Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with car and audio

Wirelessly synched media storage in the car?

poppo — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:02:04 -0800

I just put a new stereo head unit in my car and it has a USB port for connections to most media players. I'm looking for suggestions for one. What I'd like is a USB device that is minimum 80GB, has wireless 802.11 b or g, and is powered by only the USB. Bonus: It will automatically synch up by wireless to the music collection in my house without ever being removed from the car.

An 80GB iPod seemed an obvious choice, but these don't do wireless, while the newer iTouch has the wireless but not the capacity.

I figured a portable USB hard drive might be a possibility, but I can't seem to find one that is both powered by USB only and has wireless capabilities.

I've run across the Archos 605 wifi but it's on the pricey side, presumably because of the LCD, which I don't need.

Is there something out there which better fits my requirements?

Geez, is the example title really "How to get an iPod to work in my car?"

Overzealous — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:43:45 -0800

Looking for some audio whiz that can confirm that this particular iPod adapter and car stereo will work. Dazzle me with your knowledge and experience! I'm looking to figure out a way to hook my first gen iPod Touch directly into my factory installed car stereo. It is a 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser with an RBQ radio (six disc changer, no cassette deck, and looks like this:) The end result doesn't need to look flashy, charge my iPod, or use the head unit to control the tracks. A simple aux jack tucked away somewhere would suit me fine. I am not interested in hearing about FM transmitters or modulators -- I've tried them with no real success, but thank you.

The PIE CHRY02-AUX Auxiliary input adapter for select 2002-06 Chrysler radios which seemed most promising boldly says "NOT COMPATIBLE with Chrysler's 6-disc in dash radio (i.e “RBQ”)." The one that is a Mopar product really only talks about model years 2006 and newer.

Is there a solution that will work for me? Does the Mopar OEM iPod Interface Kit work with a 2003 Chrysler RBQ 6-disc changer radio?

iPhone car charger?

olinerd — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:13:46 -0800

What's a good iPhone car charger that won't make my music noisy? I have a 3G iPhone. I have a car with an aux input. I enjoy playing iPhone music over my car stereo via this input. It's all spiffy.

Until next week, when I have to drive for twelve hours (instead of the usual max seven) to a relative's house for Thanksgiving. I also need to use the phone for navigation, occasional phone calls to update worried parents on progress, and so forth. When I switch off with my co-driver, I may also want to play games on the phone. We may also use the Pandora app to stream some music when we're in 3G areas. All this points to serious battery draw.

So: I want a car charger for the phone. The problem is, I had one of the Monster combination FM transmitter/charger things for an older iPod that I plugged into my old first gen iPhone, and it charged, but any music played over the aux input to the stereo while the charger was plugged in was horribly static-y. I'm not sure if this was a problem with putting something designed for an old iPod into an iPhone, or if the charging itself interferes with the music playback, or what, but it was pretty craptacular. It wasn't GSM noise -- it was serious static.

I don't have any friends with car chargers I can try out to see if iPhone-specific chargers work better, and I'd rather not drop the money on one that isn't going to work. Has anyone had experience with an iPhone car charger that doesn't interfere with the output to a car stereo (via a cable, not over FM transmission)? What do you recommend? (I've found reviews of chargers, and I've found reviews of connections to aux inputs, but nothing really combining the two to see if there are noise issues)

Again, this is a 3G iPhone, and I've got a built-in aux input to my car stereo.

Speaker problems driving me nuts

reformedjerk — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:38:04 -0800

Car audio question about mid-range/bass fading out unexpectedly. Details inside. I recently had a USA Spec iPod interface put in my car (Infinity QX4). Lately, a couple of weird symptoms have developed. Sometimes the passenger side door speaker would fade out completely, but this can be "fixed" if I crank up the volume and bring the volume down again. Other times, both speakers on the doors would fade out (but the tweeters and some of the mid-ranges sound fine). This can't be fixed with volume, but mysteriously will sometimes go away as soon as I engage the power locks. Once these symptoms appear, switching to any other sound input (eg the radio) do not help--so I suspect it has nothing to do with the USA Spec unit itself.

