2008 stock stereo and ipods

[kgrove]

Anyone know what model (I think it is Clarion) is the stock stereo on the X series? I want to add an ipod connection - preferably one that will allow me to control the ipod directly from the main deck or the drivers or transom mounted remotes. The one MC sells as an accessory is in my opinion severely overpriced... Most modern decks are ipod compatible with a ~$30 cable.

[Sodar]

All late model Clarion head units have the C-net connection for Sirius & iPod Interface. The additional unit you need has an MSRP of $150 from Clarion. Here is a link to it: http://clarion.com/us/en/products/2007/audio/accessories/EA1276/us-en-product-pf_1165294974320.html


Ken,

Where in the west are you?

[kgrove]

Any idea what the difference is between the unit you mentioned and the Clarion CCA-iPod iPod® Interface Cable? http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?i=020CCAIPOD&tp=120&tab=detailed_info

The one at the crutchfield link I posted is $50 vs $150.

[Sodar]

Never seen that one...

[kgrove]

Interesting. I can't find it on Clarion's website either, but at Crutchfield it's the only one that shows up. It is a Clarion part number... features look right and it sure is priced better. Might be worth a shot.

Anyone else experimented with this?

[dapicatti]

We fried one just like that last year, be careful. Sparked the back of our head unit.

[jweischen]

We have been using the $50 Crutchfield version in our 2008 X2 and it works great. I drilled a small hole in the glove compartment box to route the IPOD connector end of the wire in near the head unit, put a rubber grommet in the hole to give a clean finished look.

[kgrove]

Does it allow you to switch tracks from the drivers side or transom remotes?

[jweischen]

Yes, you can control the IPOD from the head unit or the drivers side remote (we don't have a transom remote). You actually can't control directly from the IPOD- the screen on the IPOD is locked and displays "Clarion". With the head unit you can switch tracks, select playlists, select songs, etc. From the remote just go forward or back tracks and adjust volume and mute.

[kgrove]

Perfect. And about 1/8th the price what my dealer wanted to charge me (granted his version included a wireless remote).

[kgrove]

Bummer. I tried the Crutchfield ipod part, but it didn't work. jweischen - What head unit is on your X2? The CDM5? If so same as mine... There is a led marked "power" on the connector and I couldn't even get that to light up even with about an hour playing with different things (reseting head unit, unplugging other items from the head unit, etc.). The head unit just continued reading "Aux" instead of ipod like it didn't recognize the CCA-iPod was connected.

The Clarion website only lists the EA1276 as the ipod controller for the CDM5. I already have the EA1276 black box and the cable that runs from the box to the iPod, but I don't have the canet cable that runs from the box to the head unit. Anyone know a part number for just that cable or where I could find one? I can't find it on Clarion's website.

[jweischen]

Right, CMD5. Did you try pushing the AUX button on the head unit- if you do that the display should cycle between AUX and IPOD? Sorry you are having problems, mine fired right up

[MattsCraft]

One thing we found out with the "MC Factory" installed interface. You can only control the Ipod from the Clarion GUI, however you can unplug the Ipod, use it's GUI to select your play list, album etc and then plug it back in and your playlist will stil play. My daughter is an Ipod expert, hates the Clarion GUI, so she becomes the DG on our boat.

Also, on other thing, not sure if this is because we have the factory Ipod interface, but the Stereo MP3 jack (At the helm) totally sucks, has no volume power and hums like crazy.

[kgrove]

Yes, I tried the Aux button but it to no effect. Since the power led on the adapter never lit up, I'm assuming it just wasn't recognizing the connection somehow... either that or my adapter is defective.

[jweischen]

Sorry it isn't working. Only thing I would try is to pull off the CeNet connector and make sure none of the pins were bent during the installation. If not- it must be defective

[PDXSurfer]

I am not sure if this answers your question directly, but like MattsCraft said, the built in control units can be a bit cumbersome. The #1 advantage is being able to switch songs from the drivers/transom remote and #2 that it charges your iPod. Everything else is soso. I have an 06 X1 and just pulled the RCA out of the back of the stereo for the AUX line and ran a $3.99 RCA Y connector in and ran it around the observers seat back, then I just trust the tunes to the good looking gal sitting there. Inexpensive, simple and it's far easier to find your favorite song (plus it works with my blackberry or any other MP3 player that someone brings).

