best "iPod" solution for 2005 Prius?

You will need usb... So maybe see if the Navigation system from the 3rd prius fits in and get it out of a salvage?

I think the easiest a cheapest way would be to see if you can add an aux jack in your car it would cheap, but there would be no track names...

 

I'm currently lusting after the Vais Tech MediaLinQ Plus:
http://www.vaistech.com/dev/mlp.php

I want it, but I haven't pulled the trigger yet.

 

+1 for Vais Tech. I had one in my 2005 Prius (with JBL & nav) and it was great. Displayed on the Nav screen and all steering wheel controls worked. I ran mine to the glove box, and my iPod lived there for several years. I'm not a particularly car-savvy gal, but I installed it myself with no problem.

 

I was going through a similar decision process for my '07 I just bought. The adapters - dice or VAIS are going to run about 100 - 250+ depending on the model that you get. And you are going to have to pull the radio to install them. You are only going to get a 16 char display (at best - some prius radios will only display 9) and it's a single line display at that

A decent replacement radio with a built-in ipod.iphone interface, like a Panasonic 3400bh - which is a double DIN touch screen with bluetooth phone functionality, hd radio and far far better sound 1s only going to run you 150 - 200 more (about 300 - 330) and you get WAY better functionality and WAY better sound. So that was the decision that I made and I am going to install it sometime later this week most likely.

Forget about cheesy RF adapters as the sound quality is very poor and they are a pain in the butt to use on long trips .

 

Actually, the MediaLinQ Plus takes over the whole touch screen and even shows album art. It will even display videos and Pandora. But it's quite expensive ($500).

 

note the OP has a 2005 Prius. 04 and 05 have a different type of display. The VAIS website shows compatibility with 06-09 Prius.

I have not heard of any aftermarket unit that has compatibility with a Cowon A9 except through aux input. That would be your best solution if you wanted to play your music through that.

Another option is to get an aftermarket head unit with an iPod connection, find an iPod with a good DAQ, and go from there.