ipod to car
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From: socal, corona
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ipod to car
since my guess is a bunch of us will be picking up ipods for xmas.. maybe an early thread will save us from 22038028357 repeat threads
i know the FM thing sucks.. so i was wondering what else is available..
alpine makes an interface that works with alpine 2004 headunits..
i was wondering what else is out.. what sucks.. what rocks.. blah blah blah
i know the FM thing sucks.. so i was wondering what else is available..
alpine makes an interface that works with alpine 2004 headunits..
i was wondering what else is out.. what sucks.. what rocks.. blah blah blah
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From: bay area, california
Rep Power: 337 mp3 by definition technically "sucks". so one of hte nicer fm modulators shouldnt be an issue at all.
I can see there being a problem with the coordless BOSS brand $2 modulators fmr ebay, but something nice made by david navone would work wonderfully well.
and be far cheaper than rare adapters or buying a new radio!
I can see there being a problem with the coordless BOSS brand $2 modulators fmr ebay, but something nice made by david navone would work wonderfully well.
and be far cheaper than rare adapters or buying a new radio!
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From: Moore, Oklahoma, US
Rep Power: 317 Clarion rep told that they will be coming out with a cable similar to Alpines, using the CeNet controller. It should work on all Clarion radios 2001+. The Clarion will be able to control Ipod functions, display track/title/time etc. on the display and also charge the unit.
Thats another way to go (thats what i'm going to do, and then buy an Ipod and put uncompressed music on it from my CD's, try to get the best sound possible).
If the Clarion and Alpine aren't an option, the AUX in way would be next best in my opinion, then i guess FM modulation.
Thats another way to go (thats what i'm going to do, and then buy an Ipod and put uncompressed music on it from my CD's, try to get the best sound possible).
If the Clarion and Alpine aren't an option, the AUX in way would be next best in my opinion, then i guess FM modulation.
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Rep Power: 323 do you own one? (I do)
I'll be the first to argue the compression issues with MP3 and still don't think it's the best format HOWEVER being able to carry my entire collection whereever I go supersedes the compromise. 192 VBR encoded MP3's are as close to CD quality as you'll practically get and it's not that bad.
I'll be the first to argue the compression issues with MP3 and still don't think it's the best format HOWEVER being able to carry my entire collection whereever I go supersedes the compromise. 192 VBR encoded MP3's are as close to CD quality as you'll practically get and it's not that bad.
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From: bay area, california
Rep Power: 337 well, it shouldnt be about compression issues versus hi-fi sound as much as it is the bottlneck in a car audio system.
for example, youve got engine noise, road noise, equipment noise, and now cd-mp3 signal degredation.
you want to argue that FM modulation sounds like junk, then play your mp3's? thats just silly.
you want to argue the difference between 128 or even 92 bit rate conversions over 320, and compare that to road noise on the highway at 80 mph?
please.
spend the money if you want, get a new radio, buy expensive connectors, etc. but do it for the right reasons. cool to control the ipod from the radio, almost as cool that it charges. But dont claim youll get better sound quality, no car on the road sounds better than mid-fi anyways.
remember folks, keep it a relative discussion about loss of quality using mp3 encoding, and its not in relation to cd recordings! not in a car, no way!
for example, youve got engine noise, road noise, equipment noise, and now cd-mp3 signal degredation.
you want to argue that FM modulation sounds like junk, then play your mp3's? thats just silly.
you want to argue the difference between 128 or even 92 bit rate conversions over 320, and compare that to road noise on the highway at 80 mph?
please.
spend the money if you want, get a new radio, buy expensive connectors, etc. but do it for the right reasons. cool to control the ipod from the radio, almost as cool that it charges. But dont claim youll get better sound quality, no car on the road sounds better than mid-fi anyways.
remember folks, keep it a relative discussion about loss of quality using mp3 encoding, and its not in relation to cd recordings! not in a car, no way!
Thread Starter
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From: socal, corona
Rep Power: 312 the issue with the FM modulator wasnt about quality loss.. it was about it just sucking in general... as in radio stations do exist even way down on the dial.. but whatever about that..
i did a lot more searching and came across http://www.mp3yourcar.com .. which sells connectors for basicly every stock and aftermarket radio from about 1992 and up.. so basicly every cd headunit in existance (11 different manufacturers)
the connector for our factory head units run for $189.99 (1998-2004.. 2005 is not listed)
and as far as mp3 quality sucking.. well.. id rather have my music sound a lil worse.. but have all of it available to me at the touch of a button on my remote.. rather than carry around all $1,500 or so worth of my cds only to wreck my car flipping through a 50lb book looking for that one blondie cd..... .... ... sayin'...
i did a lot more searching and came across http://www.mp3yourcar.com .. which sells connectors for basicly every stock and aftermarket radio from about 1992 and up.. so basicly every cd headunit in existance (11 different manufacturers)
the connector for our factory head units run for $189.99 (1998-2004.. 2005 is not listed)
and as far as mp3 quality sucking.. well.. id rather have my music sound a lil worse.. but have all of it available to me at the touch of a button on my remote.. rather than carry around all $1,500 or so worth of my cds only to wreck my car flipping through a 50lb book looking for that one blondie cd..... .... ... sayin'...
