MP3 Player question

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ReneeIF @ Jan 6 2007, 07:56 PM) [snapback]371931[/snapback]</div>

I also have a package 3. The "AUX" jack that accepts the MP3 player is inside the center console. I found that my headphones from my MP3 player plugged into that jack and fit perfectly ... I think its called a mini-stereo plug. So I went to radio shack with my MP3 player headphones and asked them for a cable that had one of those plugs on both ends ... they had several, but I chose a 1' long cable. It was about $5.

Once you plug the player in using the cable, you press the MODE button to cycle through AM, FM1, FM2 and then AUX will appear (as long as you have the cable plugged in). I did find that I need the volume up much higher using the MP3 player than I do for the radio or CD player.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ReneeIF @ Jan 6 2007, 08:56 PM) [snapback]371931[/snapback]</div>

Get on Ebay and look for a fm convertor. that's what I got and it works great.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fshagan @ Jan 6 2007, 11:12 PM) [snapback]371943[/snapback]</div>

i bought a 6' mini-cable (the only one they had at best buy) for about $5 too. i also noticed i have to have the volume up higher on both my mp3 player (mine's creative brand) and the volume for the stereo of the car. i also noticed the sound was a bit scratchy sometimes, so i'm not sure if its the quality of the cable or the music on my mp3 player. but its a bit annoying so i might go buy a different one and see if it works any better.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ReneeIF @ Mar 23 2007, 04:49 PM) [snapback]411122[/snapback]</div>

Honestly I think what your getting is about what you can expect from the AUX connection. The cable is just a pass through cable so the sound is only going to be as good as your audio system which in the prius is not so great IMHO.

In my experience I had to turn the player all the way up to get a good base volume level...but once done it sounded fine with a decent quality....this may vary from player to player though.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darken @ Apr 14 2007, 03:20 PM) [snapback]423311[/snapback]</div>

I too bought a 3.5mm male-to-male cable, and just plugged my ipod into the AUX jack with that---I was previously using the iTrip FM Transmitter while driving my Honda, which generally worked just fine... I figured the AUX connection would be cleaner---no FM static to deal with, from other stations bleeding over, etc.
But I also think the AUX connection picks up "static" generated from using the car's power outlet (ie, the 'cigarette lighter jack' inside the console) when I run the ipod off that outlet (rather than just use ipod's battery power.) I was wondering if the DICE product advertised here, does away with that line noise, and provides "quiet" electricy to the ipod...

-C

 

I was considering more expensive solutions, the DICE unit or a Lockpick, but I went the cheap route use a $70 Monster FM transmitter. While I don't have the on-screen display, it works great. I just place the unit upside-down in a cup holder, select a playlist and skip or pause where I want to.

 

I plug the ipod into the aux jack and also power it from the power in the console. I have no issues at all - love the sound. And I don't have to turn the volume way up. I am using a monster cable. Sometimes when the hard disk starts spinning I can hear what I think is it. This seems to disappear if I leave the player outside in the cup holder. For those with interferance, try using a ground cable isoltor (I think that is what it is called).

 

Going through the headphone jack is not always the best option. My MP3 player (Creative Zen) has a line-out jack that just sends the audio to the stereo. This gives the stereo sole control of the volume and you get a purer signal.

 

I have a DICE iPod integrator and have to turn it up when switching from the radio. Not ALL the way up, but up. But man, is it nice to be able to change songs from the wheel controls.