Sik Imp Alernative/Car Install Option Questions

[zeonstar]

Hey all.

Looking into putting my iPod in my car and looking for the best options for each peice I need. I know from this forum the Sik Imp is very popular and one of the best for true line out with charging. I was just wondering if there are any other simular items out there and how they compare? I saw in the store a Beklin auto adapter that is very simular. Dock connection, line out, charger, etc. ONly difference was it has a volume adjustment on it. How does it compare to the siK? Basically I am rather impatient and would love to find an in store option (Like the Belkin.) But if the Sik really is superior, I will go ahead and order it online.

A few more questions. Unless I am looking at the wrong site, it appears it is very expensive to adapt a Head Unit with an adapter that makes the CD changer line out into an iPod connection. Is there a way to do that that does not cost near $200? I have a MP3 CD player in my car. It does not have a line in, but i THINK (Not 100% sure at the moment) it has the controls (plug in the back) for a CD changer but since I have no desire to ever have one, I have never paid attetion to that feature.

From my own research it's looking like it will be cheaper to buy a whole new Car stereo, with a Line in which is what I'm looking to do, unless directed to better other options. The one I'm looking at is about $120.

And could someone link me or direct me to a place I could buy a Cig lighter splitter to make the plug into more than one? I dont want to do any wiring, simply one that makes one cig plug into more than one, like 2 would be perfect.

Thank you.

[pdp76]

Originally posted by zeonstar
Hey all.

Looking into putting my iPod in my car and looking for the best options for each peice I need. I know from this forum the Sik Imp is very popular and one of the best for true line out with charging. I was just wondering if there are any other simular items out there and how they compare? I saw in the store a Beklin auto adapter that is very simular. Dock connection, line out, charger, etc. ONly difference was it has a volume adjustment on it. How does it compare to the siK? Basically I am rather impatient and would love to find an in store option (Like the Belkin.) But if the Sik really is superior, I will go ahead and order it online.

A few more questions. Unless I am looking at the wrong site, it appears it is very expensive to adapt a Head Unit with an adapter that makes the CD changer line out into an iPod connection. Is there a way to do that that does not cost near $200? I have a MP3 CD player in my car. It does not have a line in, but i THINK (Not 100% sure at the moment) it has the controls (plug in the back) for a CD changer but since I have no desire to ever have one, I have never paid attetion to that feature.

From my own research it's looking like it will be cheaper to buy a whole new Car stereo, with a Line in which is what I'm looking to do, unless directed to better other options. The one I'm looking at is about $120.

And could someone link me or direct me to a place I could buy a Cig lighter splitter to make the plug into more than one? I dont want to do any wiring, simply one that makes one cig plug into more than one, like 2 would be perfect.

Thank you.
The Belkin has a little amplifier in it, hence you get the volume controls. Though probably not noticeable to most people, this amplification stage will introduce some noise. In light of this, the SiK Imp is a better choice. One cool thing I heard about the Belkin though, is that when you turn off the car, and thus power is disconnected from the cigarette lighter, the belkin will automatically pause the iPod. This is cool.

As for getting an AUX input adapter for your headunit, what kind of headunit do you have? If it does have cd changer controls, most AUX in adapters for the CD changer input are much less than $200.... unless you are talking about the adapters that also allow control of the iPod via the headunit. Anyway, the adapters that doesn't have iPod controls, i.e. the ones that are just a staright AUX in, usually are less than $50.

You can buy a cigarette lighter splitter at www.radioshack.com

[jwc110869]

The Sendstation PocketDock with Line out is an option as well.

http://www.sendstation.com/us/products/pocketdock/lineout-fw.html

But its size might not work well, depending on what case you use. The Sik Imp fits in smaller case openings...........

[zeonstar]

Thanks for the reply. I thought the thing to make the CD changer control into an AUX jack costed ALOT more. I can do it for $50? Where can I find more information? No I do not need to control my iPod with the radio, I just want the direct line connector. I have no desire to fiddle with an FM Transmitter.