It's driving me nuts, so if anyone has an idea about what's going on, I'd highly appreciate it!

How to replace a car's stock CD player with an aftermarket?

WizKid — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:50:38 -0800

CD player in my car stopped working (everything else works tape and radio) and when I asked from the dealer I was quoted around $400 to repair it. Since it's not worthwhile spending $400 for a repair I thought of getting an aftermarket player. 1) I'm looking for a low cost player (below $100) and I'm not too picky about sound quality (even the sound of my stock player is good enough for me). Support for a SD card or a USB thumb drive is preferred. Any suggestions?

2) This is a picture of my current CD Player. As you can see it's height is about 3-4 inches. So If I remove that player and fix the aftermarket player (which are generally about 2 inches tall) there will be an empty space. How do you fill that space? Are there any face plates or something that's specific for my car model that would allow you to fix after market players?

3) If I can leave the current setup intact and find a CD, MP3, USB or a SD Card player that I can have in the glove box or the trunk that would be great. Any ideas?

- The reason I'm not using an adapter with my MP3 player is, it's a pain to switch it off every time I park the car and go somewhere. So basically I need something that will be turned off when I just stop the car and took the key out of the ignition.
- The car is a Avalon and CD player gives the "Error 1" and after going through some forums I tried a solution they have provided. Disconnect the battery for 15 min and reconnect. After that it worked for about 2-3 days. Tried the same trick again but no luck. If you have suggestions on how to fix it pls share them.

New car stereo solution?

ObscureReferenceMan — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:37:40 -0800

Car stereo solution for someone non-technical. I have a 1990 Acura Legend with original stereo & speakers, but the 10-disc changer my brother installed is having issues (discs aren't always recognized, and the remote is broken). And the rear speakers are buzzing. So I'm in the market for something new. I don't want to spend more than $500 (for stereo and speakers). My requirements:
- Input for iPod (will be purchasing that soon also)
- Should play at least one CD (in case on a road trip, someone brings tunes)
- Some kind of equalizer (not just treble/bass control)

My question is not so much "which unit" (but I welcome input/feedback), but "where to go?". My gut tells me BestBuy. I've browsed, and they seem to have a decent selection, and installation is minimal. Or do I go to a car stereo place? There are plenty on Long Island (suggestions for/against would also be appreciated). Would $500 get me something good?

One qualification: I do NOT want to buy individual components and install them myself (I know it's cheaper). I am NOT handy. I CANNOT do electrical installation. This is non-negotiable. Sorry.

Any other suggestions (units to be aware of +/-, forums, review sites, etc.) are welcome. Thanks!!

What other hardware do I need when my stereo is XM Ready?

jackypaper — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:47:36 -0800

Car Audio Filter: If I have a Pioneer deck that is "XM ready," what other hardware do I need when subscribing to XM Radio? The more basic, the better. And will I need a professional to connect this stuff to my existing deck? Thanks!

iPhone Car Integration

jpcody — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 17:05:08 -0800

I, like many others, am trying to get the perfect setup for my iPhone in my car. Are there any solutions? Current info:
2000 Mitsubishi Montero Sport XLS, stock stereo, no aux-in or tape deck
1.1.3 Jailbroken iPhone
Monster FM transmitter

I'm looking to be able to both listen to my iPhone and place and receive calls. I had a friend that was able to do this through a tape deck, and I became insanely jealous.

Ideal setup: be able to run headphone jack to an aux-in input. I haven't been able to find an accessory to allow me to essentially rig an aux-in.

Less-than ideal setup: an FM transmitter that will not produce GSM buzz and will run without being in airplane mode.

The kicker: $100 budget. Preferably way cheaper.

Has anyone had any success with this? Any audiophiles that can satisfy my possibly irrational desire to run my iPhone through my car stereo?

