ipod question..........

[HDRAMROD]

Has anyone tried an ipod with their stereo system in the Z? I know that they sell an FM accessory for the ipod so you can tune it in on the stereo system but, I was wondering if anyone has tried a direct wire method so you can still have the digital sound? If so, a brief "how to" would be helpful! Thanks.....

[Backlash]

While I am no help at all when it comes to this type of stuff. I suggest you send Rocketsled a PM. When it comes to electronics, he's the man...

[smook]

Yes.

It works just fine.

Get the iTrip.

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/itrip/

Use it ALL the time.

ENJOY THE RIDE.
-BIll.

[jub jub]

The iTrip is what you want to use. Although it could be done, I wouldn't recommend going inside the stock stereo to hard wire a direct connection.

[HDRAMROD]

Yes, the iTrip is the FM tuner thing that I was speaking of. Thanks for the advice guys!
Since you have to tune in to a vacant radio station, I was just wondering if the sound quality was as good as a CD. It's really not digital sound since it goes through the radio waves. It may just be like listening to the radio with the same "substandard" quality.

[reproman]

Originally Posted by HDRAMROD

It may just be like listening to the radio with the same "substandard" quality.

I really hate the "modulated" approach. Certain areas will give you interference. Last time I tried that technology was back in 94 and it drove me crazy then. Even the Harley has a "plug-in" for proper audio bandwidth.

[wvphoto]

one of my vendors got me a "photo ipod." 60 gig !! for christmas..

i guess spending 60k there this year didn't hurt.. LOL

i love this thing...
very cool item.. i never even thought about buying one.. now .. i don;t think i could live without it..
LOL

i am a mac guy too

[LarryW]

Check out this thread and see my reply:

NEO iON iPod connection for Vettes

This setup is expensive but seems to be the best solution out there for C5s (using the factory head unit). The FM modulator's are convenient but they simply can't match direct cabling for sound quality. And with FM modulation, you have no way to control the iPod from the head unit which is the primary reason for me to go the route that I took...

I haven't decided where to try and tuck all of the excess cabling but after reading another thread regarding this subject, I may try and tuck all of it under the carpeting next to the passenger side footwell (forward of the passenger door).

I'd like to leave my iPod in the glove box and then use one of these to hold the iPod while driving (to make better use of that crappy "cup holder"):

Belkin iPod holder

I plan to check this holder out sometime this week as well as look into getting a case for the iPod; damn thing scratches too easily and prone to collecting finger prints!

Good luck...

[Flareside]

I tried a few different products to integrate Ipod into a Vette, but none of them worked out too well. The FM modulators (I tried Icar and Belkin) had interference and poor sound, the Ipod wouldn't shut off with the key, and there were wires everywhere. I found a relatively cheap setup that works great, and has only one visible wire that connects to the Ipod's dock connector. I leave the Ipod in my cupholder, and the wire hides in the ashtray when I'm not using it.


Here's what I finally wound up with:

I used a "P.I.E." adapter to convert the CD changer cable to an AUX Ipod connector. The PIE adapter basically converts the CD changer cable into a standard RCA cable connection. I used an RCA style Monster cable to run from the PIE adapter in the back hatch to a Belkin Ipod power adapter ( F8V7058-APL, Ebay, $12) that I hard wired under the dash. The Belkin has a few connections, one is a plug that connects to the Ipod and provides power and sound output, the second connection is a headphone style sound output jack that connects it to the RCA cable coming from the PIE adapter (using an RCA to headphone adapter plug). The sound signal goes down the Belkin dock connector cable to the Belkin power adapter, then through the Belkin's headphone jack to the PIE adapter, then to the head unit. This setup sounds complicated, but it's cheap (under $100) and works perfectly. Most of the other setups I've seen have more than one cable connected to the Ipod, and cig lighter adapters, but I didn't want that mess in my Vette. My Ipod has one small cable running to it through the ashtray, and it turns on and off with the ignition (the cig lighter adapters don't). I just press the AUX button on the radio and the Ipod plays.

The system works so well in the Vette that I'm installing the same thing in my truck now, and my wife wants to dump her car's XM for an Ipod.

[Penforhire]

I don't consider myself an audiophile but I couldn't stand the muddy stock Bose system. I can't understand why the system is so bad. I swapped the head unit for a mid-grade Alpine, door speakers for high-end separates (6.5" + tweeter IIRC), mid-price 5 channel Amp, left the rear speakers disconnected, and added one 10" sub in a small box on the shelf in front of my partition (crisp, not boomy). Less than $1200 installed but a world of improvement. Those front speakers alone blow away the original front+rear.

Anyway, it also let me run a plain Aux input from the Alpine rear that hangs out from under the tunnel, Ipod kept in cup holder.

[itry2hide]

I just purchased one of these - http://www.everythingipod.com/TFM.tp...bs/products.db

It's called a transpod. Works pretty well. BTW, I'm using with a mini - don't think it works with the photo yet. This is also my 3rd iPod; the kids got the older ones after much whining.

