After recent news that Dension are due to release a new product entitled the "Gateway Five" we received our sample models and set about to get testing just how good it is. Dension promised the item to have a much better integration than a Parrot MKi 9200 (Parrots Flagship Bluetooth and iPod car integration kit) and after working with Dension for a few years – we believe them!

The main big advantage that the Dension Gateway Five will have over the Parrot alternative is that the Dension integrates into the stereo’s display and controls (either from the stereo itself, or from the steering controls). This in itself gives it a better selling point compared to the Parrot but pair this with the way that the Dension Gateway Five actually takes control of the iPod and the Phone in comparison to the Parrot MKi 9200 and you really do have something special. Could this be the product that knocks Parrot from its perch?

Lets start off by providing  a comparison chart, showing which kit has which features. After the chart we can move onto discussing each feature or specification, one by one.

From the above chart you can sort of get your head around why this product is so exciting. We will now talk about our findings and go further in depth for each feature listed above.

1. Full CD Quality Audio
Bluetooth as a technology doesnt provide enough bandwidth for the music to be sent to the stereo in perfect audio. Pair this with the fact that the Parrot DOESN’T use the car stereos amplifier (it uses a pretty poor 15 watt internal amplifier) AND the fact that you can only get sound through your front speakers (unless your lucky enough to be in the 2% of people who have a vehicle which can handle a better wiring harness, all be it for another £80!) mean that the Dension simply wipes the floor with the Parrot kit here. The Dension kit fully hard-wires into the car stereo via the CAN-Bus system so the entire connection is optical digital, quality is just perfection. The only time you will hear bad quality with the Gateway Five is if the MP3 file on the iPod is poor quality.
Dension – 1
Parrot – 0

2. Hard Wired Digital Connection
We have touched on this a little above so there isn’t too much need to go into detail but because the Parrot MKi-9200 transmits the iPods music via Bluetooth, the quality isn’t the best. Compare this with the Dension’s CAN-Bus connection and Dension take the spoils again!
Dension – 2
Parrot – 0

3. Works through ALL speakers
Another simple response needed. The Dension works through every speaker and utilises the cars amplification (be it from within the stereo itself or from any upgrade like a Bose system). Because the Parrot MKI kits use older SOT lead technology, only the front two speakers work.
Dension – 3
Parrot – 0

4. Control Bluetooth from the stereo (Including Missed Calls, Received Calls & Phonebook)
Obviously the Parrot comes with an external display which can control the phone functions. Its not a terrible display but its nowhere near as good as using the vehicles display. It looks out of place in most vehicles and just doesnt look "OEM". However, you can search by missed calls and received calls etc. The Dension does exactly the same thing but through the cars display and cars controls (steering wheel controls and stereo controls) instead of fiddling with a little external screen.
Dension – 4
Parrot – 0

5. Control the iPod from the Stereo
Now this is obviously where Dension excell, they have been at the forefront of iPod integration since the iPod was first made. Anyone who wishes to integrate iPod in a car always use Dension systems as the standard but they can never achieve what Dension have achieved because everytime anyone gets close, Dension raise the bar. The Dension Gateway Five can control the iPod fully from the stereo, this includes searching for artists, albums, track, playlists, podcasts, genres – all using the stereo controls and the steering wheel controls (control can also be reverted back to the iPod if needed anyway). The Parrots iPod interface is pretty simple but not impossible to use. Obviously the control has to be done from the external display again.
Dension – 5
Parrot – 0

6. Requires external display
Some like external displays, others think there are numberous issues with using an external display. One of the main concerns is that theifs know that there is an aftermarket Bluetooth kit fitted into the vehicle – making it a target. Other issues are that the displays look fairly ugly (the ones which dont look too bad tend to be too small to use accurately). Instead of using an external display, the Dension Gateway Five uses the vehicles display to tell you everything you need to know.
Dension – 6
Parrot – 0

7. Integrated through the vehicles display
The same as above really, obviously the Parrot needs the display to be operated where-as the Dension uses the vehicles displays. This point isn’t a win or a loss for either Dension or Parrot so the scores stay the same!
Dension – 6
Parrot – 0

