Since i started my Planetary Adventure, i decided i needed to have tunes for my missions..err when i travel.
Im not into spending a bunch of money.
I can get an FM transmitter for my Ipod, but what i was wondering if i can some how splice in my Ipod directly to the cars speakers and throw in an inline amplifier. Since im picky maybe have it charge too?
Ideas?
I think you are best off just buying an aftermarket stereo with aux input. I have used a few stereos with the ipod interface and I hate the navigation so I just use the line-in input and give up the charging capability.
A simple amp should do the job - RCA stereo in, speakers out.
New iPods only charge via USB and not Firewire anymore, so you have to get a 5v source to feed down the cable. Easy enough, buy a plug-in charger and wire it in to the cable. A bit of splicing should make all this straightforward. I've been planning to do the same to one of my own cars.
yup a cheap amp + RCA to head phone adapter would do the trick basicly this
http://cgi.ebay.com/3-5mm-Male-Cell-Phone-Audio-Cable-to-2-RCA-Stereo-Cable_W0QQitemZ390075087082QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPDA_Accessories?hash=item5ad24978ea&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
if you search you can find a nice name brand (used) 5 channel amp for $60 or so even less if you only go with a 4 channel (no sub)
if you mounted the 5 channel on the back of the sub box you could easily unhook and remove all the added weight... only thing then is you'd need to run all the cables to the trunk
This isn't grassroots, but;
http://www.crutchfield.com/g_300/Car-Receivers.html?tp=5684&nvpair=FFiPod_Connection|[rank2]Built-in+audio+only
That said, it would be pretty cheap to go with the external amp and the mini-phono to RCA converter cable route, and it could be a pretty stealth setup if you really put the time & effort in.
If your car has a factory CD changer you can tap into the lines going from the CD changer to the head unit and install a switch that will allow you to switch between the CD changer and iPod. It pretty simple to do and sound quality is far better than an FM transmitter or old school tape adapter. I did this to my car before I bought a new head unit with an aux input. Good luck!
hmmm.. i only have a factory radio/ cassette
A cheap cd player with aux can be had for less than a cool hundy.
There are quite a few ways to hook an iphone in. Besides the ones mentioned, there are also the modulators--not the over-the air-ones, which suck, but the hard-wired in ones.
Unfortunately for me, I seem to have managed to buy the two exact years and model cars for which nothing really works (02 Miata w/Bose and 06 Volvo S40)
CarKid1989 wrote: hmmm.. i only have a factory radio/ cassette
Best Buy $89.99 Kenwood CD MP3 WMA player
Best Buy also has a bunch of iPod connection options, including transmitters, holders that also charge and control the iPod, wires, gizmos, etc. I used to use a cassette adapter for my iPod, worked surprisingly well, but I don't have much of an ear for quality.
They make a Cassette adapter to headphone jack... it should be like $8 at any walmarts.
Tim Baxter wrote: There are quite a few ways to hook an iphone in. Besides the ones mentioned, there are also the modulators--not the over-the air-ones, which suck, but the hard-wired in ones.
I have one of those (hard-wired modulators) in my truck. Works OK, but you have to turn the volume on both the iPod and the truck's stereo pretty high to hear it. If I had it to do over again, I'd ditch the factory head unit and get an aftermarket one with a USB port, which are getting pretty easy to find now.
That's what I use. They're really pretty good. Much less hassle on a road trip than the FM ones and better sound quality.
I have various solutions for my cars. Originally had an FM transmitter, which is mostly functional. My MG has a cheap tapedeck with an aux in; I wired an aux in into the OEM AM mono deck in my wife's '76 Fiat (cost: under $15, including the ebay special preamp/charger). For the original stereo in my 95 VW -- the only real modern in the lot -- it's a got a deck that could control a CD changer, optional in that model year. So you just need to fool it into thinking that there's a CD changer in the trunk, then plug in to those inputs on the head unit.
