Can I listen to iPod through old car stereo?

juniper · Apr 20, 2011

Hi, this is sort of a techie/mechanic question.

I want to listen to my iPod Touch through my car stereo. Factory stereo came with the car in 2003 so isn't iPod ready as I guess some new ones are.

Stereo has 1 cd slot and 1 cassette slot, plus am/fm radio. I'd like to listen to podcasts from the iPod, while I'm driving.

Is there any doohickey-thingamabob I can get to make that happen, easily and cheaply? Changing out the stereo is not going to happen.

Thanks ...

poetinahat · Apr 20, 2011

Yep. Belkin, for one, makes a range of iPod FM transmitters (link is to the Australian page). They transmit the signal over a very short FM range (maybe three meters, just far enough to reach the car's antenna). You find a suitable band, then tune it in on the car radio.

I used one for a couple of years. It worked great outside the city, where there weren't many radio stations. But in the city, it wasn't as useful -- hard to find a clear band.

The technology may be better now. Worth looking into, but I'd ask before buying.

dpaterso · Apr 20, 2011

Ditto Scosche for around $29.99:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BDG668/?tag=absowrit-20

Also scroll down to see similar items listed.

-Derek

kuwisdelu · Apr 20, 2011

As someone who might eventually inherit a car in the same condition, how much quality is lost using such methods? For example, with a 256 or 320 kbps AAC source, would there be a noticeable degrade in quality through the car speakers? I'm not familiar with the max bitrate for FM transmissions. Wikipedia doesn't seem to say.

Sophia · Apr 20, 2011

I use something like this, an adapter that connects the iPod to the car's cassette player.

kuwisdelu, I expect there is loss of sound quality, but I can't detect it over the sound of the car and the road itself! Turning the iPod volume high enough to drown out those sounds does reveal a hiss from the car speakers. Not that it means much, but I have the iPod volume set to mid-way on any particular track, and use the cassette player's volume control to alter it if needed after that.

Torgo · Apr 20, 2011

The cassette adaptor Sophia mentions is the least messy solution IMHO - have used them for years and the sound quality seems fine, considering I'm also contending with kind of a crappy sound system in the first place.

Deleted member 42 · Apr 20, 2011

There are adapters for cassette drives, as well as FM transmitters.

The adapter is a much better option; the FM transmitters are strongly affected by local signals (like mobile phones/cell phones) and local radio transmitters. In an urban area, they may not function at all.

defyalllogic · Apr 20, 2011

I did this for years. I liked the cassette adaptor that plugs into the headphone spot on the iPod. I hated the am/fm tuner situation. It was hit or miss depending on the area and whatever else and required fiddiling-with. The cassette drawback is your iPod isn't charging, just playing as usual And using the same amount of battery.

I currently use a male male headphone cord to plug into both the iPod and the new car. Similar setup but removes the cassette player.

cbenoi1 · Apr 20, 2011

kuwisdelu said:
As someone who might eventually inherit a car in the same condition, how much quality is lost using such methods? For example, with a 256 or 320 kbps AAC source, would there be a noticeable degrade in quality through the car speakers? I'm not familiar with the max bitrate for FM transmissions. Wikipedia doesn't seem to say.

The FM transmitter gets an analog signal from the iPod's audio/headset output. It doesn't matter what bitrate was used to encode the song on the iPod because it's a complete analog process from its origin to destination and subject from all your favorite sorts of EM interference in between.

If sound quality is a premium, then burn CDs instead (provided the car's CD system accepts CD-R formats).

-cb

benbradley · Apr 20, 2011

kuwisdelu said:
As someone who might eventually inherit a car in the same condition, how much quality is lost using such methods? For example, with a 256 or 320 kbps AAC source, would there be a noticeable degrade in quality through the car speakers? I'm not familiar with the max bitrate for FM transmissions. Wikipedia doesn't seem to say.

As mentioned, FM uses an arcane technology called analog. But there IS some approximate translation of "quality" between analog media/transmission methods and bitrates of lossy audio data compression. If you're using anything greater than 128k, your discernment and demand for quality is higher than most people's. FM radio would be roughly comparable to 128k, though of course the distortions of analog are of a different quality and sound different. So yes, it WILL degrade the sound.

