DICE i-Mazda-R2 Mazda iPod Adapter w/Aux Input + Text Display Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this item hoping to solve the "Ipod problem" new 2006-2008 Mazda MX5's have... that problem being that the "factory" Ipod adapter is a monstrous debacle. Having first tried the factory adapter with horrible results I tried this DICE adapter.
Out of the box after install the unit would "work" (if you can call it that) sitting in my driveway with the engine off. As soon as the engine was started the unit would scramble and shut down. I never could get it to work with the engine running. Aside from that huge problem the controls are a complete mystery. There are no instructions for every Mazda radio, only for one (the 3 I believe) and the buttons shown in the instructions definitely do NOT do the same things on the MX5 radio. I could never get the DICE adapter to do much of anything other than display weird characters.
I tried to get customer support from DICE both online and on the phone. Both avenues resulted in me being pretty much ignored (they never responded to my online "trouble ticket" and I only got their "out of office" message when calling them on the phone). Even now, weeks later after I returned this item they STILL have not responded to me either online or by phone.
This product is not a "clean" device in that it is something someone reverse engineered to try to make something work somewhere it shouldn't. The result is an adapter that, if it HAD worked, would have been cryptic to operate and very clunky to navigate and use. I'm almost relieved that it outright did not work in my MX5 because I could easily see myself getting very upset trying to use this item on a daily basis. I have since replaced my entire factory non-Bose head unit with a new Pioneer model that had built in Ipod control. The new Pioneer head unit is a good example of how Ipod integrated controls SHOULD work... responsive, fast to navigate, intuitive, the complete Ipod info displayed on the head unit and full range control from playlists to artists and albums.
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR: If you want Ipod integration with your factory NC 2006-2008 Mazda MX5 non-Bose head unit, REPLACE YOUR HEAD UNIT with something that does Ipod integration RIGHT. Don't try to cheap out and do this backdoor hack route. It will be nothing but trouble just like the factory Ipod adapter. You just spent $20K+ on a high performance roadster, don't cheap out on the radio!
I also want to say this bad experience was in no way the fault of Pacific Stereo, the Amazon seller who sold me the unit. They were very professional and offered a full refund on the item. I would order from them again in a heartbeat... but I won't be ordering another DICE product. Ever.

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