I like the Belkin Car Kit; it's an Ipod dock connector that charges your ipod, a preamp that gives you a consistent line out, and it plugs in to a cigarette lighter. (on Belkin's website)
Or it can be wired a little creatively. Having one wire that charges and gets the audio signal is nice, and this one has been compatible with every iPod I've tried.
Matt
Sparkfun has some cool iPod connectivity bits if you're good w/ a soldering iron, the applications are endless:
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=ipod&x=0&y=0&search_section=products
And www.hackaday.com has some inspirational ipod hookups/hacks too.
I've hated every FM xmitter i've tried. The hardwired (scosche) FM modulators work good in my experience. And my garage sound system consists of a car audio power amp, an RCA to headphone jack cable, and my ipod. Works great.
CarKid1989 wrote: hmmm.. i only have a factory radio/ cassette
Here's what i did: Buy a 6ft 3.5mm headphone jack cord, cut one ond off, you'll find 3 wires a)left b)right c)ground
access the tape player inside your headunit and find the outputs. a)left b)right c)ground
Solder your wires to the pins where the outputs come out.
put a blank tape in your tape deck and enjoy!
I've done this to my E30 and my buddies '98 chevy 1500
2002maniac wrote:CarKid1989 wrote: hmmm.. i only have a factory radio/ cassetteHere's what i did: Buy a 6ft 3.5mm headphone jack cord, cut one ond off, you'll find 3 wires a)left b)right c)ground access the tape player inside your headunit and find the outputs. a)left b)right c)ground Solder your wires to the pins where the outputs come out. put a blank tape in your tape deck and enjoy! I've done this to my E30 and my buddies '98 chevy 1500
This might be the best option..i already had that wire ready...haha i was mesin around one day...when you say pins where the output comes out...can you elaberate? im a bit groggy right now..
In reply to CarKid1989:
The pins are on the PCB. You should be able to see where the signal goes to the Main board of the Head unit from the tape player.
2002maniac wrote: Here's what i did: Buy a 6ft 3.5mm headphone jack cord, cut one ond off, you'll find 3 wires a)left b)right c)ground access the tape player inside your headunit and find the outputs. a)left b)right c)ground Solder your wires to the pins where the outputs come out. put a blank tape in your tape deck and enjoy! I've done this to my E30 and my buddies '98 chevy 1500
Seems like a lot more work than spending $8 on a cassette adapter, but it does have the satisfaction of a DIY job, I guess.
Tom_Spangler wrote: Seems like a lot more work than spending $8 on a cassette adapter, but it does have the satisfaction of a DIY job, I guess.
The sound quality is much better than a cassette adapter because the signal doesn't have to travel through the tape adapter or the tape deck itself.
The end product looks a lot cleaner as well with no dumb wires hanging out the front of the deck. I routed mine out the back of the head unit and out the center console.
Similar to what I did for the Fiat. Except for "three" read "two", and for "tape player" read "AM tuner".
I also included an a/b switch, so I could use the radio, too. But yeah, much better sound quality than a tape adapter, and a single wire from the dash (that charges, too, in my application) is very tidy.
-M.
I use the cassette adapter (purchased, not made) to make my XM radio work in my '95 Volvo and I am quite happy with the sound. I am sure the real limitation is my '95 speakers.
the tape adapters seem hit or miss... especially on older head units where the heads are going (like in my van)
neat idea on just going direct into the board... I may have to try this
In my Mazda3 I use one of these:
I had a Belkin one for a long time, but it was fraying, and the sound quality wasn't good. I did some research and discovered that when using an iPod, iPhone and a car charger, I always got clicking and buzzing through the sound system. Not a problem without a charger, but that wasn't a good option for me.
When I ordered the Kensington, I also got one of these (for $12.99, not $80):
Peripheral Ground Loop Isolator
I can plug the line out from the charger into my auxiliary input. Works pretty well. The wireless remote is pretty nice, but the battery didn't last terribly long. When the warranty on the car runs out and I get enough interest in messing with electronics, I'll hardwire it and mount it on the console in a stylish way. I'll also make the steering wheel buttons activate the forward and back functions of it.
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