Author Topic: Stereo solution = expensive (Read 2836 times)

kelli · « **on:** April 19, 2006, 05:58:06 pm »

So.. i went into the local auto stereo store to find out about an HU that'll let me play my Ipod and if i could hook up my steering wheel controls to it.

Ayep.. it's all possible..

Okay.. for the Kenwood KDC-MP4032 + mounting bracket + iPod adapter + steering wheel adapter + labour it comes to $615.00 with tax

The HU alone was only $230.. yeesh.. that's a lot of money for better sound, iPod functionality and steering wheel control.. my sound is horrible right now.. stock stereo is really bad.. but i like that it's a 6 disc changer.. so i need to decide.. no more changer for better sound and ipod or keep the changer.

I bought an FM transmitter for the Ipod and hated it.. i'm taking it back.

ugh

initial_D · « **Reply #1 on:** April 19, 2006, 06:08:55 pm »

$615 is NOT expensive, IMO. Provided the sound quality is good.

In 1989, I paid $850 for a 10-disc changer, and $680 for a deck and controller. Might still have the receipts.

They are still in use today, in the same car. Some might consider that was a lot of money, but 17 years later, I am still enjoying good sound. To me, that was money well spend.

G0dspd · « **Reply #2 on:** April 20, 2006, 03:09:46 pm »

... it's a decent price with the steering wheel thing. I know people who paid around the same thing just do the deck/bracket/installation.

quadzilla · « **Reply #3 on:** April 20, 2006, 05:40:57 pm »

How about something like this?

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-FQXdPwSH8Oo/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?I=108DP1US

initial_D · « **Reply #4 on:** April 20, 2006, 05:48:31 pm »

Consider the system's backlit LCD display, which mounts up high on the dash for easy visibility while driving. And since it matches the display on your iPod — with the same menu style and general layout — you already know how easy it is to jump between songs and artists.

On the dash means distraction, and perhaps potential for theft.

I am not a fan of Compressed Digital Music format, even the best systems are not worth time and money. Just my opinion.

paulk · « **Reply #5 on:** April 20, 2006, 06:48:30 pm »

Most iPod input gadgets are unnecessary, if you're willing to give up the ability to control it from the steering wheel. Almost all stock head units made in the last 10 years can be modified to add an auxiliary input -- just plug it in the place where the CD changer input goes. I did this to my car and the total cost was under $10. If you also want the ability to do next track/previous track/pause/etc. from your head unit, there are third party gadgets for around $100 that add this to most stock head units (they make the iPod appear to the head unit like a CD changer).

kelli · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2006, 12:19:44 am »

fm modulator.. ick.. really bad sound.

I'm not willing to give up steering wheel control. I know it sounds idiotic, but i do use it and it's the first insanely unecessary feature that i have.. i have to keep it!!

Ya gotta keep in mind i came from a car that had power nothing in it.. not one single thing.. now i have a car that has steering wheel controls.. i'm smitten!! =)

I think i'll go for it and see how it turns out .. i'm thinking about it.. and it isn't /too/ steep.. but it's still a lot of money for me.. i'm a poor bureaucrat for crying out loud!! =)

mdxtasy · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2006, 12:31:59 am »

That sounds like a decent enough deal....to put it into perspective, a friend of mine slapped in a Eclipse deck into his BMW and no steering wheel controls cost him over $1G.

initial_D · « **Reply #8 on:** April 21, 2006, 01:03:35 am »

Quote from: mdxtasy on April 21, 2006, 12:31:59 am

That sounds like a decent enough deal....to put it into perspective, a friend of mine slapped in a Eclipse deck into his BMW and no steering wheel controls cost him over $1G.

Yeah, people who drives BMWs are foolish!

Quote from: kelli on April 21, 2006, 12:19:44 am

fm modulator.. ick.. really bad sound.

I'm not willing to give up steering wheel control. I know it sounds idiotic, but i do use it and it's the first insanely unecessary feature that i have.. i have to keep it!!

Ya gotta keep in mind i came from a car that had power nothing in it.. not one single thing.. now i have a car that has steering wheel controls.. i'm smitten!! =)

I think i'll go for it and see how it turns out .. i'm thinking about it.. and it isn't /too/ steep.. but it's still a lot of money for me.. i'm a poor bureaucrat for crying out loud!! =)

This is one case that money will buy happiness.

I was 19 and bartending, max-ed out the good old Visa.

Loudpedal · « **Reply #9 on:** April 21, 2006, 09:56:14 am »

Quote from: kelli on April 19, 2006, 05:58:06 pm

The HU alone was only $230.. yeesh.. that's a lot of money for better sound, iPod functionality and steering wheel control.. my sound is horrible right now.. stock stereo is really bad.. but i like that it's a 6 disc changer.. so i need to decide.. no more changer for better sound and ipod or

Maybe the stock speakers are crap. If the speakers are o.k. and you are looking for iPod functionality and steering wheel controls, I would agree with the rest of the folks here, not an unrealistic price.

wing · « **Reply #10 on:** April 21, 2006, 11:53:25 am »

That's not a bad price really, not the greatest but not bad.

