Cheapest audio solution...

[trizzane]

I wish to add the following:
1) XM (I still have the tuner box that I had in my last car)

2) Mp3 ability

SO...I need to change CD's every 3 minutes (Maybe its A.D.D?) - and its driving me nuts...a changer is not enough so i guess i need Mp3 ability. I'd like XM back but I don't want to buy the 400$ unit and then drill holes in the trunk for the antenna.

My only thought was to buy one of these: AUX ADAPTER

Does that even fit to the back of the factory unit? That plug look right? I was thinking I could then run a mini jack to RCA cable to the cup holder and then plug in either my XM unit (I will need to get power to it also -and the antenna ) or an MP3 player.

Any ideas if that adapter works? Otherwise I suppose i need head unit ($250) , the Modifry controller for dash controls (100$) and then still need to get some XM unit and antennae?

I think I am lost here.....any help? Thanks!

[TheSoundMan21]

Dude sweet. I just uped my system last night. (New front speakers and a bazooka sub). Looking at that connecter there was another port on the back of the system that I didnt know what it went to. That looks like it fits but I dont know for sure.

[sky2k]

a fairly cheap solution to that is to get an iTrip..don't know if ur talking about an iPod when u say Mp3, but i found one at circuit city for about $70..it plugs in to the iPod and uses a radio frequency to override certain channels...say the 87.0-89.9Fm channels..the quality is pretty good, even in an urban area with many frequencies..

[TheSoundMan21]

dude if your going to spend that much might I sugest
http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAu...roductID=18736

[jagg]

Hey Soundman,
you should post some pics of your work.

jagg

[TheSoundMan21]

Originally Posted by jagg

Hey Soundman,
you should post some pics of your work.

jagg

hmmm I didnt even think about it. Should have snapped a shot with most the panels off the car. It was just wire running is all I did mainly. If I took pics now the only thing I could show you is the sub I have in the car ATM.

If anyone needs help getting behind the stereo and other parts I can help though. It is surprisingly simple if you know how.

[kgf3076]

Originally Posted by TheSoundMan21

dude if your going to spend that much might I sugest
http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAu...roductID=18736

He also wants XM which the pioneer doesn't have.

[TheSoundMan21]

Originally Posted by kgf3076

He also wants XM which the pioneer doesn't have.

Quite true....but it does have an aux in. If he is going to spend $50 why not go the distance and get the deck cause thats one of the weaker points in the system.

[kgf3076]

Originally Posted by TheSoundMan21

Quite true....but it does have an aux in. If he is going to spend $50 why not go the distance and get the deck cause thats one of the weaker points in the system.

because that deck doesn't have XM perhaps? There are a few decks for a bit more money that have XM capability...(and aren't pioneer which I personally think is garbage...I'd almost buy a Audiovox before I'd buy a pioneer and I'd never buy a Audiovox....but that's my opinion and you know what is said about opinions ).

[TheSoundMan21]

Originally Posted by kgf3076

because that deck doesn't have XM perhaps? There are a few decks for a bit more money that have XM capability...(and aren't pioneer which I personally think is garbage...I'd almost buy a Audiovox before I'd buy a pioneer and I'd never buy a Audiovox....but that's my opinion and you know what is said about opinions ).

kgf I dont deal a whole lot with car stereos so my knowledge is a bit lacking. I am wondering why you dont like pioneer decks. I had one for years and it never gave me any trouble.

edit:and what brand would you sugest?

[trizzane]

Thanks for all the replies!

My main two options are:

1) That aux input box that i linked above - this will only cost me 60$ or whatever it is and i can the plug pretty much anything audio into it. I do not have an ipod (have other MP3) so id need just a simple mini jack to plug into. I do have an FM transmitter - and that sounds like crap....on a good day. If that thing will plug right into the back of the stock unit I suppose its a good option - and its cheap. I will however still need to figure out where to get power to the XM unit and how to run the antennae from wherever i have the audio jack. (Cup holder?)

2) New Head unit. One with MP3 ability and one that is xm capable would be awesome - but I think it is gonna be $$$. The unit will be something like 200$ + The modify unit for dash controls + some additional XM unit/antenna? I am not sure what i need to buy to add to the new head unit for it to actually get XM...and how difficult the install will be. I do not want to drill into the trunk deck. (I have a phobia ever since mounting a Mugen wing on my CRX project...ugh)

Thought? Opinions? Ideas? Thanks again!

[TheSoundMan21]

I am limited on the whole xm thing cause I have never used it. But Ill pose one question to ya. Can you live with the current sound quality currently comming from your oem radio system?

If yes....go with the adapter.
If no.....spread the cash bro and get you a deck.

My only deal was that at $50 bucks for the adapter hell for another $50 and some searching you could get a deck and get the system sounding better. But the adapter you could just hook up to anything you want.

