Car CD changer debate

[Viper GTS]

I discovered today that the CD changer in my car (installed by a previous owner) not only works, but has an FM transmitter & works with my current IP Bus Pioneer HU with no modification whatsoever.

Of course it doesn't sound particularly good, so I'm looking into alternatives.

The way I see it I have three options:

1) Continue to use the FM transmitter ($0, sounds bad)
2) Buy an adapter like this one and use the existing wiring to bypass the need for an FM transmitter. I'm 90% sure there's a pair of RCA cables in my dash, I think I saw them when I put the HU in. ($30, sounds better)
3) Buy a native Pioneer IP Bus changer (12 disc is <$150 on ebay), sell the existing changer & controls to offset some of the cost (maybe $100 net, cd text + control from the HU + no ugly 3rd party controller sticking out of my dash). Only disadvantage is I'd have to run the control cable & do the install. That's a little more complicated than I've done before.

Any particular advantage/disadvantage I'm missing? If only Pioneer made IP bus compatible changers that supported MP3/WMA. 🙁 Then it'd really be an easy choice.

Additionally, anybody know how IP Bus changers interface with the receiver? I'm assuming the audio transfer is analog, if it's digital that would be a good reason to replace the changer entirely...

Viper GTS

 

[ChefJoe]

http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=piocdxp1280&store=&catid=314 $129+11 shipping I had a 1270 that died on me this year (lasted three years of heavy use though). The transfer is analog and the changers can't play MP3s even if the head unit supports it because of that. Running the cable wasn't that bad in my 97 Jetta... though vwvortex was able to give plenty of pointers on cable routing.

When you get down to it, if it's something you use frequently you might as well go for the clean, non-ghetto solution.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: ChefJoe
http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=piocdxp1280&store=&catid=314 $129+11 shipping I had a 1270 that died on me this year (lasted three years of heavy use though). The transfer is analog and the changers can't play MP3s even if the head unit supports it because of that. Running the cable wasn't that bad in my 97 Jetta... though vwvortex was able to give plenty of pointers on cable routing.

When you get down to it, if it's something you use frequently you might as well go for the clean, non-ghetto solution.

You happen to have any documentation to support the audio transfer being analog? That would be my guess, but if it were analog the IP to RCA adapter would be a simple pass through cable. Crutchfield says it's digital, but the guy I talked to didn't have a clue & didn't understand why I wanted to know.

I suspect you're right, but I've thus far been unable to find anything that proves it (whitepaper, etc.). The really sad thing is other vendors sell changers that ARE MP3/WMA capable.

Oh well, I guess if 12 discs can't keep me happy I can just change discs in dash.

Viper GTS

 

[ChefJoe]

well, other than the changer having a signal to noise ratio and frequency response listing or saying there's a 1 bit d/a (digital to analog) converter I don't think they publish any specs saying "this is analog".

How about if I told you there's the possibility of changers getting an audio hiss through cables which they wouldn't have with digital ?

I think the IP to RCA adapters also have to handle turning things on and off and signalling to the head unit that things are ok (maybe a termination issue) because ever since my changer went out the plug's been dangling in the car and the HU won't even go through the "changer" selection.