Hardwiring an iPod

[juiced 0]

1. Can this be done without buying an after market deck?

2. Is it possible for myself to do it or do you need to be advanced in electronics?

Thanks, I really don't want to buy an FM transmitter as I'm quite insane about audio quality and I just bought a blackberry so I don't want to splurge on an expensive deck either. I also like to work on projects.

[_HSB_b345t 0]

I plugged my into the auxiliary inputs on the back of my head unit with one of these and ran the wire into the glovebox.

[Darshu 0]

Yes, almost certainly, but it depends what kind of car you've got. If you have an aux input like _HSB_b345t described, you're all set for a $5 cable. If not, there are usually other options. Check out crutchfield.com -- they have really good vehicle-specific guides for iPod integration -- some via aux input, some thru headunit harnesses, some with an adapter to the CD changer leads.

[juiced 0]

Yes, almost certainly, but it depends what kind of car you've got. If you have an aux input like _HSB_b345t described, you're all set for a $5 cable. If not, there are usually other options. Check out crutchfield.com -- they have really good vehicle-specific guides for iPod integration -- some via aux input, some thru headunit harnesses, some with an adapter to the CD changer leads.

wow thanks alot for that site, looks like i'm pretty much going to have to get an aftermarket deck though. Do you know what brands I should be looking at? i don't want something too expensive.

[rogue 0]

What year, model and trim car do you have? I can most likely tell you what you'll need to get. Would you prefer to control the iPod with the controls on the deck or simply select songs using the iPod itself and have them play through the car's speakers. Most people think the first way is the best but in practice most headunits' iPod interfaces are clunky and difficult to use, especially while driving, and especially when compared to the intuitive interface on the iPod.

Tell me what you have, and what you want to do and I'll give you some suggestions.

[juiced 0]

What year, model and trim car do you have? I can most likely tell you what you'll need to get. Would you prefer to control the iPod with the controls on the deck or simply select songs using the iPod itself and have them play through the car's speakers. Most people think the first way is the best but in practice most headunits' iPod interfaces are clunky and difficult to use, especially while driving, and especially when compared to the intuitive interface on the iPod.

Tell me what you have, and what you want to do and I'll give you some suggestions.

I have a 2003 Nissan Sentra GXE. I'm not sure what you mean by trim though. As far as controlling it, that's really not a big issue for me. I'd almost rather do it on the iPod but to be honest I don't care about that so much as I do good audio quality, not too expensive and not a piece of junk. I don't really even know what to look for in one of those things.

edit: and to be honest i'm not even sure what they're called.

[rogue 0]

Trim is the GXE part. Let me check on some Sentra stuff quick, I may have a few more questions. Does your car's head unit say BOSE on it?

Controlling with the iPod would probably be easiest, most aftermarket headunits only give you 1-3 song listings at a time.

[juiced 0]

Trim is the GXE part. Let me check on some Sentra stuff quick, I may have a few more questions. Does your car's head unit say BOSE on it?

Controlling with the iPod would probably be easiest, most aftermarket headunits only give you 1-3 song listings at a time.

"car's head unit", total noob here.

Is that just where I control the radio and audio from? In which case no, I would've noticed if it said Bose on it. I WISH it said Bose on it.

[K9 Unit 1]

BOSE is awesome...i have a friend who has bluetooth thing plugged into his ipod and his stereo has bluetooth capatibility, if your willing upgrade a little more

[rogue 0]

Yep, the headunit is the part with the controls that you actually see. I'll see what I can find for you. How much are you hoping to spend?

Edit: I just found out that year Sentra may have come with a Rockford Fosgate system, does the headunit say that on it? Also, on the pillars inbetween the side windows and the window shield (that hold up the front corners of the roof) are there speakers?

[rogue 0]

Ok, got some info for you.

Just to make sure, does your headunit look like this one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2003-OEM-NI...5fAudioQ5fVideo

If so, this is probably the cheapest and easiest option for you:

http://www.activetuning.com/products/nissa...LXT/gallery.php

That will let you play the sound directly through your car speakers while still using your iPod for control of the playback. You'll need to get a cable like the one that was listed at the beginning of the thread (can find at wal-mart for cheap). That adapter I linked to won't however charge your iPod while in your car. There are two ways to go about doing that, easiest would be to just buy a cigarette lighter charger for an iPod. I wouldn't do that in my car because 1.) I always plug my phone in to the cig. charger and (2.) I think it would tacky as hell having two cords running up to your iPod. If you want to go a cleaner, more finished route I would also get one of these:

http://www.activetuning.com/products/unive...P01/gallery.php

That will interface with the above adapter and let you have only 1 cord for both sound and charging.

If you have any more questions let me know, I know it can be kind of confusing. If you'd like to get an after market headunit anyway I can recommend some, but if the only upgrade you want is to use your iPod i'd keep the stock one... it's much cheaper and no one is going to steal the stock HU.

Just curious, where are you located? If you are near MN / WI I might be able to help you install it.