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From: Moore, Oklahoma, US
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Originally Posted by coop
slick - is this via an external module? If so - you'll probably have to pay for it and the proprietary cable.
hopefully its not too expensive, ipods are already $300+.
theres a cable out already that connects to the CD Changer port of most oem and aftermarket decks
mp3yourcar.com
little pricey but allows yo uto control the ipod from your headunit, unfortunatly doesnt trasmit track data
whoops was mentioned above :|
mp3yourcar.com
little pricey but allows yo uto control the ipod from your headunit, unfortunatly doesnt trasmit track data
whoops was mentioned above :|
Last edited by AggressiveAdam; Dec 23, 2004 at 02:05 PM.
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Originally Posted by winnerpl
About mp3 qualiy sucking, I dare anyone to notice any difference between a 192kbps MP3 file and cd quality. 
but in a car? theres no way. the noise floor is just too high. thats why FM modulators are a non-issue, unless you buy one that cost you $2 from ebay.
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From: Moore, Oklahoma, US
Rep Power: 317 true, my music sounds good at low speeds (less road noise), but once i start on the highway at 80mph, music fidelity is gone.
i can easily tell the difference between a well encoded 192kbps mp3 and the original cd at home, but not in my car (even though i try to, i cant).
the only problem with fm modulators is interference in my opinion, otherwise its good enough for most people.
still though, its nice to be able to control and charge your ipod with your radio and THINK that you are getting way better sound out of it than you would an fm modulator trust me, thats the kind of crap i will be spewing when i get one, lol.
i can easily tell the difference between a well encoded 192kbps mp3 and the original cd at home, but not in my car (even though i try to, i cant).
the only problem with fm modulators is interference in my opinion, otherwise its good enough for most people.
still though, its nice to be able to control and charge your ipod with your radio and THINK that you are getting way better sound out of it than you would an fm modulator
trust me, thats the kind of crap i will be spewing when i get one, lol. Thread Starter
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From: socal, corona
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time to go put in my new speakers... mmm.. its 30 degrees out.. o joy.. im not bothering with the ipod yet.. cuz my headunit is crap.. so i dont wanna waste the $150+ for a cable .. then ended up having to get a new one when i get a new HU
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From: Connecticut
Rep Power: 0 Aux-in all the way, guys. iTrip or any of those other FM modulators are very sketchy. They might work for you, or they might not. It depends on your stereo's antenna and on the radio stations in your area that might interfere. I know for a fact that those FM modulators barely work around Los Angeles just because there are so many actual radio stations there filling the air.
If your HU has an aux-in, use it! If not... Buy one that does!
If your HU has an aux-in, use it! If not... Buy one that does!
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From: Boston
Rep Power: 274 I have a dell dj and here is what I did:
1. From Dell DJ Mini - to - RCA's wire.
2. RCA wire go to - RCA jacks (installed my self, next to lighter)
3. From the RCA jacks, I connected them via RCA wires to an adapter for my Kenwood HU. The adapter turns the trunk cd player input into RCA inputs.
While I can't control my mp3's from my HU, the setup only cost me like 30 bucks.
1. From Dell DJ Mini - to - RCA's wire.
2. RCA wire go to - RCA jacks (installed my self, next to lighter)
3. From the RCA jacks, I connected them via RCA wires to an adapter for my Kenwood HU. The adapter turns the trunk cd player input into RCA inputs.
While I can't control my mp3's from my HU, the setup only cost me like 30 bucks.
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Originally Posted by winnerpl
About mp3 qualiy sucking, I dare anyone to notice any difference between a 192kbps MP3 file and cd quality.
lol. I wouldn't care if it's over 300kbps, mp3 are also prone to spikes too which can harm your equipment. I guarantee that there isn't a single person here who has never download a high quality song everytime. It's compression period. I will agree that high bitrate files can come damn close to CD recording quality but if you've been in the audio industry long enough and you play your 192kbps in an actual sq vehicle you CAN tell the difference. Pickup Michael Jacksons Thriller. It's one of the highest audio volume mass produced albums of all time. Listen to that album on the CD and then in MP3. There IS a difference.
Electric Boogaloo...
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From: Want to play a game?
Rep Power: 328 You all do know that there is now an interface for our cars correct (using the stock headunit)? Seriously, it's $170 and you hook it up to your stock head unit, and plug the ipod in, then you can control it through the controls on your headunit. It's made by PIE. www.pie.net Part number HON98/PC-POD. No need for an FM modulator, or fumbling with the iPod while driving...
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From: Huntington Beach, California, US
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Originally Posted by PopcornPlaya
You all do know that there is now an interface for our cars correct (using the stock headunit)? Seriously, it's $170 and you hook it up to your stock head unit, and plug the ipod in, then you can control it through the controls on your headunit. It's made by PIE. www.pie.net Part number HON98/PC-POD. No need for an FM modulator, or fumbling with the iPod while driving...
Thread Starter
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From: socal, corona
Rep Power: 312 i picked up a used pillar so i can try and make a slick looking mount for my ipod.. not sure when im gunna get around to starting this.. but ill letcha know how it turns out..
