View Full Version : Ever considered the iPod?
cheezydee
03-06-2004, 02:42
For anyone that's considering buying a HU or changer that is MP3 compatible, my mate has an iPod and found out when I was in his car that you can play it through your car HU. You can chose an FM frequency to transmit and then you tune in to that frequency on any stereo and it plays your iPod. :blink: Quite a nifty feature I thought. Definitley considering it rather as I wouldn't have to change, alter or add on a changer to the standard stereo in my Ibiza. :D
cpufreak
03-06-2004, 05:32
any information on how you do this?
I have my 40Gig ipod sitting in front of me and see no way for it to output to a radio frequency.
Does sound like a good idea. coxy (jubjubbird) has his ipod hooked into his alpine stereo in his Leon Cupra.
ahh... I got off my lazy ass, and googled...
http://www.mann-electronics.com/ccp51/cgi-bin/cp-app.cgi?aff=&pg=prod&ref=SKU0020pm
is what you need it seems.
Icecavern
03-06-2004, 05:59
There's a box you can get from the ihavetohave.it guys that will allow you to use the changer input to the stereo as phono inputs. Problem is that you will loose the use of the changer to fit it.
Jubjubbird
03-06-2004, 06:37
Does sound like a good idea. coxy (jubjubbird) has his ipod hooked into his alpine stereo in his Leon Cupra.
.
:whistle:
Got the docking station wired into the phono inputs of my head unit. The whole lot just sits in arms reach on the dash. IF you do this, don't use the headphone out socket as it is amplified and will sound poo. Thats what the docking station is beneficial for as it has a line out on the back.
I have a ITrip which you can buy on ebay or when you goto North America perhaps.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=48451&item=5702620252&rd=1
Clips into the top of the Ipod and once you've downloaded software, you can then choose a FM frequencey which the radio picks up. IMHO it works brilliantly and the Ipod doesn't have to be in a holder etc.
Only prob is finding a frequencey thats clear on long journeies without having to change it from time to time. As soon as a traditional radio station appears, it overrides the Ipod.
dont think its legal here ;)
cpufreak
03-06-2004, 07:14
legal to own, not legal to operate unless you have a valid operators license.
or something.
mmm grey areas of law. loverely! :p
Donesnt the Ipod not work after its 500'th battery recharge?
So if you charge it each day it only lasts 500 days?!
Recent PC PRO roundup put the IRiver 100 way ahead of the IPod on price and features..
cpufreak
03-06-2004, 07:50
Recent PC PRO roundup put the IRiver 100 way ahead of the IPod on price and features..
yeh but if you just considered things on price and features, we'd all be driving daewoos :P
yeh but if you just considered things on price and features, we'd all be driving daewoos :P
hehehe :) No seriously IRiver make some wonderful stuff. I've got a CD based MP3 player from them and it's sublime. I think the 100 just did a lot more for a lot less and far better as i remember (with the quality to boot).
:cheers:
IRiver H120:
http://www.iriveramerica.com/images/prod/120/1.jpg
Plays over 600 hours of digital music*
Up to 16 hours of battery life
Supports MP3, WMA, ASF, WAV and OGG music files
Ultra-fast USB 2.0 transfers (up to 40 times faster than USB 1.0)
Integrated FM tuner
Backlit remote control with 4-line display
Built-in voice recorder
Intuitive music navigation
Real-time MP3 encoding (no PC required)
20GB of internal storage
Store or transfer files of any type
Extra-large, 8-line, backlit LCD
Rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery
Optical input and output
Upgradeable to future formats and features
Backlit remote control with 4-line display
iRiver earphones
Carrying case
Installation software CD
AC adapter
USB 2.0 cable
Line-in cable
External microphone
Printed user manual
http://www.iriveramerica.com/products/H120.aspx
CNET Review:
"The versatile iRiver iHP-120 (20GB) is the first hard drive-based MP3 player we've seen that brings advanced features into a casing only a hair larger than the white Apple iPod's. It has just about every input and output that the power user could ask for, excellent battery life, a fully functioning in-line remote with an LCD, and excellent playback/recording quality. This combination doesn't come cheap, but if you're in need of all these features, the iRiver's $399 retail price ($499 for the 40GB iHP-140) is money well spent. Mac users looking for more features than the iPod will be happy to know that this player now features Mac compatibility."