8. Integrates though the vehicles display
Again, as above. No conclusion can be drawn from this point other than give the facts.
Dension – 6
Parrot – 0

9. Phonebook displayed on the stereo/cluster
Well another point for Dension here. The Dension Gateway Five allows the phones contacts to be viewed from the cars display.
Dension – 7
Parrot – 0

10. Control iPod Playlists from the stereo
The Dension can, the Parrot cant. Simple.
Dension – 8
Parrot – 0

11. Control iPod Artists from the stereo
As above.
Dension – 9
Parrot – 0

12. Control iPod Albums from the stereo
As above, again.
Dension – 10
Parrot – 0

13. Control iPod Tracks from the stereo
As above, again, again!
Dension – 11
Parrot – 0

14. Control iPod Podcasts/Genres etc from the stereo
And again…
Dension – 12
Parrot – 0

15. Compatible with most mobile phones
Neither a winner or a loser on this one so both get a point. Both kits work with nearly every phone around today. The Dension utilises the new Blue Core Chip which is considedered the new standard in bluetooth technology. The Parrot uses its original chip – which is by no means far behind!

Dension – 13
Parrot – 1

16. Charges the iPod/iPhone, including 5v charging iPods
The Dension certainly does do this. The Parrot’s NEWER models does this.
Dension – 14
Parrot – 2

17. Add-ons (Like Video Output from the iPod into the stereo/nacigation)
Another point for the Dension. Because it utilises the CAN-Bus system, there is a possibility of sending so much more information through the system.
Dension – 15
Parrot – 2

18. USB Input for flash drives and hard drives
Yet another point for Dension… They are really destroying the Parrot kits here!
Dension – 16
Parrot – 2

19. Aux Input
Both get a point here.
Dension – 17
Parrot – 3

20. Pricing
Both are on par. However, its important to remind you that the Parrot kits DO need an additional part to connect it to the vehicle, the Dension doesnt. Another point for Dension.
Dension – 18
Parrot – 3

When you first read the title of this blog, I know what you are thinking. You are probably thinking that I will supply you with a big catelogue with what the new upcoming Dension iPod car kits are, aren’t you? See, I knew it but I WON’T. You can hopefully check the catalogue in the main company site of Dension. So, what is the purpose of listing them down all here? It’s no use at all.

Rather in this post, I will just tell you a bit about what the latest community developments in Dension. By the way, did you know that Dension was founded by the Lukasz brothers? Yes, it was in the year of 2001 in Budapest. The sole motive of Dension Audio Systems Ltd at that time was to provide an easy-to-operate, nearly visible car audio interface by which you could integrate your MP3 player with your car radio. It was all about HDD, whether removable or stand-alone, for car tuning or such, and I daresay, they were gaining over the market slowly and steadily. But I don’t not many people knew of Dension at those initial times. They had a small limited market and they were marketing through their handful number of dealers and distributors in the most profitable centers of the world.

But it took a sudden turn for the better. In the year 2003, the world saw the launch of iPod Touch. And it sent a wave of iPod craze all over the world. And Dension Audio Systems worked on developing one of its kind iPod car audio interfaces, an iPod car kit that people would not only love to use but would recommend to others as well. The breakthrough came with its unique series of Dension ice>Link Plus iPod car kits. To be honest, I worked with a part of a dealership during that time, and I was in the customer service department of the Dension dealer company. So, you can pretty much understand that I had to deal with customers who were the first hand users of Dension iPod car kits, and they were overwhelmed at the superior quality of the products, a complete value for their money. In the meantime, Dension brought out iPod car kits for almost all kinds of car brands out there, starting from Kia to BMW. You name it and you have it with Dension. In fact, most of the customers rendered very positive feedback about the product (and also about the way I support them as an executive…lol).

But you see, with the advancement of technology, Dension had to make some vital changes to its framework as well. At the moment, it is focusing more on Bluetooth and video integration. Have you got the iPhone or a DVD, Dension will help you integrate it with your car radio. Dension says that they like a challenge. Dension wants you to let your imagination run wild and whatever your wish, Dension will fulfill it. Dension wants to let the music be with you always, wherever you go. And no doubt it is proving itself every way.

