I just picked up a 20GB ipod this weekend and spent yesterday loading cd's on (currently have 943 tracks which takes up 3.6GB and gives me 2.4 days of unrepeated music!).

I spent today hooking it up to my car and mounting it and I have to say it's by far my best investment in my stereo so far. The sound quality is great (I'm using the 3mm input on the HU and the 3mm output that's on the Belkin car charger). So if you're thinking about buying a cd changer or something, I'd highly recommend just getting an ipod. The way it categorizes music, lets you rate songs, create playlists, etc makes it so worth it.

Originally posted by Jerm23
I just picked up a 20GB ipod this weekend and spent yesterday loading cd's on (currently have 943 tracks which takes up 3.6GB and gives me 2.4 days of unrepeated music!). I spent today hooking it up to my car and mounting it and I have to say it's by far my best investment in my stereo so far. The sound quality is great (I'm using the 3mm input on the HU and the 3mm output that's on the Belkin car charger). So if you're thinking about buying a cd changer or something, I'd highly recommend just getting an ipod. The way it categorizes music, lets you rate songs, create playlists, etc makes it so worth it.

I know. I am finding that hooking up the ipod is much more convenient than going in the trunck and louding up ten cds.

indeed. if you want to make even better use out of your ipod buy a new alipine HU and the module to let you connect your ipod. you now have full acess to your ipod via the HU interface. track listings, song info, etc. the sound quality is better than simply using the 3mm jack also. the signal is being transferred digitally to your HU through the data port on the ipod.

for the price this is also 100x better than buying a HU with a built in hard drive.

Something to consider since my other idea didnt fall thru

Originally posted by EclipseTenzoR
Something to consider since my other idea didnt fall thru

The only flaw is don't leave you ipod in your car.

A) it'll probably get stolen
B) it'll break if the car is too hot

I love using my iPod in my eclipse. I always take it with me everywhere, even if im just driving to the grocery store or somthing. The only thing that really pisses me off about it is that I have to remember to turn the iPod off after I turn off my ignition. Sometimes I forget, and come back to an album thats 1/2 way over because its been playing for the last 20 min. Does anyone know if the new Alpine decks turn off the iPod for you if it's connected?

Check out the link and photos below for an autoplay/pause solution that is working excellent for me. My ipod and radio turn off together when the last door is closed, as when exiting the vehicle, and they both resume play when I remote-start or normal start the vehicle.

You will have to tap into your ipod remote to do this but I bought an extra remote on ebay and just leave the remote in the car all the time. I pull out the ipod as required but it's hidden in the center console anyway. I aso installed a lighted cig. socket with a switch that lets me select power between "always on", "always off" and "on with ignition". The remote is place easily within reach of my index finger when I am resting it on the shifter or on the E-brake handle. I lighted the remote button pad with a small LED so I can see it easily in the dark. I also have bypassed the amplifier in the Belkin power supply so I get pure line-out quality to my deck. I don't use the audio output from the remote so the volume is controlled only by the headunit.

For me this is the best solution, I select a playlist and after that the iPod is out of sight and out of the sun etc. It starts and stops just like the radio or CD player.

I also got creative and added a micro tactile switch (from one of those M3 electric razors) hidden just below the shift knob. It's connected to the "Telephone Mute" wire of the deck so I can mute or attenuate the audio without ever taking my hand off the shifter.

Bypass the belkin amp
http://www.cruze.org/pics/showdate.html?date=2004-03-13

Ipod autoplay/pause
http://www.ipodlounge.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=46305

Here's my install. If you notice I have also modded the center console cover to open 180 degrees so I can easily access the ipod controls without my elbow hitting the cover. The red switch lets me modify the output of the cig. oulet as explained above.


Here's my "in-dash" remote.

You do the cleanest installs I have ever seen man. All I can say is damn! It's actually fun to see all the different mods you have done with your car that are simple and sleek.

wow that's pretty awesome. having to pause and unpause my ipod is kinda a PITA... i really wanna know if the alipine module has this feature built in. idk where to find info from people that have it though...

Yes, when you connect your iPod to the Alpine head unit through the Alpine interface unit, you control the iPod through the head unit. The iPod becomes in a sense inactive in that you don't have to use its controls, you can control the iPod through the Alpine head unit. This interface unit is a great addition to the iPod which is already such a great gadget, just make sure that if you do decide to go with the interface, you have a compatible head unit. I personally, am using the Alpine CDA-9835, which I have to say is the greatest out there and I highly recommend it if you have the funds. If you go to the Alpine website and look under their products and read about the interface and some of the new head units, you can see exactly which ones are compatible.If you have an iPod and a lot of music that you like to keep easily accessible at all times, this setup is a must have and its relativly cheep, good guys sells the head unit and the interface for $299 but the head unit is preaty basic but its all in the users preference.enjoy.

I might be getting an ipod mini I can't justify spending $500 on an mp3 player. Plus 1000 songs is more than enough for me anyways.

Originally posted by undisputed
I might be getting an ipod mini I can't justify spending $500 on an mp3 player. Plus 1000 songs is more than enough for me anyways.

You have to "justify" it differently. I use my ipod as a slick little 40G hard drive and transfer huge files between home and work. I also used it with great success on a recent vacation doing daily dumps of my 1G Compact Flash card into the ipod from my camera. I recently downloaded a 14 hour narrated book for a long flight to South Korea. Sometimes I even listen to music. :)


Seriously, it is a good deal of money for a music player but I was able to pick up the 40G on ebay with many accessories and 6000+ songs for just under $380.

Originally posted by EclipseTenzoR
You do the cleanest installs I have ever seen man. All I can say is damn! It's actually fun to see all the different mods you have done with your car that are simple and sleek.

Thanks. I'm picky about how my mods look. I know I spend way too much time on some of them but that is what I do some days to unwind after work.

When I did the iPod mod I also added a hidden audio mute switch just below the shift knob. I used the built-in "phone mute" wire from my Pioneer, not from the ipod remote. Now I can tap that button, without taking my hand off the stick, for instant quiet if I need to hear the motor (or just order food at the drive up window).




I used a latching micro switch that I cut out of one of those new M3 battery powered razors.

hey... i got some crazy wires goin all over the place... want to help me rewire ? haha just playin man you are awesome at installs, I also like the HID install too.

If anyone wants a 40 gig Ipod I have one for sale...brand new. PM me with an offer.

Originally posted by jsupetran

Originally posted by EclipseTenzoR Something to consider since my other idea didnt fall thru

The only flaw is don't leave you ipod in your car. A) it'll probably get stolen B) it'll break if the car is too hot

If you can use the alpine HU, you can theoretically hide the actual ipod somewhere out of view

btw a couple other companies released modules similar to the alpine one. pioneer and clarion i believe. alpine's got a one year head start on them so their second gen ipod HU's are a little more ipod friendly, but it's possible pioneer or clarion got it right from the start. i'm very curious to see how the other companies stack up. i wonder if 'ipod compatible' will be the next stand feature every company tries to incorporate.

*edit*
azdave it looks like you're sportin a pioneer deck.. are you gonna keep your custom setup or swithc to using the pioner-ipod module?