Car Stereo

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jonherries

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Topic # 84910 10-Jun-2011 14:12

I thought it would be good if I could plug my iphone into a stereo amplifier and then run it through the car speakers.

My iphone is already far more powerful than most car stereos and short of an am/fm tuner does much better music navigation management. And I take it with me when i leave the car, so there is no stereo to steal.

Unfortunately it would seem there are no suppliers of a simple amplifier with an iphone mount out there...

Any thoughts?

dickytim

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Reply # 479724 10-Jun-2011 14:23

you can use your 3.5mm plug get an adaptor to RCA out and run that to a sound processor or Amp.

Should be quite easy.

Just wire the remote turn on for your amp to a switch or the ignition.

stevenz

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Reply # 479748 10-Jun-2011 15:14

There is a head-unit out there that has NO front panel at all, it's purely an iPod dock, will see if I can remember who makes it.

The Fusion CA-IP500 has an integrated iPod dock behind the front panel and they're not _too_ expensive (there's one for $250 on Trademe).

You can then run the pre-out to an amp. The output from the dock on an iPod is better quality than the aux jack as it's digital, and I'd hope that the headunit would have a much better pre-amp than the ipod itself does.

Depends how picky you are about sound quality. You can pick up a cheap 2-channel amp for under $100 and just run it into the stereo RCA inputs on that, but it might not sound too great.

Plus you'd have issues with the remote/accessory line to the amp without a head-unit, you'd have to wire up a separate relay.

You could also get a regular iPod dock with either a 3.5mm or preferably RCA connectors on it and use that, tidier than using the native 3.5mm jack and you could be clever and mount it into the dash somehow.

@KnightNZ

stevenz

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Reply # 479761 10-Jun-2011 15:44

I may be mis-remembering, the Sony DSX-S100 is probably what I was thinking of. Someone is selling one on Trademe for $245.

@KnightNZ

blakamin

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Reply # 479762 10-Jun-2011 15:50

The fusion is a POS and very flimsy. Dont ask how I know!

bazzer

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Reply # 479774 10-Jun-2011 16:09

blakamin: The fusion is a POS and very flimsy. Dont ask how I know!

How do you know?

blakamin

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Reply # 479776 10-Jun-2011 16:15

I told you not to ask me that!

Seriously, I had one for about the 2 weeks it takes for them to fall to bits, and this was a euro luxo barge... I'd hate to put one in a 4wd or lowered car, it would be broken in 10 minutes!

jonherries

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Reply # 479860 10-Jun-2011 19:52

The cheapest head unit available is $99 (Supercheapauto or Repco), and for money that I get a packaged amp (4x50W usually) an FM tuner and CD player with an aux in, plus some logic chips and a small lcd.

It would be good to just be able to buy the amp, with an iphone mount/connection (and some sort of replay for when the car is turned on), but I guess no one makes this (opportunity?).

Thanks for the help guys, it looks like I might just need to spend $99, or DIY it (my wife won't be happy).

Jon

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Reply # 479915 10-Jun-2011 21:40

No one is cheaper (price & quality) than Deal Extreme

US$11.81 with free shipping to NZ

For stereo integrated amp for car.

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/100w-hi-fi-stereo-amplifier-for-car-motorcycle-color-assorted-34408

Teeps

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Reply # 480280 12-Jun-2011 11:47

I know not quite what you were asking suggestions for as it's a replacement head unit, but a more elegant solution than just plugging your iPhone into an amp would be a head unit to control your iPhone, and it's a lot safer as trying to control your iPhone while driving which would be dangerous (and of course illegal).

I have an Alpine IDA-x305s head unit with bluetooth kit (you can now also get the IDA-x305sbt with Bluetooth built in). No CD (as why would you bother these days) but you can connect USB sticks, mp3 player or iPod/iPhone and control them from the deck. It will also charge your iPhone for you when it's plugged in.

I have the Bluetooth kit with mine so can make and receive calls handsfree as well as listen/control music from my iPhone when in the car without even needing to take it out of my pocket. At the mo when using Bluetooth audio I don't get the track details on the screen but it looks like this will change with iOS 5. With a cabled connection you get all the info on the screen.

Check out http://www.alpinecaraudio.co.nz/ida-x305s_.html

Silly price in NZ but get good deals from USA

Wade

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Reply # 480379 12-Jun-2011 18:07

Just remember the alpines from Usa have different radio frequencies and are not user selectable as has been the case with previous alpines. Fwiw I run the IDA-x100 and with the wifes ipod it is probably the best apple car audio interface available

Teeps

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Reply # 480381 12-Jun-2011 18:12

My IDA-X305S is from the USA and works great with the radio frequencies. Japan definitelyvusca problem but didn't think USA was as I'm sure they use the same frequencies as here. I could be wrong though

stevenz

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Reply # 481013 14-Jun-2011 14:19

Teeps: My IDA-X305S is from the USA and works great with the radio frequencies. Japan definitelyvusca problem but didn't think USA was as I'm sure they use the same frequencies as here. I could be wrong though

They use the same frequency range, but a different stepping. They start at 87.5Mhz and increase in .2Mhz steps whereas we increas in .05Mhz steps.

The only 2 radio stations that this prevents me from receiving in Wellington are:

Kix FM - Pity as it's quite good, albeit low-powered
Active - No loss there as I don't like Dub anyway.

Some headsets have a switch to select this, some even do it via the front-controls, most don't however.

As for the Fusion headunit - there's a reason that it's only used by the types of people who aren't worried about quality but would rather have things that go "boom".

I've got a mid-range Panasonic unit in my car along with their horrendously overpriced - but quite good - bluetooth unit (that I thankfully got a _very_ good deal on). It's got a USB port on the front but it's for USB sticks only (I use it to charge my phone), iPod support is an upgrade on my unit, the newer models have native controls built in and will play straight from the dock input. Panasonic stuff is "ok", if you're worried about quality then you'd probably want to look at an Alpine although you're paying a massive premium for the name they're still excellent - import is your friend, who listens to radio anyway!?

@KnightNZ

Teeps

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Reply # 481021 14-Jun-2011 14:33

stevenz: They use the same frequency range, but a different stepping. They start at 87.5Mhz and increase in .2Mhz steps whereas we increas in .05Mhz steps.

Cool, I had never realised that, thanks for the info. I will check my Alpine on the way home from work to see what frequency steps it uses.

blakamin

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Reply # 481058 14-Jun-2011 15:38

I ended up with a Sony iPod controlling headunit. I wouldn't buy another one.
Except the fast-forwarding/rewinding of tracks, it's actually easier to use the ipod interface (this is on a classic, so it's not like you have to see). Luckily, this is an option. To scroll thru playlists or artists or tracks using the headunit takes about a week (160 gig classic ;p)