hi. i have an iPod that holds 10 gigs of mp3s. i'd like to wire this into my maxima.

i have a 99 maxima se that came with a bose. i noticed that there is a changer button on my stereo, so i am assuming that in the back there are a set of RCA inputs for a changer.

what i am planning on doing is running an RCA to mini cable, RCA into the changer inputs and mini jack straight into the iPod. then i would just select changer on the bose, and then select a playlist on the iPod.

will this work? i've don't know how these bose systems work, so i figured i would ask the experts here if this won't work, is there another solution someone can think of?

 

can't you just take that tape that comes with regular portable cd players, and plug it into your ipod, and then stick the tape into your bose system.. that's what i would do, no wiring required.

 

yes, i suppose i could, but that's just too messy, lol. i plan on running this line into the CD compartment, or glove box, or somewhere out of sight, so that it will be unseen when not in use...

what i really want to know is whether 1) those RCA changer inputs exist and 2) when i select changer on the stereo, will this actually work?

 

I do not think there is a set of RCA cables or DIN cable prewired in the truck. I don't see why it wouldn't work.

 

While your at it I would hook up a power supply so it doesn't die all the time.

Erik

 

The head unit is probally a Clarion/Bose the cd changer button will only work with one or two cd chamger models. The system is made special for Nissan (or at least thats what Bose told me when i called them)
You could wire the whole thing into the glove compartment then mount a fm modulator in there wire the mp3 player to it, fm modulator to antena leads. Presto tune radio to 88.7 and your mp3 player will work.

Sorry to hear you've got a IPOD. Dont quite understand why you would want a portable mp3 player in your car hard wired if its designed to be portable. Apple justs rips every one off.

Should have invested in a mp3 system for the car. I have a 40 gig car system that slides out and goes in my PC. Shock resistant, bios upgradeable. but thats my 2 cents.

 

Don't even go there... Apple makes the best stuff in the business, and the iPod is the best portable mp3 player on the market. Apple does NOT rip anyone off. Bill Gates and his microsoft cronies are the REAL ripoff artists in the business. However since this post isn't a debate about computers and a question about mp3 players, then I'd hafta agree with you about having something designed as being a portable hardwired into the car, but to each his own and so my attempt to answer the original question as follows.

The iPod uses a Firewire (also known as i-Link on Sony's or iee 1394) connector and I know of no car stereo that has that type of connection, esp. not a stock radio so that would rule out that type of connection. Your idea of running RCA to mini-jack and pluggin intot he headphone jack would work, if it wasn't for a few slight problems... first being the Bose doesn't have RCA's, and second being, most changer connections are made using specialized DIN cables not RCA's. So to get your idea to work you'd hafta get the special DIN cable that would be used to hook up the factory changer, and then get a mini adapter plug for it and hook it into the iPod's headphone jack. Of course that leads to another problem... I'm not even sure such an adapter even exists. So basically that leaves your only option as.. using the good ole fashioned tape adapter.

 

Thats how I have hooked mi creaive labs nomad jukebox.

 

OK sorry didnt want to fire up the mac/pc debate since i have many of both BUT a piece of hardware that can only be used on a mac is the most stupid idea ive ever seen (itunes 2.0 required for operation) especially dealing in mp3's. Only apple could make hardware that cant function on anything else but a mac. With a market share of 2.6% excluding schools and libraries, why dont we just shoot ourself's in the foot.

back to original thread

Car mp3 player

Da99Maxima is right nothing will work except a 6 or 10 changer has something to do with data line in the din cable.

FM modulator is the only way to go next to replacing the head unit.

 

 

I have the Sony mp3 player in my car. I only hate two things about it. One it takes a little long for the cd to load when it has mp3s on it. Second its a b**ch to search through a cd when it has 161 songs on it.

