iPod Adapter

(updated 12/7/15)

Introduction

 In 2009, I completed a thorough review of iPod adapters for the C6 Corvette.  Click here for that review.  I updated the review when the GM Personal Audio Link (PAL) became available.  The results clearly showed the GM PAL to be the best iPod interface available for the C6 Corvette.  I developed the Version 2 PAL with the manufacturer of the PAL, Meditronics Corporation, which not only improved the PAL interface but made the installation super easy.  Currently the PALs are no longer available, and I'm not sure if they will become available again in the future.  So I wanted to update the older review to determine what interface might be substituted for the GM PAL based up the latest products available.

There are two new products that are currently available that appeared to have merit.  One is the iSimple ISGM655, which is an updated version of the PXAMG reviewed in 2009.  While I did not test this new unit, it still has the main disadvantage of having to be connected at the back of the radio instead of at the XM receiver location.  Because this is so difficult in the C6 Corvette when compared to the easy access of the XM receiver, I wasn't interested in pursuing this comparison.  It seems to have a few new features and add-ons, including Bluetooth, but I think there are better options for Corvette owners.

The other updated product is the USA Spec PA15-Vette.  I included the older PA11-Vette adapter in my original review, and it was a decent iPod adapter.  For most Corvette owners, that was my first choice, NOT including the GM PAL.  So I was anxious to try the updated PA15-Vette, especially since the PALs are so difficult to find.

I'll provide details below, but my conclusion is that while the PA15-Vette is a nice iPod adapter, it is still not equal in performance to Version 2 PAL.

Click here for main website

Here are the kit contents of the USA Spec PA15-Vette:

The kit includes the control module, a nicely built installation harness, a good quality iPod cable, two extension cables that can allow you to locate the module most anywhere in the car, and an Owners Manual.

This kit will also work in quite a few other GM vehicles with the Class 2 communication system including the '03-'06 full size trucks and SUVs.

Here is the control module and the installation harness:

The harness is well built and very importantly, it connects at the easy-to-get-to XM receiver.  The original OEM PAL harness connected at the back of the radio, and only the Version 2 PALs provided a harness for an XM receiver installation.  That makes the installation a simple "parking lot" job to get your music playing.

Here is a comparison of the PA15-Vette control module and the GM PAL module:

The PA15 Vette module is considerably smaller than the PAL module, which makes it a bit easier to hide out of sight.

On one side of the control module is the harness connection and dip switches:

The dip switches are used to choose the radio type and choose whether or not to activate the auxiliary input port on the other side.

The GM Version 2 PAL automatically senses the correct radio within its software, so dip switches aren't necessary.  But setting the dip switches is easy, so it's not an issue to consider.  The dip switch positions shown above are set for an active auxiliary in port and a Corvette Nav radio.

The other side of the control module has the iPod cable connector and two RCA jacks for the auxiliary input cable if the owner chooses to activate them:

Installation is simple.  Find the XM receiver behind the carpet in a coupe or Z06 and pull out the receiver from its tray.  In a convertible, remove the waterfall between the seats, and the XM receiver is already mounted on a bracket.

Disconnect the 16 pin connector from the XM receiver and connect the installation harness to the body harness and XM receiver.

Plug in the iPod cable, configure your module, and enjoy your music.

Here is PA15-Vette menu:

First, note the menu is on the XM1 band.  As a comparison, the PAL used the XM2 band.  But either adapter still allow you to use XM on the remaining band.

While the PAL has the six preset buttons already defined, you must define the six buttons with the PA15-Vette - in any order.  You have seven choices for the six buttons - in addition to those shown above, the seventh choice is SONGS.  If you do not activate the auxiliary input, you could use all of the remaining six buttons for the six positions.

While the above menu has a similar look to the PAL menu, the operation is quite different.  The PAL has many submenus (with many search and display features) - with the PA15-Vette, what you see above is what you get.  It does NOT have a PAUSE button, a nice feature on the Version 2 PAL.  It's pretty basic, but pretty easy to use.

Here's how it works:

1.  Press the Playlist button, then use the CAT buttons to move up or down your lists of Playlists.  PL1 to PLx can be chosen, but you can't go directly to any Playlist - you start from PL1 and go up or down.  If you have only a few Playlists, this isn't a big deal, but if you have a lot, it is unreasonable to keep pressing the CAT button until you eventually get to the one your want.

2.  Press the Artist button, then use the CAT button to find your Artist.  But similarly to the Playlist button, you start at "A" and continue alphabetically.  You can use the <CAT button to go down as well, but if you have say 100 artists, you will be pressing one of the CAT buttons a long time to get to an Artist starting with "M", for example.  Unlike the PAL, there are no direct search features.

3.  Press the All button, and all songs on your iPod will begin playing, again starting with "A".  You can use the SEEK button on your radio or steering wheel controls, but these will move to the next song incrementally.  You cannot search for a particular song in the iPod (called the "Folder") mode.

4.  Press the Direct button, and this puts you in control of your music at the iPod or iPhone itself.  This is the only way you can do an actual search for your music - just use your iPod or iPhone directly to find your song, artist, playlist, album, etc.  You will likely use Direct mode a lot if you like to do music searches.  Note that when you are in Direct mode, your normal iPod screen comes up on the iPod - when in iPod (Folder) mode, the iPod screen partially disappears and you have no control at the iPod itself.  Also note that when you are in Direct mode, the song title, artist, and album information will not show up on the radio display.  In iPod mode, the song title and artist are continuously displayed on the top of the Nav display (see above photo).  Other information like the playlist number and song number of the playlist are also displayed when the song changes.  You can press the INFO button to see the song information at any time.

5.  Press the Random button, and this will shuffle your songs within the Playlist, Artists, or songs you have chosen.  Since the software always starts with the first song or playlist, you will likely get tired of hearing those songs whenever you get into your car.  So I suspect you will use the Random button a lot so your music will be shuffled.

6.  Press the AUX button and whatever is connected to your auxiliary input jacks will be heard through the audio system.  There will be no music information displayed on the radio.

CONCLUSIONS

For what it does, the PA15-Vette works well.  The music information is NOT displayed on the HUD - the PAL is the only adapter that well integrated into the Corvette.  But for the owner who wants to just listen to his music library without much control, this adapter does what it is supposed to do.  I personally would probably just use the Random feature and let my music library play.  If I wanted to skip a song, simply push the SEEK button on the radio or steering wheel and listen to the next song.

The song title and artist information of your music is nicely displayed in iPod (Folder) mode

For choosing a particular song or artist or album, I would likely use Direct mode and search on the iPod.  Or for audiobooks, I would also use Direct mode.

The iPod cable is 6' long and it will charge the latest iPods and iPhones with 5 volt USB charging.

If I couldn't have a Version 2 PAL, this is likely the iPod adapter I would choose.  It's simple to install and easy to use.  It has a nice build quality.  It also works in some other Class 2 vehicles.  It has good quality cables and two harness extensions (one 5' and one 10') to allow you lots of installation flexibility.

DEMO FOR SALE

12/7/15

I've had my demo sitting around my shop for over a year.  It's in its original packaging:

Email me if you want it for $100 bucks.