So I finally have a job again this summer and that means it's time to spend that money on my latest list of wants, and top on my list is some new car audio stuff. So I have had a couple of FM transmitters (Belkin) that I've used with my Creative Zen mp3 player and each of them have eventually died either by the unit taking damage or the wiring disconnecting to the point where only the speakers on one side had any output. Now i'm looking to either find another FM transmitter that isn't so incredibly unreliable, an mp3 keg (like the Kenwood ones), or a head unit system that will let me connect my Zen directly into the car. I have a 2002 Subaru Impreza with the factory head unit without a cassette player if that matters at all. So, if anyone has any experience or suggestions with any of the head units or etc... I would be more than happy to hear about it.

My Creative Zen is always in the car, along with one of these:
Belkin Transmitter

Works great!

Well I did this a few years ago mind you. I had bought one of the first mp3 CD players. (It was also a video cd player if you hooked it to a tv.) Anyway with this little discman around I could carry lots of music on one disc and I carried it everywhere. But being in college out of state I was having to make 7 hour road trips on a regular basis. So I got a radio/tape deck for my car that was a then new design by AIWA. It had a line in jack on the face. Very handy, you could play anything that had a headphone jack on it over the car stereo. No problems, no interference, no funky garbage tape adaptors. Remember, this was before anyone had dared adding mp3-CD ability directly into a car stereo yet. So it let me play anything, mp3's, normal cd's, old tapes, and radio in my car. I still use it, still works great. OK, I can't play 8 tracks, minidiscs, or reel-to-reel... but I could if I had the players to jack in.

First, Foe, I actually have a Tunecast 1 and Tunecast 2, and both of those have gone kaputz on me. The cord that is connected into the top of the unit popped out and doesn't quite work right anymore. If you have any idea on how to fix that problem, that would be awesome.

Second, JCoyote, I actually took your advice and looked into a new head unit with the auxillary-in on the front (found some nice ones by Keenwood, Alpine, and a couple by Pioneer). So, I have another question, the cord you use to connect your mp3 player to the head unit, is that one you can just pick up at radio shack?

Quote: Originally Posted by Tweeed18 Second, JCoyote, I actually took your advice and looked into a new head unit with the auxillary-in on the front (found some nice ones by Keenwood, Alpine, and a couple by Pioneer). So, I have another question, the cord you use to connect your mp3 player to the head unit, is that one you can just pick up at radio shack?

Yeah, it's just a stereo headphone cord, but make sure its ended male/male and not just an extension cord. I got mine at Radio Shack actually. It should do fine unless the guys making the deck use something uncommon. I swear by auxilliary in on a car stereo... frickin brilliant idea really, lets you play anything you can plug in, and almost everything with sound has headphone ports.

Quote: Originally Posted by JCoyote Yeah, it's just a stereo headphone cord, but make sure its ended male/male and not just an extension cord. I got mine at Radio Shack actually. It should do fine unless the guys making the deck use something uncommon. I swear by auxilliary in on a car stereo... frickin brilliant idea really, lets you play anything you can plug in, and almost everything with sound has headphone ports.

J, I use the higher-end Sony head units in my ol' Pimp Hoop-Dee. They have a feature that Sony calls "auxillary light." These have an input specifically designed for aftermarket gadgets, like my I-Pod. It uses a mini-audio jack (doubled ended, just like the tip on your headphones). This lets you take the MP3 player out of your car whenever you like, but allows you to have a jack for it "permanently" wired into your ride. Just be aware that a lot of head units are proprietary. Make sure you get one that accepts other input devices. www.xplodsony.com has a few.

Quote: Originally Posted by hp07 J, I use the higher-end Sony head units in my ol' Pimp Hoop-Dee. They have a feature that Sony calls "auxillary light." These have an input specifically designed for aftermarket gadgets, like my I-Pod. It uses a mini-audio jack (doubled ended, just like the tip on your headphones). This lets you take the MP3 player out of your car whenever you like, but allows you to have a jack for it "permanently" wired into your ride. Just be aware that a lot of head units are proprietary. Make sure you get one that accepts other input devices. www.xplodsony.com has a few.

That's exactly what I described. Anyway, it was a great idea. From what I remember, AIWA was the first company to put it into major production. Sony might love to come up with silly names for their tech, but a headphone jack by any other name...

Quote: Originally Posted by JCoyote That's exactly what I described. Anyway, it was a great idea. From what I remember, AIWA was the first company to put it into major production. Sony might love to come up with silly names for their tech, but a headphone jack by any other name...

DANG IT! I meant to direct that to the thread starter and not you. I was just echoing your sentiment.

Well I got bored yesterday and figured out all the expenses for the stuff I'm going to get this summer. So with a decent head unit with the Aux-In and a new CPU and mobo for the comp i have to work approximately 98 hours at $7/hour. Let the good times roll. If you want I can be sure to post on here in about a month when i decide to get the head unit so as to see how it went.

And thanks again for the guidance on this stuff.

Well here's a bump a long time in the making. I finally did get my new head unit put in the other day, a Kenwood Excelon KDC-X789. I hope to be able to clean my car up soon and take pictures.