Customer Reviews

USA SPEC PA11-CHR IPOD INTEGRATION FOR CHRYSLER VEHICLES

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Installed in 45 minutes in my 2006 Jeep Liberty. Sounds great well worth the investment. Some pointers :

1) Does not come with instructions on how to remove the factory radio unit. Look in youtube for a short video clip

2) You do not need to buy the plastic wedge tools like I did. Use a plastic knife or be gently with your screwdriver to pry the console unit. (step 2 after remove screw in youtube video)

3) You must put car shifter away from console (park) in order to have room to have work with. Put on parking brake.

4) When removing screws holding radio, make sure you hold on to them while uncrewing otherwise they will fall down and be lost inside console.

5) You will not be able to pull out radio far enough to see back of unit. Feel with your finger where the hole to plug in and try before you know which way plug is up or down

6) I routed the usa-spec wire on the right with the other factory wires to reach the glove compartment.

This interface installed easily and works without a glitch. I have a factory 6-disc "RBQ" in my Dodge Ram, and it's nearly impossible to find any interface that is compatible with this radio. This USA SPEC PA11-CHR-iPod plugs right into the back of the radio, and works well with my iPhone.

I wish it was usb flash drive compatible like a different interface in my VW wagon, but its not. That would allow anyone driving to access the Mp3 playlists.

All-in-all, I'm happy with it's performance, and I would recommend it, especially if you have a "RBQ"code stereo!

I installed this in my 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I have a built in CD changer but hate having CD's all over my vehicle. I use an iPhone 4 to connect to this adapter and it does make a hum sometimes. I noticed that when I connect my iPhone 4 to the AUX input I do not have this hum. I then noticed this same hum in my Dodge Caliber when I had my phone connected to the built in AUX input but my phone was being powered by a charger. I still gave this 5 stars as it is a problem with the phone's not the adapter.

It worked as advertised, but I could notice a small amount of static (reported in some of the other reviews). I fixed it by placing the unit (and spare connector) inside static-free bags (like the ones hard-drives come inside of. After doing that, the system was completely static free. In my case, with a 2006 Jeep Liberty factory radio, the iPhone 4 will not charge. I run it most of the time off an iPod nano. Nonetheless, easy to install, and works great with the radio. Worth it completely.

My CD changer decided to die on me, so figured I would use that connection for my iPhone. It's a simple plug and play connection. Remove the cable from the CD changer and connect it. Don't believe sound quality is hurt in anyway. Would definitely recommend.

I installed this on a 2005 Dodge Ram with the RBQ stereo with in-dash 6 cd changer. The biggest problem I had was removing my old cd's. There were 3 cd's I had in there for the last few years and they wouldn't eject. I took apart the stereo enough to get them out, which was no easy chore. I'm sure the stereo won't play cd's anymore but that's fine with me except I now get a CD Error code on the stereo sometimes.

As far as the USA SPEC PA11-CHR goes, it was really easy. Some web sites say you need some sort of tool to pry the dash off around the radio, but I didn't need that. I folded down the dash section just under the steering wheel, removed the screw on the "hook" on the passenger side and just pried it off starting on one side. There was a youtube video that described removing the dash for a 2002 dodge ram. Mine was almost identical. I could have the radio out in less than 2 minutes if I did it right now.

I tucked the USA SPEC PA11-CHR unit to the right of the stereo. The toughest part about the installation was routing the wires. It's a little tight back there.

I also wanted to use the AUX input on this unit and I wanted to have an AUX input mounted somewhere in the dash so I bought a PAC iSimple IS335 Dash Mount from Audio Interconnect IS335. It came with the 3 wires I needed; RCA L&R males to 3.5mm female, Dash mount 3.5mm female with male connector (connects to first item) and a cable with a male 3.5mm connector on both ends to connect a cell phone, etc.

Another customer complained about low-level background noise and I'm getting the same, although I noticed it gets better if I turn off the wifi on my 3rd generation 64g iPod Touch. If I disconnect the iTouch the noise stops completely. I rarely notice the noise once you get moving as the noise seems to blend into the road noise.

