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boynigel

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 19, 2009
268
7
any suggestions as to what i can connect my Classic up to so it will play through my car's stereo? my current device for doing this just failed after years of use. i was never really happy with it anyway because it would introduce distortion as the volume got turned up. so what's out there these days that's good, if anything?
 
any suggestions as to what i can connect my Classic up to so it will play through my car's stereo? my current device for doing this just failed after years of use. i was never really happy with it anyway because it would introduce distortion as the volume got turned up. so what's out there these days that's good, if anything?

What type of stereo system is in your car. The iPod Classic's only output is the 3.5 mm audio port. Therefore, you must either buy a head unit that supports auxiliary in or if you drive an older vehicle like me, can use a cassette adapter.
 
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I still use an iPod 5th gen Video with the Pioneer car stereo in a couple of my older cars. I had to get the CD-IB100 interface to attach it via the dock connector, but it at least charges the iPod. It's slow as molasses controlling it via the stereo face, but works OK if you 'trick' it with the hold switch so you can use the click wheel instead.
 
my car is a 2003. no auxiliary inputs. my only option is a radio frequency transmitter (which i'm guessing aren't made any more), or one of those cassette tape thingies. how well do those cassette adapters work? anyone?
 
What type of stereo system is in your car. The iPod Classic's only output is the 3.5 mm audio port. Therefore, you must either buy a head unit that supports auxiliary in or if you drive an older vehicle like me, can use a cassette adapter.
how's the sound quality w/the cassette adapter? any funky distortion or other audio gremlins? does the cassette create any audible noise floor of its own?
 
If you are that concerned about the audio quality then you seriously should consider upgrading. A cassette tape adapter is about the worst way to do this. An FM modulator comes in at a close 2nd.

Buy a deck with an 1/8" stereo Aux input at the least if you want it to sound good.
 
how's the sound quality w/the cassette adapter? any funky distortion or other audio gremlins? does the cassette create any audible noise floor of its own?

If you are an audiophile then you will not enjoy the sound with the cassette. For my needs it works great and sounds decent considering the age of the speakers and basic sound system in my Suburban! If you go that route, be sure to get a decent one and not a cheap $5 special.
 
I used the Monster brand fm transmitter for a while. Worked well. Ended getting an iPod compatible head unit later. Works well, but certainly not perfect. The SQ is nice though.
 
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I use an FM transmitter by Monster. iCarplay 300, I think. My car's FM radio is 15 years old so it works fine. Some other car radios have mixed results. But it's cheap enough to try.
 
Dont know if its been suggested before. On ebay they sell a 30 pin to 3.5 mm cable that is used to connect to the aux in of the car stereo. This way you have a line out instead of using the preamplified headphones port
 
I have a 2001 Volkswagen Golf with the stock tape deck. I have a Blitzsafe adapter which plugs in the CD changer port. This allows an iPod to be connected via the Dock connector. The sound quality is perfect. I've thought about upgrading the head unit, but this setup works so well, I figure... why?
 
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