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Hey guys,

I have a 2004 civic hybrid, and basically I want to add an audio line in so I can play my ipod.

What is the best option to do so?

I know potentially I could just get a new headunit, but I hate how flashy all of them look. Or, I could add the auxilliary line in through the existing factory headunit.

I'm probably going to have it done professionally.....whats the best/cheapest way to go about it?

Thanks

 
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the absolute best way if you have the stock radio (or tape/cd player too) is the ipod direct connect unit. it plugs into your factory cd-changer port which is normally not used (unless you have a double audio system with tape or stereo on top and add-on cd player on bottom). it is a pure digital connection and the sound quality is by far the best. i actually have the latest version i bought a few months ago to use with my ipod and it was around $100 plus a $25 upgraded cable so i could charge the 5g nano while its connected. ive since gone back to aftermarket deck and taken out the ipod adapter so if you want i will sell it cheaper both the interface and upgraded cable for $85 shipped. you need the cable for most newer gen ipod products otherwise the old cable has some bugs and doesnt charge most devices. i can include the old cable too (new one has a blue and yellow striple on it). i can post some pics if you are interested.

heres when i had it installed to the factory radio. many of the ipod functions can be controled directly from the radio like volume, track up/down, etc. it works perfectly but i like my aftermarket stereo better for features and looks (but no way to connect ipod unfortunately). i dont do much music listening in the car anymore.

the hookup is literally two connectors to plug in. the blue one plugs behind the factory radio, the other side plugs into the ipod (long apple docking connector). thats literally it. the unit also has a pair of rca input red/white if you want to plug in another device. using the rca will not give as good of a sound as the ipod adapter tho.

with the ipod interface connected

 
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so long as your radio looks something like this with a unit on top and nothing on the bottom, you can use the ipod adapter. it also works with tape or cd player on top.

 
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just in case you want to buy mine, here are the pics. like i said i will also include the old cable but i do not recommend using it if you have a newer ipod product. the new cable is designed to work with all ipod type device old or new and worked perfectly with 5g nano 16gb to charge the battery while hooked to stereo and playing. this way the battery always stays full.

here is everything to install. it is so easy i recommend just doing it yourself. the unit in the middle is pretty small and fits in the palm of your hand. its also very lightweight. the wiring weighs more than the unit. there is double sided stick tape on the back to mount it somewhere. i had it behind the glove box.



the blue plug goes directly to the factory radio in the back. i can look for my old stereo and snap a pic of the back to show what i mean. there is only one empty connector for this to fit.



the other plug goes to your ipod device with dock port.



extra rcas if you want to conect a second device other than the ipod (using the rca jack, but it will not have control thru the radio, and not as good digital quality as the ipod).

 
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What brand is that?

 
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the USA-SPEC adapter kit. the actual black unit is repackaged for directed, but physically its the usa-spec unit with a black box instead of white. the cables are usa spec as well. i just got it cause i like black better than white. the insides are exactly the same.