The sound is awesome. CD quality as some have suggested. I also occasionally use my phone (HTC Evo Shift) as a WiFi hotspot and stream audio on my iPod. I was really surprised how well the sound was on this. Because I stream other music, I have the unit set for Direct mode. I am still able to control the unit through the steering wheel controls.

Bottom line...

PROS

o Awesome sound

o Easy installation

o Can use steering wheel controls

CONS

o Low level background noise

o My unit says CD Error, but that's because I damaged the stereo removing old cd's.

o No more clock display on the stereo - it now displays the time on the current track or the current playlist if you hit the "Time" button on the stereo.

I just installed this unit in my Chrysler Pacifica to interface my iPhone 3G with the factory radio. It was very easy to install.

I did have a couple problems with it:

- everytime I plug in my iPhone it automatically plays the first song, regardless.

- there is a bassy noise at high volumes

Here's the beware:

Audiosource is a good retailer, but they are not an authorized re-seller for USA-SPEC, so if you need help, USA-SPEC is going to say 'too bad'.

Keeps switching out of ipod mode to an fm station. Its becoming inconvenient. Better off spending the extra 30 bucks to buy one of the competitors.

I searched diligently for a direct interface to the stereo in my wife's 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan after receiving a flyer from BestBuy that advertised one. I settled on this model and purchased it through Amazon from Pacific Stereo. I'll give them Five Stars all the way as the description was accurate; the shipping quick; the packaging appropriate and post-sale follow-up was refreshing.

That said, I went to [...] to find a video of someone accessing the factory radio on the vehicle. I've gone to YouTube several times for such vehicle-related videos and almost always found them. It really made the process easy, as it was already simple. Now I admit I am at the high end of skill (if not experience) in pulling things apart--without breaking them--and putting them back together; I'm probably in the group of people who don't do these things professionally but find it easy to dig into projects and work them appropriately.

That said it took me less than 15 minutes to install the unit and have it working for my wife. She is a musician and music lover, with more than 9,000 songs on her iPod, and I was tired of the mediocre quality of the FM transmitter route and the fact that it was often dangerous finding an empty frequency while driving, et.

The 15 minutes did not include the final mounting of the device to the back of the glove box. I did that the next day after picking up four 6-32 X 1/2" bolts and nylon-thread locknuts. Perhaps that job was another five minutes, and I also used wire-ties on the leads from the stereo and to the iPod to ensure the connections stay secure. The bottom line is the product functions as advertised and had made a vast improvement to her driving experience.

As a final note I now recommend Bracketron mounts. I got mine today and haven't installed it yet (45-03 I think is the model) but it's straightforward and will provide a safe, accessible mount that does not block the view through the windshield (like one using suction cups) and won't come loose as suction cups might. I accidentally purchased two of these universal mounts (and they provide links to the set up for most vehicles--it is designed to accommodate many models through some customization) and she is thinking she would like me to install both, one for her iPod and one for her iPhone in its Otter Box. By the way she dropped her iPhone about 14 feet while we were in the over-the-garage attic storage area, and the phone bounced once and suffered NO DAMAGE. So there's a plug for Otter Boxes.

I hope this review was in some way helpful. Remember, this is not going to display all the track information like a dock for a stereo that includes a video out, but for what it is, it's great, works as advertised and makes the music so much more enjoyable. Now I just need to have "real" speakers and a better amp put in this van.

I wanted to retain my factory radio on my 2006 Chrysler Town and Country and use my steering wheel controls with my 160 gb iPod. Installation was actually pretty easy, assuming you have the ability to remove the radio and get to the back.

The problem is that the unit freezes frequently, forgets what playlist it was on and doesn't begin working again until you switch to another input and then return.

Worst of all, the unit periodically makes a popping sound followed by a loud, low end hum loud enough to blow your woofers.

Unfortunately USA Spec's customer service has been no help at all.

Stay away and try one of the other competing models...