New Head Unit w/ Aux. Input

[dt2.0]

I have what might be a stupid question: I am in the process of purchasing an ipod. I will mainly be using it in my vehicle, a 2000 Ford F150. Instead of using an FM transmitter, I am considering replacing my cd head unit (since it is stock anyway) with a new in-dash cd player that has an auxillary input in the rear of the unit. Would this allow me to connect my ipod directly to the unit? If so, what other equipment would I need? I found a Jensen cd player for around $80 that has one of these inputs and it would still be better than my stock cd player and I think cheaper than many of the adaptor kits that I have seen online. Greatly appreciate input from people a lot more knowledgeable than myself. Thanx.

[armandocerna]

I just installed an awia head unit from crutchfield in my 2005 focus and I couldn't be happier it has an aux port in the front and it sounds amazing compared to the fm transmitter I was using before. The headunit I got was $79 it sounds great and installation was very easy

[dt2.0]

armandocerna,

What type of cable are you using to connect your ipod to the auxillary port? Or do you have to use a more complicated adapter or harness of some sort? I assume it would be a simple cable between the head unit and the ipod, but I am pretty clueless about this stuff. I will check into the awia unit as well as I'm sure its more convenient to have the aux. port in the front. Thanks for your help.

[armandocerna]

It's just a standard 1/8 to 1/8 plug there is a headphone jack on the front of the stereo and there is a headphone jack on the ipod and the cable just goes from one to the other

[dt2.0]

Out of curiosity, did you install the new unit yourself? Sounds like exactly what I'm looking for and was just wondering how hard it would be to hook up the amp and sub that I am running off my stock system now. Had Circuit City hook up the amp and sub, but paying someone for installation of the new head unit would really bring down the cost effectiveness of this option. Anyway, I really appreciate all the help.

[GavinD]

Originally posted by dt2.0
Out of curiosity, did you install the new unit yourself? Sounds like exactly what I'm looking for and was just wondering how hard it would be to hook up the amp and sub that I am running off my stock system now. Had Circuit City hook up the amp and sub, but paying someone for installation of the new head unit would really bring down the cost effectiveness of this option. Anyway, I really appreciate all the help.


Just buy the best possible deck you can…

You should be able to plug the new deck right into the RCA cables that are all ready ran but make sure you get a decent deck…

[armandocerna]

Yeah I did it myself. I've never installed any car audio stuff before and I have always paid people to do it but I figured it would be a good thing to learn how to do. It was very easy. And as far as I know you can just plug the amp into the rca jacks on the back of the stereo

[dt2.0]

Really appreciate all the help. Gonna buy the Aiwa unit next payday from crutchfield and try putting it in myself with their installation kit. Read nothing but good reviews about that receiver on the web and how well it works with an ipod. Thanx again.

[armandocerna]

Crutchfield is pretty awesome. At first I was using a DLO transpod and plugging the aux like from the awia into that but then I was getting some a slight alternator hum out of the speakers because of the DLO charger I guess it has no ground loop isolator. So I moved my ipod to the little shelf that the installation kit came with and plugged it in and it sounds incredible


EDIT: BTW with the installation kit and harness for my car it set me at about 102. Use the coupon code PA166 for $20 a $100 order. Even if you have to add some little thing to get it to $100 it's still worth it

[fondoo]

i totally agree with armandocerna.

read forum:
http://forums.ipodlounge.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=99354