hello, and welcome to the forums

the vaistech option is an integrated aftermarket solution, so yes, artist/track/playlist will appear on your screen. plus you can control playlists just like CDs in your car w/ the Factory controls on the audio unit or the steering wheel controls. it's definitely handy and safer for driving since you don't have to look down at your ipod to change songs.

the FM transmitter and tape deck solutions are just fine as well, however you do have to hold the ipod in your hand if you want to change songs. plus the audio quality won't be quite as good, although it may be undetectable difference in quality at low volume anyway.

 

oops, forgot to add that a lot of people like the vaistech SLI because it's a neat and clean way to listen to your music - you can also have your ipod connected in the glove box or center console away from prying eyes. from the outside no one can see or tell that you have it there.

the other great thing about the SLI is that it charges your ipod whenever hooked up, so no more worrying about running out of power or having to also have another loose cable running around in the cabin to charge it

 

Right you are, the cassette adapter works great, used it in my RX300. Unfortunately, non-NAV RX 350s from 2007 on do NOT have cassette decks, much to my chagrin.

 

God bless my cassette adapter in my RX300 and all the wonders of XM Radio south of the border.

 

Yes! I have cassette tape player on my '07 RX350 with Navi. Is that mean no cassette player on RX350 without Navi?

 

I had the VAIS unit professionally installed in my 2008 RX350 and it does sound great! It's easy to use now that I figured it out. I can play my Ipod by making play lists that work with the steering wheel buttons. You get the text that way. Or I can play songs from the Ipod without using a play list too.



It's still hard to believe that an Ipod connection isn't offered in the newer RX's. But thankfully this is a solutions because those FM transmitters aren't that great and pick up way to much static.

 

Nice work. And it works with the steering wheel audio control and text on the screen too?

 

That's an excellent install! I need to get mine done.

 

where did they install the cable for the ipod?

 

Yes, it does work with the steering wheel and audio controls with text as seen in my above picture... BUT... ONLY if you are playing music from a playlist that you have created yourself! I had to create a bunch of playlists so I could use the controls. Those controls will not work if you're manually playing music from your Ipod and not from a playlist.

They told me I could have the cord connector come out from either side I wanted. I had the cord put under the center console and my Ipod stays in the tray most of the time if I am playing music from a playlist. I had them leave me a long cord so I can hold my Ipod, or put it in the cup holders too if I want to manually play music straight from my Ipod and pick my own songs, albums, etc., and not use a playlist. The long cord is nice so both the driver or front seat passenger can use it. I read where somebody had their cord installed in the glove box for safety. I think that's a great idea too.

Another nice feature is that my Ipod will mute/pause when you're on your Bluetooth phone. Once you hang up, the Ipod starts playing where it stopped.

 

Can you tell me what cassette adapter has worked for you? I tried one in my Solara and it did not work...it was very noisy and the auto reverse kept clicking (I eventually hard wired a system to the unit of the solara). Now that I have he rx, I'm curious which one you have that you seem very satisfied with. Thanks for the info.

 

Maybe most FM transmitters aren't very good but the Crane works great. I posted a link that shows how to tweak it to boost the output. I don't know how it works without the tweak but it works great with the tweak

 

ive seen that type of install where the cable is near the bottom of the dash. mine is installed with the cable into the glovebox. the installers left the cable as long as possible so i can still control it from the driver seat