Different Ways to Connect iPod to Home/Car Stereo

[TheSutterDynasty]

I (surprisingly) couldn't find any topics on this already.

Note: I have a classic iPod from like 2005, some things may not work with it.

Everyone I know has FM transmitters hooked up to the car lighter jack to listen to their iPod in their car. They also complain about a lot of intereference.

So what's the best way to do this? Are there some good quality transmitters that don't have interference? What do you recommend? Is there anything I can install that hooks up to the iPod directly from the car? Any other options?

Also, what are the options to connect an iPod to a home stereo? Is there anything that will allow me to connect it to both my home and car stereo?

Thanks in advance!

[Rathji]

You can get a harness that goes in between your current harness and your audio deck in your car. Plugs right into the bottom on your ipod.

There are similar solutions for your home stereo, that use av cables from an ipod dock.

Alternately, depending on your system, you could just plug in a 3.5 mm stereo cable into both.

[DownhillGoat]

Home stereo: 1/8" (3.5mm) to RCA. About $10-15 at any Radio Shack, Best Buy, etc.
This of course, only works if you have an aux in (or additional inputs) on your stereo. If you're using an amp/receiver you will. If you're using a home-theatre-in-a-box, you might not.

Car Stereo: What make/model/year? For newer cars you can buy an ipod interface (they start at $100 and up).
If you feel like upgrading, you can buy a new deck with an ipod or an aux in.
Cheapest route with best sound quality (IMO) is an FM modulator. Uses the FM channels, just like the wireless transmitters, but it's hardwired to your FM antenna, so there's no interference.

http://www.scosche.com/products/productID/417

[Human Torch]

I use a tape deck mp3 adapter ...my car is old.

[TheSutterDynasty]

I found a headphone jack to RCA, so I'm good to go with the home stereo. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Rathji

You can get a harness that goes in between your current harness and your audio deck in your car. Plugs right into the bottom on your ipod.

How does it connect to the audio deck?

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Car Stereo: What make/model/year? For newer cars you can buy an ipod interface (they start at $100 and up).
If you feel like upgrading, you can buy a new deck with an ipod or an aux in.

2005 Nissan Altima. Interface as in a dock?

Most stores I'm looking through pretty much exclusively have the tape deck or the FM transmitters.

I'll check out the aux in and FM modulator options too. Thanks!

[DownhillGoat]

Not a dock, per se. Most makes have an ipod adapter kit that allows you to connect and control the ipod via the stock stereo.

Like this:
http://www.oemautosound.com/pc-237-1...auxiliary.aspx

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

How does it connect to the audio deck?

Pull your deck out of the dash, unplug the harness that is there and plug the ipod harness between the deck and that harness.

Certainly not your easiest solution, but IIRC it is the most cost effective if you can find a reasonably priced harness for your deck. Some deck harnesses are crazy expensive though, and some cars are murderously hard to get to the back of the deck w/o the right tools

[MickMcGeough]

I'm picky about sound quality so I wouldn't recommend an FM transmitter or anything coming out of the 3.5mm jack. Using the 3.5mm means the audio has already gone through the internal amplifier before going to your stereo, which will amplify it again. Most (all?) iPods have a line-level output which you can use with the AV cable. The AV cable has RCA outputs and you'll get much better sound quality.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Human Torch

I use a tape deck mp3 adapter ...my car is old.

Having used both a tape adapter and an FM transmitter, I found the sound quality to be MUCH better using the tape adapter. Some people don't like them, but I'd take that any day over an FM transmitter.

Having said that, both of my cars had no tape deck and no aux-in. I finally caved in this weekend and had a new deck installed, with the sole benefit being that I'll now have an aux-in and a USB-in. At least one car will have nice, clear sound again.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

I finally caved in this weekend and had a new deck installed, with the sole benefit being that I'll now have an aux-in and a USB-in.

By far the best option.

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Having used both a tape adapter and an FM transmitter, I found the sound quality to be MUCH better using the tape adapter. Some people don't like them, but I'd take that any day over an FM transmitter.

Having said that, both of my cars had no tape deck and no aux-in. I finally caved in this weekend and had a new deck installed, with the sole benefit being that I'll now have an aux-in and a USB-in. At least one car will have nice, clear sound again.