[trizzane]

you may have a point there......if there is an aux in on the new deck i will end up at the same place as the adapter (somewhere to plug in pretty much anything)

oh......damn dash controls - so ill need another 100$ for that. ugh

[desmo4]

If you get an Alpine HU of modern vintage, you can get all the attachments you have mentioned. Why not upgrade the garbage stock hu and speakers first and if $$ are a problem, then add the XM etc at a later date. This fixation with the dash controls has baffled me since I bought my car in Oct. 99. Mine have not been used since I replaced the stereo a week or so after I bought the car.

Jonathan

[jagg]

I agree with you desmo..

In a car this tiny 'n fast, redundant audio controls seem frivilous.....If you're driving the S without bouncing it off everything in your path, you could probably manage handling the radio via the head unit controls......(frankly, I'd prefer heated seats if given a choice.)

Regards,
Jagg

[kgf3076]

Originally Posted by TheSoundMan21

kgf I dont deal a whole lot with car stereos so my knowledge is a bit lacking. I am wondering why you dont like pioneer decks. I had one for years and it never gave me any trouble.

edit:and what brand would you sugest?

they deliver more distortion than sound, they are built cheaply (cheap components, cheap circuitry) and are priced that way. It's the old "You get what you pay for" routine. It's pretty hard to go wrong with Alpine, Sony or even Clarion...here's a Clarion for a bit more money ($80 roughly). It has an AUX input so he can plug in his mp3 player and anything else that has an output strong enough to drive the aux.

I don't have a dog in this hunt, I just think there are better head units than pioneer.

[philiam]

Gotta agree with kgf. I sold wholesale electronics including pioneer. Put one in a motor home and it didn't hold up. And that's with occasional use. Poorly made. Clarion seemed well made by comparison.

[SilverS2K422]

i didnt know xm cost that much??

[Scooter]

My XM was 150 for just the XM but I also got a head unit that handled it. The advantage there is the left hand controls work the XM - if you like to change channels a lot then I think that's the best way to get sat radio.

[trizzane]

Dash Controls: I just like em'! The main problem is that when I open the radio compartment - the top of the door hits my leg. Its wider than the friggen console and thats where i rest my leg sometimes. So i get the pleasure of the corner of the door in the side of my knee....but more than that I am worried ill break the door one day. So...its just easier to use the dash controls. Plus, if my wife is in the car i keep the door closed and i remain in control of the tunes.

I do however realize that unless i get an ipod cable, and an ipod They will be of no use to me for the MP3 playing....or for XM unless I buy all the XM gear. ugh.

I guess it comes down to what i am going to use the most. I guess in the end it will end up being MP3's, or still my plain old Cd's. I need to expand my MP3 library i suppose. If the damn stock unit played mp3 discs i be happy.....more song capacity from one disc and dash controls intact.

I guess in the end a new head unit will be best. Keeping in mind the following:

1) cost
2) Need front aux input
4) Will work with dash controls (with Modifry adapter)

Given those, what is your best choice for a head unit?

Thanks again for your input!

[TheSoundMan21]

Originally Posted by kgf3076

they deliver more distortion than sound, they are built cheaply (cheap components, cheap circuitry) and are priced that way. It's the old "You get what you pay for" routine. It's pretty hard to go wrong with Alpine, Sony or even Clarion...here's a Clarion for a bit more money ($80 roughly). It has an AUX input so he can plug in his mp3 player and anything else that has an output strong enough to drive the aux.

I don't have a dog in this hunt, I just think there are better head units than pioneer.

Dang Kgf that deck is only $90 bucks. Im still trying to work out the front aux input and how Ill get that to work in the car but shessh is Clarion really that much better?

[SXY_S2K]

If you (or anyone one here) finds a head unit or sattelite radio stuff on www.bestbuy.com that you're interested in, let me know. I can most likely get you at least 10% off, and free shipping, let me know and I will see what I can work out for you. I work for BB corporate...

[trizzane]

Thanks SXY, I appreciate that. Wanna offer your recommendation for a new HU?

[kgf3076]

Originally Posted by TheSoundMan21

Dang Kgf that deck is only $90 bucks. Im still trying to work out the front aux input and how Ill get that to work in the car but shessh is Clarion really that much better?

It's definitely better than the Pioneer but obviously not in the same class with Yamaha or Alpine or Bose or Mark Levinson.

[TheSoundMan21]

Originally Posted by kgf3076

It's definitely better than the Pioneer but obviously not in the same class with Yamaha or Alpine or Bose or Mark Levinson.

well I dug this up....I think ill go with this one.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...sr=8-1&seller=

[kgf3076]

Originally Posted by TheSoundMan21

well I dug this up....I think ill go with this one.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...sr=8-1&seller=

a wise and judicious choice. Very hard to go wrong with Alpine...I congratulate you on your fine taste in automotive audio...

[TheSoundMan21]

Originally Posted by kgf3076

a wise and judicious choice. Very hard to go wrong with Alpine...I congratulate you on your fine taste in automotive audio...

always willin to soak up some wisdom from the wiser =]

[SXY_S2K]

That's a good deal on that deck Soundman!

