PDCBLPAK lets you Connect, Charge, and Play your iPod, Touch, Nano, Classic, or 3G iPhone thru your Car Stereo or Radio's AUX 3.5mm Jack.

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Product worked well for approximately two hours, performing all specified feats on my 3G iPhone, including charging and allowing me to play music from the iPod portion of the phone and from apps like Pandora. Into the second hour of use the product stopped providing power to charge my iPhone, however the phone would still recognize when power in the car was being shut off or on. I noticed this because turning the key from on to off or vice-versa would awaken a blank screen. This was irritating in its own right, however the topper came when the device no longer functioned at all, which occured after a week of being installed. The iPhone would no longer recognize being docked onto the device and I could no longer get sound from my iPhone into my existing system like I was doing just a day or two prior. Overall I rate this product as garbage and a total waste of money. I'm finding something else to pipe my iPhone sounds into my pre-existing car stereo. I suggest you do the same.

Product is great for playing music into my car from my iPhone 3G. Only problem... It says that it is not "Optimized" for my phone, and it DOES NOT CHARGE my phone.!!!

I've had this installed in my Yaris for almost 2 years now, and it still works great. Some people complain that it's big, ugly, and has lots of dangling wires. Well that's because it's designed to be permanently installed and hidden. Mine is under the carpet in the center console area, but you can be creative. If you want something quick and easy, buy something else. It has 3 wires: red (constant power), yellow (ACC power), and black (ground). That way it only turns on when you put the key in the car. Or, if you want your iPhone to charge even when the car is off, you can connect the red and yellow wires like I did. Both wires come with inline fuses. Overall, this device has is of very high build quality, but it needs an update for newer iPhones.

Pros:
Only one wire connected to iPhone, for both power and sound
Better sound quality than headphone jack

Cons:
Every time I plug in my iPhone 4, I have to dismiss the error "this accessory is not made for iPhone". One annoying tap.

It's is functional but Sloppy looking. Many wires exposed. Hard wiring requires cut/ splicing. Lighter connection plays/ charges but too many wires across dash.
That all being said, it is inexpensive, I got for <$10 and it does work

I recently purchased the SoundGate PDCBLPAK for my Harley to power and connect my iPod for on the road music. The SoundGate works great and was easily hard wired onto my bike. Since I also wanted to be able to remotely control the connected iPod music list I searched, to no avail, for the SoundGate REMCORE. SoundGate no longer manufacturers anything so this remote control is no longer available, even after contacting many resellers no one has a new or used unit in stock.

Based on the user guide compatible list of remotes (pretty much only Sony branded units) I searched the list and this Sony RMX11M came up more prominently than others at a reasonable price. Bought it and it works OK just not fully compatible. The mode button is a stop/start button, the next and previous track work fine but the Vol+ and Vol- nor Off button do anything. The GP/ALBM seem to work by starting at the beginning of the music list, not the beginning of the current Group/Album. All in all I can get it to work enough for my needs but the glaring problem is the thing is HUGE :(

On a Harley or any motorcycle for that matter, space is limited unless you have a full dresser/bagger/fairing/saddlebags on your bike which I don't have except for the saddlebags which I only use for those long rides (like the 3300 mile ride I just took through 4 states). So I wanted a small and thin unit to mount in an obscure location that I could easily reach. Not so with this thing. The face itself isn't to big, I can work with it at 2.5" in diameter but the thickness is easily 1-3/4" thick. There is absolutely no where to mount/place this monstrosity :(

I will search for an alternative and return this unit, simply based on it's oversized enclosure. Unfortunately I searched high and low originally and this is what I came up with, so if I cannot find a replacement I will keep it and probably get a handlebar toolbag to mount behind my handlebar mounted speakers but within reach of my riders seat. Bummer I want to keep the minimal lines of my blacked out Harley Fat Bob and the speakers look great with my ape hangers but this remote size really is a problem :(

The PDCBLPAK gets 4 stars as it works exactly as described and small enough to easily hide underneath my Harley seat, keeps my iPod charged and easily connects to the handlebar mounted speakers I have. I definitely loses a star due to the recommended REMCORE remote control no longer available and the options out there simply don't seem feasible and/or useful or in my case at a reasonable size as the REMCORE would have been :(

It worked just fine for 8 months, then flexing the neck of the connector made it lose power, then after a couple of weeks, no more power. I cracked open the connector. The red power wire (positive) had broken insulation at several spots.The black power wire (negative) was not insulated in the cable, but exposed with foil shielding, and many strands had frayed, and invaded the red. I fixed it, but most people would have thrown it out.

