I am thinking about getting my iPOD hardwired into my 01' runner (iTrip is a joke in the city). Everything is stock except the head unit. its a Sony xplod that I got in 2002 (CDX-L600X), no aux inputs =(. I can either get a new head unit with an aux in or use a wired fm modulator. Does anyone know the quality difference between the aux in on a head unit and a wired (to the antenna) fm modulator? Is it that noticeable? I'm just not sure what route to take...

P.S. I plan to have the 1/8" cable run underneath the cover on my shifter, and up into the console between the driver and passenger seats to the top tray (perfect for hiding the iPOD when leaving it in the runner). Then mount the iPOD dock somewhere with a power connection so I can just drag it out and charge it when I need to. I would run the power cable with the 1/8" but I don't want a wire coming off the top AND bottom (too cluttered). Thanks for your input!!!

 

I would avoid the FM transmitter all together and hard wire it,why have a digital sound source be lowered back down to a radio signal and yes there is a sound quality difference.

 

just finished up CES 2005.

tons of companies are coming out, if not already, headunits that are iPod aware and can control them...

this is a good year for iPod in car users...

 

dension.com, they are expensive though

also, try this, less expensive option just like above, just no dock, which would work better cause you want it in the center console. Both have options to work with OEM or aftermarket system. Great idea on putting it in center console, I didn't think of that, was going to put it in a holder on dash, only bad thing of having it in the center console is that you can't search for songs as easily, I guess thats good too, you should be driving, not fooling with controls all the time

 

I think I have decided on a new Alpine HU. Tell me if this is a bad idea:

Ingredients:
Alpine CDA-9815 HU
RCA to 1/8" conv cable
Belkin Auto Kit for iPod w/ Dock Connector

Rca from back of Alpine hu to the Belkin charger (with an outlet mounted behind a cover somewhere) then the Belking charger cable to the iPOD. One wire to the iPOD that both charges and plays hardwired. Anything I overlooked? Tell me if it sounds good! Thanks again for the input!

 

Why not spend the extra $80 and get the interface to charge/control your ipod through the alpine head unit.

 

I really don't need (or want) to be able to control it through the hu. The iPOD is much more adapt at navigating through the playlists. And the cable will allow me to bring it up to face level to change songs instead of looking awkwardly down to the hu.
Is the 9815 even Ai-net capable? I didn't see it in features.... The Ai-net ones are more expensive I think. If the KCA-420i doesn't massively improve the sq from the solution I am thinking of, I don't really see the worth in getting it....

 

That makes sense.

 

the cda-9815 has AInet, thats what the "A" is for in the model #. as long as it is an 04 model the new ipod interface will work. from what im told the search features on the hu to the ipod are a little slow, but id like to try it for myself to see.

 

So I am reading something and it says that the aux inputs on the Alpine CDA-9815 are optional.... I emailed someone from the site and they said that there is a seperate piece that you have to buy that lets you use the aux in... Am I missing something here???

 

It's an Ai-Net cable with RCAs on the end. Its about 30-50 bucks. It works similarly to a CD player in the way it plugs in.

 

Ugh... another thing to buy.... I don't have to buy the KCA-420i, do I? (I don't want to control the iPOD from the hu) Thanks for the heads up!

P.S. Are there head units with rca aux inputs already built in (without the need of a cable)? Any other Alpines I can use without an extra cable to buy?

 

get a new head. I just got the new Rockford Phos head with the aux in, ran monster cable out the dash....to plug in the ipod and/or the laptop....oh my wurd.......

SPAN-FREAKIN-TASTIK.

Don't waste time on an FM mod....stay digital and hardwired

Mike

 

Yeah, that's what I've decided. Now I'm looking for an Alpine hu that has a direct aux rca input (no Ai-net cable needed). Anyone know of one?

 

your lucky that ai0net only costs that much.

my very old sony mobile es head unit required a $100 box just to add an aux-in.

what these things do is emulate a cd/md changer to the head unit. that's how you can control the iPod and have it display artist and title info...

 

So are you saying if I get the Alpine with the Ai-net cable (not the 420i unit), I will be able to control the iPOD from the iPOD and it will display the songs on the hu? That would be fine I guess...

 

no.

i dont THINK the alpine heads work that way.

at worst, all you can do is connect the iPod to the head unit and pipe the audio.

all the controls and displays will still be on the iPod itself.

best case scenario, the iPod can be controlled and its data displayed through the alpine front panel...

 

no, unless you use the 420i, the hu will not display anything from the ipod. the kca-121b is the AiNet adapter, it converts the AiNet input to RCA and you could use a phono plug cable with rca to feed the audio into the hu. you are better off using the 420i since it charges the Ipod and and allows you to control and display from the hu. this should give you all the info you need for the 420i http://www.alpine-usa.com/products/l...h_kca-420i.htm

 

http://thewholesalematrix.zoovy.com/product/ALPKCA420I

They're out of stock at the moment but they usually have them for about $80 which IMO is worth it for the ease of use with the iPod and will impress your friends that have to fumble with the iPod searching for songs in their cars and while driving.

 

Fumbling with the iPOD face level (with 8 lines of text) vs fumbling with the hu with your head down in the dash (with 2 lines of text) =P Choices, choices.
Thanks for the input guys, I'm still thinking on it but now the 420 looks pretty good...