Is hooking up an ipod to your car cd player really that hard?

[Excalibur1242]

I have no knowledge what so ever on the topic but it seems to me that playing the ipod in the car is a difficult procedure. I see other forums asking how to do it with a particular car like a honda civic or dodge neon. Why would the car make and model make a difference? I thought it would all depend on the type of cd player thats in the car. I orginally thought that in order to hook up the ipod to the cd player, you would need a cd player that had a plug in on the cd player's faceplate and then you would need a cord that would connect from the ipod plug-in (where the headphones are usually pluged in) to the plug-in from the cd faceplate. But, theres probably more to it then how I think its done theres an entire topic forum just on car installation. What factors sure you keep in mind when it comes to installing an ipod to your car? (If theres already a forum thats addressing my problem, please link me to it)

[dbett]

Originally posted by Excalibur1242
(If theres already a forum thats addressing my problem, please link me to it)

Unless this was moved from another forum, you're posting in the forum that addresses you problem.

[Speckled Jim]

You're right that the make/model of car doesn't really affect how the iPod is connected, unless people are talking about the stock stereos that come with particular cars. However, people often post car specific installs because cars are built differently inside.

If you are one of the lucky people whose stereo already has an aux-in (on the faceplate or at the back of the stereo) then you're right - all you need is a headphone jack to phono connector.

However, if like many people, you don't have the aux-in, then you have to rely on another method. Not all other methods are awkward, but they usually aren't as good as the aux-in.

e.g. if your car stereo is a tape-deck, then you can easily use a tape adaptor on it.
- if CD player then it's either fm transmitter (e.g. iTrip) or wired FM modulator.

[HardSpike]

The best options as I see them:

1.) Alpine head unit coming out late this summer that will control your 3rd gen iPod directly
2.) AUX in input so you can just plug in your headphone jack to the AUX in.
3.) CD changer to AUX in converter. Look at www.logjamelectronics.com for the PIE adapters for your car.

then way down on the list:
20.) wired FM modulator
21.) cassette tape adapter
50.) wireless FM modulator like iTrip

[tanakasan]

"2.) AUX in input so you can just plug in your headphone jack to the AUX in. "

Should be down around #25 or 30. The sound quality of the headphone jack vs line out via dock or aftermarket cable is huge. Even noticeable with a hardwired modulator, #20.

[Speckled Jim]

No way. I could understand a small amount of difference, but if the headphone port was that bad how could any of us bear to listen on headphones. You'd have to have an absolutely amazing hi-fi to really tell the difference, and I'm pretty sure that the noise of the car when I'm doing 60mph obscures any difference there could possibly be.

[exdotcomer]

not if you roll the windows up.
besides, it's nice and quite in my lexus, the sound is amazing, and that's just cd's.

[Speckled Jim]

Well even with the windows up, the noise of the tyres on the road and the engine noise is definitely noticeable. I'm not saying there is no quality difference between headphone socket and line-out, but that the difference is at the high end of audiophile, rather than the "I'm listening to music on a car stereo with car noise on top" end. I think it sounds great through the headphone socket, whereas I thought the quality of the iTrip was appalling.

[Oogle]

Well even with the windows up, the noise of the tyres on the road and the engine noise is definitely noticeable
Well, he did say he had a lexus. I've ridden in my friend's lexus before and those things are really soundproof. You probably wouldn't even notice if someone was honking behind you. Quite disorienting for driving if you ask me.

[HardSpike]

It's a moot point anyway unless you've got a 3rd gen iPod, right. My 1st gen iPod and I'm pretty sure the 2nd gens only have a headphone output. I was quite happy with the headphone output to my cd changer port on my old Alpine system.

[BananaJaK]

theres a HUGE difference in sound quality between the headphone jack and line-out.. maybe its time to get new speakers..or your ears checked..

[volki]

If you want to test the quality of the headphone jack and a line out, just use the output on the dock -if you have one- to compare them using home speakers.

The discussion should not be "one is crap, the other one is perfect", though; because, headphone jack and line out serve different purposes. Believe me, you dont want that "line out" signal feeding into your ears. Headphone out is very compressed and designed specifically for, well, headphones. Line out does not go through a compressor and amplification, so it provides a "cleaner" sound, which works better when connecting to car audios or home systems. There is no point of trying to defend one over the other one... it's the apples-oranges comparison.

[tanakasan]

"The discussion should not be "one is crap, the other one is perfect", though; because, headphone jack and line out serve different purposes."

Exactly, volki.

Headphone output (amplified) is designed for a headphone load. I thought I read somewhere that 3G iPod has around a 60 mw amp (30mw X 2), designed to drive a 16-32 ohm impedance load.

A line out signal to feed an amplifier is unadulterated, so that your tuner/head unit can apply any post processing.

Try the dock line out vs headphone out jack test. Huge difference. The line out sounds fuller and more spacious on a home system. Same holds true on a car system, IF it is capable of fully reproducing the signal. A lot (most) car stereos have just limited frequency response. Look at the components...2-3 oz magnet, paper cone speakers with "whizzer" cones if you're lucky, no tweeters or woofers. No external power amps. Mobile audio is a harsh environment. Thats why it is so costly to have truly great sounds in a car.

If you cannot hear any difference between the FM (30-15k hz) and CD (20-20k hz) on your car system, perhaps a new head unit or speakers are in order!

[HardSpike]

You guys keep comparing the line out with the headphone jack. Keep in mind: for a lot of us there is no difference. Why? Because we have 1st or 2nd generation iPods that only have headphone output.