 

Hmmmm actually, if you really wanna get fancy, you could probably wire up a whole computer system into the car. I remember seeing a link once to a web site about a guy who hooked up a powerbook into his Pathfinder. He was playing mp3's straight from the book and was able to upload additional songs from the G4 in his house using the wireless built in airport link on both systems. Pretty cool stuff, but a lot of work to undertake and I don't know if you'd wanna go this route. Just thought I'd mention it anyhow.
Here is the link:

http://www.mp3car.com/usersites/Destin/home.html

 

can anyone else verify this? if it won't accept a standard RCA input, does this system have another input? ideas?

couple of sidenotes

1) the iPod is the best mp3 player on the market, hands-down

2) i am not "hardwiring" the iPod into the car, you think i'm crazy? i just want to run an input line to the stereo. the other end is a mini jack...which just easily plugs into the headphone jack on the iPod. i can unplug it just as easily...

3) i have a cigarette power cord thingie that can recharge my iPod when i'm in the car

4) you *can* use the iPod with the PC.

http://www.ephpod.com/

some nice guys at williams college basically took iTunes and made a nice open-source (yea free!) version of it for the PC. i don't own a macintosh, although i do fancy the machines and i would buy one if i had the money

5) i also have a firewire card in my PC. i can completely replace all 10 gigs of mp3s in less than 7 minutes. i have a maxima. i have an iPod. if i can figure this out, i don't have to buy some 3rd party solution. i was hoping this was a simple $30 adapter cable, but it's looking like it might be the cable + a new head unit. those 3rd party solutions are going to be obsolete real fast imo. having a portable 10 gig HD the size of a deck of cards is handy. sooner or later, car stereo manufacturers will allow firewire/usb/802 connections. as soon as that happens, the floodgates for iPod-like devices will easily replace any other mp3 solution on the market today. ultimately, a solution such as this would make burning mp3 CDs for your car obsolete as well with these types of devices only getting larger storage capacities and faster connection speeds. some people carry around PDAs already. imagine a wireless connection from a 10gig PDA to your car stereo that you could slip into your pocket and synch with your computer at home. that's what i'm after...lol

6) with the iPod, i wouldn't have the hassle of dealing with burned mp3 CDs. i have pre-defined playlists just a few clicks away. the iPod can have playlists by album/artist/genre/custom. if you've never used an iPod, go up to compUSA and try it out. you'll fall in love with it, i guarantee you...

7) my iPod also doubles as a PDA. i have an address book on it, and although i don't use it, you can also add a datebook, memo pad, email reader, all sorts of add-ons have been hacked for the iPod

 

okies. then where do i get this DIN cable and specs for it? how hard would it be to make this cable myself? i am thinking that i obviously wouldn't need all the wires on the DIN side, just a few for audio in and others? do you know where i can find specs for exactly what wire does what in the DIN?

 

Can you provide a bit more info on this? Links or something...I have been looking at an ipod for a bit.

Thanks,
Erik

 

sure...there's several sites, but the best one i think is:

www.ipodlounge.com

go to the downloads section and look through there for all sorts of neat stuff for the iPod...

 

www.ipodhacks.com

 

Thanks guys, sorry for going OT on you for a sec...

Erik

 

You could try and do a seach on for "rio car". Its been brought up before. Some dude was able to use his 99 bose system with the rio car player. Not exactly sure which thread it was but if you search you should be able to find it.

 

He may have had to replace the HU to do that, but otherwise keep everything else stock Bose.

The BEST way to get this mp3 player working is thru the DIN style changer input. I haven't had much luck getting specs on the part. Bose has made it very difficult. This company claimed to be able to put other CD changers onto BOSE systems.

http://www.discountcarstereo.com

You can try talking to them about maybe selling their adapter separately.

Personally, I would stay away from FM modulators and cassette tape adapters. What they gain in ease of install, they lose in sound quality. You won't be hearing the best of what you have connected thru them, such as the mp3 player discussed here.

DW

 

You can always do what I'm doing:

Mount a PC in the trunk and either build or buy an IR card. Put a remote up front that lets you select pre-made mp3 playlists and presto - loads of mp3s and easy access. Or you could go for the extra wow factor and bring a microphone up front for voice control of your mp3 playlists. That might end up being a pain, though.

The more expensive option, of course, is to use LCDs ala dashpc.com's Jetta.

Though, I can't do any of this until I replace the entire Bose system.