best way to get MP3 into radio?

I have a 2003 Odyssey. It has a radio with cd player. What is the best way
to get a mp3 player into the audio system? Is there a good phase locked FM
transmitter to use? I got a cheap FM transmitter that plugs in to lighter
but its really crappy and drifts of station every few minutes.

any thoughts?
r

 

There are kits available to allow a direct cable connection to your
radio. I think these kits won't work if you have the Navigation
system built in, but I could be wrong. Unless you're handy enough to
install them yourself, they're going to cost you well over $100. You
can Google for threads describing these, but here's one example:
http://www.myradiostore.us/auxadapters/pie/factory/no-external-changer/hon03-pc-son.html

The reason I'm responding, though, is to say that you might want to
consider trying one or two more FM transmitters before going to the
expense and trouble of installing a jack on the radio. Your
experience is perfectly typical because most of these FM transmitters
do not work well. Currently, I found a thing for my daughter's iPod
Mini, however, that works very well, indeed. It's called the PODFM by
Macally and it was only $35. The important factors in these
transmitters are that they get their power from the car's 12V outlet,
as opposed to the MP3 player's batteries, and that they're designed
well. Your first one apparently got one out of two. I've heard that
the units from Belkin are often problematic, but that the ones from
Griffin are generally a little better. Anyway, if you find a good one
right off the bat, you can save $100 and have a solution that's
portable from vehicle to vehicle and doesn't have to go with your
Odyssey when you sell it. It might be worth the gamble of trying a
different one.


Ron

 

The FM transmitters are junk. They introduce hiss if they work at all.

There is an empty connector on the back of my 2003 Civic single-CD.
This is intended for a cassette or CD changer, but the P.I.E adapter plugs
in there. My MP3 player appears as a CD changer that's always on disc one
track one. The audio is far superior to the FM adapter.

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/piehon98aux.html
PIE HON98-AUX Auxiliary Input Converter

 

The FM transmitters are junk. They introduce hiss if they work at all.

There is an empty connector on the back of my 2003 Civic single-CD.
This is intended for a cassette or CD changer, but the P.I.E adapter plugs
in there. My MP3 player appears as a CD changer that's always on disc one
track one. The audio is far superior to the FM adapter.

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/piehon98aux.html
PIE HON98-AUX Auxiliary Input Converter

 

Have you successfully integrated a Music Keg? You Say it sees a changer
always showing disc 1 and track 1. I am currently looking for a way to
integrate mine to the factory audio system. I have a couple of Kenwood head
units but they won't look right
Shaun

 

Ive been using the iTrip FM xmitter with the iPod, and it just .. works.
Its easy, and the quality is great. Just a little tip there. Otherwise -
just swap out the headunit with one that plays MP3.

 

Contact www.phatnoise.com. They make the "PhatBox" (same thing as the
Kenwood Music Keg) and sell systems specific to many cars, including Civics
with CD changer controls in the radio. They could tell you if their
adapters will work with your specific music keg and sell you the adapters.

 

iPod and Belkin FM Transmitter,

--
"I'm the commander -- see, I don't need to explain --
I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the
interesting thing about being the president.
Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they
say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody
an explanation. "
- George "Dubya" Bush

 

I've found that my $10 Tape Adapter works great. Probably better then any FM
transmitter on the market. The head/tape unit is Alpine, which might also
contribute to the the amazing sound quality.

Pars

 

I'd never tried the iPod transmitter but FM transmitters have limitations. It
won't cover the 15Khz range very well. Tape adapter does it better. But the
best sound quality will come from line input.

 

I'd go with an affordable CD unit with an auxiliary input on the face.
Wait 'til Best Buy or such has a free installation sale. That FM stuff
is open to too much interference.

 

He already has a CD player with an aux input on the back, or would, with an
adapter that costs less than a new head unit.
http://www.logjamelectronics.com/piehon98aux.html
1999-2004 CR-V and Odyssey

 

All true, but many of us no longer have tape players, and installation
of a line input can be pricey, if it's even possible. That's why the
FM transmitters will continue to be a consideration . . . and why the
search goes on for a good one.


Ron

 

Great tip for many owners. There are lots of us, though that have no
tape player and either a Navigation system or an in-dash CD changer,
both of which are deal busters for the P.I.E. part.

Does anyone have a suggestion for getting a line-in for a Honda Navi
with CD changer?

Ron

 

You mentioned price in an earlier post.
The PIE adapter was $49.95. The Belkin was $29.95, and the iTrip $34.95.
For the difference in quality, I don't think that's a big difference.

I still have the Belkin, which I would take with me on a trip for use in a
rental car. It doesn't work at all in some vehicles.

If you have an iPod, there are PIE adapters that integrate fully.

The piehon98aux works with some Nav units, in spite of their earlier
cautions against it.
http://logjam.d3datasolutions.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=45

It boils down to three cases. Some Nav units occupy the 14 pin connector,
but don't use the pins that PIE uses, so they offer a Y connector.
Some Nav units don't use the 14 pin connector, so it's empty and available.
Some Nav units are not compatible.

If you have a changer, there are active units that "tee" into the
connectors and work with those as well.

 

The price of the part is not the point. For those of us who cannot
install the adapter ourselves, the cost of the hardware is a minor
part of the total expense.

Navigation systems with 6-CD changers are not all the same? Honda
uses different ones in different models?

I guess I'll just have to find a car audio shop somewhere (my city's
not big enough to have one unless you include Best Buy) and ask them
if they can give me a line-in and what the cost is.

Ron

 

I put mine in myself. I had to take out a couple of plastic panels and
reach up blindly behind the radio, locating the 14 pin connector by feel,
but it wasn't hard, and required no particular talent.

Apparently so. The logjam forum even argues that point, something like
"hey, the radio is the same from 1999-2004, why is the 2001 listed
separately?".

I had no luck finding one in a retail shop. They all like the FM
transmitters, or maybe the FM widgets that actually plug in to the antenna
line, which I suppose works better than the free-air FM transmitter.

 

OK! Thanks for the tip.

snip

I didn't know about the "widgets." That sounds as though it would
surely give FM quality, which is plenty good enough for me, and it
sounds as though installation would be much simpler and less
expensive.

Thanks again.

Ron

 

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remove the standard Honda stereo - Dold - rec.autos.maker.honda