Wired FM modulators?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 118
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From: Kansas
Wired FM modulators?
I'm trying to figure out the cheapest way to connect my ipod to my Bose stereo. Would a wired FM Modulator work? (see: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-4wvQmAP...on.html?page=5 )
Are there any other better solutions?
Are there any other better solutions?
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 148
Likes: 3
From: Fairfax Va
I went with the wired fm modulator. I put the plug/switch in the center console and mounted the unit in the back by where the connections are to the power antenna. The way the plugs and the two piece console are arranged I thought it would be easier to put it in the back, as the plugs will be under the water fall instead under the radio surround so I can easily disconnect it if I have to remove the console. From a sound quality perspective it works well, but you have to do some adjustment to the volume on the IPOD as it is not a pre-amp output like you find on wired IPOD controllers.
I got a little fancy with the wiring. Since there is no switched power in the back of the car, I used the power lead for the power antenna and put a relay in line that is actuated when the power antenna is up so the unit is off when the radio is off and on when the radio is on.
I got a little fancy with the wiring. Since there is no switched power in the back of the car, I used the power lead for the power antenna and put a relay in line that is actuated when the power antenna is up so the unit is off when the radio is off and on when the radio is on.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,371
Likes: 5
From: Mission Viejo, CA
St. Jude Donor '10, '15-'16
I had a wired FM modulator in my old car. It was REALLY quiet; I had to crank the iPod to 100% and turn the volume way up on the factory stereo. It also dramatically reduced the sensitivity of the radio antenna.
This was some cheapy $50 unit from Best Buy. I was not at all pleased with the outcome. Make sure you read up on which one you end up buying. By the time you buy a quality unit you're probably close to the cost of that Peripheral iPod connector.
If you want real cheap you can wire your own aux input into the stock radio. Or you can sell your CD radio for a tape unit and run one of those cassette adapters. You'd probably make money on that swap.
My iPod is actually my iPhone which can pair via bluetooth to my Jabra car speakerphone. The Jabra has a built in FM transmitter, so I can listen to all the iPhone/iPod functions on the radio. It ends up behaving like the newer cars where you're listening to music, and it fades out and connects to a phone call, all over the car speakers. The FM transmitter is the only one I have ever used that is strong enough to overpower any other radio station in the area. Since I live in the Los Angeles area most FM transmitters are useless.
Anyway, a few more options for you to consider.
This was some cheapy $50 unit from Best Buy. I was not at all pleased with the outcome. Make sure you read up on which one you end up buying. By the time you buy a quality unit you're probably close to the cost of that Peripheral iPod connector.
If you want real cheap you can wire your own aux input into the stock radio. Or you can sell your CD radio for a tape unit and run one of those cassette adapters. You'd probably make money on that swap.
My iPod is actually my iPhone which can pair via bluetooth to my Jabra car speakerphone. The Jabra has a built in FM transmitter, so I can listen to all the iPhone/iPod functions on the radio. It ends up behaving like the newer cars where you're listening to music, and it fades out and connects to a phone call, all over the car speakers. The FM transmitter is the only one I have ever used that is strong enough to overpower any other radio station in the area. Since I live in the Los Angeles area most FM transmitters are useless.
Anyway, a few more options for you to consider.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,093
Likes: 267
From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
Just get the Ipod 2 Car kit. You're not going to be happy with the FM thing. They're horrible. Save the time and frustration and do it right the first time.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
I had a wired FM modulator in my old car. It was REALLY quiet; I had to crank the iPod to 100% and turn the volume way up on the factory stereo. It also dramatically reduced the sensitivity of the radio antenna.
This was some cheapy $50 unit from Best Buy. I was not at all pleased with the outcome. Make sure you read up on which one you end up buying. By the time you buy a quality unit you're probably close to the cost of that Peripheral iPod connector.
If you want real cheap you can wire your own aux input into the stock radio. Or you can sell your CD radio for a tape unit and run one of those cassette adapters. You'd probably make money on that swap.
My iPod is actually my iPhone which can pair via bluetooth to my Jabra car speakerphone. The Jabra has a built in FM transmitter, so I can listen to all the iPhone/iPod functions on the radio. It ends up behaving like the newer cars where you're listening to music, and it fades out and connects to a phone call, all over the car speakers. The FM transmitter is the only one I have ever used that is strong enough to overpower any other radio station in the area. Since I live in the Los Angeles area most FM transmitters are useless.
Anyway, a few more options for you to consider.
This was some cheapy $50 unit from Best Buy. I was not at all pleased with the outcome. Make sure you read up on which one you end up buying. By the time you buy a quality unit you're probably close to the cost of that Peripheral iPod connector.
If you want real cheap you can wire your own aux input into the stock radio. Or you can sell your CD radio for a tape unit and run one of those cassette adapters. You'd probably make money on that swap.
My iPod is actually my iPhone which can pair via bluetooth to my Jabra car speakerphone. The Jabra has a built in FM transmitter, so I can listen to all the iPhone/iPod functions on the radio. It ends up behaving like the newer cars where you're listening to music, and it fades out and connects to a phone call, all over the car speakers. The FM transmitter is the only one I have ever used that is strong enough to overpower any other radio station in the area. Since I live in the Los Angeles area most FM transmitters are useless.
Anyway, a few more options for you to consider.
Thanks for the replies.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,371
Likes: 5
From: Mission Viejo, CA
St. Jude Donor '10, '15-'16
Hmm. I love the idea of wireless (that way I can take it in both of my cars easily) but I didn't know they made one powerful enough yet to sound decent. Is there any distortion at all in the signal? Would you say CD quality? Which model Jabra do you have?
Thanks for the replies.
Thanks for the replies.
http://www.jabra.com/sites/jabra/na-...abrasp700.aspx
It is definitely not CD quality. Any FM modulator/transmitter (wired or not) does not have the bandwidth to support CD quality sound. Neither does the bluetooth profile. It basically sounds as good as a clear FM station. No distortion, and no static, and no interference with competing stations, but it doesn't have the crispness or high fidelity of a CD. My C5 is noisy enough inside that this is good enough for me and I like having it seamlessly integrate phone calls and music. It does really well on phone calls, much better than a cheap bluetooth headset.
But yeah, if you're interested in sound quality, skip any kind of FM modulator and the tape adapter and go straight to the iPod 2 Car.
Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,093
Likes: 267
From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
Here is a good thread that I saved when I was looking:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...ipod2-car.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,371
Likes: 5
From: Mission Viejo, CA
St. Jude Donor '10, '15-'16
What about this?
http://www.pac-audio.com/productDeta...&CategoryID=28
http://www.pac-audio.com/productDeta...&CategoryID=28
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,526
Likes: 20
From: Santa Fe TX
What about this?
http://www.pac-audio.com/productDeta...&CategoryID=28
http://www.pac-audio.com/productDeta...&CategoryID=28
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
I guess what I need is a PIE GM10-AUX, because I want to stream pandora over my iphone, and that will only play out through the minijack port.
You can get the gm10-aux adapter for cheap on ebay, but the cord to hook it up seems to be like $50-$60. Is there anywhere to get a cheaper cable?
Here's PIE Cor-Har Cable: http://www.cartoys.com/Default.cfm/p...iring_Harness/
You can get the gm10-aux adapter for cheap on ebay, but the cord to hook it up seems to be like $50-$60. Is there anywhere to get a cheaper cable?
Here's PIE Cor-Har Cable: http://www.cartoys.com/Default.cfm/p...iring_Harness/
Last edited by volk; Jul 8, 2009 at 02:52 PM.