IRIVER sounds good.
Cheapy here: http://www.unbeatable.co.uk/CatalogueItem_19655.html
I was thinking about getting a new headunit and was considering something like this instead of a CD changer.
Are there any headunits available that provide an optical input? Also how will a headunit react to this? Do you just select an AUX input for example and then select tracks from your IPod or Iriver?
Cheers,
Scott
That's a pretty damn good price ;)
Optical in on a HU would be a great idea..
cheezydee
03-06-2004, 21:35
I think all you need is to get an FM transmitter like one of these:
http://www.mann-electronics.com/ccp51/cgi-bin/cp-app.cgi?aff=&pg=cat&ref=6
and as far as I know you don't need to connect anything between the iPod and HU, it just picks up the radio signal. Could be wrong but looked like my mate just sat his near the stereo, unless he sat it in some cradle but didn't look like it. Don't know if the iRiver can do this??
Jubjubbird
03-06-2004, 21:45
Only trouble with the FM transmitter rouse is the sound quality. FM is known for poor quality/high compression. With a stock system, it would probably not matter much to you, or if you are used to listening to the radio, it would be fine, but with a 3K system in my car, I never listen to the radio, and I usually only listen to mp3's encoded at 192k or above as you can really hear the difference.
I've got an iriver H120 - highly recommend it. Don't know how it compares to the ipod though (other than from reading the reviews)
I think all you need is to get an FM transmitter like one of these:
http://www.mann-electronics.com/ccp51/cgi-bin/cp-app.cgi?aff=&pg=cat&ref=6
and as far as I know you don't need to connect anything between the iPod and HU, it just picks up the radio signal. Could be wrong but looked like my mate just sat his near the stereo, unless he sat it in some cradle but didn't look like it. Don't know if the iRiver can do this??
Yep it can - although as Jubjubbird says sound quality is questionable. itrip is the most popular ipod FM transmitter. There are tonnes of others. Potentially you could have a convoy or cars all tuned into your jukebox player (ipod/iriver etc). This is one of the reasons why it is illegal. You could transmit on the same frequency as major radio stations.
So the best option for sound quality and legality would be through either an AUX input on the front of the stereo (if available) or through a wired adaptor.
Scott
cheezydee
03-06-2004, 23:30
I would think that any legal issue would be taken up with Apple etc. As for actually interfering with a radio station, I don't think that it transmits that far. From what I seen in my mate's car he had to put the iPod close to the stereo and if he took it away it started to break up. Didn't think it was in the interest of ppl with really good sound systems, I wouldn't even have thought they wanted any form of compression but a good gadget for folk that just want sounds options in the car.
Jubjubbird
04-06-2004, 06:41
So the best option for sound quality and legality would be through either an AUX input on the front of the stereo (if available) or through a wired adaptor.
Scott
Yep, And don't bother with one of those tape adapter thingys either
:hide: :sick:
quality seems pretty good on the ITrip (which isn't an Apple part btw), but I just have a sandard head unit, nothing special. Problem is getting the right frequencey for the journey
I used to use a FM encoder for MP3 in the car and the quality is ok but nowhere near that of a good quality direct signal. One way around this would be to get a lead that converts the phono inputs on the HU to a 3.5mm jack socket, then mount this socket flush on the dash (or under it) out the way - then just jack in the IRiver when in the car :)
Jubjubbird
04-06-2004, 08:04
Does the Iriver have a dedicated line out, or is it the amplified headphone out only?
I'm looking at this HU:
http://www.clarionworld.co.uk/stock/dxz848rmc.asp
(Seen it for less as well)
Has an aux input as std. and lots of magical trickery. :)
Scott
I have a Belkin cable for my iPod that plugs into the ciggy lighter and takes a 3.5mm jack for the stereo. I then bought a line-in cable for my head unit from Blaupunkt and with a 4-way ciggy socket adapter in the glove box it's all nicely hidden. The cable plugs in the bottom of the iPod so it gets around the headphone jack problem and it charges at the same time. Quality is as good as the iPod ever is, which is fine but dependant on sample rate etc.