IPOD solutions?

[bwagner]

OK,
I'm going to be getting a new STI in a month or so and I'm interested in using an IPOD as my main source of music inthis new car. I've seen a few cool docking stations for them before, but Someone told me there is one that mounts in a dash vent(replacing it actually) and is nice and neat. Does anyone know anything about this? Also, which headunit's do you reccomend with an auxillary input on the back so that I can just use a cable versus one of those horrible fm modulator devices. Any and all help is greatly appreciated in this matter!!

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[thedaddyb]

The only units that I know of that fully support the IPOD are Alpine and Pioneer. You can get their IPOD adapter and then use the headunit to control the ipod and it will also charge it.
both are good brands.

you can also hook it up to any radio with an aux. in function, but you will still need to use the Ipod to control the music

not too sure about a vent mount for it. usually when we install it with the Ipod adapter we run the cable into the glovebox. that way you can just plug it in, and shut your glovebox and the Ipod isn't exposed. Since the radio will display all the info the Ipod would anyways, there isn't really any need to mount it

[mcowger]

Kenwood has an adapter thats better than either of the Alpine or Pioneers (I've used all 3).

[ludecrous]

what if you just got an amp and forget the HU, use the ipod as the control. Take the lineout from the botom of the unit, I hear it is better than using the headphone jack. You could also plug in a remote control for the ipod

[iguanamafia]

Clarion has iPod control abilities also.

You can get a Clarion EA1251B Interface for iPod which is for all models with a Z and there is theCCA649 that can be used with the DXZ755MC and I believe a couple others.

I have one of each for two different head units for two installs I am doing in the next week I'll be sure to give a review once I use them.

Iggy

[B16A2NR]

Does the stock 6 disk have an open aux for an ipod hook up. I'm looking to do a very simple Ipod install into my factory CD player to the headphone jack.

[thedaddyb]

Originally Posted by ludecrous

what if you just got an amp and forget the HU, use the ipod as the control. Take the lineout from the botom of the unit, I hear it is better than using the headphone jack. You could also plug in a remote control for the ipod

the iPod wouldn't have nearly enough pre-amp voltage output to send a strong enough signal to an external amp. it would work . . . just not very well.

[subie4life]

I just got a regular alpine deck and had a wire run from the back of the deck out to my IPOD. Circut City did a great job of installing it and it cost a lot less that the Alpine deck that allows you to control it directly. I just plug in the IPOD...I still have to control the music through the IPOD, but it's a lot cheaper.

[MoJack]

This looks pretty cool, but I believe you lose the ability to use your cd changer. But seems like the most convenient...... DO IT and tell me if it works

http://www.mp3yourcar.com/

[MU5A5HI]

Originally Posted by mcowger

Kenwood has an adapter thats better than either of the Alpine or Pioneers (I've used all 3).

I've been researching these, have not checked the kenwood yet, but the ipod control in the alpine and clarion (i've read the manuals online and used the alpine in store...) is quite cumbersome. I want simple ipod controls that show me the track names and such, displayed ON the tuner display.. the whole point of ipod integration. to me, is so i can stop FIDDLING with the ipod so much and DRIVE. and these interfaces are more complex than the ipods by far.

How does the kenwood differ/improve on the others?

[Kaymin]

Aux2car

uses any mp3 player or anything that has a headphone jack!

[pignoseWRX]

Originally Posted by Kaymin

Aux2car

uses any mp3 player or anything that has a headphone jack!

except it needs a factory cd changer auxilary not available on the indash 6-disc...

i'm using an iTrip and i hate it because i had an aux-in in my last car...

[Kaymin]

ohhh, i thought it used a changer or something

[iguanamafia]

Originally Posted by B16A2NR

Does the stock 6 disk have an open aux for an ipod hook up. I'm looking to do a very simple Ipod install into my factory CD player to the headphone jack.

THere's actually a thread for this somewhere, I know that its at least for the LGT and I would assume the changer is the same for all of the subarus

Someone is selling the plug-n-play device and the necessary support for like $35 shipped if it isn't here its on

LegacyGT.com

[MoJack]

Originally Posted by MoJack

This looks pretty cool, but I believe you lose the ability to use your cd changer. But seems like the most convenient...... DO IT and tell me if it works

http://www.mp3yourcar.com/

BUMP BUMP!

[EYE_WHY]

Before you drop $$ on an ipod adapter, some JVC Headunits have an aux. input in the front. I use my ipod as my main source of music too. I found a JVC KD-SX780 on ebay for $60 shipped. Its a great HU and plays my ipod no trouble. I'm not sure which other JVC headunits have the input but it would probably be worth looking into.

