aux input on '05 plain stereo?

Coastaletech.com site reports a suitable AUX adapter will be available soon which is much lower priced than their Audio/Video unit. They have a short video on the site showing it working with a variety of units plugged in. I believe it has either 2 or 3 selectable inputs.

I'm waiting for this one to use with my MP3 and XM radio....

Warm regards...

 

There are several posts on this subject in here, I used the PAC AUX-BOX along with their AB-TOY and AB-TOYT cables to connect XM to my system. I understand there are a couple other brands that work too. And yes the stereo does come out that is detailed in here somewhere with pictures and instructions.

 

You said plain stereo so some of the following may not apply.

I listen to MP3 and audio books alot. Here is my experience.

1. FM Modulator (transmit on fm freq and tune radio to that frequency). Pain in the butt, batteries always running out and unreliable signal quality.

2. Cassette Adapter. Unbeleivably simple if you have cassette. Sound quality for Audio Books excellent. Music okay. This option really works good because I just leave cassette in all the time and just plug MP3 player in when I need it.

3. FM Modulator -- Hard Wired. The Kind that you plug in to the antenna. This works really good. The hardest thing is to do the install. I have not used this on the Prius. Therefore not 100% sure it will be easy to install. My guess is it will be. In the car I did have this in, it was good because I had good signal all the time and power was hardwired so no problem with batteries.

 

i had the audiovox fm modulator installed ... hard wired ... sounds really clear and clean...much better than i even thought...and the cost was reasonable ... i have an ipod and a nomad zen so using the 1/8 mini input that this system uses was fine for my situation ...

do not compare this product with the other type FM modulators that have to compete with off-the-air signals...this one has to be wired into the vehicle... when turned on it disconnects the vehicle antenna and feeds the FM source direct ...you can test and hear how clear the isolation is before turning on your mp3 player ...

like i said maybe not for everybody... but it works great ...


2005 tideland pearl ...

 

Also there is a mod to input the signal on the Premium JBL amps, which is what I used. A lot more complicated to do but I succeeded in adding the audio to the amp.
It involves a relay and switch and the use of a breakout harness that plugs into the amps two connectors. When I push the switch is toggles the relay and inputs my audio source into the amp, press the switch again and it relaxes the relay and the normal factory radio/cd feeds the amp. The advantage if there is one is that when you select AM-FM or CD the equalization of the amp changes and with the mode set to CD you get the richest and fullest sound from the amp but the audio source is whatever you want to feed into it.I have a 60 GB Hard disk based mp3 player that I use as my audio source and it is the best thing since I have long rides each day to work. I have all my music available to me as I have converted over 300 cds to mp3's.

I never thought the FM modulator was very good, a very thin sound and loss of the audio source. But there could be better ones than what I tried.


Dan

 

Hi there Hillco,



The comany that makes iPod2Car also makes a device called Aux2Car.

http://peripheralelectronics.com/web/aux2car.asp

Don't let the two female RCA jacks disturb you. I had a similar device on my GMC Jimmy and a cheap RadioShack cable plugs into those and has a standard 'headphone' jack on the other end.

I would assume that it plugs in to the back of the stereo just the way that iPod2Car does. I've got iPod2Car installed in my Prius and it behaves nicely. I'd probably have picked a different adapter now, but back in the summer it was the best integration available.

Installing isn't too difficult, there are a few sets of instructions available. I can find one and share if you need, or you can search here on PriusChat.



Hope this helps,

Terry

 

I have considered this mod as well. I have multiple devices that play MP3's including various laptops. However, since all of my music is now converted to MP3 I just burn a new CD with the custom mix I like and slip it into the 6 cd changer and I have almost all of my music available whenever I need it.

I think the Coastal Tech solution is about the best I have seen. Soen't it even give you the read outs on the MDF for Artist and Title too? I have found that If I take care and make my CD-r with all the data I can get the MFD to display anythign I want.

Good Luck!

 

Dan,

I tried searching but cannot find any information on the mod you did. Do you have any information or a link?

Thanks,

Bill

 

All the info was in this forum but it's all so messed up since the crash. I basically used the schematic for the JBL and bought the relay and harness and a simple on/off push button switch. There are four wires that you cut on the breakout harness for the Left & Right audio, then radio side goes to the normally closed contacts, the auxiliary audio input goes to the normally opened and the amp goes to the fixed output of the relay. The harness has 12v and a ground, I put 12v to relay X1 contact, interrupted the GRD with the switch.
The relay and breakout harness are just located next to the amp. The switch you can install any where. I have placed mine with my mp3 player in the center armrest console "hidden" cargo draw.
I used some Molex connectors to connect things to the relay and harness.

Here is the URL to the Schematics: http://www.tom-morrow-land.com/tests/prius...O_SCHEMATIC.pdf

Got the 12vdc 4pDT relay from Digikey p/n Z186-ND
Got the harness Bazooka FAST-8113 from Sonic electronix: http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_5212.html
You will also need to have whatever type connections you need to provide the aux input, could be two rca, a stereo 1/8 mini jack or whatever you prefer.

Dan

 

The drawback to that ingenious mod is that the amp input is balanced, where most device outputs are unbalanced. The amp seems to accept unbalanced inputs, (only use one input terminal for the signal source, vehicle ground the common ground) but at half the volume. Better yet, get an unbalanced to balanced line converter.

 

I've been searching for a while...and still can't find what I'm looking for...

I just got a new '05 package 1. I'm looking for a simple aux input that's audio-only. I can mount my ipod and use it's interface, which, to me, is preferable to the playlist limitation. I can't seem to find any affordable, simple options online.

Also, is there a controllable solution that lets me use the ipod interface? (i.e., use the ipod to find albums, songs, use the steering wheel to skip, etc.)

 

Very interesting. Can you post some pictures?

 

When I look at their application guide it says the Prius is not supported. Did you use it in your Prius or another car? If the Prius do you have the basic stereo or the JBL?

Thanks,
Steve

 

I've the basic stereo with Ipod2car and it works fine! 2004 AM package.

Control tracks from the steering wheel or the iPod itself. All iPod functions work via the iPod controls/menus, no playlist/song limits, charges the iPod...just no text on the Prius screen. There's a new cable out there that takes the place of the AB-TOY and the AB-TOYT. The aux2car is the same thing as the Ipod2car.

Ask any other questions. Google the aux2car and the above cables. They are out there, some on eBay, some from internet stores.

Cheers,

Curt.

 

How do you select the IPod2Car as the input to the basic system? I have the same configuration (AM) except my Prius is a 2005.

Tom

 

Steering wheel mode button through to CD Changer (stereo things the adapter is a CD Changer) so you click toggle in this order

AM/FM-1/FM-2/CD/CD-Changer (this is the iPod2Car).

You can also scroll fwd/back in the current playlist. You WILL NOT get any on-screen info about current track, playlist etc. FFWD/REV within the track works somewhat with the onscreen buttons but I use that only rarely.

I'm very pleased with my install. The very long cable on iPod2Car runs from behind the stereo, down under the carpet and up under the center console into the 'hidden drawer' so it is ENTIRELY invisible until I slide open the drawer. There is enough cable curled up in the drawer that I can hold it comfortably from the driver's seat and make whatever playlist selections I wish.

Also, when the car is powered down the iPod pauses, continues to charge and picks right up where it left off when the car restarts.

Hope this helps,

Terry