Reviews

26

Has anyone used this with a Honda Civic 96-98? I'm concerned because the outlet is tucked under the radio/temperature controls. Is the six inch arm long enough get out from under there and be able to use the iPod without road danger?

Posted by Noah S. on March 27, 2006 at 12:16 PM (PST)

27

Hi there,
I have a BMW Z4 which has an ashtray and lighter with the socket pointing straight up. I am trying to figure out if this product will allow me to mount the iPod straight up above the socket or wether the design will block this. Does anybody have any experience of this? Many thanks

Posted by mwphoto on April 8, 2006 at 10:06 PM (PST)

28

I just tried my new FlexibleDock in my car and I was extremely dissapointed to find that the audio out jack does not work. As another user described above, audio is only present on one channel - the left. I used multiple cables to troubleshoot, and confirmed that it is indeed the mini jack on the FlexibleDock that doesn't work. It's too bad because the rest of it looks very well built. I tried to take it apart to look at and fix, but it's too hard to separate the plastic. I'll be returning this piece of crap tomorrow.

Posted by muthguy on April 11, 2006 at 8:12 PM (PST)

29

You should call TEN about your defective flexibleDock. Their customer service is usually pretty good.

Posted by SKinPA on April 13, 2006 at 5:19 PM (PST)

30

Just been trying out my just-arrived FlexibleDock on my wife's 1996 Civic (which I happen to be driving today).

Noah S: No, the FlexibleDock is not long enough. An eight inch arm (like the previous version had) would probably be perfect for the 96 Civic. As it is, I could not find a good position for it where you could see the screen. I have a RadioShack cig lighter extension that I may press into service here, probabaly attaching it somehow to the left side of the center column housing the shifter. Means more junk in the car though.

Too bad, as I was hoping to move the FlexibleDock between her and my (Toyota pickup) vehicles. But it should work fine in the pickup, and I'm sure looking forward to having it there.

The FlexibleDock understandibly is designed for a tight fit in the lighter socket, and does take a little force to push in. When I rotated it in the lighter socket to try out different positions, the metal socket itself rotated in the plastic dash opening it is mounted in. The lighter socket, after all my fiddling, is now a little loose, but can probably be tighted up easily enough (it not too hard to get behind that part of the dash in the 96 Civic).

Audio quality with a cassette adapter seems very good. No audio problems as some have reported. In my setup, the louder position on the switch gives a signal comparible to the radio in volume.

I confirm previous commenters that the included shim instructions do not mention the 5G, and none of the supplied shims fits the 5G 60gig iPod exactly right. #5 is too thin, next one up (#1) is too thick. I'll probably add a little tape to #5. The 5G has been out long enough, this should not be an issue...

I can't wait to jump in my truck, and simply click the iPod into place on the Dock--no separate cables to attach, no need to crank up the iPod volume so the headphone jack gives a strong signal to the cassette adapter, etc etc. Too bad it won't happen easily with the 96 Civic.

Posted by nolamike on April 25, 2006 at 12:58 PM (PST)

31

I'm following up on my April 11th post... both the manufacturer (TEN Technolgy) and the vendor who I purchased it from (DR. BOTT) were VERY helpful in making sure that I was promptly shipped a working replacement for my defective unit. The new one works fantastic! It securely holds my 3rd Gen. 40GB iPod without any obvious stress to the iPod and the audio is as clear as can be for AAC audio at 128 kbps. I am very happy with the build quality and audio quality of this product. My Rating: A

Posted by muthguy on April 28, 2006 at 5:54 PM (PST)

32

Can anyone recommend a case (preferrably hard plasatic) that can be left on the iPod while on the dock? I use an Agent18 right now and it comes out too far on the sides for it to work. I have a 30gig 5th Gen.

As for 5th Gen iPods not having a shim, the FAQ on the TEN website says which one to use.

Posted by ArttyG12 on May 2, 2006 at 9:38 AM (PST)

33

Right so just received my FlexibleDock and wouldn't you know it - audio only plays through the right channel! Not being one to incur more shipping charges I decided to open the thing up and have a look for myself. As expected the tip of the plug from my cable (MonsterCable) wasn't making *any* connection with the FlexibleDock - nor could it in any way given the poor design of the internal components.
So plan B has been to cut the audio wires from the circuit board and solder on a new bulkhead (attached to 6 inches of wire). Now the plugs are all nicely hidden behind the dash!
ilounge really need to amend this review given the poor quality of this product!

Posted by dangerousTrout on May 16, 2006 at 12:28 PM (PST)

34

I own a 2002 Thunderbird with a 6-CD changer. I installed a direct-input device to the back of the stereo. The iPod works beautifully through my car audio system when I connect it without the FlexibleDock.

However, when I connect my iPod to the FlexibleDock and use the input/output port at the bottom of the FlexibleDock (at the cigarette lighter), I have the same problem that wsalopek posted on December 22, 2005:

"2) I hear a LOT of (what I'd call LOUD) hard drive noise and other CONTINUOUS static coming thru the speakers in my car, even with my car OFF and sitting still in the driveway...I'd only imagine the static will increase as I move down the road and the cig lighter plug jiggles around a bit in the cig lighter socket."

I can confirm that when I rev the engine, the noise increases. But the noise remains whether the car is parked, idling, or moving. Moreover, the switch at the base of the FlexibleDock does nothing to dampen the noise. (It does, however, dampen the sound from the iPod.)

Call the noise "loud" or "medium" or "soft," the noise substantially degrades the audio sound quality of my iPod. When I disconnect the iPod from the FlexibleDock and plug the input/output cable directly to the iPod, the noise disappears.

At the suggestion of car audio techs, I tried a ground loop isolator. It did not solve the problem.

Has anyone solved this engine noise problem?

Posted by PoetAtLaw on February 3, 2007 at 9:37 AM (PST)

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