Music in Cars

[Binky]

I was wondering what ways there are and which were the best ways for playing music from an ipod in a car with a cd player???

The only thing is there is no tape deck so can't use one of those tape ipod transfer things. Also the cigarette lighter place will be used by a Sat Nav. What other possibilities are left???

[kwak zzr]

one of them transmitter thingy bobs that plugs into the bottom of ya ipod and tunes into ya radio, bout £10 ain't they?

[startrek.steve]

one of them transmitter thingy bobs that plugs into the bottom of ya ipod and tunes into ya radio, bout £10 ain't they?

Yeah, pay a bit more though, cos the cheapy ones are a bit buzzy... I drive around all day with work, and play a lot of podcasts on mine. Anyone on here listen to podcasts? if so, which ones?

Steve

[Skip]

Funnily enough I have been looking at this today - there are some on eBay for £10 or one with a posh red display for about £18 - any recommendations Steve?

[Gordon B]

I use a Griffin i-trip. About 10 quid off the bay.

Not audiophile standard but does the job for me. The ipod sits in the centre armrest and there is no loss of signal.

[Binky]

Is there a significant sound quality difference between a ten pound i trip and a twenty pound one for example???

Is it also true that they have to be sort of calibrated to a spcific ipod, meaning that i wouldn't be able to borrow one etc???

[yorkie_chris]

The cig lighter situation... just butcher some "stuff" to get a 2 outlet one. Satnav and ipod don't use much power.

[startrek.steve]

Yeah, the Griffins good, and the Belkin, I got a cheapy for ?6.00 but it got a lot of interference, and the charger part fell off.

[Viney]

I have a Harmon Kardon Drive and play

Far better than the tranmitters. This can either plug directly into the head unit (If it has an Aux in(most do nowadays)) or via a modulator.

Dont underestimate the ammount of times you will look at your pod whilst driving. My screen is located up in the bottom right hand side of the windscreen and the controller down by the hand brake. It all works well, and charges you pod whilst using it.

http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/4892.html

Edit: If it does have an Aux in then you can just buy a lead. Some radios have a 3.5mm jack on the front, others a pair of RCA flyleads on the back of the unit. So by the appropriate lead and you'll be fine.

[phil24_7]

Most of the popular ICE (In Car Entertainment) brands make a control box that'll plug into some of their head units allowing the car stereo to control the iPod so you cn stick it in the glovebox and forget about it.

[fat_brstd]

see if you amp has an aux input on it, probably round the back it will be a 1 red and 1 white connector exactly like the ones you get on the back of stereos and just plug a wire into that straight out of the ipod using a 3.5mm jack to phono lead like this one from maplins (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=31700&C=Maplin&U=SearchTop&T=jack%20to%20phono&doy=12m7), much cheeper than any other way of doing it and no loss of signal.

[phil24_7]

Though this way you'll have to control the volume from the iPod, will need to run a wire from the amp the the front of the car or have no control over volume, will need an amp in the first place and you will suffer signal loss and pick up "noise" through the wire (the longer the wire, the more chance of signal degradation (or just buy an expensive lead!) and any "noise" will be amplified!

Your best bet is to find a stereo with aux in ability or one of the one's that allow you to control an iPod from the head unit. These units don't even cost a lot anymore.

Regards

[BernardBikerchick]

dunno but i can tell you how to wire your lid up to one !!!! heee works like a dream !

[Binky]

see if you amp has an aux input on it, probably round the back it will be a 1 red and 1 white connector exactly like the ones you get on the back of stereos and just plug a wire into that straight out of the ipod using a 3.5mm jack to phono lead like this one from maplins (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=31700&C=Maplin&U=SearchTop&T=jack%20to%20phono&doy=12m7), much cheeper than any other way of doing it and no loss of signal.

Do all cars have two sockets for the aux calble like in this link, as i'm sure the car i'm travelling in does not have two obviuosly in the dash like this.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2380/2498610018_6e1f37a594.jpg?v=0

Are others hidden, behind the radio etc...???

[fat_brstd]

Do all cars have two sockets for the aux calble like in this link, as i'm sure the car i'm travelling in does not have two obviuosly in the dash like this.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2380/2498610018_6e1f37a594.jpg?v=0

Are others hidden, behind the radio etc...???


Normally its actually on the back of the unit. You will need to pull the stereo out of the bay its located in and have a look or else post the make and model number of it on here and im sure a manual for it can be found.

I know that in my house mates car i had to drill a hole into the glove box so the cable would fit through and then the ipod could be left in the glove box and so was not on display at anytime although it was a bit fiddly to change track untill we got him a longer cable so he could move it about freely.

[DMC]

Do all cars have two sockets for the aux calble like in this link, as i'm sure the car i'm travelling in does not have two obviuosly in the dash like this.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2380/2498610018_6e1f37a594.jpg?v=0

Are others hidden, behind the radio etc...???

Obvious way to find out is see if your Hi Fi has an Aux button/setting on it ;) If yes then theres likely to be an Aux in jack in the back.