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best way to use iphone5 for music in 2006 Maxima

M

maverick22

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 30, 2012
685
107
Wanting suggestions for a 2006 Maxima w/factory Bose stereo. It has a 6-disc CD changer, but no AUX jack (or USB obviously). It does have a spot for cassette tapes.

I was rearching the product by isimple. However, it looks like that your phone cannot be controlled while it's plugged in. Seems like it would be a pain to navigate through a ton of music if you cannot use the iphone to navigate. I may be wrong.

If I want aux/USB I'd have to change the whole "head unit" I assume, so I don't think I'd want to do that. Once again, I may be wrong. Sorry I don't know enough about car stereo installations.

Finally I am considering the cheap, easy process of buying a cassette adapter. Wouldn't have to change the factory look of my car, and it seems like reviews have been pretty good for some of the better products.

Open for any/all suggestions. Thanks in advance!
 
Define "best". What are your priorities? What's your budget? What sort of sound quality are you expecting? I'd replace the head unit or get an interface but those paths may not be best for you.

You pretty much outlined the options in your OP but here they are summed up with one addition that I wouldn't recommend:
  1. Replace the head unit with one with an interface and/or BT
  2. Get an interface for your factory stereo
  3. Use a casette adapter
  4. Use an FM modulator

maverick22 said:
I was rearching the product by isimple. However, it looks like that your phone cannot be controlled while it's plugged in. Seems like it would be a pain to navigate through a ton of music if you cannot use the iphone to navigate. I may be wrong.
Click to expand...
Depends on the interface and your usage. It's generally not a big deal if you rely mostly on playlists. I'm not familiar with iSimple's interfaces but some interfaces are cumbersome to navigate. As for not being able to control the device directly, some have reported that the restriction was removed with IOS6.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1534204/

The aftermarket interface in my wife's car (USA Spec) offers both modes out of the box. She can use the touchscreen on her factory stereo or switch to direct control mode. In either mode she can use Pandora directly on her iPhone.

maverick22 said:
If I want aux/USB I'd have to change the whole "head unit" I assume, so I don't think I'd want to do that. Once again, I may be wrong. Sorry I don't know enough about car stereo installations.
Click to expand...
Varies by car. You'd have to Google your vehicle to see what's involved. Replacing the head unit my car takes just a matter of minutes with a PnP harness. Having to solder will definitely add time and difficulty. Some factory systems will require a bit more work to replace the head unit. You can always get a shop to do the work for you as well.
 
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Thank you very much for the reply!

Here's my ideal setup in no order: budget $300 I'd say

1) Keeping the factory stereo "look." Sometimes putting a new "head unit" in looks tacky. I'll probably sell the car in a few years and would like it to keep the factory look.

2) CD-quality sound

3) being able to easily navigate through a large music collection (what if I want to find a specific song out of 1,000 songs)

In my past experiences, I just have a feeling I'll spend $300 and not still be happy. Then I regret even doing anything. That's why this time I was thinking of starting off cheap (cassette adapter) and see how that goes. It just may sound good enough for me.
 
Buy the isimple and use this.

You plug the 30 pin cable into it and you can connect to it through your phone's bluetooth. Your steering wheel controls will only work for volume. You pick songs directly from the phone. This is my setup in my 2005 Altima.
 
boshii said:
Buy the isimple and use this.

You plug the 30 pin cable into it and you can connect to it through your phone's bluetooth. Your steering wheel controls will only work for volume. You pick songs directly from the phone. This is my setup in my 2005 Altima.
Click to expand...

Trying to avoid Bluetooth. Always a fan of a wired connection, and I've seen some similar isimple products that allow you to control more with the steering wheel. It might be the usaspec one below. What's the procedure for picking songs directly from the phone?

myMacRumors said:
The USA SPEC model# - PA15 NIS offers the Industry’s most Advanced iPod to Factory Radio Interfaces for Nissan vehicles.
http://usaspec.com/product.php?ProductID=30

Where to buy (Locate a Dealer)
http://usaspec.com/page.php?PageID=17
Click to expand...

I was thinking of taking my car to CarToys and getting their input. They are a usaspec dealer. Thanks for the opinions so far!
 
So on the way home from work tonight, I stopped at Walmart and bought a $10 Philips cassette adapter that had been getting pretty good reviews. If it wasn't for the sound of the cassette tape spinning, I would have loved this. The music coming through the speakers sounds great! Like I said, the noise from the actual cassette is too much for me though. Going to return it and keep searching.

I suppose all cassette adapters make this similar noise.
 
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Just trying to save you on labor (installation)

if you can get to the back of your radio (remember to disconnect the negative cable from the battery), the install is plug and play

you can also buy it from here (free shipping, free lifetime support, no tax if shipped out of VA)
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_581PA15INF/USA-Spec-iPod-Interface-for-Nissan.html

You need one of the following for iPhone 5 lightning port

lightning-to-30-pin-adapter (0.2M)
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD824ZM/A/lightning-to-30-pin-adapter-02-m?fnode=45

lightning-to-30-pin-adapter
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD823ZM/A/lightning-to-30-pin-adapter?fnode=45
 
myMacRumors said:
Just trying to save you on labor (installation)

if you can get to the back of your radio (remember to disconnect the negative cable from the battery), the install is plug and play

you can also buy it from here (free shipping, free lifetime support, no tax if shipped out of VA)
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_581PA15INF/USA-Spec-iPod-Interface-for-Nissan.html

You need one of the following for iPhone 5 lightning port

lightning-to-30-pin-adapter (0.2M)
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD824ZM/A/lightning-to-30-pin-adapter-02-m?fnode=45

lightning-to-30-pin-adapter
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD823ZM/A/lightning-to-30-pin-adapter?fnode=45
Click to expand...

Thanks for your 2 replies! I don't trust myself doing it to be honest! Far from mechanically inclined. Yes I've been looking at the Spec USA ones. I believe CarToys sells those. Any drawbacks to those?

So which of the 2 30-pin adapters do I need?
 
maverick22 said:
Thanks for your 2 replies! I don't trust myself doing it to be honest! Far from mechanically inclined. Yes I've been looking at the Spec USA ones. I believe CarToys sells those. Any drawbacks to those?

So which of the 2 30-pin adapters do I need?
Click to expand...

Edit: sorry, you mean I need to buy both right?
 
no, just buy one of the Apple lightning-to-30-pin-adapter based on your needs; the 0.2M/8-inch will provide more flexibility for other usage

the Apple lightning-to-30-pin-adapter is needed because the USASPEC cable as circled in red

you will be satisfied (no drawbacks)
 

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So if I order the one here:

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_581PA1...ml?tp=120&revp=2&ipp=20&revsort=r#details-tab

It says at the bottom:
"Auxiliary Input: In addition to the iPod input on the PA15-INFI there is an auxiliary input (RCA) for use with another source, such as a DVD system, satellite radio, etc. This aux input can be used with or without the iPod connected."

That's all I need for my iphone5 (well plus lightning adapter)? The AUX comes with the unit from crutchfield?
 
uiop. said:
If you order that, you'll be set for your iPhone. It'll come with an iPod cable, but not an RCA to AUX one.
Click to expand...

I don't want to be restricted to just using the iphone5.

You think Cartoys sells that RCA to AUX? I think they have the USA Spec unit. May just get it all done there. Thanks a lot for your help!
 
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Make sure u tell Cartoys that u want to use the aux

Aux input is enabled by setting the DIP Switch #1 on the interface adaptor to ON position.
 

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Best way is to take apart the iphone and place all components into the CD drive piece by piece, its not going to fit in there if you dont take it apart. just my 2 cents.
 
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