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Today at Atelier Kaz - Private NSX Enthusiast, ex-Honda R&D engineer with F1, Indy/CART background

USA Spec PA11-HON from amazon.com

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It’s not that popular but I installed this iPod adaptor on NSX for several owners.
I also have one on my NSX as my CD changer broke down long time ago.

I always bought it from the official authorised dealers but for quite some time, the USA Spec website has been under construction and couldn’t get the info that I wanted so on this occasion, I decided to purchase it through Amazon US (amazon.com).

There are several shops on the Amazon market place listing the PA11-HON and while they are bit cheaper than the price set by amazon, I wanted to have the extra protection in case I have to return the item back to US so went for the one ‘sold and delivered’ by amazon.

I am aware that at least one UK owner received wrong spec from one of the shop on amazon even though it was labelled as PA11-HON.
http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/entry.php?133...adaptor-etc-05


So, placed the order and just recently received it. It took just under 2 weeks for the delivery after placing the order.

As mentioned above, it was ‘sold and delivered’ by amazon and since they offer ‘Amazon Global delivery’ service, the UK Customs fee is already included at the time of check out so no need to pay anything on receiving the package. Amazon will refund if they took too much for the estimated UK Customs fee and they have indeed refunded it to me in the past.

At the time of the order, it was priced as US$118.16 and delivery charge at US$12.97.
Estimated UK Customs/fee was calculated as US$26.23 so overall, it came out as US$157.36.

With the credit card fee of GBP3.09 for non-GBP transaction, I paid GBP106.46 in total.






On receiving the package, first thing I noticed was the different text Font used for the connector description.
It’s now more like 'Time New Roman' style than the 'Arrial Black' one.





On the [Head unit] < - > [PA11-HON] main loom, there used to be a red ‘caution’ label on one of the DIN connector with a plastic cap but on this one, there was no label and just the cap.




The iPod device cable looked the same but the model no. is now ‘CB-PA85A’.

Before placing the order, I did some research and found out that the latest PA11-HON would come with PA85A version rather than the previous model PA85.
I wanted to know when this change was made through USA Spec website but unfortunately, their site was not much use at the moment.
I don’t know exactly when the changeover was made as Apple modified the pin assignment of the 30pin Dock connector over the years and now it switched to the Lightening one.




I think ‘20100113/082202’ is for the internal software version as I saw the same number on all of the recently purchased ones.




The same sticker that can be seen on all of the ones that I bought in the past so despite the different Font on the metal housing, looked to be genuine product.


Enough observation so decided to test it on my NSX.
I know the [Head unit] < - > [PA11-HON] main loom hasn’t changed for ages so just swapped the I/F box and the iPod device cable.

And it worked fine so if you are thinking of getting one, then amazon US could be one option for you.


Kaz

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