Which ipod car adapter?

[dmharris]

I've been reading about adapters to make an ipod sound come through your car speakers and can't decide what to get. The more expensive ones claim their sound will be better because they do not go through FM. I have no idea what that means and how it affects the sound. http://www.carplayer.com/

This is going to be my Christmas present to my husband, so I want it to have great sound without changing the speakers in the car. We have a Prius with a port in the arm rest for portable media but I'm unsure how to use it.

Technology is great but it takes so much time to self-educate. I miss my transistor radio.

Thanks in advance,

 

[colovaca]

$5.00 cable

I have an old prius so I don't know about the specific port. But it is likely your best option. Any electronics store or target, etc can sell you a cable that looks like the headphone jack on both ends. You plug it in and go to the assigned frequency and you are set. I hvae also used the thing that looks like a cassette that goes into your casette player. Both worked fine. The gizmo that uses an antena that you have to stick to the windshield is awfull.

 

[Icarus]

If you have a 2006 or later Prius with an Aux in connector in the console, all you need is a cable. Specifically a cable with a 1/8" mini stereo plug on each end.

(basically, what colovaca said.)

The car stereo that came with my Escape Hybrid didn't even have an AUX IN connector, so I replaced the head end with an Alpine unit. The Alpine units have the ability to add an ipod docking cable, so I did that, and basically leave the ipod connected to it in the glove compartment and control the ipod through the head end. With the AUX IN connector, it will still work fine, but you will control the ipod through the ipod itself. I doubt you'd want to do any of that with the Prius, for various reasons, but mostly because you don't have to since it sounds like yours has the AUX IN connector in the console.

-David

 

[dmharris]

So if I connect this cable, do I have to buy something to have the ipod stand up for controlling it, or does that work through the radio controls? (I really am an idiot about this, sorry).

 

[LUVourMarriotts]

One of my buddies bought and installed a Harmon Kardon iPod kit. It was around $150, but that was a while ago. You needed an AUX port avaialbe on your stereo. You then connect the iPod to a cable (that he ran into his center armrest storage) and there is a joystick that he mounted on his center console.

It was a pretty sweet setup.

One thing about FM modulators. I disagree with "You plug it in and go to the assigned frequency and you are set". I bought one for my iPod and it is close to unusable in my area. I live north of NYC and there are tons of radio stations around here. You can't find one that doesn't have some chatter coming through it. So you get chatter plus iPod. So if you live in a densely populated area with a lot of stations, FM may not work for you. It's a lot better when I drive up to NH though.

 

[Art4th]

So if I connect this cable, do I have to buy something to have the ipod stand up for controlling it, or does that work through the radio controls? (I really am an idiot about this, sorry).

You will still control the ipod the old fashioned way . You will only use the radio controls for the volume.

 

[DaveNV]

Maybe this link will help? I have a DICE controller in my BMW, and it works slick. I use the radio controls for everything on the iPod - track, volume, whatever.

http://www.wikihow.com/Hook-up-an-iPod-in-a-Prius

Dave

 

[Icarus]

So if I connect this cable, do I have to buy something to have the ipod stand up for controlling it, or does that work through the radio controls? (I really am an idiot about this, sorry).

You don't *need* anything for the ipod to stand up. You just put it in shuffle mode or select a play list that you preloaded on the ipod (using itunes) and let it play and put it in the console.

The 1/8" mini plug is just audio out. AUX IN is just audio in from any audio source. You can connect a portable cd player to AUX IN and it would work the same way.

If you want something more sophisticated than that, then you need something that connects to the back of your head end, if the head end supports it. I haven't looked into it that much, but I don't think the Prius supports one that will let you control the ipod from the Prius' head end. (Head end = your current stereo display and controls).

-David

 

[Icarus]

I take it back. There may be something for a Prius. Take a look at this:

http://www.vaistech.com/sli.php

This gives you control through your car stereo and powers the ipod.

-David

 

[3Js]

Apple has a dock that works great.


http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...home/shop_ipod/ipod_accessories&nplm=MB125G/A

 

[Icarus]

Apple has a dock that works great.


http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...home/shop_ipod/ipod_accessories&nplm=MB125G/A

That's good for home use, but it won't do anything for the OP.

-David

 

[stuvan]

Two options. I have both. The first requires getting behind the stock radio to install. Not too hard, see the instructions on priuschat.com. The second uses the docking connection on the ipod to provide both power and a feed for the 1/8 inch connector in the console. (you will need a separate cable for this connection) Much better sound than using the headphone jack on the ipod.

http://priuschat.com/shop/product_info.php/products_id/66

http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Ultra-Low-iCharger-AICHG2-IP/dp/B00015GYTU

Stu

 

[pcgirl54]

My husband bought a Honda auxillary cable online for about $50.00 and a audio cable for $5.00 for his Honda Civic 06. Honda dealer didn't know there was such a thing even though Honda sells it. Through research the Parts Mgr could sell it for $75.00 retail. He said many customers have asked about doing this. DH loves it. He listens to podcasts on the way home.

Dh put it in the car himself,it was pretty easy.

Prices to install a different set up through an audio company was $150-$250.


I can post the site later if you are interested. You should call Toyota or google it.