My original post still stands. Yes, if you've got a 3g then use line out when possible. But, the connection methods still rank the same:

1.) Alpine head unit coming out late this summer that will control your 3rd gen iPod directly
2.) AUX in input so you can just plug in your headphone jack to the AUX in.
3.) CD changer to AUX in converter. Look at www.logjamelectronics.com for the PIE adapters for your car.

then way down on the list:
20.) wired FM modulator
21.) cassette tape adapter
50.) wireless FM modulator like iTrip

[rhythm]

I've been following this thread for a bit. The consensus seems to be that the best iPod-to-car-stereo solution (for those whose car stereo does NOT have a line in jack) is to buy and install one of those after-market CD-changer Aux ins from a place like Logjam, much better sound than cassette adapter, better still than wireless FM transmitter. And it was already clear to me that a line-out signal is going to provide far superior sound to a headphone-jack (when amplifying the signal). I'm a pro recording engineer/producer, so it's got to sound reaaalllll good (even with road noise, etc.).
What I'm unclear about is where you would take a line-out signal from iPod while in your car. I have the latest generation 40GB, and there is a line out plug on the dock, but not on the iPod itself, just the headphone jack. And I don't see a way to use the dock in your car (needs Firewire and a stable place to stand up your iPod), so how exactly do you get a line-out signal from an undocked iPod into any car input.

Also, has anyone seen, sold separately, the stick-on dash mounts to hold the iPod, the kind that's just a 2-inch plastic square block with a slot drilled through, into which you would slide the back clip from your iPod case (I have the Marware black neoprene case w/clip). I've seen it packaged with a fancy FM transmitter-to-12v-socket dealie at an official Apple store, but not sold alone. Obviously, based on the above discussion, I ain't gonna need the FM transmitter part, just want the stick on clip holder. Any suggestions?

[Mr. Music]

I use the Belkin car power adapter which connects the the bottom of the iPod and has a volume control and line out in the cigaretter lighter plug portion itself.

[rhythm]

Aaargghh! I just found out from logjam electronics that there is no PIE Aux in adapter for my particular factory deck. That means I'm gonna have to use a cassette adapter until I can replace my whole head unit. Dang!. So now I have another question for Mr. Music or anyone smart about line-out/ headhone jack impedances. Could I plug the mini-plug-in from the cassette adapter into the line jack in that Belkin cigarette lighter adapter? Would that give me a better signal than the iPod's headphone jack since it's line out? But then again, since the cassette adapter is made for the headphone impedance, would feeding it a line-level signal be over-amped for the cassette to handle, would I blow something? Any advice would be appreciated.

[hillstones]

HardSpike made his point clear: the majority of iPod owners have a 1st or 2nd generation iPod, which only offers a headphone output. So stop assuming everyone has a 3rd generation iPod with the line-out feature.

The best connection method for ANY iPod is a direct connection through an aux line-in, or aux line-in converter to the CD Changer port. Either way, the connection to the STEREO is still the same..whether it is from the iPod's headphone jack, or line-out feature.

The next best connection would be a tape-adapter for those limited to only that option. Mainly because it is very easy to do, and very cheap to do. Then would be an FM modulator, and the worst connection would be an FM transmitter.

The purpose of this forum is how to connect ALL iPods to a factory or aftermarket head-unit, not just a 3rd generation iPod.

My personal opinion, the 3rd generation is the worst design ever. The touch sensitive buttons don't give you any indication of a button press when you are trying to control the iPod...in any situation. The 4 buttons along the top of the scroll wheel eliminated the easy one-handed control of the iPod. The buttons around the wheel on the 1st and 2nd gen models made it very easy for your thumb move around the "clock-face" design to control the iPod.

Thankfully, Apple fixed their design flaw with the iPod Mini. Now that is an elegant design...the buttons integrated into the pad..and they click down once again so you know when you are pushing a button. Now they need to move that controller into a future 4th generation iPod. Once those micro-drives begin to increase in size, future iPod Minis will be a very hot item.

I am thankful for my 2nd Gen 20GB iPod. I have no intention of replacing it with a 3rd generation model with a poorly designed control pad.

[tanakasan]

Connecting all iPods *is* the ultimate goal here. Its just that the 3Gs present a new twist to the connection schemes from the "only one way to do it" of the 1 and 2Gs.

A little off topic, but still mobile iPod related: I have a Carbon iSkin Exo2 case. Imho, the best protection out there for the delicate electronic "artwork" that the iPod is. This not only protects the pod from damage but also allows for easy "no-look" one handed control of the buttons as described by hillstones. These are my first iPods so I have no frame of reference to the earlier models, but it is not a problem while driving.

I further agree with hillstones...I hope that the mini's touchpad/scrollwheel gets to the 4G iPods!

[volki]

Originally posted by rhythm
...since the cassette adapter is made for the headphone impedance, would feeding it a line-level signal be over-amped for the cassette to handle, would I blow something? Any advice would be appreciated.

You are right. Line out signal simply over-rides the tape adapter... There have been few posts indicating a very bad "distortion" when combining a belkin auto kit (or a Monster iCharger) with a tape adapter. You'll be better off using the headphone jack with the tape adapter.

[Mr. Music]

Originally posted by volki
You are right. Line out signal simply over-rides the tape adapter... There have been few posts indicating a very bad "distortion" when combining a belkin auto kit (or a Monster iCharger) with a tape adapter. You'll be better off using the headphone jack with the tape adapter.

I used it with my factory unit and sony tape adapter. I only replaced my head unit because I was tired of hearing the cassette hiss background noise.

I didn't even realize that it was an amplified signal... just thought it sounded a lot better then using the headphone jack.

I use that now with my new Alpine Head Unit 9807... that won't damage it... will it?

Hmmm... guess I will try using the headphone jack and see it still sounds different.