Help me get music in my car, please
February 5, 2021 1:10 PM Subscribe
I bought a 2020 Kia Soul and love it, except that the sound system in my previous 2013 Soul had HD radio stations on the FM band, and would also play music from an Ipod plugged into the USB. New Soul does neither, at least as far as I can tell, and there's no CD player. Is this a plot to make me subscribe to Sirius or something, or am I overlooking a solution?
Response by poster: The bluetooth works for the phone. I don't have a music app on my phone, though. I keep thinking that might be what I need? The ipod is old, yes. A hand me down from a friend!
What I really want is the HD station that's attached to my local NPR station, WVXU in Cincinnati. The HD, Inhailer radio, is music and when I get overwhelmed by news, I like to click over for a while. In my Old Soul, an HD icon would show up on the screen - but not now.
posted by tizzie at 1:37 PM on February 5, 2021
What I really want is the HD station that's attached to my local NPR station, WVXU in Cincinnati. The HD, Inhailer radio, is music and when I get overwhelmed by news, I like to click over for a while. In my Old Soul, an HD icon would show up on the screen - but not now.
posted by tizzie at 1:37 PM on February 5, 2021
Is an auxiliary input available? That would help with the ipod.
posted by notned at 1:48 PM on February 5, 2021
posted by notned at 1:48 PM on February 5, 2021
Response by poster: notned, I am not sure what that means?
posted by tizzie at 1:53 PM on February 5, 2021
posted by tizzie at 1:53 PM on February 5, 2021
Reading the owners manual (or the supplement for the infotainment system, if it has one) would probably help immensely. I'd be quite surprised if it doesn't support Bluetooth Audio and have a 3.5mm socket you can plug your iPod into. It would look like a headphone jack either on/near the radio or in the center console storage.
posted by wierdo at 1:59 PM on February 5, 2021
posted by wierdo at 1:59 PM on February 5, 2021
It would look like the thing where you plug headphones into your computer. The other part would be where you cycle between AM/FM/Bluetooth there would also be AUX.
posted by notned at 2:00 PM on February 5, 2021
posted by notned at 2:00 PM on February 5, 2021
What notned is talking about is a place to plug something in that looks like what is labeled AUX in this picture. I just had a brief look at the owner's manual for a 2020 Kia Soul and it looks maybe the 2020 doesn't have one. But it's worth checking to be sure.
I think your phone is at least part of the solution. You can get a free music player app and put all the music files that are on your iPod onto your phone and listen via Bluetooth. You can also use your phone to stream WVXU or any radio station you want, if your data plan allows you to use that much data.
posted by Redstart at 2:02 PM on February 5, 2021
I think your phone is at least part of the solution. You can get a free music player app and put all the music files that are on your iPod onto your phone and listen via Bluetooth. You can also use your phone to stream WVXU or any radio station you want, if your data plan allows you to use that much data.
posted by Redstart at 2:02 PM on February 5, 2021
Base on the quick guide, it seems like the base audio system should support an Ipod plugged in. It looks like maybe the Ipod needs to be plugged in first and then when you scroll through input using the Media key, select the Ipod option. Do you have the base audio system? If it came with an upgraded audio system, the process may be different (or unavailable).
In the full manual it says:
"• When you connect an Apple device, playback does not start automatically and the AV information area remains in the previous mode. You cannot touch the AV information area to start playback. To start the media player in the iPod mode, press the [MEDIA] button on the control panel."
Realized halfway through that the manual pdf links don't work. If you go here and plug in your model and year, you'll get a page with all the various manuals, the audio stuff is about halfway down the page (at least for me).
posted by macfly at 2:09 PM on February 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
In the full manual it says:
"• When you connect an Apple device, playback does not start automatically and the AV information area remains in the previous mode. You cannot touch the AV information area to start playback. To start the media player in the iPod mode, press the [MEDIA] button on the control panel."
Realized halfway through that the manual pdf links don't work. If you go here and plug in your model and year, you'll get a page with all the various manuals, the audio stuff is about halfway down the page (at least for me).
posted by macfly at 2:09 PM on February 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
It looks like you can get the HD Radio from WVXU online here.
If you have a smart phone, you can install the radio station's app, which will allow you to quickly access the HD Radio feed that you are looking for.
It might take some getting used to switching feeds, but if you listen to the news feed AND the music feed from the App, it might be easy to go back and forth.
posted by China Grover at 3:09 PM on February 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
If you have a smart phone, you can install the radio station's app, which will allow you to quickly access the HD Radio feed that you are looking for.
It might take some getting used to switching feeds, but if you listen to the news feed AND the music feed from the App, it might be easy to go back and forth.
posted by China Grover at 3:09 PM on February 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
if it has usb ports, id try a fat32 formatted USB memory stick loaded with some mp3s. Somebody should have an extra usb stick you can borrow if you dont have one.
posted by TheAdamist at 3:16 PM on February 5, 2021
posted by TheAdamist at 3:16 PM on February 5, 2021
If you bought the vehicle from the dealer or even if you did not, just call the salesperson or the dealer and ask them the question. They will know right away if you can do it and if so, how. I purchased a new truck about 4 months ago and I call all the time asking "how do you" questions about two or three times a month. When I talk to the actual salesperson who got me to sign on the dotted line, they are very helpful. When I get someone from parts on the line, they are helpful or transfer me to someone who always knows. And, most of the time it can be done, just that even after reading the f'ing manual, I cannot quite make it happen.
I must disclaim that my previous truck with about 200,000 miles had a cassette deck I used all the time (Live Dead!) so my car tech experience was very analogue.
posted by AugustWest at 4:24 PM on February 5, 2021
I must disclaim that my previous truck with about 200,000 miles had a cassette deck I used all the time (Live Dead!) so my car tech experience was very analogue.
posted by AugustWest at 4:24 PM on February 5, 2021
Response by poster: Thank you, all. I also don't have a garage so I'm not going to try these ideas until it gets warmer tomorrow! But I really appreciate your help.
posted by tizzie at 5:53 PM on February 5, 2021
posted by tizzie at 5:53 PM on February 5, 2021
This thread is closed to new comments.
Ipod plugged into the USB
If it's an older model, it might not be supported. Have you tried with a smartphone?
posted by lunasol at 1:27 PM on February 5, 2021