In Car iPod...

DHR · 30 Jan 2007 at 19:08

I've got a 5G ipod i'm after hooking up to my car stero, i'm not after using an FM transmitter. I have a standard ford 7000 cd player, i want to control the ipod through the head unit though so i presume this will have to go.

I've seen a sony head unit for £130'ish with an ipod adaptor, I was just wanting to see if anyone had knowledge of them?

paradigm · 30 Jan 2007 at 19:19

Despise newer sony in car entertainment. Their old stuff (pre year 2000) was good, but their new stuff leaves a lot to be desired.

Personally for iPod control, i'd go for Pioneer or Alpine.

Ollie's Gadgets · 30 Jan 2007 at 19:43

Where is the wire routed to conect the ipod to the head unit?

Tesla · 30 Jan 2007 at 19:48

Ollie's Gadgets said:
Where is the wire routed to conect the ipod to the head unit?

Behind the dash. El has told me it was quite a time consuming job but I can say it was worth it, the end result is excellent.

paradigm · 30 Jan 2007 at 20:08

Tesla said:
Behind the dash. El has told me it was quite a time consuming job but I can say it was worth it, the end result is excellent.

Correct, the cable from the HU goes from the CD changer port, through the dash to a ledge behind the glovebox where the control box is situated. From there, it runs back through the dash to behind the ashtray (where the iPod is), a small hole cut in the back of the ashtray allows the iPod cable to just slide through. Perfect fit for the iPod too.

WotDa · 30 Jan 2007 at 22:38

Pioneer or Alpine, as said.

My iPod lead runs out the back of the HU, down the back of the dash, and up into the back of my glove box, with plenty of cable left.

Also, take your iPod into halfords, plug it in their demo units and have a play with the interfaces.

uchuff · 30 Jan 2007 at 23:00

I've got the same setup as paradigm and it's great. The iPod control does chug slightly when scrolling through a long list of albums or artist names, switching playlists or skipping tracks etc is fine though.

This is on a 30GB video iPod.

I believe the new Alpine head units with "full speed iPod" cables (models ending RI) are quicker, although I'm not a big fan of the design.

DHR · 3 Feb 2007 at 11:24

Paradigm, how do you find the speed of the browsing via the head unit? I've been reading up and quite a few people complain that scrolling through albums, tracks etc via the headunit is dog slow?

Also what bit rate and format are the tracks on your ipod, i've been told that the default aac 128k are really muddy in the car?