I have the INE-928 currently and have been very happy with it. Two different beast here. Sonically the ipad will never be as good since it does not have line level output and will always rely on in dash head unit to pilot it. The flexibility in apps and endless app gadget may out weigh the down size of not having preamp outputs.
I am waiting on the Alpine mech less deck to put into my subaru legacy to replace out the 6" alpine navi. Could prove to be the best of both worlds as car audio mfg expand their offering of apple car play or google play alternatives.

 

Hoping to have the time to put it together this weekend with photos etc. Shouldn't be to hard to do the write up seeing as the install itself was much easier than I had thought it would be.

As far as the sound, I'm still sourcing an amp due to mine being a brick after removing the previous nav system. Who puts an unlock code on the amp? I mean seriously... Germans...

 

This is not true. On the contray, the IPad setup with a proper headunit can easily match and even win in respect to SQ.

The IPad has the ability to digitally stream the audio signal to the headunit with most modern USB enabled headunits. This is true with most NAV units too…just avoid the tablet/cell phone DACs at all costs.

Where there may be an advantage is with the SQ focus’d headunits. In my setup for example, I have burr brown 24bit DACs in my Pioneer DEH-80PRS. Super clean digital signal all the way to the headunit, with a single high quality DAC, active crossovers, to 3 channels of proper high voltage line outputs. I don’t know many NAV headunits that have burr brown DACs or active crossovers.

Again with the right headunits, the hardware controls on the headunit will have excellent control over Pandora and Spotify to select next track/prev etc.

 

You are right in that you will have to run through a quality head unit to process the signals properly. Most mfg of single din headunits today do not incorporate the better technology into their units like their bigger high dollar flagship units.
With a proper DSP, amps and speakers you can make just about anything sound good in a car

 

I am looking to do an ipad installation as well, and haven't seen anyone talk about bluetooth for phone connectivity. Can you pair your iphone to the ipad and then use it to answer the phone while driving? Would it need an external mic?

Also the same would go for the "hey siri" function. It'd be nice to use for navi etc if you could talk to the car.

 

You can pair the phone to the head unit and use the supplied external mic to make/take calls. Sound in speakers is clear but placement of the mic is key for a clear connection for the other party.

I'm sure if you wanted to use the iPad to make calls such as FaceTime or Skype it would work the same but have yet to try yet.

 

Looks Amazing

Sent from my iPad using 6SpeedOnline

 

Nice job

 

I have a 2001 996 Twin Turbo with PCM1 Nav system and factory amplifier (brown B-connector is not being used). I now want to install an iPad Mini and a Pioneer DEX-X9600BHS receiver with internal amplifier and iPad support.

From all I have read the Metra 70-1787 adapter makes a plug-and-play connection between the RCA speaker level output on the receiver and the yellow C1 plug in the diagram above. However, it makes more sense to me to cut off the RCA plugs on the Metra harness and use the line speaker output on the receiver, via the Metra harness and the C1 connector, as input for the factory amplifier.

Questions:
- Which way should I wire the receiver to the factory amplifier? From the RCA outputs, or from the line outputs, on the receiver?
- Where is the amplifier located in my car?
- The Pioneer DEX-X9600BHS has a 4x50W built in amplifier. Should I consider bypassing the factory amplifier and go direct from the RCA output on the receiver to the speakers?

 

This is the way nearly all ipad installs described here on the boards have been run. The exceptions were people with MOST systems looking for a cheap way to pipe sound in and then using something like an FM modulator.
Now this is not true either. Many applications do not allow for the installation of a double DIN, and all manufacturers still have high-end single DIN units in their line-up.
This I agree with - meaning that you do not even need the highest-end DA convertor chip for decent sound.

I like the idea of an iPad mini much more than a finished unit form a manufacturer where you end up working within the constraints the manufacturer imposes and you do not have the freedom to run apps like Harry's Lap Timer, etc.
But to each his own.