[juiced 0]

No pillar speakers. And headunit looks exactly like that, i just came back inside from taking a pic of it but I guess I don't need that now. You're too good. No man, I'm no where near there sadly. You've been an incredible help though. Just curious, is there a difference between the first and second cord, aside from the charging capability? I'm wondering because the second one seems like it would be "better" but yet it's cheaper in price. Do you know how these are for audio quality?

Edit: I have an iPod classic.

[rogue 0]

No problem man, glad to help.

The second one is useless without the first one. You can however JUST use the first one, but won't be able to charge in the car. So you need to either get the first one, or get both, but can't just get the second.

[Neal 41]

rogue, I appreciate the information. I'll have to pull the deck on my 04 Frontier and see if I have that DIN plug.

[sitzlejd 0]

I've got an '03 Frontier and I'll be checking that as well. Is '04 the new body style? Let me know if yours has that DIN plug.

[Bender 0]

BOSE is awesome...i have a friend who has bluetooth thing plugged into his ipod and his stereo has bluetooth capatibility, if your willing upgrade a little more

No offense but by saying that Bose is awesome, your showing that you don't know much about audio equipment.

[K9 Unit 1]

never said i knew a lot about audio equipment...what do you use if you don't like bose?

[Bender 0]

After some searching I finally found the link I was looking for *click*

It's a lot of reading and is biased, however it does provide some interesting stuff. If you want I'll put it simply, Bose has a reputation that is based on far less than many people think, it's based very heavily on marketing. Most top audio companies don't really advertise a huge amount, I'm not entirely sure why but I would say that high end audio is a bit of a niche market, it doesn't pull in a huge amount of money and there is a large amount of consumer knowledge, the good stuff is well known, and the bad stuff is just as well known.

Ever noticed how small bose speakers are? Simply by the nature of sound, speakers simply can not be small and effective, varying sizes of speakers are needed to produce accurate and balanced sound, small speakers for high end, big ones for low end and of cource middle sized ones for the middle (this is why you don't see 5-6" subwoofers in cars, they just can't do it!).

It goes on but I'll leave it there and not go off topic any further, if you can be bothered that link is definatly worth a read.

[juiced 0]

After some searching I finally found the link I was looking for *click*

It's a lot of reading and is biased, however it does provide some interesting stuff. If you want I'll put it simply, Bose has a reputation that is based on far less than many people think, it's based very heavily on marketing. Most top audio companies don't really advertise a huge amount, I'm not entirely sure why but I would say that high end audio is a bit of a niche market, it doesn't pull in a huge amount of money and there is a large amount of consumer knowledge, the good stuff is well known, and the bad stuff is just as well known.

Ever noticed how small bose speakers are? Simply by the nature of sound, speakers simply can not be small and effective, varying sizes of speakers are needed to produce accurate and balanced sound, small speakers for high end, big ones for low end and of cource middle sized ones for the middle (this is why you don't see 5-6" subwoofers in cars, they just can't do it!).

It goes on but I'll leave it there and not go off topic any further, if you can be bothered that link is definatly worth a read.

this is interesting. i felt like i was in the middle of some big conspiracy the whole time though. :P

[Neal 41]

I've got an '03 Frontier and I'll be checking that as well. Is '04 the new body style? Let me know if yours has that DIN plug.

No, 04 is the last year for the older body style that was still based on the Hardbody. I won't be doing this for a while, I have to fix the brakes, wheel bearings and CV joints on a buddies Accord. Then there is that 68 Cougar up on jack stands in the garage waiting for me to complete the top end engine assembly. If my wife sees me taking apart another car before I finish these 2 I'm either dead or divorced. Or maybe both.

[sitzlejd 0]

I've got an '03 Frontier and I'll be checking that as well. Is '04 the new body style? Let me know if yours has that DIN plug.

No, 04 is the last year for the older body style that was still based on the Hardbody. I won't be doing this for a while, I have to fix the brakes, wheel bearings and CV joints on a buddies Accord. Then there is that 68 Cougar up on jack stands in the garage waiting for me to complete the top end engine assembly. If my wife sees me taking apart another car before I finish these 2 I'm either dead or divorced. Or maybe both.

Haha, alright. Well if I get to it before you do I'll let you know how it goes.

[Thockey17 1]

BOSE is awesome...i have a friend who has bluetooth thing plugged into his ipod and his stereo has bluetooth capatibility, if your willing upgrade a little more

No offense but by saying that Bose is awesome, your showing that you don't know much about audio equipment.

Buy Other Stereo Equipment

[n3ss 0]

If you go the aftermarket way, definitely look into pioneer for the head unit. I had one, loved the controls.

[Master P 0]

I have an Alpine Ipod radio. Its great. When I bought it a few years ago the Apline synced to the ipod faster than other stereos. There was less lag. This was several years ago so I doubt that holds true anymore. I just leave my ipod in the glove box. Those FM transmitters are junk. Better to save up for an aftermarket stereo than waste your money on a transmitter.