No Its not a new product from apple, but it is their biggest collective seller. The iPod / iPhone is set to conquer another market, Inadvertently.

There’s an old saying “success comes with success” Unless I have just made it up? (But it makes sense anyway) The success of the iPod has increased the power of apple as a brand, obviously with some careful guidance from the company management too. It seems that every man and his dog have some form of an iPod, whether it be a old school 1st Gen Nano a new 3rd Gen iTouch or the iPhone 3GS. A large portion of the market belongs to apple, with loyal customers willing to upgrade when new products become available.

The Size of the iPod market is HUGE and not just for apple, companies are always developing new products or systems to work with or on the back of it. This only strengthens Apple as a company. A New market that has emerged over the past 5 years is the iPod to Car market. It makes sense when you think about it. A lot of us have an iPod, Nearly all of us have vehicles and I’d say 99.9% of all of us love music, which ever music genre your into. Add them together and you see a new area that apple are inadvertently conquering.

Most people don’t think of their vehicle as an entertainment system, or having an entertainment system installed in it. But its not a new trend. Not so long ago, the only entertainment option in your vehicle was a radio, often receiving a below standard signal, playing music at the discretion of the producers at the station however it was a great option to have at the time. The Next Big thing was the development CD. Albums and singles from various artists can be played at your leisure (and still are) making longer journeys seem much shorter, or at least more enjoyable. Now its the turn of the iPod.

 Ipod car kits are a new wave in vehicle entertainment. We have never had so many options as to how we listen, and what choice of music we listen to in the car. The aftermarket ipod kit market is already strong. Companies like Dension have been producing kits to integrate ipods into the vehicles factory fitted stereos for the last seven years. Growing year on year as the trend becomes more popular. Other aftermarket vehicle entertainment solutions come in the form of stereos such as Alpine, of Sony. Who are now producing iPod / iPhone (and radio) only stereos.

The success of the these companies and the growing trend in general have encouraged vehicle manufacturers to experiment with ipod car kits into their own vehicles, more and more new vehicles are offering these kits as an optional extra on purchase. Specifically used to drive sales for specific vehicle brands. However these kits are usually overpriced and often use the same software / hardware as the Dension equivalent, in fact more often that not it is actually a Dension Kit unbranded.

So being masters of mobile music industry allows Apple to control other areas of business without realising it. So if you never even thought of the idea of playing music in your car from iPod or iPhone or never realised there was a iphone car kit available to do so. You will know all about it soon, in fact I dare say in two or three years time all vehicles will have some form ipod car kit installed for your entertainment.

iPod car accessories are useful for long journeys, car accessories for the iPod and iphone can range from protective cases, to protect against scratches and more serious damage, Through to fully integrated iPhone car kits which provide a digital connection combined with iPod and music control through the stereo / steering wheel adapters and charging facilities.

OK, so you’ve seen all the blogs, virals, youtube videos and thousands of adverts advertising what NEW and IMPROVED features various app’s may offer…. It seems that using an iPod as a sprit level and other fairly useless functions is a growing trend, and soon no doubt builders the world over will down tools and purchase a multi-functional iPod which is capable of Sawing, Hammering and Screwing, drilling and any other task builder’s may have to do daily.

Dont Get me Wrong, I think some of the iPod and iPhone features and app’s are absortultly genius and provide an excellent service, made much more convenient and user friendly than ever before. However in general these app’s are few and far between.

Some of you may be wondering at this stage what the "Thing" is that everybody seemed to have forgotten. Its simple, Why aren’t we using the iPod for the task in which it was invented??? Playing Music …. I have seen several adverts recently regarding Apple and the iPhone 3gs and iPod Touch, and at no point in the advertisment did apple mention what the iPod was best used for (an MP3 player BTW). It seems to be all about the extras you get with package nowdays!

So The One thing that everybody should try using an iPod for is to store and play your favourite music

I’m obviously Kidding, the iPod is obviously an inspriational invention so here are some other things you can do with it that you might not of thought of?

Here are some uses for an iPod or iPhone include;

1) App’s can transform your iPhone from a simple phone and mp3 playing device to navigation device, resource finder, account manager or so much more depending on which app you use. Look long and hard, some of the best apps are still to be popularised.