[btriantos]

Just bought the Clarion CNET adapter last week. You can control the ipod with the driver and transom remote as well as charge it. It simulates a five disc CD changer, so you have to create five playlists or have the deivce "play all." Only bummer about it is that the song titles do not display on the remotes.

[btriantos]

I bought the CNET adapter on Amazon for $120.00. This allow you to control your ipod from the driver and transom remotes like a five disc CD changer. You simply create five playlists, or play all if you want. The other cool feature is that it charges the ipod when plugged in, when using your ACC switch, at power off, paused the song you were on. Only downside I have found, is that the song text does not display on the remotes

[btriantos]

There is a bug in the Clarion set up. I can't get the ipod interface to work from the deck until initialize it from the remotes. Just toggle through the inputs until you see the second CD player/changer.

[jgarner]

I purchased the $50 Clarion cable from Crutchfield and it works like a champ. I have on 08 X2. It definatley beats the MP3 jack on the drivers side. This is much clearer and it charges the iPod.

[kgrove]

Man, I can't figure out why my Crutchfield part didn't work... Second 08 X2 owner to say it worked fine. CDM5? I have an 08 X15 and must have spent 2 hours playing with different things, powering off and on, etc and never was able to get it to work. I ended up getting a Clarion EA1276... hasn't arrived yet but I got tired of playing with the CCA-IPOD from Crutchfield (or Amazon). Maybe my CCA-IPOD was just deffective as everyone else seems to have gotten it to work. I know Clarion's website doesn't lists only the EA1276 as the ipod connection for the CDM5... go figure.

[jgarner]

Yes, mine is the CDMA5. Did you get the cable from Crutchfield? If so, they have great customer service and will most likely send you a new one if yours if not working. I did not have to do anything to get mine to work. Just plug and play.

[kgrove]

They are taking mine back as a return. Long story short, I already have the box and one of the cables for the EA1276 for free and only lack the cenet cable from the box to the head unit. It turns out it will be cheaper for me to buy the cenet cable ($20) and return the Crutchfield CCA-IPOD for $50.

Anyone else have problems with the CCA-IPOD cable? Sounds like I might be the only one and either have a defective cable or a defective cenet port on the back of my head unit. I'll file a report in a week or so when I get the cenet cable and have a chance to plug it in to the EA1276.

[savaiusini]

They are taking mine back as a return. Long story short, I already have the box and one of the cables for the EA1276 for free and only lack the cenet cable from the box to the head unit. It turns out it will be cheaper for me to buy the cenet cable ($20) and return the Crutchfield CCA-IPOD for $50.

Anyone else have problems with the CCA-IPOD cable? Sounds like I might be the only one and either have a defective cable or a defective cenet port on the back of my head unit. I'll file a report in a week or so when I get the cenet cable and have a chance to plug it in to the EA1276.

I had the exact same problem you described, kgrove. I have a 2008 197 TT and after two CCA-IPOD's from Crutchfield that didn't work, I sent them back and I'm about ready to give up. My dealer thinks my CMD5 head unit may be defective. They are ordering me a new one under warranty to see if that's the problem. For now I am just running a cable from my headphone jack to the AUX plug in the cockpit. Works OK, but obviously it doesn't charge my iPod.

Did the EA1276 work for you? I'm kinda wondering if it has to do with when the headunit was manufactured...mine was 9/2007. Curious if the folks who have had success with the CCA-IPOD have head units newer than 9/2007.

[kgrove]

The dealer had to replace my head unit - bad cnet port. The EA1276 works fine. I can't tell you whether the CCA-IPOD cable would have worked or not since I had already returned it and never plugged it in to a head unit with a functioning cnet port (didn't know that at the time, obviously). There were a couple others earlier in the thread that I believe said the CCA-IPOD worked find on their CMD5.

[savaiusini]

cool. thanks for the reply.
Bad cnet port is what I thought since the red light wasn't even coming on.

[bamboo]

CCA-IPOD does not charge an Iphone FYI.