I'm looking for a new sound system for our 2 "new-to-us" cars. I want something that connects as directly as possible to an iPod. I don't want the kind of loss of quality that you experience with those "plug into your cassette player" converters. Does anyone out there know enough about these things to recommend a product? I've been looking at Alpine's cda-9857. Any feedback on it? Thanks. John B
I just put this Pioneer 7800 in my Mustang ... total control of iPod from the HU and charges the iPod as well .... The entire setup was $350 shipped with all necessary harnesses and iPod controller from Crutchfield ... This HU can also be used with a CD Changer and XM/Sirius in addition to the iPod ...
The Pioneer in my '72 has Auxillary jacks on the back. I got a headphone to RCA type deal at Radio Shack. I can plug it into anything with a headphone jack. With an iPod or my Laptop plugged in, it's CD quality sound. My cousin likes to plug it into his PSP too, kind of funny to have video games comeing over your car stereo. Obviously it's nowhere near the higher end units in the fact that it can't control the iPod, but it sounds good.. I am planning to get one of those HD radio's for my '69.5 since most stations around here are now broadcasting several High Definition stations. The one I'm looking at costs a little more then the entire car did.
I have the same Pioneer in my work truck, works great, and a buddy of mine has his hooked to an adaptor that works through a fm radio channel in his work truck, doesn't seem to be any quality problem. (John you got a new car!! no more hauling Maverick parts in the back seat)
I bought an FM transmittor for about $8 at radioshack works great, no quality loss.What i've also done is solder a Headphone jack plug to a RCA wire, it also worked great. *You can see my transmitor behind the PS Pump.
I've always noticed quality loss with FM transmitters, even with cheap-o speakers. A lot of head units will just have a mini-aux in the front, some are built specifically for iPod. I'd hit up Best Buy and browse, they've got some stuff there that'll give you ideas on what to look for. Of course, don't buy them at Best Buy unless you get a discount.
Thanks for all the input guys. Lots of food for thought. Dave, I said "new-to-us"!!! Actually my main new driver is a (do I dare say it on this board?) 1991 Honda Prelude!!!! The car it is replacing (another '91 Prelude) gave me 415,000 kms. of fun, mostly trouble free driving and was still running fine when I parked it. But with my wife and I doing 90 kms. each a day, I didn't want to chance a "sudden death" end which would leave me scrabbling for a replacement under pressure to get one fast. Since I loved the old Prelude so much I started looking 2 months ago for a mint, low kms. car. Recently I found one with only 140,000 kms., never winter driven, with functionning a/c and not a flake of rust anywhere (original paint too). This car looks more like 2 years old than 15 years old, and runs great as well. In any case, that's my "new" car, and I love it! John B
Prelude are awesome cars I worked with my buddy on his 92 ,his best was in the high 12's what i remember doign was(estimates) Head Porting$120 split header(S.&S.) $100 new intake(edel.)$300 K&N Cold-A intake $Free racing chip(SS P13)$150 I was surprissed it only took around $700 to get into the 12's
I have an FM transmitter called a monster, it has 3 presets, and you jsut set those frequencies to on yuor stereo, and you simplty switch staions if the interference goes up, I have a 4 gig "NANO" and absolutely love it, I Use this in my Comet too, I installed an ultra cheapo cd player, that has Manual Analog tuning, new at Target for $50 , I plug my Monster FM transmitter into the cigarette lighter and no issues at all. I would go the extra $25 for the CD player with presets, the old manual tuning drifts off the station, on my cheapo CD player sometimes. I like it hat it kinda keeps the feel of the old AM radio, Though the AM radio did have presets! Funny thing though I drove the Comet, and had the Ipod still plugged in and playing, had to move the Focus which was still on the same station, and I could hear my Ipod being transmitted from the Comet to the Focus, My Boss sent my co worker and I , a 2 gig nano , which I gave to my Wife, ( she was dead set against getting an ipod for herself, but hey the price was right ( Free0 so we got the same set up for her, and she loves it. I hate byuing a new CD and having it get a damn skip the first time I use it, They go straight to the iPod first thing now, plus I don't have to carry a stupid CD case around with me!!
I am sure you have seen these, but I feel moved to suggest them . . . A/C knobs from MGW LTD. I have a set on my '06 and they are way nice http://www.mgwltd.com/mustang_2005-present.shtml
I've seen those ... I've been thinking about these ... Is your Mustang a V6 or V8? I've been thinking about getting a Cold Air Intake / Tuner combo for my V6. I already installed a GT take off muffler and if I add the tuner and CAI I'd be getting almost an extra 30 RWHP ... I'm just worried about screwing up my warranty ... Another benefit to the tune is getting rid of the throttle lag that everyone seems to be complaining about on the new Mustangs ...
hey John i have 2 alpine units with ipod controls and 3 ipods loaded with music and they work great i also have a third alpine head unit with an ipod controller that works great i removed it from my work truck when my company bought me a new truck. this a picture of the head unit and the other image is the ipod charger. http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g84/rolandag2/Picture042.jpg
Mine is a GT automatic. I have The C&L cai and SCT2 tuner and a Bassani x-pipe. The tuner and cai made big improvements. I also put in the Webelectric taillight sequencers. here is a link to a pic on Stangnet . . .http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=594892
john... IMO just get a newer radio that runs MP3s you can put like 250 plus songs on a CD so why use an ipod... ok yeah you can take it with you? but how much harder is it to put a CD in the head unit my friend was asking the same thing he wanted to buy a ipod and a head unit.. i was why? he went with my suggestions and is happy has heck! IMO with ipod your just making it harder for yourself to go thought the menu while your driving. yeah you can do it... but you'll just be one of those people that like to text message while they are driving.. god i hate those people.. don't be one of them.. lol! IMO mp3 players are on the way out. other things like PSPs, mutimedia phones and PDAs are the way to go. personally i don't even use my ipod anymore. my phone plays the MP3s... and even now i just carry my PSP and that has everything. no need for flash cards or ipods. and as most people say FM modulators suck! if you already have an IPOD and don't have a iopd ready radio well you have no other choice... but if you gonna get a new head unit just get one that you can play MP3s on.
