how do you hook up an ipod to a car...

[vrbaba]

i dont have a good experience with the iTrips or the Belkin FM Transmitter. But its varied for different ppl. I think you should try one, see what you think for yourself. If no, then return it, and invest a little more in replacing the cd player with one with an external audio in jack or usb port. Im sure its worth it, especially after hearing the quality that comes out of the fm transmitters.

 

[Alkesh]

radio transmitter

 

[Ktulu]

Originally posted by: vrbaba
i dont have a good experience with the iTrips or the Belkin FM Transmitter. But its varied for different ppl. I think you should try one, see what you think for yourself. If no, then return it, and invest a little more in replacing the cd player with one with an external audio in jack or usb port. Im sure its worth it, especially after hearing the quality that comes out of the fm transmitters.

Buying a headunit that already comes with aux or usb inputs is easily the best solution but also the most expensive. Also, if you have steering wheel audio controls, changing the head unit will disable this feature.

 

[spanky]

i bought a head unit with front aux input. i think a lot of head units have rear inputs... u could look into that.

 

[ahurtt]

Originally posted by: tami
i'm just curious. is there anything cheap and affordable that can do this?

thanks.

Duct tape. It works wonders.

 

[SearchMaster]

Originally posted by: tami

Originally posted by: SearchMaster
The SQ of even the best FM modulator is pretty poor relative to what you'd be used to. What kind of car do you have? What kind of stereo? IIRC you have a Mazda3 - there is a unit you can buy for ~$100 that will simulate an external source (i.e. if your car has an optional CD changer or MD/tape drive), so that you push that external source's button and it gets sound from any other source, such as your iPod. They are usually called Auxiliary Input Adapters (google it - here's an example for the Mazda3 at $79). I ordered from that company a similar unit for my Maxima, and it works very well, providing ease of use and very high quality sound. You have to be willing to pull the head unit out of your dash though, so consider your warranty, etc.

Now, I have a Mazda6, and there's only one company that makes adapters for it (and they are very backordered). Or I have the option of using the unit I linked for the Mazda3 and soldering some wires together.

that thing looks creepy. but i do have a mazda 3 (you're good, akubi) maybe i'll see how the FM transmitter turns out and consider this if that doesn't do too well.

the problem is that the mazda 3 is a lease so drilling isn't really an option. is there a way to circumvent that part of it?

You shouldn't have to do any drilling. It may take some creative cable routing to find a spot in the cramped instrument panel for the auxiliary input adapter to sit, but if it's anything like my Mazda6, there is room just behind the glovebox. That's one of the attractive things about the Sylfex product - it is very small and taps directly to the back of the radio with a very small footprint. Like I said, it has a 3 month backorder though. If you (or a friend) has any car audio experience at all, it should be a relatively easy installation. If not, there should be enough online guides with photos to get the job done without too much hassle.

Originally posted by: spanky
i bought a head unit with front aux input. i think a lot of head units have rear inputs... u could look into that.

Unfortunately, the Mazda radios are completely OEM and not easily replaceable. Again, my experience is with the 6 only, but the only choice to install an aftermarket stereo is to buy a kit that completely replaces the stock one and has a different (and standard) cutout for the head unit. I haven't seen one in person, but I can't imagine that it's a very convincing mimic, and it's well over $200 IIRC (add to that the cost of adding a new head unit, etc., and it can get pricey).

 

[bonkers325]

if you are going to buy an FM transmitter, research your local radio stations and try to find a frequency that isn't overcrowded and is relatively weak. in NYC, the radio station 107.9 is clear for the taking. i can get almost static-free broadcasts from my iTrip driving through NYC, but YMMV! typically, you can overpower small stations with an FM transmitter.

also, i split open my iTrip to pull out the antenna. i totally dismembered it, but i think it helps!

 

[DnetMHZ]

I just bought a $100 head unit with an aux port.

Tried the FM thing and it sucked because there are just too many radio stations in this area.

 

[mugs]

I helped a friend do this, we hooked it up to the CD changer/aux input on the stock headunit in his Accord, then we ran the wire down past the gearshift and up into the center console. Worked out quite well, but the adapter to convert from the CD changer input to RCA inputs was $100.

 

[loic2003]

take the case off the head unit, find the two wires that go to the laser of the CD player and pull them loose. Then stuff them into the headphone output of the iPod.

/thread.

 

[randomlinh]

yay for mazda3! I'm #1386 or something close to that for the aux-mod wait list.. heh... I like this option best because it uses the tape/md button on the stock system, instead of having to hit CD twice. But FM does suck, so one of these options is the only way to go. Even the tC had an aux input stock.. I wish mazda would have thrown that in there, especially for the crowd they seem to be gearing at.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

i was not overly happy with my fm transmitter

 

[Crazymofo]

I found this site yesterday and ordered the RCA adapter... It is exactly what I wanted as it connects to the data port and charges the IPod!

 

[CKent]

If you're in the market for a new head unit, buy one with an auxiliary input. Run a wire from that, under the upholstery, to someplace discreet in the dash or console, near a spot where you'd put the ipod when driving. Voila. FM modulators and tape things are bad solutions.

 

[Ronin]

Buy a BMW.

 

[xospec1alk]

Originally posted by: akubi
go to mazda3forums.com and search for ipod..

http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=17064.0
http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=30038.0

etc..

ayup, i did the PIE aux mod on my car to hook up my XM radio to the car. it sounds perfect, and there was no drilling, cutting, anything that needed to be done.

 

[ucdbiendog]

buy a CD deck thst is ipod compatible

 

[geno]

buy a deck that supports an iPod hookup like some of the newer Alpines

 

[xospec1alk]

Originally posted by: tami

that thing looks creepy. but i do have a mazda 3 (you're good, akubi) maybe i'll see how the FM transmitter turns out and consider this if that doesn't do too well.

the problem is that the mazda 3 is a lease so drilling isn't really an option. is there a way to circumvent that part of it?

tami, i have teh mazda3 as well, with that PIE mod, you don't need to drill AT ALL...and its really simple to hook up. it takes about 5 minutes.

 

[Crazymofo]

Originally posted by: geno
buy a deck that supports an iPod hookup like some of the newer Alpines

That is what I was going to do but those control units are getting bad reviews...

 

[tami]

Originally posted by: Ronin
Buy a BMW.

if i had the money for a BMW (which my husband would LOVE since those are his initials), i wouldn't have gone for a mazda 3. thank you for your intelligent input. :roll:

when we initially got the car, i wasn't working anywhere that would require a car commute. at that point, getting an ipod-compatible car wasn't really a consideration, since if anything at all, the car would be used for weekend excursions. (i'm not sure why i had to justify to the unhelpful morons in this thread, but i just did.)

so i'm going to try the FM transmitter, and if that fails, i will sell it and try the AUX mod. sadly, i don't know if that's really the best investment (i'm not sure what would realistically be), since we're going to get a new car in 2.5 years anyway when our lease is up, so something less permanent may be more ideal. i'm going to hope for the best.

 

[sswingle]

Get an in dash mp3 player and not buy ipod.

 

[stinkynathan]

alpine deck with iPod connector FTW

 

[randomlinh]

aux mod is cheap. Email the guy now to get on the waiting list.. no obligation to buy, but gets you on there. here is his site if you don't have it yet.

if you really want to, also follow this guide to get power and use the ipod connector for line out (better volume).

This is what I plan on doing.. i just haven't figured out where i'm going ot feed the ipod cable through... I don't want to lose my cupholders I bought everything already, just waiting patiently for the auxmod...

 

[jcovercash]

I put in an aftermarker Pioneer deck with adapter and run it through the deck. Sounds really good.