[TheSoundMan21]

Originally Posted by SXY_S2K

That's a good deal on that deck Soundman!

I search around. I put in my Pioneer speakers and my 10" 200w Bazooka sub all for only $260. Im quite happy with it just the oem deck really is bad.

[trizzane]

does that alpine come with the Ipod cable? Looks like it does when i read about it on Crutchfield.

What about one of these, but from a better manufacturer? The SD would be nice - if I plugged in a USB stick I would not be able to close the door. oh, but if i close the door i cant use the remote. AHAha Anyone have experience with a unit like that? SD or USB capable that is.

I do like that Alpine however....$169 at one of the buying options. Thanks for the link!

[TheSoundMan21]

Trizzane just because I know Alpines' products I am still going to go with them. The Ipod connecter I am not sure about but search on Amazon and I think you can find it for half price anyway. If you want Ill let you know what I think about it when I get that $600 check from Federal.

[trizzane]

Does alpine offer a HU with an SD slot? Oh, and since you are the village pyro - how much are you putting on Pyro Saturday?

[TheSoundMan21]

For the price range I would say no. If you ask me get an Ipod put it on there and hook it up.

As for Pyro Saturday I wasnt aware I sceduled anything. However this is what my dad does for a living.....http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?vid...sB51l_Mj&hl=en

[trizzane]

The video is no longer avaialble....is it demo? ahaha nice.

Saturday is Derby day - Pyro is one of the horses running

[TheSoundMan21]

Originally Posted by trizzane

The video is no longer avaialble....is it demo? ahaha nice.

Saturday is Derby day - Pyro is one of the horses running

I did google it and found that but was like "huh"

Ya my dad is a friend of the CEO of Dycon Demolition you can google it and see a bunch of vids. He walks the building making sure all the connections are good and ready to blast. If you people ever get to see one its pretty tight.

[Vezna31]

I think I have a pretty decent system and it sounds great. I have an Alpine head unit with JL Audio speakers in the doors with a 10 inch JL in a stealth box all powered by a nice 4 channel Alpine amp with a $100 Sirius converter box plugged into the back of the head unit. No drilling for the antenna. It is a magnet on a wire that comes through the crease of the trunklid and sounds crisp. The only negative is Best Buy did a SHITTY job installing the Sirius and they couldn't get the radio pushed all the way back into the dash. I can't close the radio cover because of it. It sticks too far out about a 1/2 inch, so I have to pop off the face everywhere I go.

[TheSoundMan21]

Originally Posted by Vezna31

I think I have a pretty decent system and it sounds great. I have an Alpine head unit with JL Audio speakers in the doors with a 10 inch JL in a stealth box all powered by a nice 4 channel Alpine amp with a $100 Sirius converter box plugged into the back of the head unit. No drilling for the antenna. It is a magnet on a wire that comes through the crease of the trunklid and sounds crisp. The only negative is Best Buy did a SHITTY job installing the Sirius and they couldn't get the radio pushed all the way back into the dash. I can't close the radio cover because of it. It sticks too far out about a 1/2 inch, so I have to pop off the face everywhere I go.

Vezna thats a pretty simple fix.....when I rip out my head unit to replace it with the Alpine I can get pics (if I can find a camera) and show you how to fix it. Aint but a couple of zip ties should fix that

[trizzane]

soundman.... is the radio cover really as easy as jut pulling straight out on the door after opening it, and then the top will pop out next?

Vezna...i am not familiar with adding the XM box that gets added to an XM ready head unit. is it ust as simple as you buy the box for 100$ and then run the antennae thru the car and outside just as i did with my previous unit? It was a roday or some crap like that. Same idea and its only 100$? why is the honda OEM jobbie then like 450$?

I may just get a new HU now, like the alpine soundman posted above and then i can add pieces later on. The modifry if i miss the dash controls, the XM, or even get an ipod. in the mean time it provides me with the option to plug pretty much anything into the front aux jack.

Anyone have any better suggestions than the alpine above, or is that my best bet? If it had an SD slot id buy it yesterday!

thanks for the input everyone!

[TheSoundMan21]

Ya just pull it out....just be careful you dont want to hurt anything. I checked on an hd radio box and its just all that mounting stuff.

check this link out. http://www.s2000.org/mods/radio/

[Vezna31]

Originally Posted by trizzane

Vezna...i am not familiar with adding the XM box that gets added to an XM ready head unit. is it ust as simple as you buy the box for 100$ and then run the antennae thru the car and outside just as i did with my previous unit? It was a roday or some crap like that. Same idea and its only 100$? why is the honda OEM jobbie then like 450$?

Alpine is XM ready. I was getting Sirius, not XM, so I needed the box. But yeah, they ran the wire up the trunkline and the magnet sits at the top of the trunk.