Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with stereo and ipod

I need an iPod stereo with some special requirements. Help?!

suburbanrobot — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:53:15 -0800

I'm getting married in 3 weeks, and I need some sort of stereo for the wedding ceremony to play music from my iPod. It will not be amplified, so it needs to be able to play loud enough to play outdoors for about 60 people, without a massive amount of distortion. Oh, and as a pipe dream, it would be optionally battery operated. Suggestions? It's worth pointing out that the stereo doesn't need to be specifically for iPods. As long as it has an aux input, that's just fine. I'm really most worried about the volume. The wedding is outdoors and near a noisy area (near Battery Park in Charleston if you are familiar with the area).

ipod to stereo

cookie googleman — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:10:48 -0800

How does one achieve the best sound quality when connecting ipod/iphone directly to stereo? I recently purchased a Belkin Stereo Cable for iPhone to connect my ipod and iphone directly to my stereo. It works, but the sound quality is not very good. Is there a better way to do this without having to purchase a dock? Thanks in advance.

Can I put an aftermarket stereo in a new Nissan Frontier?

jeffderek — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:14:39 -0800

Can I put an aftermarket stereo in a new Nissan Frontier? I'd like to purchase a 2009 Nissan Frontier. Like many cars nowadays, the stereo seems to take up the entire center of the dashboard, not a single replaceable unit. The edition I'd like to buy (SE-I4) does not have an Auxilliary input available as an option from the factory, so I'd need to put an aftermarket stereo in to get the Aux input.

Can I actually do this? Looking at the dash I don't understand how I'd replace the stereo, but I'm having trouble imagining that this is impossible. I replaced the stereo in my 2002 Saturn SL2 with no problem, but it was a more conventional stereo.

Thanks!

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!!

How to get an iPod to work in my car? (i had to use this title)

Pants! — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 14:34:17 -0800

Hooking up an iPod/amp after car stereo was stolen? My friend's car was broken into and his stereo was stolen. He'd like to know if it's possible to make a connection for an iPod without purchasing a whole new stereo system. The speakers are still there, there must be a way to access them via USB.

Where's the simplicity?

dance — Sun, 11 May 2008 14:18:51 -0800

Swapping a car's stereo head unit: I would really like to replace my car's ailing Blaupunkt CD player with a more modern head unit, ideally one with a front aux-in for my iPhone. Before I embarked on this I thought it would (should!) be as simple as popping out the old HU, slotting the new one in and simply reconnecting the connector block. But it seems the process is rarely that simple. My car, a 96 Mazda 626, does not seem to have the pretty wiring harnesses to be seen in many online tutorials. It looks exactly like this.

A friend said that all aftermarket stereos connect to the car's wiring harness via an ISO connector so I presumed that as my stereo is almost certainly aftermarket the hard work was already done for me. But having bought the removal keys and had a look behind the stereo it doesn't look like it.

What are my options? I would dearly love to avoid soldering, splicing and dicing and have a nice clean solution involving adaptors or the straightforward swap I hoped for.

I guess if I buy another Blaupunkt then I can just swap head units? There are two connectors even though only the brown topmost can be seen in the picture. Do Blaupunkts continue to use this setup?

I've tried asking at the12volt and installdr, but without much success!

Any help appreciated!

Adding aux input to 2004 Ford Explorer OEM stereo.

jroybal — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:11:53 -0800

I have a 2004 Ford Explorer with the OEM stereo (I think it's called the Audiophile; it's the one with the 6-disc in-dash changer), and I'd like to use the aux input with the headphone jack on my iPod and iPhone. I envision using the aux input on the back (which I believe exists) to connect some sort of input converter or cable to provide an RCA (red/white) input. From there, I would run an RCA/minijack cable through the glove or center console or somewhere to plug in a device using the minijack end. I'm not interested in controlling the iPod from the headunit (except the volume, natch), putting in a new deck, or using some sort of FM modulator. So, to make a long story short (too late), I'm looking for recommendations and advice on the right type of converter/adapter/cable/connection to use. Googling has confused me. Anyone have luck doing this? Specific stores/website (PIE.net?)? Thanks in advance!

Where can I find a Car Stereo Installation Guide for a 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage?

willnot — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 10:52:44 -0800

Where can I find a Car Stereo Installation Guide for a 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage? I bought a Sony Xplod back in February of this year. The Auxiliary jack on the front that I plug my iPod into has already broken so that I only get audio out of one channel. It's still under warranty, but the store that sold it to me has washed their hands of it, and Sony wants me to send the thing back to them at a shipping cost of about 10% of the value of the radio (to say nothing of whatever hassle is involved in getting it out of there and being without a stereo for who knows how long).

I think I should be able to plug the iPod into the back of the thing, but I'm not sure how to get all the plastic trim stuff off to expose the guts of the wiring in a way that would allow me to put it all back the way I found it.