2) Google Maps, Every contact with a physical address (regestered in google) in your contact book can be found on google maps, even better these contacts are automatically found when browsing for directions say to a resturant stored as a contact. Simply search for the contact and you have directions to the location from where your standing. Genius !!

3) Mobile internet, where ever you are you have full access to the internet, emails and all that the internet brings.

4) Videos and TV programmes, The newer iPods are capable of storing more information than ever before. Take advantage of this and load your favourite videos and TV programs to watch at your convenience.

5) The iPod can be transfromed into a truely mobile MP3 Player with the use of an iPod car kit. Plug in to your Car Stereo and you have full access to all of your tracks while you drive

The Apple iPod has done its bit to shape society over the past ten years, Not only is it a desirable gift or accessory. Its changed the way we listen to and purchase music. The most noticeable improvement the iPod / iPhone deliverers over its predecessors, is the ease and simplicity of use and instant satisfaction it delivers.

Music and applications can be downloaded instantly, negating the need to travel to a store to purchase CD singles or albums. Which except for a few people, was seen as a hindrance. No longer do we need to carry stacks of disc’s and filter through them to find an album for what ever mood were in. Put simply the iPod has revolutionised the music industry and carried it into the future, making music more accessible in our daily routines.

Many other companies have joined the music revolution in a bid to further improve the way we control and listen to our favourite albums. It has become big business, with more and more companies offering improved quality and functions for home audio and visual systems as well as car and mobile audio. One of the market leaders in the car audio field, Dension, have been developing new systems which allow full control of the iPod through the stereo and entertainment system in the vehicle.

For many the iPod symbolises mobile music, and more recently mobile entertainment with the release of the iPod touch and iPhone, and the continuing developments Apple are making in the Video and TV area. Dension have adopted this ethos of entertainment on the move and produced iPod car kits that surpass any other kit on the market in terms of quality and integration.

iPod integration is key for quality and ease of use of the kits, if they don’t match Apples exacting standards for the iPod there is no point in developing them. With this in mind Dension set about improving previous versions of iPod kits they already produced. (Which they were already market leaders) and come up with a kit that ensures great quality audio and simple easy controls. The Gateway Lite was born.

The Gateway Lite is the next step up from the Gateway 100 / Gateway 300 ipod car adapters, The lite offers a much improved navigation system which was not available on the 100 / 300 unless text compatibility was available on your vehicle. By making the system easier the Gateway Lite is much more effective when making a track selection, reducing the browsing time and frustration this may have caused.

Combined with USB input the Gateway lite makes your favourite music truly mobile, allowing you to carry you entire music collection in your vehicle, you no longer need the poor quality and probably illegal FM transmitters. Simply choose the Gateway Lite.

Dension are market leaders in iPod car kit integration. Their iPod car adapters provide better quality audio and track navigation and selection over any other kit on the market. Drive, Control, Charge and Play your iPod.

Once you’ve decided to purchase an iPod car kit, inevitably you’ve chosen the Gateway Lite produced by Dension. You only have one further obstacle to hurdle, the installation. There are two options available to you for installing the kit. The first option, Pay a professional engineer to install the kit, either travelling to them or they can travel to you. The second option, is to install the iPod car kit yourself. Which is by far the more cost effective option and probably most convenient too. See below an installation guide to judge whether your capable of the installation, should you choose to go ahead.

The installation of the Gateway lite is fairly simple and pain free. Although this is a generic installation guide, it will suit 99% of vehicles.

Before you begin the installation, please remove the keys from the ignition and check that any radio codes are recorded for future reference.

Step one is to remove your car stereo, this will usually involve radio removal tools which will vary depending on what vehicle you have. Radio removal keys are readily available and the majority of online shops or traditional vehicle based retail outlets stock them. Radio removal tools are extremely convenient and can save you a lot of time and energy. This should take between 1-5 minutes

Step two is to remove the harnesses from the back of the stereo, Most vehicles have a Quadlock connection, this is a fairly large connection block that houses the wires to and from the stereo. If the Harness is a Quadlock connection the Dension harness will usually replicate the original harness exactly. The Dension Lite harness simply fits into the vehicle harness and then back to the stereo, basically a link between the vehicle and the stereo.