The dock is really designed to be permenantly installed. I tapped into 12V power and ground behind my radio and ran the iPod connector up through my dash and brought it out where my iPhone mount is located. I hid the dock module behind the dash. Once installed there is no need to access the dock.

Of course the stupid message has to be cleared upon connection to the iPhone 4 or 3GS. "This accessory yada, yada..." who cares.

For those people having issues with output from the device. Reading the directions is key. The dock needs 12V power and ground to work properly. The video output is not like a DVD player's output, in that the iPhone only allows video output from Apps designed to output video, like Netflix. Apple purchased Videos/Movies will output as well. The directions also recommend the plug the connector into your iPhone/iPod BEFORE launching the app using video output.

My car does not have an iPod/iPhone direct connection, but has A/V input on the back of the radio, so this is the perfect solution.

PROS:
A/V output from iPhone connector, not the headphone out (Sounds better/looks better)
No stupid FM Modulator (FM S/N ratios suck anyway)
No wires hanging around, when installed properly
Charges the iPhone 4/3GS / iPod without a cigarette lighter plug
VIDEO Output for your car video system!!!!

CONS:
Stupid message "This accessory is not compatable..." clear it and move on...

Conclusion:
I have been looking for this type device for years and have found it in this device!

A little over a year ago I purchased a SoundGate HONZNAUX1 bundle. This bundle came with an Aux input adapter for 1997-2007 Honda vehicles. Through use of a special Y-cable the input adapter plugs directly into the factory stereo and appears to it as a CD changer. By adding the included play/charge/control module for my Microsoft Zune HD (it's basically the same as this item but wired for the Zune) I am able to play music through my factory stereo, that has no native Aux input, and perform basic functions like pause/play and next/previous track without having to touch my Zune.

In the time since I purchased the bundle I have acquired an iPod video, an iPhone 3GS and an iPad. I wanted to be able to do the same thing with these products that I am able to do with my Zune so I purchased the PDCBLPAK. It attaches to the Aux input adapter exactly the same way the Zune module does and works exactly the same using my iPhone 3GS (the iPod is not functioning right now and I haven't tried the iPad yet). It even charges my iPhone. The message about this accessory not being optimized will show up on the iPhone when you attach to almost any non-Apple accessory. All you have to do is dismiss it and move on.

As I said, the PDCBLPAK does charge my iPhone. I don't know what difficulties other users were having but from my experience with the Zune module I learned you MUST connect it to power using the included lighter adapter or by direct-wiring it into the electrical system for it to work at all. If it doesn't have power it won't even output sound.

These SoundGate products have been a Godsend to me. I went from interference-wrought FM transmitters and constantly having to scan for a clear channel to having crystal clear direct input. And I got the added bonus of being able to control the devices directly from my factory stereo (CORE remote control and aux input modules sold separately).

PROS:
Line-level output to car stereo aux input (no more fiddling with the volume on your iPod).
Charge while you play (or just charge).
Optional remote control capabilities with CORE remote control or aux input module.
Easy to install and use.

CONS:
There are wires hanging about if you leave it connected when not in use.
Annoying "this accessory is not optimized for iPhone" message when you attach it to your iPhone (just tap dismiss and it goes away).
I suppose some people might consider the "box" to be somewhat of an eyesore but it's smaller than a package of cigarettes so it's relatively unobtrusive.

Would I recommend this product and the other SoundGate products mentioned here to a friend? Without hesitation