Have iPod. Will travel?

tcv — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 21:19:51 -0800

I'd like to start listening to my podcasts in m'car. So, I have a lot of options, but I'm just not sure on which option I should pull the trigger.

FM Transmitter: When I subscribed to Sirius, I used the FM transmitter in the tuner and it was just OK. At the time I lived in Boston, I never found a clear channel that let me roam around the entire metro area without running into some serious interference. I live in Houston now, but, more to the point, the one transmitter for iPod I have used was either terrible or there ain't no free channels on my dial. Perhaps there's a better product?

Manual AUX hookup: Unfortunately, the stock Scion xB radio doesn't have a front-facing AUX port. In the back there is an AUX port and there is a way to hook up a device that would allow me to run a headphone jack to the front. I'd have to pull apart more stuff than I am comfortable with pulling apart. What's more, to make it look neat, I'd have to drill a hole in the back of a small compartment so I could run the cable to the front. I am not handy and am nervous I'd break something.

New radio: I could purchase a new radio with a front aux jack, have it installed. I just don't know what to buy and who to trust for installation. Plus, well, wouldn't this route cost hundreds of dollars?

My limited mental faculties lead me to believe I have the following options:

1. A better FM transmitter for the iPod.

2. Paying for a cheap radio, having it installed by Big Box and hoping for the best.

3. Getting out the drill (rrrrr, rrrrr). (I'd also have to hunt down the old instructions I put SOMEWHERE on that old Scion forum...)

Help me TASTEFULLY "pimp" my car audio.

CommonSense — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:27:31 -0800

I'd like to modernize my 2001 Honda Accord's audio system -- satellite, HD Radio, Bluetooth handsfree, and on-screen iPod controls/track display. Help! My dream of moving up to a sexy new car with all the latest gadgets has been quashed again, for the perennial reason that I just plain can't afford it. So what I'd like to do is dull the pain somewhat by at least upgrading what I've got in my 2001 Honda Accord.

Right now I have the stock AM/FM/CD deck, with no AUX IN (so I can't even do a low-fi iPod connection). I use a small FM transmitter for the iPod, but most of the time it's such a hassle that I don't feel like bothering.

What I'd like to have, ideally, is satellite (probably Sirius, though I'm not 100% decided yet), HD Radio, Bluetooth (so I can do the handsfree thing with my Sony Ericsson P990i), and "real" iPod integration -- not just an AUX IN, but something that plugs into the dock connector and hopefully, allows control of the iPod from the buttons on the deck, and maybe even on-screen artist/title display as well.

The big limiting factor here is that I have NO CLUE how to install car audio, so I'm limited to in-store installation at Worst Buy/Circuit City/etc. Given how incompetent these people are at computer support (I may be biased; I do Mac-specific consulting and am extra-resentful of their shoddy attempts to do Mac support), I'm leery of them doing extensive car audio work. But I know absolutely nothing about it, so I don't have much choice.

This sucks, because it rules out online vendors, where the selection is MUCH better and the prices are better. But I guess I'll make do with what I have.

I don't need to pimp out the speakers, add extra bass, etc. I'm pretty sure the stock speakers will be fine for me. (It's CAR audio, for crissake; it can only be so good.) I'd prefer a relatively sane, streamlined design; I don't need tacky, gaudy colors or a bunch of preposterous animations on the screen that scream "STEAL ME!"

It seems like you have to buy a "receiver," then buy a BUNCH of add-ons for satellite, HD Radio, etc. How can I best minimize all this nickel-and-diming and get a system that's right for me?

How do you make a new (used) car feel like it's your own?

raygan — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 22:33:01 -0800

Just got a new (used) car! Looking for suggestions on ways to "make it my own." What's the first thing you do to a new car? This ('97 Mitsubishi Montero in great condition) is the first car I've owned myself (all prior autos have been shared with siblings). I've already started to fall in love with it, but somehow it still doesn't really feel like it's mine. I want to make it my own, give it some personality, that sort of thing. I'm not looking to "pimp my ride" or anything, just looking for little things I can do now to make me enjoy my car more for the rest of its life.

