When i first got my iPod, i used an AUX cable for my Eclipse 5444. Sounded great. But i got tired of having my iPod loose in my center console cavity or mounted on a goose-neck to the floor. Too much clutter in an already small (but cozy :smile: ) cabin.

I wanted a head unit that would allow direct connection to the iPod, charge the iPod, and allow me to hide the iPod.

I just installed an Alpine 9851 with the KCA-420i iPod interface adaptor. The combo works great. You can search by PLAYLISTS, ALBUM or ARTIST. I hid the connector cable in my glove box to keep my iPod hidden.

BUT....searching is slowwwww. A rotary dial controls the search. I guess about less than 2 items per second. For me.... this is a pain. I have a 40gig iPod 4g. I have about 550 albums loaded. I likes to listen to albums and getting the the middle of my album list takes TOO LONG. While i can search forward or backward, the Alpine combo always starts a search from the beginning. I was hoping that the rotary dial worked the same as the iPod thumb wheel. Darn! No luck.

Anyone out there have a head unit that allows direct iPod display connection/charging AND have faster searching?

Was looking at the Monster iCruze but could not find any info on the search speed.

Thanx for your help.