[pignoseWRX]

Originally Posted by iguanamafia

THere's actually a thread for this somewhere, I know that its at least for the LGT and I would assume the changer is the same for all of the subarus

Someone is selling the plug-n-play device and the necessary support for like $35 shipped if it isn't here its on

LegacyGT.com

on lgt.com... just search for ipod... i hope to order one out of the first batch and see how it works

[iguanamafia]

Originally Posted by MU5A5HI

I've been researching these, have not checked the kenwood yet, but the ipod control in the alpine and clarion (i've read the manuals online and used the alpine in store...) is quite cumbersome. I want simple ipod controls that show me the track names and such, displayed ON the tuner display.. the whole point of ipod integration. to me, is so i can stop FIDDLING with the ipod so much and DRIVE. and these interfaces are more complex than the ipods by far.

How does the kenwood differ/improve on the others?

The clarion that I have will display the tracks and folders, I don't know to what extent, but it is essentially like a mp3/cd changer would be with text... In fact, once you hook it up the buttons on the iPod will not work.

I would assume all of these head units are similiar and work the same as their associated disc changer controls and daisy chain peripheral controls

Once I get these installed I will let you know how it really works...

Iggy

[MU5A5HI]

Originally Posted by EYE_WHY

Before you drop $$ on an ipod adapter, some JVC Headunits have an aux. input in the front. I use my ipod as my main source of music too. I found a JVC KD-SX780 on ebay for $60 shipped. Its a great HU and plays my ipod no trouble. I'm not sure which other JVC headunits have the input but it would probably be worth looking into.

After an afternoon at Circuit City, Best Buy, and an Independent Stereo shop, I am starting to like this idea, Eye_why. The JVC's are pretty nice looking, you can get a decent one with an aux-in on the front thats got red illumination on the buttons (important to me) and blueish-white display for around $160-180 and that may be the way to go for now until the head units catch up in a year or so and have 'real' ipod integration as opposed to 'cd changer emulation fakeout' .. the price is low enough to get one now and buy another later. Perhaps by then dvd and nav will be a little lower cost of entry too. multi-thousand dollar head units causes pain in MY head when i think of all the go-fast-parts that would buy.
JVC's line, btw, is completely nuts.. they seem to have at least 3-4 parallel product lines that must compete with each other.. regular.. arsenal.. these ones that are customizable (think cel fone covers with fancy plastic graphics.. ick) anyhow. maybe sometime i will decypher their product line.

[poormansporsche]

My stereo guy told me that Eclipse has an offical answer to Eclipse-iPod compatibility. It's supposed to be out in the next 30-45 days. Yay now my 2454 will have a friend!

cheers

garrrett

[MU5A5HI]

What is with Eclipse and dealers anyhow. I have yet to see eclipse product in ANY store i have visited (keep in mind i live in virginia, and not the part near DC, the other part, near lots of cows.

I really wanted to check out Eclipse in my 'in-person' comparison shopping today, but NOTHING anywhere. sigh.

[9vapors]

I have seen some awesome results using a Mac Mini as a HU replacement. You can even get an external antenna for the FM/AM side of things. I am getting one so I can play all region DVD's and use Itunes, hook it up to a touchscreen, run audio to a amp and your all set.

[SubieRX]

Wait... so I'm confused... does the 05 STi have the 13 din auxillary input?

[shikataganai]

Originally Posted by thedaddyb

the iPod wouldn't have nearly enough pre-amp voltage output to send a strong enough signal to an external amp. it would work . . . just not very well.

not true. i have the following setup and it sounds great. (for reference, my previous headunit was a Pioneer P9, so it's not like i have terrible taste or anything.) oh yeah, the setup:

iPod photo <-- use the headphone output, since lineout doesn't have volume control
nice and thick 1/8" -> RCA, RCA back to the trunk, Y splitter
one side of the Y to a JL 300/4 set to 2 channel input, using its built in pseudo-crossover to pass between the mids and tweeters (MB Quart Reference 6.5" in front doors). stock rear door speakers off other 2 channels.
other side of the Y to a JL e2250, bridged, sending its output via a low pass filter to a JL 10w3v2 in a passenger side trunk sub box

it's nice not having ANYTHING in the dash, just a proclip mount for the ipod...

[wobbletop]

I'll be using the VTR input on my AVN2454 for my ipod input. Going to use the Belkin ipod hack as the input adapter.

link

-W

Originally Posted by coxmaster

My stereo guy told me that Eclipse has an offical answer to Eclipse-iPod compatibility. It's supposed to be out in the next 30-45 days. Yay now my 2454 will have a friend!

cheers

garrrett