[Z06] replace stereo/radio with ipod
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 205
Likes: 8
replace stereo/radio with ipod
essentially what I want to do is remove the head unit and replace it with something so that my ipod/iphone is my only source of music whether through an audio jack or a dock of some kind. Power button, volume ****, ipod. No flashy colors, buttons for pressed coffee, dvd players and gross tacky screens. Simple and bare bones.
Oxygen Audio O car and Iroc are similar to what I want to do... but is there anything I could do to make my own and keep this less than ~$400.00? Or are there cheaper alternatives to the O-car/Iroc that are just as simple? - preferably something that doesn't require splicing wires on the vehicle side of the harness... and fits in the OEM HU space. I can make (did make) a face plate out of aluminum (might change it to carbon fiber).
any ideas? I can build a computer from scratch, but I'm about as useless as R6's in the middle of winter when it comes to anything sound related.
Oxygen Audio O car and Iroc are similar to what I want to do... but is there anything I could do to make my own and keep this less than ~$400.00? Or are there cheaper alternatives to the O-car/Iroc that are just as simple? - preferably something that doesn't require splicing wires on the vehicle side of the harness... and fits in the OEM HU space. I can make (did make) a face plate out of aluminum (might change it to carbon fiber).
any ideas? I can build a computer from scratch, but I'm about as useless as R6's in the middle of winter when it comes to anything sound related.
Last edited by Black0ut; Jan 3, 2014 at 05:00 PM.
Pro
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 576
Likes: 6
From: St Louis Missouri
essentially what I want to do is remove the head unit and replace it with something so that my ipod/iphone is my only source of music whether through an audio jack or a dock of some kind. Power button, volume ****, ipod. No flashy colors, buttons for pressed coffee, dvd players and gross tacky screens. Simple and bare bones.
Oxygen Audio O car and Iroc are similar to what I want to do... but is there anything I could do to make my own and keep this less than ~$400.00? Or are there cheaper alternatives to the O-car/Iroc that are just as simple? - preferably something that doesn't require splicing wires on the vehicle side of the harness... and fits in the OEM HU space. I can make (did make) a face plate out of aluminum (might change it to carbon fiber).
any ideas? I can build a computer from scratch, but I'm about as useless as R6's in the middle of winter when it comes to anything sound related.
Oxygen Audio O car and Iroc are similar to what I want to do... but is there anything I could do to make my own and keep this less than ~$400.00? Or are there cheaper alternatives to the O-car/Iroc that are just as simple? - preferably something that doesn't require splicing wires on the vehicle side of the harness... and fits in the OEM HU space. I can make (did make) a face plate out of aluminum (might change it to carbon fiber).
any ideas? I can build a computer from scratch, but I'm about as useless as R6's in the middle of winter when it comes to anything sound related.
There are a lot of options if you just want your ipod as the source of music... iSimple adaptor, or a bluetooth headunit. There are a few that have no dvd player, no cd player, just bluetooth for music. They look clean.
If you want just an ipod, you have to have some kind of amplification. So if you're removing your head unit you're looking at a preamp out of your phone to your speakers, which would require amps, and crossovers and possibly an equalizer and or preamp... (because you've taken out your factory head unit).
Honestly, my 2012 Town and Country has bluetooth link, and I play music off my phone (spotify, itunes, slacker) through the car's factory unit and it's quite nice. If I ever upgraded my radio in the vette (which i probably wont, i have an iSimple adaptor) i'd go something bluetooth.
An example of a bluetooth unit.
http://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/ics-x7hd/
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,463
Likes: 0
From: Everett Washington
get a nice iphone/ipod integrated headunit that alows full control of the music player with a nice led screen and keep the ipod tucked away in the glove box. no wires nothing flopping around.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,463
Likes: 0
From: Everett Washington
something along these lines but this probably isnt the best choice http://reviews.cnet.com/car-gps-navi...-34668319.html
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 205
Likes: 8
I'll give both of those a look.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 21,744
Likes: 17
theres a thread on here might be in gen c5 it gave step by step how to soder an ipod plug into the back of the head unit. I picked up what was needed from radio shack for $4 and had my brother do it. No static fuzzy sound no cranking up the volume to hear it sounds clear and I was impressed 
This was 2 or 3yrs ago
This was 2 or 3yrs ago
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 205
Likes: 8
I've been using this method, but it doesn't really work. I just get static and a lot of cut out.