I'm already taking it in to have the seats re-upholstered, and also I've given it a name. The Hovertank!

Yes, I know, it's a stupid name.

Anyway, how do you officially "christen" a new automobile? I'm looking for anything, from purely psychological suggestions (I've already named it, and decided it's MALE), to purely decorative suggestions, to more practical ideas (any cheap ideas on how to improve an older factory stereo, for example?) All suggestions welcome.

Add an auxiliary line-in to Lexus ES300?

rbf1138 — Fri, 18 May 2007 20:24:57 -0800

I have a 2003 Lexus ES300. I'm looking to slowly upgrade the factory audio system. First step, enable the system to play my mp3 player without using a tape adapter or fm transmitter. I can't add a new headunit with this input, as the Lexus has a custom dash that would make install sloppy looking, and would cost a lot of money... So, I went to see if I could buy some kind of auxiliary input adapter. The one made by a company called Soundgate/Vaistech isn't compatible with my make/year w/out the navigation system, which I don't have. So, then what? I found two products: 1. the JL Audio CleanSweep, and 2. the Rockford Fosgate 3 Sixty. Both offer an auxiliary line-in. The Fosgate seems to be the better device, and I've found it for under $300 online. My question is, will this product do more for my factory audio system than add the aux-in I'll get? I do plan, in the future, to spend more money upgrading speakers/sub/amps as well, so I may need this kind of device anyway. Will the sound quality be helped with this product alone, without upgraded amp or speakers?

Why can't I have my music the way I want it?

FlamingBore — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 07:22:42 -0800

Why is there so little innovation in car audio? It seems like car audio lags significantly behind other areas in terms of innovation. I have a few guesses as to why that is, but here we are five+ years into mainstream adoption of MP3 players and most car stereos still aren't set up to easily plug and play these devices. My understanding is the the new Civics (and perhaps other Hondas), as well as Scions allow direct AUX plugin for an iPod or similar device - but that means I still need to use the iPod's scroll wheel to select my music.

Admittedly, I haven't been looking seriously at anything after market, but why hasn't a new car been introduced (in the states) that would allow you to just pop in a SD card or a thumb drive (or a mass storage USB device!) that will allow the stereo unit to read the digital music files & ID3 tags and let you fling through them as you would on an iPod or similar device?

I can get a freakin' movie on my dashboard, but I can't get my tunes the way I want them. Why?

How to boost a line-level signal (in a car) to acceptable levels?

RustyBrooks — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 11:58:51 -0800

How to boost a line-level signal (in a car) to acceptable levels? I installed a line-in to my factory stereo some time ago, and it works great with one of my mp3 players. The other (which is actually a GPS device that plays mp3s) comes out waaaaay too quiet. I have to jack the volume way up and even then it's not loud enough.

So I'm looking for a way to take my line level (1/8" jack or RCA, either one) signal and boost it significantly (6-10db) prior to feeding it into the line in.

I want it to be cheap and low noise. Battery powered is probably OK. DIY is just fine, I can solder and have all the equipt. I need to make such a thing. I see plenty of projects online that are *close* and could probably be converted to my needs but if anyone knows anything that is directly applicable that would be better. Small is good.

Which LA car audio shop?

lbergstr — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 14:06:23 -0800

Can anyone recommend a good place in Los Angeles to buy car audio components and have them installed? (Yes, I have Googled and searched online fora extensively. I've been shocked at how few online testimonials there are.)

Looking to improve the audio in my '06 WRX. I'm more interested in accurate sound reproduction than crazy bass. Haven't decided if I want to just buy a head unit and a couple coaxial speakers and be done with it, or if I want a component system, additional soundproofing in the doors, etc.

One thing I've read is that sound quality for car audio is mostly determined by quality of installation. So I'd rather not pick my installer blind.

