The A3 iPod Intergration Rip-off - Page 2

quote:

ORIGINAL: tincanman99
Regardless the car enviroment is not that good a place to listen to music if you are into high fidelity.

Agreed but that doesn't stop audio manufacturers working with various auto manufacturers from trying to please particular customers.
I'm not a Bose lover for home stereo, I hate small speakers that can't reproduce most of the audio frequency range without being overly directional and producing too much distortion. But to be honest the speakers used in this system aren't half bad. This system isn't huge on Bass, but its decent. With the stock system the distortion was much more noticeable, and if you commute a fair distance then it pays to have a better Audio system even if it isn't from Audi.

quote:

ORIGINAL: JohnS1

The Symphony radio looks a lot better in a A3 then the cheaper Concert radio.

When I got my A3 in June '06 the Concert II was standard fit and I got Bose with that for an extra £440. I don't think the Concert II looks cheap at all.  I didn't want the Symphony/Autochanger package because I fully intended to fit my Sony MP3 player. Standard fit is now the Concert III (or II+) which now plays MP3 CDs


For all you i-poddies the Dension Ice Link seems to be the one to go for over here http://www.dension.com/icelinkplus.php

quote:

ORIGINAL: rich1068

quote:

ORIGINAL: JohnS1

The Symphony radio looks a lot better in a A3 then the cheaper Concert radio.

When I got my A3 in June '06 the Concert II was standard fit and I got Bose with that for an extra £440. I don't think the Concert II looks cheap at all. I didn't want the Symphony/Autochanger package because I fully intended to fit my Sony MP3 player. Standard fit is now the Concert III (or II+) which now plays MP3 CDs


For all you i-poddies the Dension Ice Link seems to be the one to go for over here http://www.dension.com/icelinkplus.php

Thats better then they furnish in the USA models...thats a concert III radio. They furnish in the 2007's at the start of this year the older concert radio that is much smaller.



Thumbnail Image

One I'm talking about


Thumbnail Image

The Symphony that is part of Audio package

I hate to put salt on an injury but checking something else, I was on audi's site in Europe and the ipod integration is a little more than US$300... The cars are cheaper in the US but the options in general more expensive... Must be a boat thing.
BNTW, the level of options they have in Europe is incredible to what we get here.

I just picked up my A3 yesterday!!  LOVE THE CAR SO FAR!!!

I guess I should have checked this forum before getting the car though cause I wound up getting the iPod mod installed by the dealer...  Luckily I didn't waste the $600 though.  I had a price from another dealer in the area and threatened to walk unless they threw it in!  I guess I kinda lucked out with timing though cause the salesperson I initially saw was sick when I was supposed to pick up the car so I had the GM helping me.

None the less...  I would not recomend paying any money for the system...  the whole 5 playlist thing is annoying as hell!!!  I am happy with the sound quality though which is great especially when I used to have a FM transmitter which works very poorly in NYC!

I just picked up my A3 last week from the dealer, so hi everyone! My final little bargaining chip with the dealership was the ol "throw in X and you've got yourself a deal", X in this case being the Audi iPod integration kit. Let me tell you, I am SO GLAD I didnt pay for this straight up... I have had my A3 for a week, and I already pulled out the factory iPod kit and installed the DICE kit, which is 100 times better (I got it new off eBay for 140 shipped). The factory system locks out the ipod interface. This is absolutely ridiculous. Why would they design it this way? Some people may be fine with having access to the 5 playlists, but to me that defeats the purpose of the iPod, which is to have easy access to your entire music library. DICE delivers on this, plus you get an aux input. This is a no-brainer if you ask me. They're charging 400 bucks to install a drastically inferior product. It seems like any of the other options mentioned on this board would be light years ahead of the factory system. If I had done my homework on the factory kit a little better, I would've tried to get the roof rack or something (anything) else thrown in instead.

So, anyone interested in buying a factory iPod integration kit? Eh?

yeah that is one poorly designed gadget...who would want 5 playlists??

I just ordered an 08.
The ipod interface is a $250 option now.
You have to have S-Line or Premium package to get it.

I ended up ordering the Nav system with Sirius and Bose which comes with your choice of cd changer or ipod interface.
I got the ipod interface since cd changers are going the way of the dodo bird and I never use them.
Not sure how much I'll use the ipod based on the complaints I see, but I also have the 2 sd cards so not that worried about it.
I might eventually switch it out with Dice or something.
I cant believe Audi still puts cassette players in their cars. Might as well have an 8-track too!

In response to bose/no bose and audiophiles... there is a big difference between the person who leaves terrestrial radio on low in the background and the person who enjoys multi thousand dollar audiophile equipment in their homes. A decend sound system in tight space like a car can provide a pretty amazing audial experience for the average joe. Bose is definitely better than the stock concert system, although I agree its not really worth what they charge. But in the meantime it will do and it's factory clean.

sounds like you're going to have a sweet sounding ride..
enjoy!

I've got an '07 premium package with the standard Sympohny II stereo.  I ordered and intstalled an apadter kit from mp3yourcar.com.  They make a kit for the A3 that plugs into the Symphony harness (a lot like the integration kit from the dealer).  HOWEVER this kit also has an additional Aux In for your sattelite radio AND won't lock you out of your iPod.  So you still have functional contols of your click wheel while also still being able to use your steering wheel controls.  Best of both worlds...and it's only two hundo.  

hey grover, what is the url of the website that you bought your kit from?  I have an 08 3.2 Quattro A3 and am looking to add on the aftermarket ipod system.

i opted for the 3rd party GPS, with mp3 player and fm transmitter, look at garmin and tomtom ...  satified, especially since fm tuning works pretty well

Cshecks - it's www.mp3yourcar.com

I just looked and for some reason they don't have a unit for the '08 - but they do for the '07 - which is weird.  I would give them a call - there is an 800 number on their website.  Good luck!