i just bought a 94 ls integra, and one of the first things i want to do is take care of the sound system, since it's completely stock. i thought about getting a regular headunit, but then realized that i normally don't listen to my cds much since i got an ipod. i realize i can just get the tape adapter and hook the ipod up that way, but is there any headunit that you can cleanly/conveniently hook an ipod up to? [and after super research i saw the alpine stuff but it's a bit pricey...] anything decent that won't cost that much?

or is it even worth getting a headunit?

[i'm a supern00b to car audio...]


Modified by JDMia at 2:04 PM 5/7/2005

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDMia &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i just bought a 94 ls integra, and one of the first things i want to do is take care of the sound system, since it's completely stock. i thought about getting a regular headunit, but then realized that i normally don't listen to my cds much since i got an ipod. i realize i can just get the tape adapter and hook the ipod up that way, but is there any headunit that you can cleanly/conveniently hook an ipod up to? [and after super research i saw the alpine stuff but it's a bit pricey...] anything decent that won't cost that much?

or is it even worth getting a headunit?

[i'm a supern00b to car audio...]


Modified by JDMia at 2:04 PM 5/7/2005</TD></TR></TABLE> Alpine, the only way to go if you want full control and SQ off your iPod, you will need the Alpine KCA-420i http://www.alpine.com and let me say you have great taste in cars 94



Modified by fcm at 7:55 AM 5/11/2005

 

Or you can buy ANY headunit with input RCA jacks and get the converter from radio shack for like 8 dollars instead of buying a headunit thats over 500 bucks....

But dont ask me...

(talk to everyone but me right?)

Dont forget about http://www.sounddomain.com that store is the best. You get free install kit and everything to do it yourself. I did both of mine with the stuff from them and its easy. Or go to your boyfriend rob at A.S. since you will obviously get hooked up like me

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hatch It &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Or you can buy ANY headunit with input RCA jacks and get the converter from radio shack for like 8 dollars instead of buying a headunit thats over 500 bucks....

But dont ask me...

(talk to everyone but me right?)

Dont forget about http://www.sounddomain.com that store is the best. You get free install kit and everything to do it yourself. I did both of mine with the stuff from them and its easy. Or go to your boyfriend rob at A.S. since you will obviously get hooked up like me </TD></TR></TABLE>

thats what im doing on my alpine i got the ai-net to rca adapter and it sounds great

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hatch It &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Or you can buy ANY headunit with input RCA jacks and get the converter from radio shack for like 8 dollars instead of buying a headunit thats over 500 bucks....

But dont ask me...

(talk to everyone but me right?)

Dont forget about http://www.sounddomain.com that store is the best. You get free install kit and everything to do it yourself. I did both of mine with the stuff from them and its easy. Or go to your boyfriend rob at A.S. since you will obviously get hooked up like me </TD></TR></TABLE>First you don't have to spend $500 to get an iPod ready Alpine HU, You also don't need a HU with "input RCA jacks, [aux. input] a cd changer controler HU will work, [unless you want both cd changer and iPod].
You will need the Alpine KAC-420i, but only if you want to control and charge the iPod from the Alpine HU, you can't do that with the $8 RS adpt., BTW $8 is way to much for a mini phono to RCA adpt. 94


Modified by fcm at 7:56 AM 5/11/2005

 

So cry about it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hatch It &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Or you can buy ANY headunit with input RCA jacks and get the converter from radio shack for like 8 dollars instead of buying a headunit thats over 500 bucks....

But dont ask me...

(talk to everyone but me right?)

Dont forget about http://www.sounddomain.com that store is the best. You get free install kit and everything to do it yourself. I did both of mine with the stuff from them and its easy. Or go to your boyfriend rob at A.S. since you will obviously get hooked up like me </TD></TR></TABLE>

eh whatever i was looking for various options and opinions. which is why i didn't ask you. i guess i'll figure it out.

