iPod in car

[trianglejuice]

Hi,

I'm going to buy the new 40GB iPod (4G) and I want to connect it to my car's sound system.

I have a cd player in it an can hook up any device to it that works with stereo cinch.

My question is simple: is this the best (and cheapest way) to do this, or should I think about a better solution?

Thanks in advance!
Jasper.

[Sumleilmus]

Hello. I don't know what means "stereo cinch." If that's important, tell us what it means to get better help.

The cheapest option is listed first.

If you live in an area where the FM bandwidth is uncrowded (very few radio signals between 88.1 and 107.9 MHz), then there are handy little devices that transmit a sound signal via FM to a tunable frequency that your car radio picks up. Belkin makes one. Check their site.

If the bandwidth is crowded, but you don't listen to the radio very often, disconnect your antenna. Then the transmitter device will work well, without interference.

There are several other methods. (Someone else will suggest ones I've not listed here, most likely).

Install a cassette deck, and use a cassette adapter for the iPod's output. (Probably the easiest and most attractive option).

Have someone (or do this yourself, if you are handy with wire and solder) reverse engineer a Y-harness into the car stereo so you can choose iPod or CD player as input device. This would involve things like dashboard removal, drilling holes, &c., and is for the bold and the bold alone, unless wealth is present, in which case hire someone to do it, in which case you are not reading this.

You get the idea.

Good luck.

[Las_Vegas]

Other options include, Alpine's new KCA-420i (iPod Interface) (http://www.alpine-usa.com/products/leading_technology/leading_tech_kca-420i.htm) at about $100, Griffin's iTrip (http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/itrip/) at about $40 (as Sumleilmus mentioned) or a car stereo with a stereo input jack with a $5 cable.

[nkuvu]

Griffin also has a new device out, the RoadTrip, that includes an iPod holder and charger as well as transmitter. It is, of course, more expensive than the iTrip alone (about $80) but may be worth it to have an all-in-one unit.

Personally I use the iTrip and an adjustable cell phone holder (obviously one big enough for the iPod).

[biglug]

I have a cd player in it an can hook up any device to it that works with stereo cinch.

I'm assuming you're saying your car stereo is one with an 'Aux' input or some such (it has an 1/8" jack on the front and an option to use that as the input source)

If that's the case then just buy a stereo lead from your local electronics store (like Radio Shack if you're in the US .. I'm in Australia and it'd be Dick Smith here. In the UK I think Dixons is the go)

The lead will cost you about $AUD5.00 and will give the best sound. Much better than an iTrip which relies on radio and can be interfered with by various external events.

My iPod sits next to the stereo, as another poster suggested, on a (wide) universal mobile phone holder. There's nothing more annoying that stopping quickly and watching expensive equipment fly off the seat.

Cheers!
Rick

[nkuvu]

The lead will cost you about $AUD5.00 and will give the best sound. Much better than an iTrip which relies on radio and can be interfered with by various external events.
I agree. I went with the iTrip because the stereo in my car has no auxiliary inputs. For me to get the iPod to connect to the stereo, I'd have to do some rewiring (as mentioned above in Sumleilmus' post). And with no cassette deck, the iTrip was the easiest option for me.

I've found that it's perfectly acceptable on the sound quality, but I think wiring it in would provide a definite improvement.

[trianglejuice]

Thank you very much! :)

There must be at least one solution that works. Will try it out when I receive my iPod from the AppleStore.

By the way: stereo cinch = the red-and-white (or red-and-black) cable (like the ones you use on your (not-in-one-case) stereo).

Cheers,
Jasper.

[nkuvu]

Just did a Google image search -- is something like this what you're referring to?
http://www.24arirang.com/ebay/rca%20cable/rca_cable4ft1.jpg

I've most often heard those described as RCA jacks. I have no idea if that's the proper term for them, though.

[mac_man_luke]

You would need a RCA -> 3.5mm Cable then

Not sure what you would call it

That would give you excellent sound

[nmerriam]

It's a "Mini to RCA" connector you're talking about.

Also, if you want a more elegant install, check out the iceLinkiceLink from Denison (http://www.densionusa.com/x/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=375&Itemid=79). I recently had to replace my car stereo, so I went ahead and bought a Sony that they supported and everything works perfectly, I'm glad I did it.

I just drop the iPod into the holder on my dash, and immediately it shows up as a CD changer, I can change songs, FF/RW all without touching the iPod. And When you turn off the car it pauses the iPod automatically, and starts it back up again when the car does.

The only real disadvantage over the Alpine units (which still aren't available as far as I know) is that it doesn't pass track information (song title, etc) to the head unit, so you still need the display on the iPod to see what's playing, which is why I didn't just install it in the glove box.

[Mugen]

I am thinking about ordering the NEO ION from www.mp3yourcar.com … It looks like the same one BMW uses but you still have iPod controls. I will let you guys know if I end up getting one.

[Mugen]

I am thinking about ordering the NEO ION from www.mp3yourcar.com … It looks like the same one BMW uses but you still have iPod controls. I will let you guys know if I end up getting one.

I ordered one of these and I am really happy with it. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask. :cool:

[dek]

I ordered one of these and I am really happy with it. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask. :cool:

Do you lose the CD changer once it is fitted? My wife is keen to keep the in dash CD after I fit the Neo Ion.