What I'm trying to do has been done before... just not in this car.
trying to avoid aftermarket HU's because everything sticks out like a sore thumb. No aftermarket systems of any kind are going back in. I would scrap the whole system, speakers and all, if I didn't occasionally like to listen to some music while stuck in traffic or on a cruise.
I just thought that there would be an easy way to get music to play through the sound system without the need for the old HU or a new one.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 560
Likes: 1
From: Kansas
If it doesn't work i'd have to say you don't have a good brand or you're not using it right... I hit autoscan and it finds station with no static and works perfect. I got the nicest one I could find though.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Swindon Wiltshire
I have found that longer distances often find me having to re-tune as what was a free frequency isn't any longer.
I also use my phone as my Nav and find that the voice commands wouldn't interrupt the music playing in time. I also need to run a separate power cable when running nav and music for extended periods of time.
Its handy being able to use for phone calls too
I have just gone through a simliar thought process for my Vette though and ended up ordering the PXDP PXHGM4 cable from DD. I may add a bluetooth headset (or just move the one from my daily into the Vette) if I find I need it, but the better music quality from a cabled connection and the avoidance of re-tuning, combined with not having to worry about power to the phone convinced me to try.
From a european perspective, FM frequency steps are different to US. So whilst my FM transmitter would tune to 97.2, the stock HU would pick it up on 97.1 or 97.3 and this helped my decision to try it.
Pro
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 576
Likes: 6
From: St Louis Missouri
Is that somewhat similar to the Peripheral PXDP PXHGM4 Chevrolet Corvette 97-04 iPod Adapter
I'll give both of those a look.
I'll give both of those a look.
I've owned both (I've had 2 C5s) I installed both of them. One kit had the power wire switched, the other didn't. The one that didn't was a newer kit. It will drain my battery fully dead in about 3 weeks if I don't drive the car. I just take my battery post off if I know it's going to be a few weeks. I could quit being lazy and wire it into a switched power line, but that would require me pulling the radio back out again, which it takes me all of 10 seconds to hook and unhook the battery post =P. Some day when i'm really bored I'll fix it.
Either way, that adapter works very well for hooking any ipod/iphone/ipad into your car. you can buy a 30 pin to thunder cable adapter for the newer connection, and then hook up any "I" device.
C5BearsFan sells them. I purchased one off of crutch-field during a sale, and one from c5bearsfan, both were the exact same thing except the crutch-field one was way more expensive, and was wired switched. Just make sure when you install it, you splice into a switched power line. Toque has a guide on his site that is step by step.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 205
Likes: 8
what would happen if I plugged my ipod into the RCA's on this
According to PAC the rca's are only used for additional amplifiers.
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Anyways, anyone have any pics/links to the install of the PAC in the car? (retaining the factory speakers/amps of course), how it's powered.... whether or not I could make a power switch for it...
According to PAC the rca's are only used for additional amplifiers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyways, anyone have any pics/links to the install of the PAC in the car? (retaining the factory speakers/amps of course), how it's powered.... whether or not I could make a power switch for it...
Pro
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 576
Likes: 6
From: St Louis Missouri
what would happen if I plugged my ipod into the RCA's on this
According to PAC the rca's are only used for additional amplifiers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyways, anyone have any pics/links to the install of the PAC in the car? (retaining the factory speakers/amps of course), how it's powered.... whether or not I could make a power switch for it...
According to PAC the rca's are only used for additional amplifiers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyways, anyone have any pics/links to the install of the PAC in the car? (retaining the factory speakers/amps of course), how it's powered.... whether or not I could make a power switch for it...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 925
Likes: 0
From: CA
Maybe check this site out for a kit.
I do remember seeing a car stereo head unit that uses the ipod as the detachable face, but I can't remember the name of it, because I use my Android phone.
EDIT: I found it. and I also found http://www.iroconline.com/iRoc/index.html However, I can not attest to the quality of either because I have no experience with them. I have been throwing around the idea of using a 7" Android tablet as my car stereo/navigation/internet... device for my car. There are no products on the market for this, so I have been putting lots of thought into engineering one myself by modifying existing mounts and amps.
I do remember seeing a car stereo head unit that uses the ipod as the detachable face, but I can't remember the name of it, because I use my Android phone.
EDIT: I found it. and I also found http://www.iroconline.com/iRoc/index.html However, I can not attest to the quality of either because I have no experience with them. I have been throwing around the idea of using a 7" Android tablet as my car stereo/navigation/internet... device for my car. There are no products on the market for this, so I have been putting lots of thought into engineering one myself by modifying existing mounts and amps.
Last edited by Gradient; Jan 17, 2014 at 05:05 PM.