Monday, September 25, 2006

Aftermarket or Factory Fit Audio Products?

Many customers are confused whether to go for Aftermarket or Factory Fit when selecting in-car products and gadgets! Factory Fit is also known as Factory Fitted, Factory Upgrades or OE which stands for Original Equipment.

Its an important point that must be established before you choose to source your in-car iPod car kit or add-on gadget, on or offline. We hear many stories of car dealers, car dealerships and car audio retailers on and offline that simply give out shocking advice on this subject just to get a quick sale.

Beware of bad advice…

The result = They will sell you a cheap AUX iPod Car Kit or cheap product hoping that you’ll never find out that there is a far better product out there for Aftermarket and Factory Fitted car radios. Read on and i’ll explain more…

Aftermarket:
In simple terms Aftermarket means products manufacturered as a retail product for sale in shops, online, etc. These are branded producs that are universal in design and can be fitted in any car. For example a Sony CD Player can be fitted in any car using the correct additional installation accessories made by Autoleads or Connects2.

Factory Fit:
Factory fit on the other hand are vehicle specific and will only work with the make and model of car they were designed to work with. So for example the Audi Concert radio has specific software and technology that make this unique to Audi and very different to a Ford 5000 radio for example. The term Factory Fit covers all car manufacturers from Alfa Romeo to VW and all in between.


Example using an iPod Car Kit:
As an iPod Car Kit basically acts like a CD Changer in that when the iPod Car Kit is connected to the radio, the radio plays the iPod just as if it had a CD Changer fitted, controllable from the radio or steering wheel controls (if fitted).

Compatibility:
So imagine trying to fit a Ford iPod car kit to an Audi car radio, it simply would not work. With Factory Fit we have to use Audi products and software with Audi electronics. Also they be car model specific as well so you can’t just connect a 1998 3 series BMW iPod car kit into a 2003 Z3 BMW, as again the connections and software used in the radios are different.

The high quality and performance iPod Car Kits like the Dension ice>Link Plus connect into the CD Changer port/socket at the rear of the car radio and this is where these outshine the AUX iPod Car Kits by far! Why?

New Technology:
Simple, because they use the latest technology software specific to your car make and model and car radio fitted, undergo rigourous tests to ensure compatability, quality, performance and basically to ensure they are futureproof meaning they can be updated as technology grows.

If you ever get offered an AUX iPod car kit as i’m sure you will, think carefully as your motoring may be seriously affected, with such a dull and limited product in functionality, quality and performance.

Why? well because AUX iPod car kits are good for when you have no other options and have to use your AUX sockets on your radio. When using the AUX kit you control the iPod from the iPod and not your car radio or steering wheel controls and on top of this you have to sit your iPod somewhere, generally in your glovebox. I think you can see the problem here, how do you then select your song, tunes or audios if its hidden in your glovebox? Good Question, not very easily.

Dension Quality:
The Dension range of products offer many things that the cheap and nasty AUX iPod car kits flying around could ever offer. At this point i have to point out that Dension make an AUX iPod car kit and this is a solid, robust, quality product IF your only option is the AUX option.

Also please note that the new ice>Link Lite product are AUX but these are for brand new cars that use the CAN-BUS wiring system, this is completely different from the conventional wiring system used on the cars we are discussing above. The CAN-BUS system is still relatively new and used only on 2005/2006 vehicles generally and only on specific models. I’ll detail more on this in a future post…

But in 99.9% of cases you can go for the Dension ice>Link Plus, Dension FM Modulator (ideal if your car radio does not have a CD Changer socket) or the ice>Link lite (if your car uses the latest CAN-BUS wiring systems), and don’t forget the imminent release of the multiple device adapter, the Dension Gateway 300, 400 & 500.

The Dension iPod car kits come in 2 designs covering all options, the Cradle mounting option that is like a mobile phone car kit, robust discreet, easily accessible and the dock cable for a more discreet mounting location in any hidden location.

To sum up:
If your brain is ready for popping at this point go to iPod Car Kit Direct as the data is the best anywhere in the UK on or offline with regards aftermarket or factory fit? These guys work with the Dension and Connects2 brands of iPod Car Kit all day, everyday and can help to answer any questions. A simple email or phone call to 0845 430 3355 and you will be offered the best advice on the planet! Check it out now: iPod Car Kit Direct

CD & MP3 Changers:
Looking for Aftermarket CD or MP3 Changers?

Looking for Factory Fit CD Changers?

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