If the vehicle doesn’t have a Quadlock connection, the gateway lite harness fits into the CD changer port on the the back of the stereo. Usually located in the top right of the stereo as your looking at the back of it. Most of the time the harness simply connects straight into place, however occasionally the harness may have to be connected into the original harness then re-connected. This stage should take 2 minutes.

Step three is to connect the Gateway Lite PCB (the little black box) to the dension harness, its the most straight forward step of the installation. This will take 30 seconds.

Step Four is to connect the iPod dock and USB extension cable to the PCB, again very straight forward. Once this stage is done its usually a good idea to turn ignition on to check the system works. (Follow the user manual to perform the operations for iPod/USB track selection) Again this will take 1-2 minutes.

Step five, Route the cables through into position within the vehicle, this is usually the most time consuming part of the installation. Depending on the vehicle this can be a complex job and may require the removal of some of the fascia / Dashboard. This part of the installation may take up to 30 minutes depending on difficulty, especially if you want a professionally installed look.

Step Six, replace the stereo into its fittings. Read the operational instructions from Dension and enjoy the use of your iPod and all of your music while your driving.

The Gateway Lite is the latest in a long line of Dension iPod car Adapters. With each predecessor showing an increase in usability and functionality. Dension Gateway Lites predecessor the Gateway 100 was the most successful iPod kit in history. Offering a more advance track browsing system than any other kit on the market. However the complex nature of the 100 was ultimately its own downfall.

The 100 iPod kit offered track selection from the steering wheel controls / Stereo or the iPod, in which either artist, album or playlist could be selected. However the complexity of the gateway 100 system was not well suited to the majority of vehicles stereos, which cannot provide text support. This meant users would have to remember which combination of functions would enable iPod or stereo mode, and allow selections of tracks depending on browsing type, something that frustrated a lot of users.

The problem isn’t necessarily with the Dension unit, as the system works perfectly with text compatible radios. The problems occur when no text is available, and unfortunately most factory radios are not capable of displaying text rendering the gateway 100 kits difficult to use.

Dension have realised this problem and have improved the browsing system used in the new Gateway Lite. Dension designed the Gateway Lite specifically for none text compatible radios, and by doing so improved the browsing functionality by simplifying the track selection process.
Rather than the complex deep structured system in the Gateway 100, the lite is controlled via the iPod click wheel to browse through the iPod folders. Once the source is selected, tracks can be flicked through using the steering wheel controls for ease of use.

However the improved browsing functionality isn’t the only addition to the gateway lite, Dension have added a USB input into the system as standard. Enabling an additional 8 to 16Gb of music to be browsed through. Browsing through the USB drive is as simple as the iPod, CD button 6 selects the USB and 1-5 select Playlist, albums or artists.

In short Dension have yet again improved upon previous kits. Increasing the usability, simplifying the operations and adding additional source selections, you might think all these benefits come at a cost. You’d be wrong. The gateway lite is actually cheaper that the Gateway 100 and Gateway 300. The only downfall is that it doesn’t provide any text compatibility, however the this will never be available for those vehicles without CAN Bus systems.

Dension have announced the latest product in a long line of iPod car kit adapters. The Dension Lite is the newest kit that will be replacing the Gateway 100 and Gateway 300 for vehicles with CAN systems.

Dension have simplified the Lite kit, which some people may find a bit odd? A new kit with fewer navigation options than its predecessor. However due to the majority of vehicles stereo’s unable to support text display the previous Dension kits were often difficult to navigate and use. Resulting in users becoming a little frustrated in the products. Due to the complex menu structure the gateway 100 and 300 were only really suitable when text display is present.

The Dension Gateway Lite Negates the need for Text to be displayed on the stereo by utilising a much simpler operating method. Once the device is connected press the CD button on your vehicles stereo and you will start to receive audio from the iPod. The iPods click wheel controls the music selection while the steering wheel controls allows the user to skip forward and backward through tracks, providing a far superior system over the gateway 100 and 300.

