mp3 in the car

bretttp1

Hi,

I've been listening to my mp3 player (creative zen sleek photo) in the car using a cassette adaptor for a while now, and been happy with the sound quality but the tape motor has given up the ghost and I'm now on the look out for a USB or front 'aux in', head unit, it would be nice if it read id3 tags too. Has anyone got any recommendations?

I've also bought one of those transmitters to play the mp3 through the radio but the sound is rubbish hence the hunt for a decent head unit (around €200)

Thanks.:D

Blaster99

The Pioneer DEH-30MP is probably fairly close to what you'd want: http://www.gear.ie/Products/ItemDisplay.aspx?ItemId=303&category=32

You need to get a headphone cable to connect to the back of it (and obviously leave it connected) but that shouldn't be a problem to hook up. The sound will be a lot better than either of the methods you've tried already.

bretttp1

Thanks for the reply blaster99, thing is I'd like the mp3 id3 to be visible on the head unit if possible does the pioneer do that? or does the connection have to be USB to achieve that?

Bard

It would most likely have to be a USB connection - and the mp3 player would have to be browseable as an external hard drive, brettp1, unless some company comes out with a car stereo that's got a Creative remote control built in (they plug into the headphones port with a custom 3-way 3.5mm jack) but don't hold your breath on that one.

Blaster99

As has been noted in another thread, if you want to hook up an MP3 player to a car, then you want an iPod. Otherwise it's headphone connector type of stuff.

I don't think Pioneer does a USB adapter. There's a fairly cheap make that specialises in USB connectors on their headunits, but I can't remember the name now. Kenwood might do it as well, but I'm not sure.

cormie

Just go for the 3.5mm AUX IN option, much cheaper and achievable with almost all modern car radios. Even if it's not front AUX in, a little wire will solve that no problem. The whole USB connection thing is a bit of a gimmick, if you're going to be browsing what in many cases could be thousands of songs, you'll want a navigation menu to do so, not just skip forward and back buttons. Aux in is the way to go:)

Beekay

Blaster99 wrote:

The Pioneer DEH-30MP is probably fairly close to what you'd want: http://www.gear.ie/Products/ItemDisplay.aspx?ItemId=303&category=32

You need to get a headphone cable to connect to the back of it (and obviously leave it connected) but that shouldn't be a problem to hook up. The sound will be a lot better than either of the methods you've tried already.

just in case you are gonna buy this one,its cheaper on pixmania

Bob the Builder

There is a "ministry of sound"(manafacturer) radio in Argos, I'm not sure on the model but it costs approx €150. My bro has it and it works great, it does all the functions you require

bretttp1

Yeah cool I know that the navigation of the creative could be a pain on the move using the aux in approach (if not dangerous), but I was thinking that if I use the USB method and switch to using the creative purely as a hard drive that is not to use the creative software at all, then the head unit could navigate through the folders etc. Would this be a correct assumption?

gary the great

Im looking to get one of these http://cgi.ebay.ie/Panasonic-CQ-C1303-car-stereo-radio-MP3-CD-front-aux-in_W0QQitemZ170047677682QQihZ007QQcategoryZ108814QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem i want to play my Cowan Iaudio on it so is it just a case of installing the radio and pluging the mp3 player into it through a head phone jack connector?

Or what about them white and red wires (theres ones hanging down the back in my GFs car), could i just plug the red and white connectors i have for the audio inot them and away i go?

What will be better quality?

Im then going to get one of these http://cgi.ebay.ie/CAR-VENT-MOUNT-IAUDIO-LYRA-IRIVER-CREATIVE-IPOD-MP3_W0QQitemZ280044933314QQihZ018QQcategoryZ48680QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD10VQQcmdZViewItem and lash it to the dash. I presume them i have to change albums by scrolling the iaudio? Will i be able to do this through the radio controller, no?

fuse

I got this JVC KD-G521 a couple of weeks ago.

Sound quality is good and I'm pretty happy with it.

Cost about 210eur for the unit, connector leads and delivery from UK.

It has an aux input on the front which I use to plug my iRiver into and also plays CD-rs with mp3 albums on them.
Nice suprise to see it displays CD text aswell.

I'd recommend this one.
Sony also do one with a front aux input.