 

Is there a clean way to tap it into a power supply so that it doesn't have to constantly be plugged into the cigarette lighter?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 2-7offsuit &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is there a clean way to tap it into a power supply so that it doesn't have to constantly be plugged into the cigarette lighter?</TD></TR></TABLE>As I have said above, if you have an Alpine HU, [iPod ready] and an Alpine KCA-420i, [this is not an ai-net to RCA adpt.] it is an iPod to Alpine interface, ypu plug the iPod into it and it gives you full control of the iPod and powers and charges it, you can put the iPod in the glovebox, you don't need to see it or use any controls on it. 94
PS- You can also get the ai-net to RCA adpt.,[ no control of iPod from HU] and hardwire the power.


Modified by fcm at 9:13 AM 5/9/2005


Modified by fcm at 9:14 AM 5/9/2005

 

fcm, will the stock Head unit work then, since I could have hook up an alpine CD changer to it?

 

She said she doesnt want to spend much....that Alpine unit cost well over 200 dollars

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hatch It &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">She said she doesnt want to spend much....that Alpine unit cost well over 200 dollars </TD></TR></TABLE>No she said "it is a bit pricey". And what is it , over $500 or $200?

As she told you, she is looking for options and opinions , so I gave her my opinion and a few options, I will now give SamC my opinion and her another option, SamC, [and JDMia if you have a CD controler OEM HU] you can get an adpt, to plug into the CD port of the stock HU and plug the iPod in that way, although, SamC you will not be able to plug in a changer also, [without a switcher] and to both of you, the weak link in your sound systems is the stock HU, so replacing it with almost any aftermarket HU will make a big diff. in SQ.

And yes, the Alpine HU with the Alpine iPod adpt. is not the cheapest way to go, but it is also not the most expensive, and an Alpine iPod ready Hu with MX and the Alpine iPod adpt. $ for $ will give you the best sound and control of your iPod then anything else I have heard out there.

So Hatch It..... You go cry about it. 94

 

in most applications with the auxillary input cable, it's connnected to the headphone plug, which is not line level. it sounds like ***. remember the portable cd players with the tape adapters? did it sound better connected to the line output or the headphone jack?

the kca420i, cdib100 (pioneer) cca649 (clarion) and the like plug in on the bottom of the ipod and give it fill line output as well as control and charging capability.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dc24me &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">in most applications with the auxillary input cable, it's connnected to the headphone plug, which is not line level. it sounds like ***. remember the portable cd players with the tape adapters? did it sound better connected to the line output or the headphone jack?

the kca420i, cdib100 (pioneer) cca649 (clarion) and the like plug in on the bottom of the ipod and give it fill line output as well as control and charging capability.

</TD></TR></TABLE>I think that is what I was saying, you were a little more clear about it. 94

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fcm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think that is what I was saying, you were a little more clear about it. 94</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah. i was trying to back you up. i see these cables everyday.

i saw some other guy was kept arguing with you insisting the headphone jack/aux input works the same and figured i'd give my 2 cents if it helped. you know your stuff, fcm.

 

Lots of good info. I have a pioneer headunit and was wondering which would produce better sound quality:

CD-RB10 with a rca to stereo adapter


or this interface Pioneer CD-IB100:


Thanks.

 

the 2nd photo (the white one) would be better , the IB100 alows you to control your ipod through your *ipod ready* pioneer deck. Also all the info of the mp3s, artist , folder name, song titile etc etc would be displayed through you deck.

If you went with the RB10 it would be kinda ghetto do to that fact that you have to look down at your ipod and change songs that way (this is bad cause your suppose to be looking at the ROAD!!!!!). Also when you look at the deck it doesn't say ****

 

I just want to know which would produce better sound quality or if they are both the same. I read that on the CD-IB100 its not as easy to go through the songs as it is on the ipod.