Any LA-based peeps care to share their favorite mobile sound gurus?

iPod-compatible car audio vs cassette adapters

neilkod — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 10:21:52 -0800

Do iPod-compatible car decks sound THAT much better than using a cassette adapter? Also, will a new deck interface with my steering-wheel controls and factory cd-changer? 2001 VW Passat here.

I'm no audiophile but I like my music to sound crisp and have range. When I use my cassette adapter, the music sounds a lot flatter and more bass-heavy, even when using the car's EQ and the bass reducer/treble enhancer settings on the iPod.

I also notice that a playing a cd made from my mp3s sounds much crisper (both the highs and lows) than listening to the same files on the iPod.

So I'm sure a direct-line iPod adapter will sound better but is it enough to justify the cost of a new deck?

Additionally, my Passat has some audio controls on the steering wheel and a factory cd-changer. Will after-market car audio decks be able to utilize those?

Get this Mother^$(ing Thump out of my Mother$(#ing car!

toxic — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 20:49:00 -0800

Very strange electrical noise getting into radio on newly imported 1997 JDM Toyota Tercel hatchback. Radio replacement is imminent, but there's So I bought this car, without checking to see if the radio worked, because I'd planned to replace the radio anyway (Japan's FM spectrum is 70-90 MHz, New Zealand's is the more normal 88-108, so even if it were working, the original Japanese radio would only get 2-3 stations).

A couple of days after I bought the car, I turned on the radio for the first time, and was greeted by very strange noises.

The noise is a repeating "Thump Thump Thump", that comes out of both speakers when the stereo is turned on. It doesn't matter what the volume knob is set to, it doesn't matter where the fader/balance knobs are set, it comes out of both speakers at the same volume (fairly loud, but not eardrum-shattering)

I'm hoping that this is just a bad amplifier in the stock unit, and that the replacement radio that I've got ordered will take care of this, but I'm concerned that it may be indicative of some other kind of electrical problem in the car.

I'm wondering if anyone else has heard similar noises from their Toyota, or has any further insight on this. Anyone?

How to listen in the car without an installed stereo?

GernBlandston — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 04:57:16 -0800

I have an old car with no radio and would like to start listening to books on CD and music on the way to work. The car is on its way out, so I don't want to install a CD player if I can avoid it. What are some other convenient, inexpensive options to would allow me to listen without being dangerous.

Where in Northern Virginia should I go for a new car radio?

callmejay — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 07:54:42 -0800

Where in Northern Virginia should I go for a new, installed car radio? My old one's broken. I don't want anything fancy, just something with either a tape deck or an aux in for my ipod. I assume that having the guys at Best Buy do it is a little risky, but I don't want to pay a ton of money, either. Ideas?

Hard-wiring iPod to car?

cahlers — Wed, 24 May 2006 05:03:09 -0800

Best hard-wired solution to connect an iPod to my car? I'd like to connect my iPod to the CD changer port on my factory-installed, '98 Honda CRV radio. I know there are several, if not many options for this available. I have read similar threads on AskMeFi but have not found a comprehensive review of hard-wired options. I'm not interested in the iTrip for reasons detailed in the other threads.

What has been your experience with these units? Is there one which is better than another? I would like the option of controlling the iPod directly "direct mode", as well as from the radio (usually requires flipping a switch on the coinverter unit).

I am not talking about a charger or a mount, I realize these are separate pieces of hardware, although many of the units I'm talking about have charging capabilities.

Humless DC->AC Power Inverter?

odinsdream — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 18:44:16 -0800

What DC to AC power inverter can I buy for use in a car that won't contribute hum to an audio signal from devices it powers? I've currently got a cheap one-outlet low wattage DC -> AC converter that I use to power my laptop in the car. I use a tape adapter to play music from the laptop through my car stereo.* When I have the laptop plugged in to the power, there's a considerable hum in the audio coming through the speakers. I can almost completely eliminate it by unplugging the power. Of course, this means the laptop eventually dies.