If I can do a direct line with my existing player, I am all for it. I really didnt WANT to buy a new radio, just for the Aux input.

My Player is a Sony, CD/MP3 CD player. I don't know the model off hand but I can go out to my car and look. I am almost positive on the faceplace it mentions "CD changer control."

So that means it would work right? What do I need it that case?

I'm glad I asked about this. Thank you.

EDIT: Model is CDX-MP40, Sony. Says "MD/CD changer control" right on the faceplate.

[pdp76]

Originally posted by zeonstar
Thanks for the reply. I thought the thing to make the CD changer control into an AUX jack costed ALOT more. I can do it for $50? Where can I find more information? No I do not need to control my iPod with the radio, I just want the direct line connector. I have no desire to fiddle with an FM Transmitter.

If I can do a direct line with my existing player, I am all for it. I really didnt WANT to buy a new radio, just for the Aux input.

My Player is a Sony, CD/MP3 CD player. I don't know the model off hand but I can go out to my car and look. I am almost positive on the faceplace it mentions "CD changer control."

So that means it would work right? What do I need it that case?

I'm glad I asked about this. Thank you.

EDIT: Model is CDX-MP40, Sony. Says "MD/CD changer control" right on the faceplate.
Well good news and bad news. The good news is that there is a AUX input adapter for your particular headunit. Here is a link to it http://www.crutchfield.com/S-HFfedxBSPa9/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=50900&I=158XA300

The bad news is, it's $100. The reason I think it costs so much is because it has the option of connecting up to 2 AUX inputs plus a freaking USB port! It's not your simple passthrough aux input adapter, which again, usually cost < $50, for example, the pioneer AUX input adapter cable.

Sony has a 2 cable connection procedure for adding changers, one cable for the signals to control the changer, and another regular RCA cable for the sound. Therefore, your headunit actually already has the AUX input RCA jacks on the back.... the problem is, you need the control signals to tell your headunit to play the sounds going into the aux input.

There MIGHT be some older aux input adapters from Sony that only have 1 input, which will make it cheaper, or even maybe some 3rd party ones. Look around the web, you might find some.

Oh and yes, good idea to not use an FM transmitter, I think they sound like ###..... very noticeable difference between FM and straight aux in.

And finally, as you probably know already, you will also have to get the SiK imp, Sendstation Pocketdock w/line out, or other device to get a lineout signal from your iPod. Good luck!

EDIT: Looks like there are 3rd party adatpers that do what you want. http://www.alphacaraudio.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1947 Too bad they're in the UK..... looks like this thing just plugs into the CD changer port to "FAKE" a cd changer, and you plug your ipod into the already existing RCA inputs jacks on the back of your headunit. Now, you can change your headunit to CD changer mode and it will play whatever is coming into the AUX input RCA plugs! Anyway, just wanted to let you know these things do exist.

[zeonstar]

Thanks for all your help php. I had did some searching on my own and I too found that adapter... for $99.

Looks like my best option is going to be a new head unit with a Aux Jack. Probably going to get the Sony GT200 unless someone sugests otherwise.

And I will definately be getting a SiK Imp too. They aren't sold in any store are they?

Oh could you link me to a cig lighter splitter or two? I could not find one on radioshack. Maybe I wasn't looking in the right place...

[pdp76]

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062266&cp=2032056.2032136.2032154&pg=3&parentPage=family

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062264&cp=2032056.2032136.2032154&pg=4&parentPage=family

There are a couple for you.


As for the headunit.... I personally don't like Sony's that much. I'm sure they work great for the average user, but their quality has definitely gone down since the late 1990's plus their user interface and display layout just doesn't go well with my tastes. Nowadays, for entry level, cheaper headunits, I like JVC, not only cuz they have been reliable to me, but their user interface is the cleanest IMO. Anyway, just my .02

That being said though, the GT200 should work just fine for you.

