Jeep Enthusiast Forums banner

Best Ipod Solution!!!!!

3K views 25 replies 13 participants last post by  tube yj 
#1 ·
FINALLY! An ipod solution has risen from the ashes. I have been aching to find a way to connect my 02 sport radio to my ipod but the head unit does not have cd changer controls. This means that those fancy PIE converters (if you dont konw, they are simply converters that make your head unit think that your ipod is a enormous cd changer) would not work. Crestfallen, i purchased a fm transmitter from Monster. As you all probably know, its sound quality was awful...even for a jeep. Forever hopeful, i searched further and found.....(drum beats please) the FM MODULATOR! TA DA! :laugh: anways all it does is it splices into the antenna quick disconnect that is conveniently located behind the glovebox and converters the ipods signal into a fm signal that is HARDWIRED to the antenna. Result? excellet sound quality....at least for a jeep. I wired this modulator into the 12v, along with a belkin car kit (to charge the ipod) and hid everything under the console. Ill try to get some pics up soon, but its by far the best solution!! :thumbsup:
 
#2 ·
Stupid me, thats what I thought the FM transmitter was. :confused: I have been using an Alpine changer for over 10 years in my main ride that is FM modulated. It's been great. Can't imagine why it wouldn't have been the biggest option available for an Ipod. This is a great tip for anyone wanting to do this. How much was it, & who has it?
 
#3 ·
Hmmmm, how does the audio compair to line out into an amplifer or though the PIE stuff? This may be a GREAT Holdover for me untill i can get an alpine headunit or some other better solution
 
#4 ·
Awesome. I've been looking for ways to connect my ipod, and havent came up with anything, but this sounds pretty cool. Where'd you get all the stuff needed to connedt it and how much did it all cost?

Oh, and I do have an afetrmarket pioneer deck. Would that PIE thing you mentioned work with that do you think?
 
#5 ·
Roodki said:
Awesome. I've been looking for ways to connect my ipod, and havent came up with anything, but this sounds pretty cool. Where'd you get all the stuff needed to connedt it and how much did it all cost?

Oh, and I do have an afetrmarket pioneer deck. Would that PIE thing you mentioned work with that do you think?
Yeah, you probably dont need to do this if you have a pioneer deck, as long as you have aux in , such as cd changer control. The quality is still a FM signal, but it is the best possible fm sounding signal you could have, so its not quite like a direct line in. The best part? Its only 35 bucks! :D
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=90119470&loc=111&sp=1
 
#6 ·
I just got an iPod myself, and am completely dissatisfied with the sound quality using old school tape adapters. This modulator sounds great, but will it be compatible with my stock Mopar head unit? Also, is installation terribly difficult?
 
#7 ·
i also have a mopar head unit, works perfectly, installation takes about 3 minutes, everything is very reachable. the antenna disconnect is right behind the glove box, and the 12v are wherever you happen to find it, i used the cig lighter
 
#11 ·
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.a...70&loc=111&sp=1

Anyone buy from this outlet? As long as I buy an FM Modulator, should this work? Any additional cables, etc. needed?

Let me see if I got this straight, pretty much plug and play from the iPod to the Modulator, and than into the antenna? What does the antenna port look like and is this a direct fit or does it require some splicing? In other words, How exactly would I hook it up?

Thanks a bunch, electrical newbie here..
 
#12 ·
that is the exact link that i bought it from. There is no splicing involved with the antenna, just a male\female end that fits right into the jeeps antenna quick disconnect that (in the TJ) is located right behind the glovebox. The only splicing is with the 12v needed to power the beast. Works pretty simple like
 
#13 ·
RipcordAFF said:
FINALLY! An ipod solution has risen from the ashes. I have been aching to find a way to connect my 02 sport radio to my ipod but the head unit does not have cd changer controls. This means that those fancy PIE converters (if you dont konw, they are simply converters that make your head unit think that your ipod is a enormous cd changer) would not work. Crestfallen, i purchased a fm transmitter from Monster. As you all probably know, its sound quality was awful...even for a jeep. Forever hopeful, i searched further and found.....(drum beats please) the FM MODULATOR! TA DA! :laugh: anways all it does is it splices into the antenna quick disconnect that is conveniently located behind the glovebox and converters the ipods signal into a fm signal that is HARDWIRED to the antenna. Result? excellet sound quality....at least for a jeep. I wired this modulator into the 12v, along with a belkin car kit (to charge the ipod) and hid everything under the console. Ill try to get some pics up soon, but its by far the best solution!! :thumbsup:
where are those pics????
 
#14 ·
well the problem is that i further tweaked my setup, i had the fm modulator hidden sitting in front of the shifter, on top of the airbag doohickey, but i found out there was extra room underneath the center console (where the shifter meets the ground, in front of the cup holders), so i just shoved eveything under there. So there is nothing to take a pic of, except one wire running out from underneath that i plug my ipod into, sorry though! its still an exceptional setup IMO
 
#15 ·
although yes that will work...if your an audiofile such as myself...or if you just plain old like quality this is not the solution...your taking a digial signal and striping it off its quality....if you have subs and other aftermarket equipment the sound quality is going to drive you nuts...

although rock on if you dont mind the radio.,...but for me one of the main reasons I dont listen to the radio is the fact that the radio sounds like garbage...this is just my humble opinion of course.
 
