iPOD, MP3, Bose Nav ???
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 18
From: Chicago Illinois
St. Jude Donor '12
You can easily add a PAL. The second generation model available is available from user. Price around 180. Easy install. Good sound quality. I own one and am happy with it.
Another option is the second generation lockpick, which you can buy from user c5bearsfan. It is a little more pricey (about 300 I believe) and the install is a little more involved. The benefit of the lockpick is being able to use nav while driving and ability to add rear view camera.
I have a PAL and am happy with its iPod functionality in direct mode. I cannot comment on iPod functionality of the lockpick or how these two options otherwise compare.
Another option is the second generation lockpick, which you can buy from user c5bearsfan. It is a little more pricey (about 300 I believe) and the install is a little more involved. The benefit of the lockpick is being able to use nav while driving and ability to add rear view camera.
I have a PAL and am happy with its iPod functionality in direct mode. I cannot comment on iPod functionality of the lockpick or how these two options otherwise compare.
Last edited by kedar; Sep 18, 2011 at 04:27 PM. Reason: to correct spelling errors from iPhone auto correct
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 18
From: Chicago Illinois
St. Jude Donor '12
i have noticed that when playing music through the PAL that the music does not play as loud as a cd / radio / xm. someone else can probably offer a technical reason. in case its relevant, i rip music to itunes at the higher rate of 256kbps. to my ears, the sound quality is good with the PAL.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,631
Likes: 11
From: Rocklin California
i have noticed that when playing music through the PAL that the music does not play as loud as a cd / radio / xm. someone else can probably offer a technical reason. in case its relevant, i rip music to itunes at the higher rate of 256kbps. to my ears, the sound quality is good with the PAL.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
Borrow an ipod and see what happens when you plug it in. You may have to select XM, XM2, or something else depending on the adapter that's installed.
To convert CD's into MP3, if you have an ipod use itunes. There are settings that need to be adjusted, but once you get it set up all you need to do is drop a CD into the computer and it will convert it for you. To get the best quality possible, select the highest bitrate that you can as the default (memory is cheap). There are other formats that you can convert to, but IMO MP3 is the best since you can use it on any other media player and most CD players also.
FYI, MP3's are compressed to about 1/10 the size of true audio format, so they are obviously going to be a lower quality than CD's. However, if you convert at a high bitrate (256 or higher), most people can't tell the difference.
To convert CD's into MP3, if you have an ipod use itunes. There are settings that need to be adjusted, but once you get it set up all you need to do is drop a CD into the computer and it will convert it for you. To get the best quality possible, select the highest bitrate that you can as the default (memory is cheap). There are other formats that you can convert to, but IMO MP3 is the best since you can use it on any other media player and most CD players also.
FYI, MP3's are compressed to about 1/10 the size of true audio format, so they are obviously going to be a lower quality than CD's. However, if you convert at a high bitrate (256 or higher), most people can't tell the difference.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,353
Likes: 538
From: Sarasota FL
St. Jude Donor '25-'26
I installed the latest PAL generation and find it has the best iPod navigation through a Nav radio I've seen.
As far as volume level through the PAL make sure the volume check setting in your iPod is set to off. I also turned the bass booster in the EQ iPod setting to on.
The other thing I did was to install the Arc Audio XEQ 7 band equalizer. The line levels out of the stock HU are fairly low. I measured them. The reason I installed the XEQ is it has a built in line level booster.
My system sounds great except I am a little disappointed with the sub amp and subwoofer. With the iPod playing, some tracks sounds like the sub woofer has very liittle to no output. I am going to try to tune it again. I have nothing to compare it to so I do not know if something is wrong or not.
Use the highest bit rate sampling you can. At higher volume levels I can definitely tell which tracks were sampled at lower bit rates.
As far as volume level through the PAL make sure the volume check setting in your iPod is set to off. I also turned the bass booster in the EQ iPod setting to on.
The other thing I did was to install the Arc Audio XEQ 7 band equalizer. The line levels out of the stock HU are fairly low. I measured them. The reason I installed the XEQ is it has a built in line level booster.
My system sounds great except I am a little disappointed with the sub amp and subwoofer. With the iPod playing, some tracks sounds like the sub woofer has very liittle to no output. I am going to try to tune it again. I have nothing to compare it to so I do not know if something is wrong or not.
Use the highest bit rate sampling you can. At higher volume levels I can definitely tell which tracks were sampled at lower bit rates.
Last edited by Keppler; Sep 21, 2011 at 05:47 PM.
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