Comments on: PhatNoise PhatBox: Initial Impressions

By: TW

TW — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:55:48 +0000

OMG! I have a '03 VW beetle and absolutely love my Phatnoise Phatbox. It was super easy to install and I have been loving it for almost 5 years now. I have my whole music collection installed and update it several times a week. The controls are easy to use and easy to remember with time. I don't run into a problem trying to drive and find tunes at the same time. Get one, you'll love it too!

By: jd

jd — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:52:12 +0000

I've never seen that. Cool

By: Carlton Bale

Carlton Bale — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 23:48:58 +0000

You're right, there is no longer a Nissan/Infiniti version available for sale in the PhatNoise store. Maybe the newest cars have a different factory sound system that is incompatible and they decided to no longer offer the Infiniti/Nissan version. You have three options: 1.) Call PhatNoise at 310-954-3650 and ask if they still sell the older version, which would definitely work with your car. 2.) Create a saved search on Ebay for "PhatNoise Infiniti or Nissan" 3.) Purchase a VW/Audi (or any other version) PhatBox or (or Kenwood MuiscKeg) and make a cable to convert it to an Infiniti PhatBox. All it takes is a cable and a free software download using the PhatNoise software to convert one version to another. Either go to the PhatHack.com forum to find out how to build or call PhatNoise to see if you can purchase a Nissan/Infiniti adapter cable.

By: DuWayne Pearson

DuWayne Pearson — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 20:24:18 +0000

OK, now I'm really confused. For one you can't find the Nissan/Infiniti Phatbox edition on the net and now you say that you have 2005 G35 Sedan with a Phatbox, what gives. I have a 2003 G35 Coupe and I found out that there was a compatible one for my car, but no luck in finding it. Please tell me that I can purchase a new (or old) Phatbox and use it in my car

By: KNH

KNH — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 20:12:17 +0000

As a lowly end user of the PhatBox, not the installer, my impressions are slightly different. I really enjoy the hands-free capability. While it is nice to be able to use the hard buttons on the factory audio system, it's difficult to remember what preset 2 is versus preset 3. Press the wrong one, and you are in a totally different menu. It's pretty frustrating until those functions are memorized. Audio prompting also means scrolling through every single artist to find the right one. Also, if searching for a song, I pause too long on one, 5 seconds pass and I'm out of menu mode. And starting at the beginning. And annoyed.

All of this being said, the PhatBox is GREAT when used by a passenger, not a driver who will quickly become too distracted. The system is too powerful to use when not focused on the task. But give me time to learn it, and I think I'll fall completely in love with it. The audio prompts are very amusing too, using voice recognition that is not native so that 'INXS' becomes 'inks.'

TiVo-for-the-first-time cool? Not quite…but close.