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How to play iPhone in car w/o aux output?

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derek1984

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
I recently purchased the Griffen Auto Pilot for the iPod to play my iPhone in my car. However, when I went to set it up in my '04 Acura TSX, I discovered that I do not have a place for an aux input/output. The Auto Pilot works fine as a charger, but I obviously can't get music from my iPhone to play in my car. My question is, what would be the best route for me to go to be able to play music on my iPhone without my car having an aux output? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks
 
There ate places online or even at your local car stereo shop where you can buy a harness fit yer car that adds an aux input but it's not available on all cats but being an 04 you should be able to find one
 
Fergot about crutchfield or you could get an FM transmitter or even better an aftermarket stereo with bluetooth and a few aux inputs or buy a new car
 
At the apple store then have this thing called a cassette audio adapter. Basically, it looks like a cassette with a cord. The cassette end goes into the cars cassette player while the cord plugs into your iPod. Voila, music from your iPod to your car speakers.

It looks kind of like this...http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Tape-Cassette-Adapter-Players/dp/B000CFLES0
 
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iArrudaG said:
At the apple store then have this thing called a cassette audio adapter. Basically, it looks like a cassette with a cord. The cassette end goes into the cars cassette player while the cord plugs into your iPod. Voila, music from your iPod to your car speakers.
Click to expand...
In this case, plug the cassette adapter into the aux output in the Griffin Autopilot and you're set. I have one from Sony that I used for years before I got a stereo with aux input. Cheapest solution, unless you want to return the Autipilot and get the FM transmitter version instead. Neither will probably sound as good as having a real aux connection in your stereo though.
 
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jscottbarnes said:
I haven't seen a new car with a cassette player in it in 10 years... 😕
Click to expand...


It is unusual, but I have a 2006 Town & Country that has a 5 disc CD changer and a cassette player. No aux inputs however??? Odd as hell for 2006.

Since I don't feel like paying for a new stereo install, I think I will pick up an old-fashioned cassette adapter... didn't know they made these anymore.

Thanks for the tip guys!!
 
I have a car stereo in my 2001 Lincoln LS that:

1. Has no cassette deck
2. Has no CD changer jack
3. Has no aux input

FM is my only route. IT SUCKS. 🙁 And I can't exactly afford a new stereo b/c if I were to get one, I'd like to get a touchscreen. The LS stock stereo is a large unit so fitting a smaller stereo in there wouldn't look right at all.

*sigh*
 
Thanks for all of the help guys. Yeah, I don't have a cassette player in my car. All of these options seem expensive. I figured that $30 would do the trick but since my car doesn't have an aux output, it seems like I am going to have to pay through the nose for it. As much as I would like to hear my iPhone in my car, paying $100+ just isn't worth it for me.
 
MadDog31 said:
I have a car stereo in my 2001 Lincoln LS that:

1. Has no cassette deck
2. Has no CD changer jack
3. Has no aux input

FM is my only route. IT SUCKS. 🙁 And I can't exactly afford a new stereo b/c if I were to get one, I'd like to get a touchscreen. The LS stock stereo is a large unit so fitting a smaller stereo in there wouldn't look right at all.

*sigh*
Click to expand...

I know it works for the iPod, but maybe you can look into the Harmon Kardon iPod FM transmitter. It goes between the cars antenna and the stock radio so the sound quality isnt too bad. Might be worth it to see if it works for the iPhone.
 
jscottbarnes said:
I haven't seen a new car with a cassette player in it in 10 years... 😕
Click to expand...

I own a 2000 Dodge Stratus that had a stock cassette player. I had a $300ish Pioneer CD player installed that has direct iPod control. I love hiding my iPod Nano in my glove compartment and controlling it with the head unit. 🙂
 
op

derek1984 said:
I recently purchased the Griffen Auto Pilot for the iPod to play my iPhone in my car. However, when I went to set it up in my '04 Acura TSX, I discovered that I do not have a place for an aux input/output. The Auto Pilot works fine as a charger, but I obviously can't get music from my iPhone to play in my car. My question is, what would be the best route for me to go to be able to play music on my iPhone without my car having an aux output? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks
Click to expand...

op, what sort of car do you have, and stereo?
 
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aidricksdad said:
Fergot about crutchfield or you could get an FM transmitter or even better an aftermarket stereo with bluetooth and a few aux inputs or buy a new car
Click to expand...

Buy a new car? Haha what a stupid comment. I bought a Griffith iTrip and it works wonderfully and I live right outside a major city with plenty of FM interference. I'd give that a shot before you listen to someone else advising you to buy a new car.
 
STEVESKI07 said:
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Buy a new car? Haha what a stupid comment. I bought a Griffith iTrip and it works wonderfully and I live right outside a major city with plenty of FM interference. I'd give that a shot before you listen to someone else advising you to buy a new car.
Click to expand...

because i was DEAD SIRIUS about that
 
Yeah I have the Harmon Kardon unit going into my antenna (I should have mentioned that, my fault). It works some, but man it just doesn't replace a direct feed.

What sucks is the original stereo in my car had a CD changer port in the back which would have allowed a direct line-in, but the connection was faulty between the factory original and my steering wheel controls, so they swapped it out for the new version of that stereo.

...and of course in that new version, there was no need for a changer port since it's a 6-CD changer and the thought of a line-in at that point was foreign at best.

Life goes on... :-/
 
best solution

the best solutions I have found, are in-line AUX adaptors, that run between the audio out/umbillical from the head unit, and other devices, like a CD player.

Then, you have a single or multi-aux input for any other devices. These are a bit more, like 50-75$ per car, but the signal is so much better.

Then work in the case one switches the head unit to CD, but there is no CD playing, so the signal travels to the AUX connector. It does require getting BEHIND the head unit, either removing it, or getting under the dash only in some cases.

this is where I bought

http://www.autosoundcentral.com/
 
I use a cassette adapter by Philips. I've tried a few others (including Sony) and you get the best fidelity with the Philips when it comes to these adapters.

Just saw you don't have a cassette player, tho. Sorry.
 
Check out usaspec.com. They provide Auxilary adapters that work with factory head units. If your head unit has cd changer/sat. radio control capability then you can add one of these. This is the best way to go short of buying an aftermarket head unit from say Eclipse or Pioneer.

This is the one for your specific vehicle.

http://www.usaspec.com/product.php?ProductID=29
 
jscottbarnes said:
I haven't seen a new car with a cassette player in it in 10 years... 😕
Click to expand...

My old 1999 Nissan had a tape deck and a single disc CD player. My current 2006 Audi has a cassette deck, 6-disc in-dash CD player and XM satellite radio.

No aux jacks.

I use the tape adapter - Definitely not as good as plugging into an aux jack, but MUCH better than any FM transmitter I've ever used. I hate FM transmitters!
 
ok....

You don't have to use the Griffin FM transmitter, there are other ones available for about $10-20.

Remember, just because it doesn't say "Made for iPod" doesn't mean it won't work.
 
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