options for interfacing MP3 player to the Bose?

[Cool_J30]

My CD player is kaput and I doen't plan on replacing/fixing it. I already replaced the bent antenna mast and now I'm looking at how to play my gajillion MP3s in the J. I have seen the FM transmitter type units that hook to the player and the radio recieves the signal over FM. I also have seen the cassette unit you pug into the Bose and your player into it. Both of these I know can have mixed results...

So I'm wondering if any of you Bose gurus out there know if I can get to any Line-In type inputs to the preamp side of the Bose? If I could get a stardard R/L RCA Y to 3.5mm jack, and maybe have the plug come out at the ashtray -- that'd be nice...

I have a Sony Walkman MP3 player if that makes a difference -- would like to hear what you've tried that works. Thanks...

[driverdriver]

I'm fairly certain(please prove me wrong if you have), have not been able to interface an MP3 directly into the stock Bose headunit. You need to remember that head unit was engineered in 1991-1992 and the technology is old. Most owners who wish to play MP3's have simply upgraded the Bose to an aftermarket unit. There are numerous threads on this board (try search function) on successful conversions.

[Cool_J30]

Thanks driverdriver -- I had done some searching already and wasn't finding the answer (maybe because there isn't one?) -- I will do more searching. I'm still busy fixing all the other little things on the car to worry much about the stereo anyway...

[Cool_J30]

Quick update about what I've found:

searched this site for hours and driverdriver is right: there's not a clean hardwire solution for hooking MP3 player to our vintage J's Bose stero.

FM transmitter option has waaaay too many negative reviews out across the web.

Cassette adapter is next best choice after hardwire, but also has mixed reviews. But the negative reviews seem almost all based on the brand they chose (and there are tons out there). By far, the latest unit from Phillips has the highest marks and Phillips continues to work on the product, so get the latest one from them if you go this route.

I found Walmart to have the best price delivered (less that $10), combined with a good return policy (up to 90 days back to physical store or web store), in case it doesn't work out. I've ordered one and will post again with my views on it... Here's a link to Walmart's product page:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Philips-Casse ... er/9917088

Hopes this helps others from spending the time I have on this...

[Gerardjg]

I have a cassette adapter in the T I took the radio out and ran the wire behind the front plate and put a female plug in trim piece around the shifter.
Works good not great if you are an audiofile

[goody90q45]

On the Q45, if your 90-93 Bose head unit has a 5 pin DIN plug on its backside, or your 94-96 Bose head unit has an 8 pin DIN plug on its backside, then there's a member who also happens to own a car audio shop, QSIguy (Shane C.), who makes the adapter you're looking for. I had one in my 94Q and I'm having one made for my 90Q right now. I'm guessing that you'll find one or the other available DIN connectors on the back of the J30 Bose head unit. If so, all the info you need to make your own or buy one from Shane is in the link. They're about $35-$40 shipped for the base model, a little more for one with a power wire.

http://sz0066.ev.mail.comcast.net/servi ... 900&part=2

[Cool_J30]

Thanks for that! I haven't even looked at the link yet, but when I was searching the site last night, what I was understanding was the Q's had cd changers that allowed that, where the J only had an in dash cd built in so the option wouldn't work for us...

I'll check it out a bit closer -- thanks again

[goody90q45]

Oops. A built-in CD changer could change things. While you're looking at the back of your head unit see if it's possible to swap in a head unit from a Q45.

[howy61]

Looked at this last year. There are options at Crutchfield to run the CD changer as if it was an AUX, but they are only for Ipods and not other MP3. Not a low cost option.

The cassette is the least expensive and in theory better sounding than either FM option.

That being said, I went with the in-line FM antenna wire solution (not broadcast) because with wind and tire noise, the lower FM fidelity was not really an issue for me. It also allowed me to hide all the wires and swap to radio without having a cassette hanging out of the head unit.