[diverdan]

I bought the PIE adapter from litewarehouse.com and through it I can run my iPod. i actually got some RCA cable spliters from radio shack coming out of the PIE unit. I have 1 side going to my Sirius Sportser and the other ending in a 3.5mm jack to plug into my iPod. Total investment is approx $60.00 for the PIE adapter, approx $60.00 for the (overpriced) factory CD changer cable, and about $10.00 in RCA cables and spliters.

This gives me the versatility to listen to satellite radio or my own tunes/playlists whichever I'm in the mood for.

[Nabbs]

Larry -- I plan on going the same route as you, could you go into detail about how you installed everything?

You purchased the cd-disc harness, attached it to the connector in the pax footwell:


Then you plug the changer harness to the the neo-ion, and then to the ipod.

You can use fastforward/rewind, move up and down between tracks, and raise/lower volume with the stock head unit?

I see the only problem is trimming all that access wire. Is there any reason the GM cd-disc harness couldn't be trimmed?

Any insight and pix would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

-N

[Nabbs]

A couple of more questions --

First off, FM modulation is *off*, it loses too much sound quality and all sorts of stuff. I like Larry's solution because you can use the stereo controls to control the iPod. If one goes to the RCA solution and does not use the neo ion, can you still use the factory stereo controls?

Wish somebody would build an iPod kit that had all the associated parts.

-N

[LarryW]

Nabbs,

Yes, I purchased the CD changer harness (COR-HAR) from the place that I purchased the NEO iON adapter. They were the cheapest at $40.00.

And just an FYI, that photo that you posted showing a person disconnecting a connector in the passenger footwell, that is NOT the connection that you will be messing with. I think you know that but just in case you didn't!!

For me, that was the most difficult and time consuming task: finding the two CD changer 'port' connectors, and then making the physical connection between these two plugs and the CD changer harness. It was hard, for me, for two reasons:

1. I had my Z backed into my garage and being the lazy mofo that I am, had to lay on my stomach over the center console and reach down into the passenger footwell to do everything (real stupid!) coming in from the driver side. Because of the size of my garage, I'm not able to open the passenger side door all the way; should have just pulled the Z out and then did everything from the passenger side. Oh well, I still managed!

2. One of the CD changer port plugs is taped against a wiring harness and somewhat hidden from view (the harness is visable but the plug may not be). I had to use my finger tips and 'feel' for the connector plug and then undo the tape using one hand. Mine was tucked up behind the plastic panel on the far right-hand side of the passenger footwell. The second CD changer port plug is visable in the lower right-hand side of the passenger footwell (once you have that panel that is velcro'ed to the floorboard removed you should see it).

The CD changer harness came with very decent instructions and photos of where everything is located. I don't have time right now but I take a couple of digicam snaps for you later on and post them if you want. Just don't have time right now.

The port connector that you untape will be real easy to connect because you will have plenty of cable slack and room to make the physical connection. However, the port connector that is visable was a PITA for me. The connector, although visable, is attached to the frame of the fusebox. It feels very brittle and I was afraid to break the plastic tab or even worse: the connector itself . Whatever you do, take your sweet ass time, don't want to make things worse by busting up plastic plugs and connectors!!! So what I ended up doing to make the connection to the CD changer harness was to physically bend the wires of the CD changer harness so that the plug was at a 180 degree angle and I fed it into the plug on the CD changer port side (hope this makes sense!). Since it was bent 180 degress, it almost looked like a U-shaped 'hook'. It took numerous tries but I was able to get it to seat against the plug and then using my other hand I was able to snap the two connectors together. Then I got out of my Z, stretched out, high-fived myself, and pounded an ice cold HEINEKEN

Once you have the CD changer harness physically connected in the passenger side footwell, it's downhill from there. The other end of the CD changer harness will connect into a small adapter box, this adapter box has some DIP switches on it (instructions will tell you which switches to set), and then you connect another cable from this adapter box to the iPod.

You probably can cut the cables to reduce the length, but I don't want to do that. I think I'll be able to tuck everything under the carpeting in the passenger side footwell. Just haven't gotten around to doing that yet!!

And yes, you can raise and lower the volume of the iPod through the factory head unit. You can fast forward, and revert to the previous track, etc.

I plan to keep my iPod in the cup holder so I can still control the iPod from the driver's seat.

The setup really sounds good, very crisp, clean, no static (CD quality assuming your mp3's are good quality!). I even shook the iPod constantly to see if I could mimick the Z driving down the road, no skipping The volume level remains constant between the iPod, the CD player, and the AM/FM tuner, whether you go from AM/FM to the iPod, or from the iPod to the CD player, the volume seems to remain constant. What I love is that if you switch from the iPod to the CD player or radio, the iPod powers off (real nice feature). And the iPod battery will automatically charge from this connection (another must-have feature for me).

I almost went with the other solution that someone else posted, using a P.I.E. adapter (RCA connections) but I don't believe that it provides everything that I needed to have in my solution. It's cheaper but was not the solution for me.

Hope this answers your question(s)...and good luck!

Larry