Attached is a lengthy summary of my experience with Icelink > DICE > HD DICE > now Intravee II.
Summary:
They all have issues and shortcomings. It all depends on what your preferrence is on a BMW iPod integration module.
At the end, I decided to keep my HD DICE and will be selling my Intravee II and Alpine KCA-420i soon. See attached for full summary.
__________________
Dan
Supersprint Headers, Tubi Rumore Plus exhaust, Dinan CAI, Defi Heads Up Display, Strong Strut front anti-sway bar, Powerchip 93 S/W, Euro Arm rest, Fikse Profil 5S Rims; Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, Polk Audio Tweeters, Boston Acoustic Speakers, Integrated 60gig Video Ipod, HiDef DICE Radio iPod interface, Icelink, Rouge Engineering Short shifter, StopTech Big Brake Kit, TC Design rear sway bar brackets, HID 8000k fog lamps, 8000K low beams, Euro clear corner HID headlamps, Mark IV Nav, Lamin X films, Predator ICE LED AE, Valentine 1, M20 Blinder Anti Laser, TEC cup holder, All LED interior lights, LED footwell lights, LED trunk lights, Ultimate Cup Holders, Hella TC-400 Tire Pressure Monitor System, etc.
The Following User Says Thank You to whatheheck For This Useful Post:
I just now ordered a USB to serial adapter cable. Will update software soon and post results.
Dan, cancel this order. I have everything you need. You shouldn't need to touch this again for a long time once it is updated. And when the new one comes out I will do it to mine and yours as well.
If you want to try playing with the PC interface before selling, I would be willing to help! I love the Intravee. During my roadtrip this weekeng, it was wonderful to have it in the trunk and not worry about it at all.
FYI, I ordered the USB cable last week and it arrived on Saturday. Its sitting at home waiting to be used.
I may not use it though as I am planning on selling my Intravee.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BuzzedHornet
Dan, cancel this order. I have everything you need. You shouldn't need to touch this again for a long time once it is updated. And when the new one comes out I will do it to mine and yours as well.
I find the only annoying part of the Intravee II the somewhat slow search mode where it is slowly filling the search memory, but as I understand it, this is more to do with the small cache memory in the Alpine KCA-420i than the actual IV II. Apart from that, it is light years ahead of the Icelink Plus in terms of sound quality and integration with the nav screen.
__________________
Anders
'02 BMW M5 (Carbon black / black leather)
Stock apart from Eisenmann Sport, E60 545 short shifter mod, MKIV nav and Intravee II
'95 BMW 320i Touring (black / black cloth)
ex '01 BMW 530D Touring (Sterling grey / beige leather)
ex '98 Mercedes C43 T AMG (Smaragd schwarz / black leather)
ex '99 BMW M Coupé (Cosmos black/ black-kyalami leather)
ex '93 Alfa Romeo 164 24V Super (Silver / black leather)
Yeah, I wasnt thrilled with the Intravee although it is definitely much better than DICE.
I swapped the two units (DICE and Intravee) in and out of my beast a few times. Do a side by side comparison on sound output, features, response time, etc. No clear winner. They all have limitations and issues. Again, just personal preferrence.
My recommendation to others remains the same:
If folks want trouble free iPod integration, no lag time on button presses, no lock ups, all iPod features available to you, no issues, great sound, and you can live without the navigation song/text display - then just feed the iPod audio output directly to your stereo system. Done. No headaches no issues. This is also the cheapest way to go. No issues.
if text display on the Nav or MID is a must, you want navigation control, Ipod located in the trunk, something better than DICE. THen currently - Intravee is the way to go.
(You can also get an iPod interface cable in eBay that not only it has audio output that you can plug in straight to your car stereo aux audio input - but also has power leads that charges your iPod during use. THis is what I did for my Honda Accord. It works perfectly, no issues.)
On to other mods..........
Quote:
Originally Posted by LFC09
Sorry it didn't tick all the boxes for you Dan.
Last edited by whatheheck; 24th June 2008 at 16:41.
FYI, I upgraded my Amp and speakers recently, and had Hi Def DICE.
I have spent so much time adjusting my amp's cross over setting to try and get the flatest frequency I can possibly have in the absence of real time analyzer.
I was very succesful and was very happy with the sound output of my DICE & Amp. My sound system's audio output was tight, flat, bass is also very tight, clean sound, etc. Cant ask for more.
Then I installed and tried Intravee. Immediately, I noticed Intravee's audio output has too much bass and too much midrange. I compensated for it by adjust the head units bass and treble setting, and iPod EQ setting to flat but I still wasnt happy with the sound output. Too boomy and too much midrange.
So I removed the Intravee and reinstalled HD DICE, and the sound output of my stereo remains the same! Too much bass and too much midrange! So it appears Intravee changed something in my head unit's internal setting.
Does anybody else noticed this or have this problem? Or know how to reset the head unit?
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by whatheheck; 25th June 2008 at 17:25.
FYI, I upgraded my Amp and speakers recently, and had Hi Def DICE.
I have spent so much time adjusting my amp's cross over setting to try and get the flatest frequency I can possibly have in the absence of real time analyzer.
I was very succesful and was very happy with the sound output of my DICE & Amp. My sound system's audio output was tight, flat, bass is also very tight, clean sound, etc. Cant ask for more.
Then I installed and tried Intravee. Immediately, I noticed Intravee's audio output has too much bass and too much midrange. I compensated for it by adjust the head units bass and treble setting, and iPod EQ setting to flat but I still wasnt happy with the sound output. Too boomy and too much midrange.
So I removed the Intravee and reinstalled HD DICE, and the sound output of my stereo remains the same! Too much bass and too much midrange! So it appears Intravee changed something in my head unit's internal setting.
Does anybody else noticed this or have this problem? Or know how to reset the head unit?
Thanks in advance.
Very interesting problem - especially since the only settings available once the dsp amp is removed are treble and bass (which live in the radio module). All of the other functions (DSP effects, eq, etc) live in the amplifier which you no longer have...
Are you sure you didn't hit your head getting in the car and it affected your hearing?
I know, I am stumped on this one too! And frustrated.
On any song that has vocals - the vocals drowns every other instrument. Vocals really stand out and since DSP amp is out - I cant compensate for it using bass and treble controls.
I already ordered an EQ in case it is not possible to reset the head unit back to factory settings.
FYI, I eMailed Intravee support. I will let you all know what he says once I get a reply.
Re: my head, well, it is possible I hit my head or my wife hit me while I was asleep and affected my hearing. Anything is possible : )
But good point, ever since the Alpine Amp upgrade, I've been cranking up my stereo system loud enjoying the powerful, clean and tight music, and it may have affected my hearing. So I will ask my wife and my buddy Neil, PJ and Rob to listen for me and see if my hearing is the one thats defective!
Quote:
Originally Posted by DouglasABaker
Very interesting problem - especially since the only settings available once the dsp amp is removed are treble and bass (which live in the radio module). All of the other functions (DSP effects, eq, etc) live in the amplifier which you no longer have...
Are you sure you didn't hit your head getting in the car and it affected your hearing?
Linear Mode