I want to to that, but there is no way I can put a new deck into a Chevy Cobalt. For one, it isn't worth it, and second, I have no idea how you fit the deck into the system.

I have an FM transmitter and I hate it. I get constant interference and have to listen to crap techno, and my iPod's headphone jack is broken, so it constantly thinks the chord is coming out (which makes the iPod pause the song), so I have to keep pressing play. My priority for my next car is "has aux-in, or usb port".

[tripin_billie]

I put an inexpensive Pioneer deck into my car when the last one died, and I made sure that it has USB. This has been, bar far, the best way to use the iPod in the car. Perfect audio link and the iPod is powered by the USB, not the battery.

It is a pretty good solution. And, as it turns out, if you have a USB thumb drive, you can load it up with mp3s and use it instead of the iPod.

[3 Justin 3]

This is what my system looks like (stock), well sort of, this is a different model, but same size. How would I put a different deck in there? I'd need like a 5" deck.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

This is what my system looks like (stock), well sort of, this is a different model, but same size. How would I put a different deck in there? I'd need like a 5" deck.

Reasons I dislike GM: The inabillity to upgrade the stock audio. We have the same problem in our Equinox. The best option there is something like the Peripheral ipod2car.

[Sliver]

You guys can just buy an adapter kit for like $15 at Future Shop or even Canadian Tire, I believe. It'll give you a little pocket to store stuff under the aftermarket deck in your factory spot. There's nothing to it.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Sliver

You guys can just buy an adapter kit for like $15 at Future Shop or even Canadian Tire, I believe. It'll give you a little pocket to store stuff under the aftermarket deck in your factory spot. There's nothing to it.

That's exactly what they do. The big slots are called "double DIN" or something like that. That's what we had to do for mine (2002 Mazda Protege 5). Now there's just a little slot under the deck to store stuff in. Not that I need another cubbyhole to shove junk into...

I think that mine was $30 extra. Actually the whole thing cost me $212 including the deck, installation, wiring harness, and the little pocket thingy. Half of that was the deck. Definitely towards the cheap end of the spectrum, but all I want is an aux-in. If it lasts me five years, fantastic. I'm not an audiophile nor do I need fancy stuff, so it is more than good enough for me.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Sliver

You guys can just buy an adapter kit for like $15 at Future Shop or even Canadian Tire, I believe. It'll give you a little pocket to store stuff under the aftermarket deck in your factory spot. There's nothing to it.

Not possible on some newer GMs. On the Equinox/Terrain, the stereo is integrated into the heating/info console. Like so:

I've seen the malibus, vibes, and as 3 Justin 3 pointed out, the Cobalt uses a similar set up, integrating it into the center info console. I know the adapters you're talking about, I've used them in many a vehicle. GM is just making them unadaptable now.

[3 Justin 3]

For mine, the heating and stuff is under all the "sound system" stuff. I just don't think I can take it all out without removing the heating/AC stuff as well. My system is definitely on the low-end, not what kunk posted.

I found a picture of my exact one:



See, my heat and stuff is below it and it looks like it is a separate piece, but how the hell would I take that whole thing out (minus the heating setup)?

Anyone know a guide, or someone who could do it?

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

I found a picture of my exact one:

Anyone know a guide, or someone who could do it?

That one should be able to be replaced by a single din adapter. Different than some of the other GM's. As for guides, if you buy a deck from Crutchfield they send you a PDF with installation instructions for your specific car (including how to tear the dash apart). Before you buy you can verify if the deck you're looking at can be installed in your car.

- - - edit - - -

This might help

http://www.cobaltss.net/forums/showthread.php?t=165811

[Torture]

Your solution is probably easier than mine...but here's what I did.

My factory deck is an oval....so good luck finding a deck to put in there that doesn't look ridiculous. (98 Mercury Sable)

So I bought one of these from Crutchfield ($100)
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_469FRDR...wAll=N&tp=1672

Plug that into the open space for a CD player in the trunk, and run a cable from the trunk to the front of my car.
Press CD, and voila....music from my Blackberry!

The whole thing ran me about $125...totally worth it.

Anyways....this likely isn't the solution for you....just go on Crutchfield, put in the model of your car and year and you can likely replace your deck with one that has an AUX-Input. They'll give you instructions on how to remove your factory deck and install the one they send you.