Ditching the CD Changer and Switching to ipod
Ditching the CD Changer and Switching to ipod
Author
Discussion

Marty V8

Original Poster:

578 posts

215 months

Wednesday 12th May 2010
quotequote all
Hi,

I want to get rid of the CD multichanger in the boot of my Griffith as it sits slap bang in the middle of the panel above the tank. I have had my roof split (intentionally) and it apparently sits across the top of the boot when the boot is ful. Well it wont in my car as the the changer is in the way. The changer also looks like it was thrown into the boot and nailed down by someone who was either blind or pi$$ed, or possibly both. Rough doesnt come close to describing the installation.

I was thinking of ditching the changer and plugging an ipod into the IP-bus socket on the rear of the Pioneer head unit via a suitable converter/connector. However the head unit is getting on a bit (its a KEH-5900R) and I dont know whether the head unit would be capable of controlling the ipod and what sort of display I could expect to get on the head unit.

It would be easy enough to try this myself, except for the one small but important point being that I dont have an ipod, luddie that I am. So before I buy an ipod, I would be grateful to find out if it will work with the unit I've got. I would probably end up getting one of the last gen ipod Nanos or the classic.

Any advice and info, except the usual 'The only music I listen to is the V8 burble' biggrinbiggrin - would be appreciated including what sort of ipod to IP-bus connector is bestthumbup
Ta very much

Cheers

Marty

Phil Dicky

7,194 posts

292 months

Wednesday 12th May 2010
quotequote all
I've an Alpine Unit in the Cerb, controls the I pod and also bluetooth for the phone, works very well and would defo recommend it. So much so I have a CD changer for sale smile

slideways

4,101 posts

250 months

Thursday 13th May 2010
quotequote all
I have the pioneer P4400R and it only has an RCA AUX in on the back i have an IPod plugged in to that and it plays the ipod but thats it, there is no control over it.
For what they cost it would be worth getting a new Ipod compatible stereo, selling your CD changer may offset the cost somewhat.
I have been looking at new units for the Range Rover and there's some good kit out there now with card readers full Bluetooth controlled from the head unit for not much money.

More Steam

698 posts

219 months

Thursday 13th May 2010
quotequote all
I installed a new pioneer unit a while ago with a usb connection and also bluetooth. It's really good when the engines off, but I tend to listen to the 8v orchestra instead cloud9. The bluetooth is a nice feature to have if your upgrading. It's not just for phone calls. You can also stream music from the iphone/mp3 player.

.Mark

11,104 posts

305 months

Thursday 13th May 2010
quotequote all
A little bit o/t

E-Bay deal of the day page is showing a Wharfdale head unit with iPod controls and Bluetooth. I hardly ever use the radio/CD in mine (mostly because it broke about 3 years ago) but sometimes a bit of music would be nice.

Now I'm guessing the unit in question is quite possibly a PoS but for £40 does it look worth it for a now and again type thing?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Like I say it doesn't look good but it'd hardly ever be used.

miniman

30,040 posts

291 months

Thursday 13th May 2010
quotequote all

Robertjp

2,281 posts

254 months

Thursday 13th May 2010
quotequote all
Several of the Alpine units have full ipod control through a rotary encoder on the front of the unit, v similar to the click wheel of the ipod, and you can pick up one on eBay for under £100 if your happy used or about £150 new from www.caraudiodirect.co.uk
I have just fitted an Alpine iDA x305s that will apparently also play digital radio through an iphone, i only use an ipod but i am very pleased.

The interface you get with non-dedicated units can be frutstrating and not worth the hassle IMHO...

Edited by Robertjp on Thursday 13th May 08:58

MuffDaddy

1,505 posts

234 months

Thursday 13th May 2010
quotequote all
Rather than investing in an iPod, why not get a head unit capable of reading a usb stick?

I have a pioneer head unit and a 4gb stick with me music. And it is all neatly hidden under the radio.

jev

391 posts

289 months

Thursday 13th May 2010
quotequote all
Definitely upgrade your unit rather than going for the Pioneer interface thingy.

I have a Pioneer unit which talks directly with ipod and have been pleased with it. However note that the newer ipods no longer use 12V and so won't work charge with some head units. So check compatibility with the latest ipods carefully!

I've had the unit about 3 years and never put a CD in it so am thinking about one of the Alpine units as and when I get a new iphone.

