[jeff968]

If you want to hook up your IPod to a factory stereo which method do you feel provides better results and why? I've seen the tape cassette approach and the FM modulator. I'm thinking the tape cassette actually may work better as I've been with others who have had interference issues with the FM modulator. Thoughts?

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[Darryl]

You're right about the FM modulators and interference...although sometimes they're just fine. The cassette gizmo would probably be fool proof. That being said, the best way to do it is to interface it with the factory CD changer. DICE electronics makes iPod interfaces...probably not for our factory radios, but perhaps there is a generic sort of thing or different brand of interface out there. I've installed a couple for people in their Toyotas and Fords and they work great. You can control the iPod from the factory head unit just as if it were a CD changer. Now, that's assuming you have a CD changer option on your original radio. Can't interface to something that doesn't exist in the first place.

After a little poking around, I found a few links...check out this one particularily. They also suggest trying Becker USA.

http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/993/159...ace-cdr210.html

- Darryl

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[94SilverCab]

I have the Monster FM Modulator (not in the 968, thanks to Darryl)...it works fine in areas that don't have a lot of stations, but if you are travelling out of your area you need to keep searching for new uninterrupted stations...a bit of a PITA.

Jay

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[flash]

the frequency response of the FM modulator is generally not up to what the cassette can do either

either way, gadgets always add a level of processing - this is never good for audio quality - they also attract attention to thieves - this can really suck in a convertible where access can be had with a pocket comb

the best move is to dump the factory deck of whatever car, which almost always has horrible sound anyway, (the old mazda rx-7 clarion with the additional EQ being the only exception i can think of until very recent years) - factory decks without nav most often lower the value of the car - get something designed to do what you want, preferably with a removable face, and don't polish a turd - it would be very inexpensive these days to get a good deck with all the built in features

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[Sears]

I used a JVC cassette adapter in my land rover a while back and I have to say it was incredibly good quality. I even tried a Monster brand cassette adapter and it sounded muffled in comparison. A buddy of mine decided to grab the same JVC and in fact it sounded quite clear as well. He's used his for about 2.5 years now and still performs great. We found them at Wal-Mart of all places. It's black in color too so it blends in nicely. Much cheaper than Monster too. Nice surprise.

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[Gotter]

<!--quoteo(post=79768:date=Sep 9 2009, 01:36 PM:name=Sears)-->QUOTE (Sears @ Sep 9 2009, 01:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I used a JVC cassette adapter in my land rover a while back and I have to say it was incredibly good quality. I even tried a Monster brand cassette adapter and it sounded muffled in comparison. A buddy of mine decided to grab the same JVC and in fact it sounded quite clear as well. He's used his for about 2.5 years now and still performs great. We found them at Wal-Mart of all places. It's black in color too so it blends in nicely. Much cheaper than Monster too. Nice surprise.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


FM Mod [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif[/img]
Cassette [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]
New Stereo w/ mini-rca [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

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[PorscheDude]

If you are a true music fan, dump the factory deck, it's junk.
Get a decent head unit with proper iPod control.


By making a simple male/female pigtail, the you can easily swap it out for the days you need people to see the original paper weight.

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[jeff968]

<!--quoteo(post=79776:date=Sep 9 2009, 06:54 PM:name=PorscheDude)-->QUOTE (PorscheDude @ Sep 9 2009, 06:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->If you are a true music fan, dump the factory deck, it's junk.
Get a decent head unit with proper iPod control.


By making a simple male/female pigtail, the you can easily swap it out for the days you need people to see the original paper weight.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Thanks for the input. I would want to keep the car original so the original unit stays. Actually, I think it sounds pretty good as I have the hi-fi speakers and the two amp setup. Not as good as a new 2009 after-market unit but not bad. Thanks again. You confirmed what I thought about FM modulators.

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[flash]

you should hear what those speakers sound like with a real deck - absolutely amazing change - we did it in a cab here and was just stunned at the improvement - basic $240 pioneer too - much louder and cleaner

another thought would be to yank the deck and mothball it, while it still works, since they keep dying and becoming rarer and rarer - a simple harness plug would resolve the easy swap

i did that on the M3 - i kept the deck for when i sell the car, just in case somebody wanted it

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[PorscheDude]

<!--quoteo(post=79786:date=Sep 9 2009, 08:58 PM:name=jeff968)-->QUOTE (jeff968 @ Sep 9 2009, 08:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Actually, I think it sounds pretty good as I have the hi-fi speakers and the two amp setup.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Might be time for a hearing check up. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif[/img]

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[flash]

lol - yeah - very often it is just because somebody doesn't know any better - it's very gratifying though to see the look on somebody's face when i tune a system and they hear it for the first time - then they wonder how they ever lived with it the way it was before

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[jeff968]

<!--quoteo(post=79794:date=Sep 9 2009, 10:32 PM:name=PorscheDude)-->QUOTE (PorscheDude @ Sep 9 2009, 10:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Might be time for a hearing check up. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Really, I'm happy with it but thanks for the concern.

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[jeff968]

So, Rader got my CD2 working (amazing guy that Rader) and I installed it. I am very pleased with the sound it produces and I want to keep the unit (please, no sarcastic comments on my hearing) but I do want to get my Ipod talking to it. Now, I purchased an FM modulator and I feel the performance is terrible. When you tune to a station such as 88.5 you hear a hiss. When you have the FM modulator playing through 88.5 the hiss is still there in the background. The performance of the cassette adapter is much better. I have that in the coupe and it sounds fine but I don’t have a cassette in the CR2 so that is not an option. Now, you could not get a CD changer from the factory with a CR2 (no connection, no controls). Has anyone ever had a CD changer to a CR2? Any other thoughts? Otherwise the only other option is to open up the CR2 and do some surgery but it can be done.
Thanks

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[94SilverCab]

The "Monster" FM m odulator allows me to manually select another station. 88.5 is a direct hit here in Philadelphia (WXPN) so that would not work at all for me.

Jay

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[flash]

sorry - that's the nature of FM on a deck with low FM sensitivity - the only decks i've heard those units sound decent on are pioneer supertuners

the cassette likely has dirty or worn heads, which would tend to mask the hiss you would normally hear, as the high frequency response is limited (though FM is already limited to 15k)

if you have to keep that deck, unless it has auxiliary input, or the ability to jack into the changer input via a DIN to RCA adaptor, the easiest solution i can think of would be to jack into the speaker wiring and splice in an amp, and run the ipod through that, using the ipod controls for volume and tone control - it's a bit clumsy, and you'll have to make sure you turn the deck off when listening to the ipod, and ipod off when listening to the deck, but it would work

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