[seemayur]

Does anyone know if there is a way to tap into the bus cable for the external CD changer on a Base MDX so that you can input the line out signals from a portable MP3 player?

I'm not familiar with the MDX's unit, but I assume that the CD changer takes care of converting the bits on a CD to an analog signal and then sends the analog audio to the head unit. IF this is the case, maybe we can tap into the left & right inputs and insert our own signal.

Also, with the CD changer installed, how do you select weather you are listening to a CD in the Head Unit versus a CD in the Changer?

Mayur

 

[rvehock]

CD-Changer

I installed an Alpine CHM-S620 6 DISC CD CHANGER M-BUS in my base MDX last year. All I needed was an adaptor cable I got from:

http://www.peripheral-aamp.com/periph_products/cd_changer_autos/acura_honda.htm

The CD's can be selected by hitting the cd button on the stereo's face plate once for the internal CD player and once again to access the six-disk changer. Once you access the CD-Changer you can use your steering wheel control to select tracks on the changer.

 

[seemayur]

Thank for the info rvehock. I saw that the same company makes a product for Clarion Changers connecting to an Acura / Honda head unit. Except this one has RCA inputs that can be used for connecting an MP3 Player. It's on the same web page that you have provided ( http://www.peripheral-aamp.com/periph_products/cd_changer_autos/acura_honda.htm )

I just ordered one from Auto Sound Gear

Apparently, this unit will let you connect a Clarion CD CHanger, but in addition to that, you can connect a portable player using the RCA input.. This would solve the problem of not having an AUX input.

Mayur

 

[AcuraMDX2002]

I went to SoundAdvice today and the guy told me that there is no adaptor for the MDX - I tried to explain to him that the one described above works and he told me that it was tried before and it DOES NOT work! I'd like to find one and put it in. I took the radio/nav out, it's sitting on my kitchen table, all I need is this HONIL.

I let my fingers do the walking and found a HONIL at a place that was about 35 mins from here - the guy said he'd stay open and wait for me eventhough he wanted to leave in 15 mins! When I got there the guy was still there and he also said it wouldn't work. So I told him it would (I drove over in my TL-S so I couldn't try it out right then) and I paid for it, brought it home, installed it, and IT WORKS (of course)!!!

So now I have an Apline CHM-S601 6 disc CD changer installed in my 2002 MDX base using the HONIL adaptor (just for the record!)

One final note - I dropped two of the screws that hold the nav/radio, they fell until they 'hit bottom' - I can't find them! I sure hope they don't rattle! LOL

Nothin' can stop me now!

 

[[email protected]]

I will have this available soon with JUST the factory cd-changer CABLE, no changer necessary. I'm just waiting for the schematic of the cable from acura.

 

[TC]

Does this external CD changer connection only exist on the base model since the touring has a built-in changer?

 

[AcuraMDX2002]

[email protected] -what are you talking about? You'll have what available?

TC - I don't know! I only have experience with the base model.

 

[MDXtrous]

[email protected] -what are you talking about? You'll have what available?

TC - I don't know! I only have experience with the base model.

Ron is looking for a schematic so that he can use the external CD-changer input in the factory head unit. He'll hook up whatever audio source, in my case, the audio from my video system directly into the head unit using the factory plug, and "trick" it so that it thinks there is an external CD changer.

I don't know if the same would work for the Touring, since it does have a built in CD-Changer.

 

[AcuraMDX2002]

Does anyone know why my right channel would seem stronger (louder) than my left channel when using the cd changer but not when using the radio?

 

[DaleB]

First go over all your connections, demate and mate them again. Check the connectors for any damaged or bent pins. Check the changer and adapter (HOMIL?) for any balance adjustments (unlikely).
If none of that seems to work, try to substitute another adapter, and then another changer. Change only one at a time, or you wont know which is causing the problem.

It's a hassle, but you should not have change the balance to play CDs. It shoud remain the same for radio or CD.

With the right instruments it could be checked out quite quickly without swapping anything out. A good auto sound shop should charge a nominal fee to troubleshoot it for you, if they have knowledgeable techs. If you go that route, be sure to have everything accessible to them so they can get in and out quickly, which will save you $$.
Good luck! Maybe others have had similar problems.

 

[AcuraMDX2002]

Thanks for the trouble-shooting suggestions. I'll try some of them (I don't have another changer to swap out, so I can't try that one, but I can demate and mate the connectors, look for bent pins, and get a new HONIL if necessary).

I thought I read some where a while ago that the pinout for the Alpine unit had two pins that needed to be swapped (I think they were #2 and #4). Does this ring any bells? I'll look for that info and post it if I find it.

 

[DaleB]

I don't really know anything about that specific unit, but it is possible a disconnected return of one channel is causing the problem. There is probably enough leakage through ground so you still get a signal, albeit a weak one.

 

[AcuraMDX2002]

Thanks for the insight - is there a way for me to easily check for the 'disconnected return'?

 

[DaleB]

Well, you could get an ohm meter or continuity tester (light or buzzer).
and try pin to pin from the furthest end of the cable. I don't know if the cable has special wiring where it's not pin for pin.
but assuming it does not, check from the CD changer end to the adapter (HOMIL) input. Then the cable from the HOMIL to the radio.
Again, kind of shooting from the hip here, not knowing the true wiring of the setup you have. I am just giving you a place to start.
I don't know if they would let you try another adapter, and if that did not work, another changer and see if the problem went away. If it did not in either case, it probably is something wrong in the cables.
A good shop would probably use a signal tracer to send a signal to the radio through the wiring and see if the level was different between channels, then they would start isolating the adapter and/or changer and find the problem pretty quick.

 

[AcuraMDX2002]

I this exact changer in my CL, and I have a pretty long cable in the MDX, so if I park the CL next to the MDX I can 'swap' changers pretty easily (this would be easier than taking the one out of the CL since it's mounted with screws in the trunk). If that doesn't work, then I could take the cable out of the CL and try that. If that doesn't work, I can ask the vendor if he'd let me try another adapter (I think he will), and if that doesn't work, I could figure maybe it's the head unit!

 

[DaleB]

I doubt it's the head unit because the radio works fine. Unless the connector on the head unit was messed up somehow. But looks like you have a good plan.

 

[Warzau]

Can you guys tell me if you know if the Alpine CD Changers all have the same connector on the Changer itself. Meaning If I buy a alpine changer ANY alpine changer it will work with the connector. Is there differances between models , be it DIN or BUS molex? I am planing on getting this one. ALPINE CHA-S634 Please let me know since I want to get this ASAP for a long road trip.

 

[acbrown]

Can you guys tell me if you know if the Alpine CD Changers all have the same connector on the Changer itself. Meaning If I buy a alpine changer ANY alpine changer it will work with the connector. Is there differances between models , be it DIN or BUS molex? I am planing on getting this one. ALPINE CHA-S634 Please let me know since I want to get this ASAP for a long road trip.

I sort of asked the same thing in another thread (see Alpine CHA-S634?). Although I haven't had any real response, from what I've read, it will work, but you will need to get the AI-net to M-bus adapter (see KCA-130B ) in addition to the Honda adapter.

 

[Warzau]

Thanks for answering. So if I understand I would need two connectors? One for the alpine cd changer and one for the headunit and they would pair up??

 

[acbrown]

Thanks for answering. So if I understand I would need to connectors? One for the alpine cd changer and one for the headunit and they would pair up??

That's my understanding, but I was essentially asking the same question, hoping that someone else had already tried it out. Please let me know how this works out if you get it.

-Aaron