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Kensington LiquidAUX Auxiliary Car Kit with Remote for iPod; iPhone 1G, 3G by Kensington
Digital Photo Product DetailsManufacturer: Kensington Brand: Kensington Edition: Electronics Audio: English (Original Language) Format: CD-ROM Platform: Windows 2000, Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional Model: 33429EU Color: Black Publisher: Kensington Studio: Kensington Music Label: Kensington Product features: - Compatibility: iPhone 1G, 3G; iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G; iPod classic 1G, 2G, 4G, 5G, 5.5G, 6G; iPod touch
- Superior sound quality from the direct auxiliary port connection through your car stereo system
- Plugs directly into your vehicle's auxiliary port and is operated with a 2.4GHz wireless remote control
- Charges iPhone and iPod devices through the 3.5-mm auxiliary cable
- Designed for vehicles with auxiliary ports in the center console
Accessories:
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Kensington LiquidAUX Auxiliary Car Kit with Remote for iPod; iPhone 1G, 3GCustomer Review: Nice at first, but stopped working after 5 months Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Setup: I do not have an auxiliary port in my center console, nor do I
have a plug on the front of my stereo, but I do have an auxiliary port on
the back of my stereo. I had previously attached a wire that runs behind
my dashboard and up to the center console, which is a male-type plug.
This device is designed to plug into a female port, so I had to buy a 6
dollar coupler (female to female) in order to attach this. Once that was
purchased however, it was extremely easy to set this up. I have an
electric outlet in the center console as well, so all of the wires are now
in one place. This device comes with an extension wire for the plug that
goes into the auxiliary port, in case the wire isn't close enough to the
electrical outlet.
The Remote: The wireless remote is easily attached to the steering wheel
wherever it is most convenient, and also easy to move around if you change
your mind. The remote itself can be taken out of the holder and/or
flipped upside down (so that you can have the remote part facing the
inside of the steering wheel on either side and still have the buttons in
the right place). It is true wireless, not infrared, and does not have to
actually be pointing at anything in order to work. It only has buttons to
navigate from song to song (you can't change to a different playlist for
example), and a button to change the repeat settings (and also reset them
if you're in a playlist). I haven't gotten to the end of a playlist yet,
so I did not try to get back into playing songs from the iPod menus.. I
don't have any idea if that is possible. There is a slight delay (less
than 1 second?) between pushing the remote buttons and the response from
the iPod.
Function: I thought the sound quality was very good. Before this I had
been using the wire from the auxiliary port directly into the headphone
jack of my iPod, and that did not sound nearly as good as this. Also, I
don't have to worry about two different volume controls, and equalizer
settings from both the iPod and the car stereo. This is much simpler, I
only have to deal with the volume and equalizer on the car stereo now.
Also, it sounds a lot better than my fm transmitter ever did.
This device charges the iPod whenever it is plugged in, but it MUST be
plugged into the electrical outlet in order to work. So, if you need to
use the outlet for anything else, you won't be able to connect your iPod
to your car stereo using this. If you have more than one electrical
outlet, or if you don't have anything else that ever needs to be plugged
in, then it won't be an issue. The wires all have a sort of cloth
covering which makes the wires easy to deal with. It all looks very
sturdy and well made.. I've only used it for one day though, so I can't
say for sure how durable it all is.
Overall, I really like this. It is easy to set up, convenient, and I
think the sound quality is great.
UPDATE - 1/19/2009:
I reviewed this item in July. At first, I thought it was great.. until I noticed that my iPod battery was almost dead. I don't know exactly when it stopped charging the iPod, but probably in the beginning of December. It only worked properly for 5 or 6 months. The iPod will still sometimes indicate the battery being charged, but the battery gets drained anyway.
It still will play the iPod through the car stereo just fine, but it won't charge it anymore. I have no idea why. I don't understand how it CAN play the iPod without charging it, I thought that it required power from the car's outlet in order to work at all. Maybe it is getting just enough power to play, but not enough to charge? My old iPod car charger still charges my iPod (in the same outlet in my car), but of course I can't use that while I'm using this, since it uses the line out/charging plug on the iPod.
If the kit was less expensive, it wouldn't be such a big deal to me (I could just charge the iPod at home, like I used to do). However, the LiquidAUX Auxiliary Car Kit was expensive. I expected a better quality and longer lifespan from a product at this price point.
Description of Kensington LiquidAUX Auxiliary Car Kit with Remote for iPod; iPhone 1G, 3GPure music, pure control. Compatible with the iPhone and most iPods, Kensington's LiquidAUX delivers pure sound from any direct auxiliary connection. The steering wheel-mounted remote control means you have full control of your music--and your vehicle. The dock connector not only allows full access to your music library, but it simultaneously charges your device. | The LiquidAUX is Apple-certified to Work with iPhone 1G and 3G and be Made for iPod. | Installs Instantly Simply plug your iPhone or iPod into the car kit using a 3.5-mm audio cable, and then insert the kit into your auxiliary port. Within seconds, digital-quality sound will be pumping through your car's audio system. Fingertip Control The steering wheel-mounted remote control is designed to be mounted with the controls on the interior of your steering wheel. The remote conveniently lets you play, pause, and skip music files with just your thumb, allowing you to keep your hands on the wheel. Compatibility Kensington's LiquidAUX Auxiliary Car Kit is compatible with the iPhone (1G and 3G); iPod nano (1G, 2G, and 3G); all iPods (1G through 6G); and iPod touch. Note: An auxiliary port in your car is required for the LiquidAUX. The LiquidAUX is Apple-certified to Work with iPhone 3G. | Support Backed by Kensington's two-year warranty, the LiquidAUX also comes with free technical support. Important Note: Sound Effects When using an auxiliary device in the car, you might hear a slight buzzing sound, engine noise, or high-pitched whine. That is because your car model has a grounding issue between the audio system and the power socket, which causes a whining or buzzing sound when you drive. This sound is not caused by your Kensington product; however, Kensington has an easy solution. Simply purchase an automotive ground loop isolator for your car that is compatible with a 3.5-mm jack. This simple tool will enable you to use your music in a safe, hands-free environment. Kensington can provide you with a ground loop isolator free of charge by calling Kensington's Technical Support team at 1-800-535-4242. Please provide the serial number of your LiquidAUX product when you call Technical Support, and the company will arrange to ship you the ground loop isolator.
What's in the Box LiquidAUX Auxiliary Car Kit, remote control, and 4-foot audio extension cable.
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