Updating the controls isn’t all that Dension have modified on the Gateway Lite, It comes as standard with USB integration. So you can connect up to 8Gb of additional music to browse through. The method of navigation for the USB is different as there is no click wheel to operate from. However the operations are still simple. Just press CD button 6 to select the USB, and buttons 1-5 to select which albums / Playlists are played.

The Dension Gateway Lite is great value for money, as its much cheaper than its real equivalent the Dension gateway 300. In fact its nearly half price if you only require USB connectivity.

Dension Will be discontinuing the non Text compatible Gateway 100 and 300 units soon and rolling out the Newer Lite Kits is already underway.

Visit iPod Car Kit Direct for more information on the Gateway Lite iPod car adapters functions and compatibility.

As you would imagine iPod Car Kit Direct are rushed off our feet at the moment with the Royal Mail strikes and Christmas coming up. Dension have decided to throw a spanner into the works (but boy do we love the pressure!) with the release of a whole bunch of new products and have taken a bold step and discontinued the Gateway 100 & Gateway 300 for certain vehicles (The vehicles that cant see the text info (ID3 Tags) that the Dension kits send). It is important to note that the Dension Gateway 100 & 300 is NOT discontinued completely & is still the current model for vehicles that DO display text information (ID3 Tags).

Densions new kits are as follows:

Dension Gateway Lite (Replacement for Gateway 100 & 300 for certain vehicles) – GWL1 XXX (Replace X with vehicle specific codes)

• Available for Audi, Skoda, VW, Alfa, Renault, BMW, Seat (and more coming soon)
• Comes as standard with a USB connection (only previously available on the more expensive Gateway 300)
• Retails at a cheaper price than the Gateway 100 so you get extra features for cheaper!
• Still charges the iPod when you add a Dock Cable or an Active Cradle onto your kit
• Control the iPod/USB from the stereo/steering controls or the iPod itself
• Easy user interface as aposed to the old Gateway 100 and the Gateway 300 which was very complicated to use when your vehicle doesnt show text info
• Still uses the CD Changer port so you still get CD Quality audio
• Can be used as a USB car kit if you dont have an iPod, just simply purchase it without the Dock Cable or Active Cradle
• Works as an iPhone car kit and fully supports 5v charging

Dension Ice Link One (EXACTLY the same product as before but CHEAPER) – ILFICR91

• Hard Wires into the back of the stereo
• Charges the iPod
• CD Quality Audio
• Comes as standard with a Cradle
• Current Price £89.97, New Price £69.97
• Works as an iPhone car kit and fully supports 5v charging

Dension Gateway 500 Lite (Replacement for the Gateway 500 for certain vehicles) – GWL1MO1, GWL1DB1

• Works in exactly the same way as the Gateway 500
• Designed to work with vehicles that cant display track information, makes iPod/USB operation easier
• Cheaper option to the Gateway 500
• Retail price of £230
• Works as an iPhone car kit and fully supports 5v charging

We will be updating our blog daily with more detailed descriptions and information on vehicle specific kits

Many of our customers believe that iPod integration into a Renault is impossible without using horrible FM Transmitters. This is a hugely common misconception. Customers often simply assume that due to the Renault’s stereos being so limited that it would be impossible, in-fact, this is the reason it is possible. The simplicity of the stereo makes it easier to code the iPods software signal into audio that the Renault can read.

The Renault Dension Gateway 100 & Dension Gateway 300 are among our bestsellers. Cracking pieces of kit with good integration into Renault cars.

Mandy Longgrass, a customer who lives as close as possible to us (the same road in-fact!), contacted us a few months ago. Unbelievably,  Mandy told us that she had spent in excess of £350 on FM transmitters. We explained that this was over double of the cost that a Dension Gateway 100 could have been purchased AND fitted.

Mandy spends around 20 hours a week driving to and from clients as part of her job. Having her iPod in her car is the only thing that keeps her sane sat at 70 on the M1! She was delighted when we showed her a demo vehicle and let her plug her iPod in.

We booked Mandy in for installation that afternoon and by 3pm she was happily driving off down the road with her music on full volume!

If, like Mandy, you have a Renault and want an iPod Car Kit then give us a call!