SiK imp isn't sold in stores AFAIK, you can order it from their website or look on ebay or amazon. You may also want to look at the Sendstation pocketdock firewire/lineout. I recently got my SiK stolen and got a pocketdock to replace it. The pocketdock definitely looks slicker and matches the iPod better. Also, you don't have to mess with the dangling cords that come out of the IMP, and it comes with some 3/8" cables too. But the cons for the pocketdock are 1) Doesn't have the spring loaded clips on the dock connector like the SiK imp so it's not as secure, but it's still pretty tight and 2) doesn't come with the firewire cigarette lighter charger like the IMP does 3) It doesn't fit too well with lots of iPod cases out there incase you use one. Both are about the same price.

[zeonstar]

I think the Sik will do for me. I guess I am a sony guy. Let's face it all I need is that Aux jack. Once my iPod is in the car I will probably be using it 98% of the time. I'm not a radio listener. I thought about getting the "Lesser" model, which is only $100 but does not play MP3 CDs. Now of course I am gonna have my iPod to play MP3s but I rather have the MP3 CD player as a backup. My current one is a MP3 CD player and it seems silly to me to go "Backwards" like that.

If I could find an alternative CD MP3 player for cheaper with the aux jack, I would consider it.

My Ipod does have a case actually, a iSee. I am actually also curious about some mounting options. I posted about this elsewhere but have not gotten alot of input yet. I just need someone I can set my iPod on or something that will "Grab" it. I would like to install some sort of unit attached to the dash.

I have a 2001 Hyundai Accent if that would help with input at all.

[tipod77]

I bought the Sik Imp driectly through their website. Same price as buying through Amazon, but it was FAST delivery. I am getting pretty fed up with Amazong lately.

The new pocketdock with USB out does look like an intriguing adapter to have in general, although by itself I don't think you can charge your ipod in the car with it.

If your head has a cassette player, you can get an adapter that pops into that, which works MUCH better than the FM sender units. Aux line in is definitely the best way to go. My Element has line-in capability, but my wife's Accord doesn't and we use the Sony Cassette adapter in the Accord.

[elementwrx]

I am also looking for the same thing for my Toyota Matrix stock HU. I don't want to invest in a new HU becuase I will be going to college soon, and theft is way too common on college campuses, so I don't want my new HU stolen.

I had an idea of [link=http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=152454]rewiring a CD Changer control plug to work with a composite jack, but the issue is finding the schematics for the CD Changer control plug. If there was a cheap alternative (less than $100) to somehow wire my iPod into my Toyota Matrix (no tape deck, no front aux in), I would be so happy! $200 is just TOO MUCH to spend to wire my iPod into my current HU.

[silvery]

I just wanted to thank everyone who posted in this thread 'cause you guys helped me made my decision. I bought the cdx-gt200 for 119. I previously had one of the first mp3 decks made by Sony CDX-mp450x, so I was already comfortable with the controls. Besides the price, I like that there's a pause button to pause mp3 cds or cds and I like that it reads file names and id3 tags, that's a big improvement over my old one. I know it's not as high end of a unit as my prev Xplod, but I'm happy with it. The pod is sounding good too via use of a Belkin male to male. I've been thinking about a pure line out option as well, we'll see. The only downside is they don't give you a case for the detachable face plate anymore. Luckily I found this out before I sold my old unit, and kept my case.

Oh and please don't trust the salesman when he tells you that you can plug your ipod straight into the usb input on the new JVCs - he got me all excited, lol. It's just for thumbdrives. Those JVCs are compatible with pods but you have to buy a special $100 or so adapter, just like with most units (and I don't think it plugs into the back of the unit). But the JVCs with the aux inputs should work fine just like php said, though I couldn't find them in the stores anymore.

[Tristram77]

I got suckered into it. I bought the JVC with the USB plug after being told that it was the best way to do it. I now have to either return the thing, after it has been installed, or buy the JVC thing to http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7652881&type=product&id=1134701324965 plug into it.

I am pretty bulls*it about it because they guy told me it would work. And that it was better then the headphone jack thing.