Seems like there should be a guide of some kind on the internet, but I haven't been able to find one yet. This Question mentioned Dr. Install, but they don't have a guide for a Mirage.

Non-audiophile setting up Small biz stereo

ibechase — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:40:09 -0800

I'm setting up a stereo system for a small business but for some reason I can't figure out exactly what I need. Details after the jump... It's a small salon that consists of a fairly large waiting area, and 3 separate rooms. The primary source of music will be an ipod which will just interface via a headphone to RCA adapter. What I need is a receiver (which I have found a few of, but none that will support 4 sets of speakers.), 4 sets of speakers and some sort of interface/box that will allow me to independently control the volume in each room.

So, I'm looking for the following:
-A way to control the volume to each set of speakers independently. (Most important)
-Recommendations for a receiver and affordable speakers.
-A way to complete the entire system for <$1,000.

To sum it up, I essentially need someone to tell me "This is the receiver that will support 4 sets of speakers and control the volume independently." or "There is a(n) _____ box that allows you to split the audio output to 4 sets of speakers and mix down volumes for each set."

Any help is appreciated, also any creative ideas on how to implement a variation of this system would be tremendous. Thanks!

Why does my iPod lose right-channel sound?

cmyers — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 15:21:06 -0800

My second-generation iPod nano sometimes seems to lose right-channel sound, on any pair of ear buds, headphones, or speakers; only pushing the jack "up" towards the front restores the right channel, and even then only temporarily. Is this just what these iPods do, or is my particular unit defective? Thanks.

it's a half past four and I'ma shiftin' gears...

M.C. Lo-Carb! — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 12:10:05 -0800

The wife and I are considering the purchase of a 2001 Jeep Cherokee and we have two very specific questions relating to a.) the transmission, and b.) the stereo. Hop on in... OK, first question: Our other car is a toyota tacoma with a manual transmission and a 4x4 that is engaged with a stick-shift like lever next to the transmission shifter. It shifts in and out of 4WD very smoothly at any speed under 50mph or a complete stop with clutch in. I've never caused the transfer case gears to gnash.

The jeep we're looking at, however, has an automatic transmission and a 4x4 that engages by coasting to about 2-3 mph, then shifting the 4Wd lever into gear, then putting the transmission back into drive before the whole thing comes to a halt. If you stop coasting, you have to turn off the engine. This process is quite clunky, and seems rather crude to me. I've only had japanese trucks - is this normal for all jeeps, or is there something wrong with this one?

The other question: The stereo, like the one in our 01 tacoma, doesn't have an aux plug for an ipod. I don't want to have to buy yet another griffin itrip (we seem to go through them pretty quickly!). Is there a way a plug of some sort could be hardwired right into the stereo, into which the ipod could plug in? It wouldn't be a problem if this plug dangled down under the dashboard, it would just need to work. I am not a car stereo expert, and have no idea whether or not this is possible.

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?

I'll take "A New Stereo" for $200, Alex.

exceptinsects — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 12:33:02 -0800

So, the stereo I won on Jeopardy is about to break...what should I replace it with? What I already have and would like to hook up:
Surround sound speakers
TV
DVD player
iPod
iBook

I would like to also have a basic CD player [the old one was a 24-disc changer and completely irritating--1 CD at a time is plenty] and AM/FM radio. A tape deck would be nice but not at all necessary.

So...should I get one of those integrated stereo things again? A receiver and separate CD player? A wireless doodad so I don't have to actually plug in the computer/iPod?

I'm not a big audiophile, so it doesn't have to be AMAZING sound quality, and I don't want to spend more than 2 or 3 hundred bucks at most. I also would prefer not to have to build it myself out of parts from Radio Shack. (Do they still have Radio Shack?)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

iPod with Hearing Aid

luriete — Wed, 20 Oct 2004 11:03:21 -0800

My father is thinking about buying an iPod. One problem though is that he has a hearing aid in one ear (90% hearing loss in one ear due to a childhood ear infection), and he'd like in-ear 'phones, like those that come with the ipod, with independent volume control - so he can turn one ear off, and shunt the stereo > mono when he has the hearing aid in, and turn one way up when he has the hearing aid out. Any ideas?

iPod Dock in Cars

freshgroundpepper — Mon, 21 Jun 2004 14:29:14 -0800

Ugh..after holding my breath to see the iPod integration with BMWs, only to find out that it's a "cable securely integrated into your BMW’s glovebox", and by "securely integrated" they mean 12" of loose cable so my iPod can fly freely around the glovebox. Why can't someone make a car stereo that lets you slide in your iPod (or other device) as if it were an 8 track tape?

Is there some reason that car stereo's seem to lag so far behind other consumer devices in quality and features?