Can recommend caraudiodirect - suggested by another poster.


markh1

2,846 posts

238 months

Thursday 13th May 2010
quotequote all
.Mark said:
A little bit o/t

E-Bay deal of the day page is showing a Wharfdale head unit with iPod controls and Bluetooth. I hardly ever use the radio/CD in mine (mostly because it broke about 3 years ago) but sometimes a bit of music would be nice.

Now I'm guessing the unit in question is quite possibly a PoS but for £40 does it look worth it for a now and again type thing?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Like I say it doesn't look good but it'd hardly ever be used.
It's only 20w per channel which is terrible. My 6 year old sony head unit which was about 180 quid is 50w per channel

mycroft

1,545 posts

276 months

Thursday 13th May 2010
quotequote all
I have the Pioneer DEH P3600MP in my Tam , assume it was standard fit at the time ( 04 ) It has an i-Pod doc in the glove box and i use a Nano but it doesn't charge when in use . Display shows artist or track and music group as used on the i-pod ( 90s, most played , play-list etc ) works well when you can hear it smile

jmorgan

36,010 posts

313 months

Thursday 13th May 2010
quotequote all
My Pioneer cd changer thingy was getting a pain. So went for the Pioneer with the dedicated iPod usb connector. It replaced my existing dash bit with the same connectors (after a bit of DIY on the rear connector!!) and its great. Plug the iPod in and you control it through the front panel, fast forward, skip to next track etc. You can use play lists or albums etc as you would on the pod. And the display is a lot brighter and very visible as compared to the old unit that I could not see in the day.

You can run the ipod lead to wherever and hidden out of the way and not have to touch it. I am using the iPod classic, don't know what the differences are for connectivity.
http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/products/25/121/61/DEH...

Does other stuff as well but not bothered with blue tooth for the phone etc.

swanny71

3,553 posts

238 months

Thursday 13th May 2010
quotequote all
I ditched the CD changer/head unit and replaced it with an Alpine CDE 9871-R, i-pod in glove box controlled by head unit.
Very happy with it and only cost about £140 2 years ago.

Looks like it belongs in the car to


Marty V8

Original Poster:

578 posts

215 months

Thursday 13th May 2010
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated.

I have also been trawling the web looking at head units which take SD cards as well. This would mean I dont have to also go and get an Ipod after Ive upgraded the head unit.

Cheers

Marty

Barry Ashcroft

1,958 posts

250 months

Thursday 13th May 2010
quotequote all
I have just replaced mine with a newer version so I have an Alpine IDA-001 for sale.
With the kit supplied it will play from ipod & usb stick.




email if interested

.Mark

11,104 posts

305 months

Thursday 13th May 2010
quotequote all
markh1 said:
.Mark said:
A little bit o/t

E-Bay deal of the day page is showing a Wharfdale head unit with iPod controls and Bluetooth. I hardly ever use the radio/CD in mine (mostly because it broke about 3 years ago) but sometimes a bit of music would be nice.

Now I'm guessing the unit in question is quite possibly a PoS but for £40 does it look worth it for a now and again type thing?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Like I say it doesn't look good but it'd hardly ever be used.
It's only 20w per channel which is terrible. My 6 year old sony head unit which was about 180 quid is 50w per channel
I thought it was a bit weak, probably wouldn't hear it biggrin

Robertjp

2,281 posts

254 months

Friday 14th May 2010
quotequote all
.Mark said:
markh1 said:
.Mark said:
A little bit o/t

E-Bay deal of the day page is showing a Wharfdale head unit with iPod controls and Bluetooth. I hardly ever use the radio/CD in mine (mostly because it broke about 3 years ago) but sometimes a bit of music would be nice.

Now I'm guessing the unit in question is quite possibly a PoS but for £40 does it look worth it for a now and again type thing?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Like I say it doesn't look good but it'd hardly ever be used.
It's only 20w per channel which is terrible. My 6 year old sony head unit which was about 180 quid is 50w per channel
I thought it was a bit weak, probably wouldn't hear it biggrin
Head units always quote maximum power but this is useless, most HU will only push around 15-18w rms out which is the important bit. A small number are genuinely high power but you need to look for them. You are better off with a standard head unit and amplifying, i have just managed to pick up a Genesis Profile 2 for £18 off eBay, this will push out 2 x 50w, more than enough for good quality sound & volume.