Car Stereo Question
 

Are there any head units that have front audio jacks? I would like to be able to plug a mp3 player into the unit without using one of those crappy cassette interfaces. If not, what is the best way to get great audio quality from a portable unit in your car. Thanks.

You coulg buy an mp3 cd player. Doesn't solve your problem, yet an alternative. You can fit around 120 songs onto a mp2 cd and mp3 cd players will play them, some allowing you to seperate the songs into folders.

You could alwats buy something like THIS. It has a hard drive that can store 20 gigs of MP3's. Almost every company has something like that out right now. I'll get one after they drop in price some more. I'd love to have that much music at all times without having to change CD's.

Here's something even better. It's a CD/MP3/10 gig Hard drive reciever. Expensive though. :(

Thanks for the links and ideas. I know linksys is coming out with a wireless device that will go in your car. Then when your car is in range of your wireless lan you will be able to download music files to it. Still, I was interested in something with front inputs. Think of this scenario, your friend is in your car with an mp3 player and new songs. It would be simple to hook it up and listen.

To be honest with you the only company that I know of that does front inputs is AIWA. I have the CDC-MP3 2 and if I recall correctly from my research is that the headphone jack input in front is stock for most all AIWA headunits, though you may want to look into this for better info.

Good luck....

they also have the fm tuners depending on the mp3 player. hook up an ipod, for instance, tune the radio to the right freq., and shazam...some work better that others. i think <a href="http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=201526&pcount=&Product_Id=140984" target="_blank">this one</a> works pretty good

Pioneer HU's have an AUX mode, but you have to get part# CD-RB10, or CD-RB20 (if you are using a CD changer on the HU also). There isn't a jack on the front of the head, but the CD-RB unit has RCA inputs. Easily converted to whatever you need. Kenwood, I know, has a simmilar accessory, as does Sony. Best way to get aux in without restricting yourself to just the models with jacks on the front. (i.e. Aiwa and Panasonic)

Thanks noblejr I will check them out.

I use to own an Aiwa H/U. Granted i would never lead anyone to ever buy one of those pieces again. But yet it had a stereo jack to hook up external mp3 players or the likes there of. That was one of its only good features though. I think the model was cdc-x407 or something like that.


Mysterhe

Why can't you just run a wire from the back to a "secret" location in the car for your hookup? I think that'd be better than having some deck with a jack on the front of it. More convert and would look cleaner.

The way I do it is I have a Pioneer CD player that has a cd changer option. For $35 I bought an adapter that converts the cd changer in to a set of RCA jacks. Works great for my dvd/mp3 and my laptop....All I have to do is press source (which changes from CD to radio and now I have the option for aux in) I was never a fan of a front mounted 1/8" jack...too easy to break and never sounded to good.....