 

bump

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 93civicsedan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I just want to know which would produce better sound quality or if they are both the same. I read that on the CD-IB100 its not as easy to go through the songs as it is on the ipod.</TD></TR></TABLE> The CD-IB100 will give you better SQ. 94

 

I just picked up a used JVC KD-SX980 off e-bay for 70 bucks shipped. The key feature is the line-in input jack right on the front of the HU. Buy a 1/8'' mini - 1/8'' mini setero cable from Radio shack or whereever for less than 8 bucks and you are good to go. If you also want to charge it too then you can use any of the ipod car chargers on the market. I had the same unit in my old integra and used to plug in my laptop to play mp3's on long drive and it sounded fine. I just got a new ride and was going nuts trying to figure out the best way to hook up my new iPOD. I finally decided against those integrated (e.g. Alpine) unit because of
a) cost
b) they are only good for the iPod, this option gives more flexibilty for going with other Mp3 players in the future (or any audio output for that matter)
c) there is no way i could see using the headunit to navigate the ipod to be nearly as easy as the actual ipod interface. I drove a rental car around using a cassette adaptor for a while and having the ipod in hand for the ocassional song skip or artist selection was easy and safe and
d) I have a 30bg ipod photo so the battery lasts all day and I charge it at night so I didn't really need the continual charging option

I think that JVC made a couple of other units with the line-in on the front but that feature didn't seem to stick or catch on with other manufacturers. I would be curious to hear of any currently produced HU's that come with that feature. I only heard about the CD changer adapters after I purchased the JVC so I can't comment on that option. Hope this helps.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ODEEBEE &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I just picked up a used JVC KD-SX980 off e-bay for 70 bucks shipped. The key feature is the line-in input jack right on the front of the HU. Buy a 1/8'' mini - 1/8'' mini setero cable from Radio shack or whereever for less than 8 bucks and you are good to go. If you also want to charge it too then you can use any of the ipod car chargers on the market. I had the same unit in my old integra and used to plug in my laptop to play mp3's on long drive and it sounded fine. I just got a new ride and was going nuts trying to figure out the best way to hook up my new iPOD. I finally decided against those integrated (e.g. Alpine) unit because of
a) cost
b) they are only good for the iPod, this option gives more flexibilty for going with other Mp3 players in the future (or any audio output for that matter)
c) there is no way i could see using the headunit to navigate the ipod to be nearly as easy as the actual ipod interface. I drove a rental car around using a cassette adaptor for a while and having the ipod in hand for the ocassional song skip or artist selection was easy and safe and
d) I have a 30bg ipod photo so the battery lasts all day and I charge it at night so I didn't really need the continual charging option

I think that JVC made a couple of other units with the line-in on the front but that feature didn't seem to stick or catch on with other manufacturers. I would be curious to hear of any currently produced HU's that come with that feature. I only heard about the CD changer adapters after I purchased the JVC so I can't comment on that option. Hope this helps.</TD></TR></TABLE>If whats in the pix is what you got, you seem to be missing a mounting sleeve and a face trim.
As for the AUX input on the front, there a few others out there I think. Most have gone to the RCA pigtail on the back of the unit.
Easy and safe? Charger adpt., AUX adpt., fumbling with an iPod with wires running to the HU and lighter is easier and safer then plugging the iPod in, puting it into the glovebox, and controling it at the HU, the same way you control anything on the HU. easier and safer, I don't think so. As for the cost.... you get what you pay for. 94

 

im running an eclipse head unit, and im using the analog input ( 3.5mm jack) running to the ipod, and it works great.

 

AmbidextrousHatch - What eclipse head unit do you have? The car I just got has an eclipse 54410 but I can't find any info on that unit to see what connections it has. I'd like to hear more about this setup if you can post it.

 

fcm - I'm curious about this "RCA pigtail". Would that allow a simple connection via an RCA- mini adaptor that is run from behind the HU? Could you tell me some currently available mid-range models that have this? I never gathered that this feature existed from looking at the descriptions posted on manufacturers and retail websites.

"fumbling with an iPod . . ." O.k. I kinda suspect that you don't own an Ipod. The point I was making there is that leaning back in your normal driving position, pulling it up near your line of sight and operating it with only your thumb as usual is way better than "the same way you control anything on the HU". People leaning forward and looking down at their HU's to change stations or CD's on your typical setup is actually a very common cause of accidents. I can see why someone might not think The Ipod is easier at first but it's something I defintely noticed and stand by from my experience with both setups. Also, I'm not messing with the charger/adapter thing because, yeah, that would be a bit much.