What DC->AC power box will let me keep the laptop plugged in without the hum in the audio? I'm hoping to pick it up tomorrow, perhaps at Best Buy or similar Box Store.

*using predefined playlists with the lid closed and all that jazz - let's not discuss driving distractions and all that.

Looking for a car stereo with a good UI.

Plutor — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 06:36:24 -0800

The factory-installed stereo in my car has stopped playing CDs, and my commute is fairly long, so this is essentially unacceptable. I've looked into getting it repaired, but the whole stereo'll have to be sent away for weeks, and it'll end up costing a bunch. But I've yet to find an add-on in-dash stereo for $200 or less that isn't terribly ugly. I have a 2003 Nissan Altima; the current stereo (and dash) looks like this, which I'm otherwise 100% happy with. I'm not really an audiophile, so pretty much any stereo will probably sound good enough for me. I've considered buying an MP3 player, but my stock stereo doesn't have an aux port, and it'd require a lot of CD-ripping time to convert all of my collection. I'm savvy enough that I have absolutely no problem mounting a stereo myself.

But I absolutely hate the trend of blinking lights and tiny lettering on tiny chrome buttons that seems pervasive in the car stereo market. My priority is a good UI. Is that too much to ask for?

avoiding car stereo theft?

xulu — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 16:51:05 -0800

Our car was broken into today for the fourth time in about two years and the stereo was stolen for the third time. The car is getting pretty worn out overall, so we're probably going to sell it and get a newer one once we get the window replaced. What should we consider when shopping for a newer car and associated car audio, to avoid being a target? Also, with all the options out there—retractable/removable faceplates, portable MP3 players, alarms systems, etc.—what are the best strategies to be able to listen to music but not get ripped off every few months? What options are worth the money and what works? All the stereos have been less than $200 new and had removeable faceplates, but I'm not the best at remembering to take the faceplate off. I'm usually very diligent for the first month, but then I start to forget.

Car audio upgrade: '99 Infiniti i30 for cheap

sirion — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 18:49:24 -0800

I'm looking to upgrade my Infiniti sound system for cheap. Is there an order of importance/value to the various available upgrades (deck first, then amp, then speakers, then subwoofer, maybe??). If so, what is this order, and what are some particularly good components for their price? Are there any particularly cheapie ways to acquire components (in Los Angeles or on the internet)? Extra stuff:
Listening: Classical music, Electronica and Audiobooks. Loud.

The weakest link in my sound system is currently my connection to my iPod. About 50% of my listening is through a tape adapter connected to my iPod, and I can either get tons of tape hiss from turning the volume way up on my stereo, or tons of distortion by turning the volume up on my iPod.

40% of my listening comes from books on tape, which I don't care about the sound quality, but it does mean I need some method of playing tapes if I upgrade my deck.

More weak links: There's a rattling sort of sound when I play cds with low bass or just a rich sort of sound. This leads me to think one of my speakers might be shot, but I'm fairly ignorant about such things.

Car Stereo Mysteries

lynda — Thu, 16 Dec 2004 16:43:45 -0800

Why is my car stereo cutting off and on? [+] I have a '97 Ford Contour I bought in '99. About a year after I purchased it the stereo started cutting on and off. It seemed to happen most when I hit the break hard or went over a large bump in the road. It also seemed to happen more during the winter months. At first if I kneed the side of the stereo it would sometimes respond by coming back on.

My husband's father owns a store which primarily specializes in car stereos. We asked him what the issue might be and he said he didn't know, but thought replacing the stereo would help (no, he wasn't just trying to sell us something). We did replace the stereo, but it continues to go off and on. It will usually go off and on repeatedly and then stay off for a good long while.

Now this happens even more randomly than before although it'll still cut off if I go over a huge bump. I live in Atlanta where an 11 mile commute translates into 45 minutes in my car and I've gotten to the point where I'm going to go absolutely insane if I don't figure out how to get this fixed.

Any ideas?