The cassette adapter will sound substantially better, and the burning-to-CDR idea even better.

maestrowork · Apr 20, 2011

FM transmitter sucks, especially in the city. Cassette adaptors are slightly better, but they're cumbersome. You can also buy a kit at Best Buy, etc. than connects to the DIN -- that's probably the best-quality option if you don't mind a bit more work.

cbenoi1 · Apr 20, 2011

I think if you want to compare signal transmission systems, one way would be to compare their dynamic range. 16 bits digital audio is 96 dB of range (CD / MP3 quality). Tape cassettes are around 70 dB. FM radio is around 50dB. The best human ear can perceive a dynamic range of 80dB. That seems to correlate to what others have observed subjectively - tape cassettes and CDs are better.

-cb

kuwisdelu · Apr 20, 2011

Mmm, my difference is the car in question doesn't have a cassette deck, so I guess I'll stick to burning CD's. Meh.

maestrowork · Apr 20, 2011

kuwisdelu said:
Mmm, my difference is the car in question doesn't have a cassette deck, so I guess I'll stick to burning CD's. Meh.

That's my problem: my stereo doesn't have a cassette deck or AUX in. The DIN method is the best quality but it costs $$. See if your stereo has an AUX in... I'm thinking of exchanging mine with a cheap one with an AUX in.

cray · Apr 20, 2011

take your battery powered ipod speakers and set them on the seat next to you. :Shrug:

maestrowork · Apr 20, 2011

cray said:
take your battery powered ipod speakers and set them on the seat next to you.

30W speakers in a car. LOL. You're too obsessed with batteries, cray.

why not just plug in your headphones and enjoy your iPod the way you should...

KellyAssauer · Apr 20, 2011

cray said:
take your battery powered ipod speakers and set them on the seat next to you.

Have Cray hold the speakers for you.

and drive,

a lot.

misslissy · Apr 20, 2011

Because wearing headphones while driving is considered dangerous I'm pretty sure. Makes it harder to hear outside noise such as emergency sirens.

IMO, I've used a cassette adapter in my old car (which had a radio) and really liked it. New car doesn't (lol).

tjwriter · Apr 20, 2011

A fellow AW member pointed me to a lovely piece of equipment that plugs into the back of your car stereo, if it has an auxillary port. A lot of stereos have one, especially if they are cd changer compatible. Then a little plug is fed out and you hook your ipod in there.

I currently listen to my headphones in one ear only, so that I can still hear around me.

cray · Apr 20, 2011

maestrowork said:
You're too obsessed with batteries, cray.

don't try to act like you're not.

Stew21 · Apr 20, 2011

For about $70 I got my husband a gadget that plugs into the lighter of his truck. It has an FM tuner on it and the iPod plays through the stereo. Nothing else required (no aux port or anything). A stereo with FM and a car lighter. (it also charges the battery while playing)

tjwriter · Apr 20, 2011

I've not had very good look with the FM transmitter ones and I don't live in a super heavily populated area.

tjwriter · Apr 20, 2011

tjwriter said:
A fellow AW member pointed me to a lovely piece of equipment that plugs into the back of your car stereo, if it has an auxillary port. A lot of stereos have one, especially if they are cd changer compatible. Then a little plug is fed out and you hook your ipod in there.

I currently listen to my headphones in one ear only, so that I can still hear around me.

At the request of a certain Moderateer, here is a link. You have to scroll down toward the bottom.

http://www.installer.com/cars/by_car.php?carid=7463

GothamGal · Apr 28, 2011

I was looking into this a few years ago. Bought a new 2005 Honda. Turns out, that was the one model year where Honda didn't have a fix to workaround. I had to buy an expensive system that transmitted through a special station, the quality was poor.
If you have a tape deck, I recommend the casette adapter. Or, you know, find a stereo with a port for your iPod and directly connect. Good luck!

juniper · Apr 29, 2011

Oh! I'd forgotten all about this thread I started. Good thing someone commented recently to bring it back up top.

I may go with the cassette thing. Seems like a simple/cheap option. I'm thinking RadioShack?

Can I listen to iPod through old car stereo?

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