#16 ·
well maybe a true audiofile would know how to properly identify himself.... audiophile :rolleyes: And perhaps a true audiophile such as yourself would understand that yes the signal is just analog, coming from a ipod (which is a mp3 not terribly lauded has having excellent sound quality) its perfectly ok. I made it clear in my first post that it was not as crystal as the alpine line-in solution, for thirty bucks (and those not willing to buy a alpine headunit along with the 100 dollar adapter) its more than acceptable. And given that is directly interfaced with the antenna, it is FAR better quality than you could ever hope to receive from a radio station. :rtft:
 
#17 ·
Actually the quality of the mp3 is not determined from the ipod but yet the source it was riped at. When the ipod says it can hold 10,000 songs thats because its assuming its at 128 kps. However what I normally do is rip my music at least 192 or greater which increases the quality a lot, but allows you to fit far less songs on the ipod. It all depends on your use, if you want to just plug in some .99 cent head phones you wont tell the difference...plug in some better headphone or a better system and you will wonder why you even listen to an mp3 at 128 kps.

That was my whole point, the radio is just not good if your running subs...that low end bass can not be transfered though to radio.,..and if you want to get super technical when radio first came out groups redesigned their sounds according to radio knowing that the quality just wasnt there...hence the need for satallite radio.

The reason I miss spelled audiophile was probably because I had my walkman on during english class...dont shoot the messanger!

happy listening,
 
#18 ·
I chose iTrip over the Monster unit because of the greater number of stations to choose from. iTrip is also smaller and fits in the pocket instead of staying in the Jeep to get stolen.

I have a trashed CD player that is wheezing to it's last. The Jeep destroys things by bashing them to death. iPod is the only way to go.

Oh...and for you getting ready to jump into the iPod pond...the FM transmitters have an annoying habit....they buzzzzzzzzz like crazy if you get a strong cell signal or electical interferance. It goes away...but it is annoying.
 
#19 ·
Technically speaking, vinyl records have the most accurate, some say better, sound than digital recordings analog recording. Original sound is analog by definition. A digital recording takes snapshots of the analog signal at a certain rate (for CDs it is 44,100 times per second) and measures each snapshot with a certain accuracy (for CDs it is 16-bit, which means the value must be one of 65,536 possible values). This means that the waveforms from a vinyl recording can be much more accurate, and that can be heard in the richness of the sound. But there is a downside, any specks of dust or damage to the disc can be heard as noise or static.

My iPod collection goes on, however, I've been building a niew vinyl collection too. he he
 
#20 ·
I had played around with the classic stereo wire to Cassette adapter for playing the ipod. In momma's GC the sound was VERY nice, i was impressed. In my buddy's VW, it was horrible, The Hiss was horendous. Not having a tape player, i found an old head unit laying around with an AUX input on the front. A simple male to male stereo cable connects to the ipod and the deck and works well for what im looking for. You can pick up an aftermarket head unit with an aux in for not too expensive if thats a route ur interested in.
 
#21 ·
ok i never have set foot in this forum as my jeep does not even have a stereo.

But... My tow rig does :D I am wondering how the fm modualtor hooks to your ipod?

does it just plug into the headphone jack?

The reason i ask, is that i have a sony mp3 player and I know there are lots of IPOD only accessories. I do not want to spend the money if it will not work for me. I am tired of the horrible sound quality i get from the fm transmitter
 
#22 ·
I dont think I'd have a stereo if I had your rig either. It'd be much more entertaining just to listen to the Crunch of terain as you plow terain like in your aviator.

With that said, if I ever get 36"s I'll give you my deck.
 
#24 ·
tube yj said:
ok i never have set foot in this forum as my jeep does not even have a stereo.

But... My tow rig does :D I am wondering how the fm modualtor hooks to your ipod?

does it just plug into the headphone jack?

The reason i ask, is that i have a sony mp3 player and I know there are lots of IPOD only accessories. I do not want to spend the money if it will not work for me. I am tired of the horrible sound quality i get from the fm transmitter
can anyone answer my question? :confused:

simple:
does the FM modulator plug into the headphone jack on the mp3 player?
 
#25 ·
the fm modulator does have a 3.5mm mini jack that can hook into the headphone jack of your ipod. However, that is not the ideal solution as the volume amplifier for your ipod will create distortion in your final sound. Ideally, you want a line out for your ipod (which can be found on the dock connectors if you have one). This will give you a static volume line wihich will decrease distorition and increase clarity. The Belkin car kit also has a line out, it is a cigarette adapter that plugs into the dock connector slot on the bottom of your ipod (i dont konw what gen you have, but it works with the 3 and 4 g models) and give you a line out--and that is where i connected the fm modulator.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top