But will it improve your sound? Just getting a new deck might be useless if the stock speakers are garbage.

quadzilla · « **Reply #11 on:** April 21, 2006, 12:28:56 pm »

Quote from: paulk on April 20, 2006, 06:48:30 pm

Almost all stock head units made in the last 10 years can be modified to add an auxiliary input -- just plug it in the place where the CD changer input goes. I did this to my car and the total cost was under $10.

Where would one get such a device/connection for under $10?

Trainman · « **Reply #12 on:** April 21, 2006, 01:06:55 pm »

Quote from: paulk on April 20, 2006, 06:48:30 pm

Almost all stock head units made in the last 10 years can be modified to add an auxiliary input -- just plug it in the place where the CD changer input goes. I did this to my car and the total cost was under $10.

More details please! Sounds like a good idea.

The Nissan unit that kelli has is an all-in-one, so the CD input would be internal. You said that "can be modified to add an auxiliary input", does this mean going inside the deck to do this?

tortoise · « **Reply #13 on:** April 21, 2006, 01:44:09 pm »

For the Protege5 headunit you can buy an external device that lets you connect an RCA cable input to the Changer input. But it costs $100.

http://www.sylfex.com/products/AuxMod/

Perhaps something like this is available for the X-Terra

initial_D · « **Reply #14 on:** April 21, 2006, 01:47:59 pm »

Most input for the CD changer is a 8 pin/DIN plug, if you know the which pins are for the audio, you can solder a cables onto it, the other end of the cable could be RCA jacks or 1/8" PIN headphone plugs. Just my guess.

Not a hard job, knowing the pin settings and able to find a same DIN plug.

paulk · « **Reply #15 on:** April 21, 2006, 04:42:02 pm »

Quote from: quadzilla on April 21, 2006, 12:28:56 pm

Where would one get such a device/connection for under $10?

Google your car manufacturer (also try the vehicle model) and the keywords "aux input" or "auxiliary input". Most manufacturers have standard connectors on the back of their head units that don't change from year to year. Mazda, for instance, used the same connector (CN702) on all their head units from 1994 to 2001. (After 2001 they started using a different connector that's not as simple to use.)

Once you know the connector pinout, buy a stereo mini jack from Radio Shack, connect the left channel of the jack to the left pin of the connector, the right channel to the right, and the ground to ground. You're almost done. There are usually two pins of the connector that you need to connect together to let the head unit know the "CD changer" has been connected up. If the head unit has a CD changer button, you usually just connect the two pins together. If there is no button, buy a switch from Radio Shack and use it to connect/disconnect the two pins. BTW, to avoid having to solder to your head unit, you can buy empty connectors at Radio Shack or an electronics supply place. They're either DIN (round) or Molex (rectangular) type.

Here's a web page going into more detail about how to do this:
http://carstereoipod.blogspot.com/

paulk · « **Reply #16 on:** April 21, 2006, 04:52:36 pm »

Quote from: tortoise on April 21, 2006, 01:44:09 pm

For the Protege5 headunit you can buy an external device that lets you connect an RCA cable input to the Changer input. But it costs $100.
http://www.sylfex.com/products/AuxMod/

It's actually only $60 USD, but you only need that for Protege5s that have the modular FMS audio. Older Protege5s (2001 and earlier, maybe also 2002) use the regular CN702 connector.

wing · « **Reply #17 on:** April 21, 2006, 08:59:38 pm »

Yeah the S2000 radio has this input as well

tortoise · « **Reply #18 on:** April 22, 2006, 07:38:31 pm »

Quote from: paulk on April 21, 2006, 04:52:36 pm

It's actually only $60 USD, but you only need that for Protege5s that have the modular FMS audio. Older Protege5s (2001 and earlier, maybe also 2002) use the regular CN702 connector.

Kinda Splittin' hairs huh? $60 (USD) + Shipping = $100 in my books.

Mazda only made the Protege5 in 2002 & 2003, and the link I mentioned will work in the 2002.

I know that it was only for Mazdas, but felt that a similar option might be available for Nissan products.

paulk · « **Reply #19 on:** April 22, 2006, 08:40:59 pm »

Sorry, I was confusing the Protege and Protege5. The Protege until at least 2001 had a radio that looks like this:

That radio has the straightforward CN702 connector, fairly typical of OEM radios.

At some point the Protege switched to a radio that looks like this:

That radio only has the serial interface and you need the AuxMod or something similar. (There are a couple alternative vendors linked at the bottom of the link I posted in my comment above.)