ipod sound system ?

[wangless]

so i plan to buy an ipod soon. i know there are little things like cassette adapters and aux outputs on headunits... but the problem with that is i dont even have a radio. i was planning on getting a radio, but realized with an ipod if i could use it in my car as well as take it outside it would be perfect. i would just need a way to hook up the ipod without a radio.

so is there a way to make the ipod my 'headunit'. apple has some stuff for the ipod that makes the output of the ipod into two rca cables if that helps.

let me know what you guys think. thanks

[Rex]

You can, but you'll still need an amp to power your speakers as well as a "manual" trigger to turn on the amp as the radio usually takes care of this.

I think someone looked into using a 1/2 DIN eq/pre-amp with a mini-jack on the front. The idea was they wanted an eq/pre-amp with a volume control. If you're interested I can try to dig up the old thread.

[wangless]

so ideally... minijack to rca cables will run from ipod to amp in the back... then speaker wires from amp to speakers up front ?

and the manual trigger... i could just wire it up to the accessory wire right ?

and sure... if you could find that old thread for me it would be great. thanks rex

[Touchdown038]

As Rex said, you'll have to get an external amplifier, a four-channel if you want all four speakers.

Minijack to RCA for the iPod to amplifier, then speaker wire up from the amplifier to all the speakers, right on.

And yes, you'd wire it to the accessory wire, or fuel pump fuse, or any other source of power that is on whenever the car is on.

[wangless]

alright, thanks guys :thumbup

[phuphyter]

cool... i didn't know that was possible.

wangless, when you get it all hooked up, i'd like to know how the sound quality is like. good luck with the install

[Simmsled]

See, thats the kind of ingenuity that I like to see. Kudos!

[wangless]

thanks, but now i just realized that i would just be able to run speakers... and not a sub. or thats what someone had told me.

another question, if i do just run two speakers... which are compenents is that ok, to just to run compenents? (i heard that components are only for highs/mids not lows, im a total nub at this i know)

and let me know if its possible to run ipod with a set of components and possibly one sub. thanks
Modified by wangless at 3:34 PM 9/1/2004

[Rex]

If you use an amp, you can run a sub, but if don't use and amp, you will most likely not run anything??

I'd run a 4 channel amp with compnents up front and a sub (bridge rear channels) in back.

[sidewaySilvia]

You'll be purchasing an amp regardless to run the ipod. So..do the smart thing and get a good 4 channel and do like rex said .. 2 front channels to power up the pair of components (wich you don't have to necessarily hook up to an amp but is recommended and in your case, necessary) and bridge the 2 rear channels together to power your sub.. You should be in great shape.

I'd recommend getting a nice 12" (whatever your preference but for low frequency - kicker solo baric. Nice for the price) and definitely dish out a few hundred for the amp because basically this will be the heart of your system..

[sidewaySilvia]

I never h00ked up an mp3 player/jukebox to a headunit.. These devices come with rca jacks that can go right into the back of the head unit>> being the head unit supplies the "ins" for it.

[MECPInstaller]

Does the Ipod have any eq controls, if not i'd definatly suggest using one of those small 1/2din ones like Rex suggested. Plus it would have multiple outs for your amp(s). So if you did want front and rears plus a sub or two. Nowadays every amp has line outs so you wouldn't have to worry, i just like the extra flexability and options.

[wangless]

Rex - i meant to just run two component speakers without running a sub. so the components would be outputing highs, mids, and lows

sidewaysSilvia - i plan to run the ipod without using a headunit because i dont even have a radio right now. so the point of this thread is to figure out how to go around using a headunit

MECPInstaller - i just asked my friend, the ipod does have eq controls

[ayjay]

you guys are forgetting one thing... you're gonna have to CRANK the gain on your amp to get any kind of sound outta that thing, cause i don't think the iPod's pre-out voltage is gonna be very high. you'll need to get a linedriver to up the voltage before it reaches your amp. audiocontrol makes a nice cheap one called the Overdrive which can up the voltage to 8V... audiobahn makes some too. anyways this is assuming that the iPod has fairly weak pre-out voltage so try to find out what it actually puts out.

[MECPInstaller]

why i suggested the indash eq/line driver....

[elbles]

As another option, Alpine will be selling an adapter that will let you hook an iPod up to an AINET-compatible head unit. It offers full control of the iPod, displays song title information on the head unit, et cetra, pretty cool stuff, could possibly be an option for you . . . go to http://www.alpine-usa.com/prod...i.htm for more information on it . . .

[wangless]

but im trying to NOT use a headunit buddy... trying to go around using one

[MECPInstaller]

you could try hooking it up to a friends amp via a 1/8th phojack to rca and just see if it'll put out the volume your looking for, if not then i'd go with a cheap line amplifier like ayjay said.

[sidewaySilvia]

I wasn't saying to use the ipod with a head unit , I understand what you are trying to do and I believe the thread has provided ample info for you.. Kewl!

My question is (being that my girl wants an ipod badly) could I hook one up right to my h.u. or do these have some propietary technology that are only compatible with certain units(like alpine's)?

F.Y.I...Musicmatch basically haxored the ipod, now making their music compatible with it. More songs, excellent!

[wangless]

if your headunit has an aux in... then you can work the ipod with it. i dont really know what was that alpine thingie for... maybe ill take another look.

so im looking at some long *** rca cables. does brand make a difference ? like monster compared to ge. because i saw at target the other day 15 feet of rca cable with the minijack for like $15. i forgot the price of a monster cable rca... but i know its more than $15

[sidewaySilvia]

Of course brand matters.. Each manufacturer differentiates the products they offer by, the types of materials used and style presented..

Its up to the consumer to decide was is fitting. Some wires are made of copper, nickel , etc , there are multitudes. You have to research what each material is prominent of. Some are 100% oxygen free , preventing corrosion.. Monster makes some very reputable products but could be costly..(magnetic flux tubing and dielectric are some material/method they combine) If you have it in the budget , here you will need quality not quantity.

[wangless]

oiy... looks like a lot of money is going to be invested in this. just as i assumed... but quicker than i thought.

i guess for right now ill just get the ipod and use it for its portable means... in a month or two when i get a few more paychecks ill get the amp/sub/wires

[nismofan14]

The alpine "thingy" is and adapter that converts the AInet port on the head unit to RCA auxillary input.