Looking for a Car Radio that will hook into my Creative Zen Extra - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

The Ballplayer · 06-26-2005, 05:50 PM

I have been looking around for a car radio that will hook up with my Creative Zen Extra Mp3 player and i havent had any luck. I know i have seen some that hook up with ipods but i was wondering if anyone has seen any radios that are compatable with my zen extra. Otherwise im gonna have to get one of those crappy tape deck transfer things.

asshopo · 06-26-2005, 07:54 PM

The tape adapter setup sucks so bad, I tried it with my Zen Micro and the sound was horrible. My personal choice would be just to get a MP3 cd deck, burn some cd's and do it that way. Not as nice has having 4gb+ of music, but hey, it works. I wont get an iPod because of their battery issues (or have they been fixed now) and it seems silly to choose from a few decks that hook into an iPod vs the 100's of models that pay MP3s. But, I cheated, bought a new vehicle which had a in-dash 6 disk MP3 cd changer and couldnt be happier

The Ballplayer · 06-26-2005, 08:55 PM

What ive decieded on is a nifty little transmitter that will put the songs on a radio station.

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...duct_Id=166893

Hopefully it will work out.

Nelson · 06-27-2005, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Ballplayer

What ive decieded on is a nifty little transmitter that will put the songs on a radio station.

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...duct_Id=166893

Hopefully it will work out.

While a wireless FM x-mitter is a simple solution they leave a lot to be desired. Common complaints are adjacient station interference, poor sound quality etc..

Many new in-dash CD players offer an auxillary input that can be used to connect ANY peripheral audio sources. Although they may not offer direct control of your player you will hear a markable difference in sound quality.

catback · 06-27-2005, 08:44 AM

Yea like nelson said, the wireless transmitters are pretty crappy. Station interference, poor audio quality, the readjusting when station interference occurs, they are pretty much sucksville in a car. They work better when the radio isn't moving and even then the audio quality sucks.(note: I haven't had the opportunity to play with the belkin but reviews don't give it alot of praise). If you want to hook up your mp3 player get a car radio that has auxillary inputs (on the front would be nicer but the back ones will work too) and hook into that. Either that or get a wired fm transmitter, they lose a smidge of quality when compared to the aux input but you don't need a new radio to use it and they are many times better than the wireless fm transmitters.

Redlemon · 06-27-2005, 08:51 AM

All you need is a head unit that has an auxiliary input jack on the front. Then you just get a male-male extension cord with a headphone plug on both ends.

Or, if you have an external CD changer, you can disconnect that and put the aux in jack in place of it.

merkerguitars · 06-27-2005, 11:05 AM

Alot of pioneer radio and some alpines have the cd changer hookup, which they have adapter that turn the input into an aux with two rca jacks. Then just get an RCA jack to 1/8" male plug.

The Ballplayer · 06-27-2005, 12:15 PM

Thanx for the info, ill look into getting a radio like that with auxillary inputs. Hopefully Best Buy or Radio Shack has something like that. If not does anyone know any site that has some good deals?

bob32 · 06-27-2005, 02:38 PM

Crutchfield should have everything you need.

fartre · 06-27-2005, 08:51 PM

Why is it so hard to find a car stereo with an AUX-IN?? Even searching on google comes up with NADA!!! I am soooooo in the market for the same thing for my zen xtra...but without droppin $350 its damn hard!! I got lucky with my second car at a liquidator and found an aiwa for $50 with an aux in, but there was only one of them...

Any recommendations for $100-$200ish decks with aux-in anyone??

it's not like these portable MP3 players are "rare" anymore...we cant be the only couple people in the world looking for this simple feature!!!

merkerguitars · 06-27-2005, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fartre

Why is it so hard to find a car stereo with an AUX-IN?? Even searching on google comes up with NADA!!! I am soooooo in the market for the same thing for my zen xtra...but without droppin $350 its damn hard!! I got lucky with my second car at a liquidator and found an aiwa for $50 with an aux in, but there was only one of them...

Any recommendations for $100-$200ish decks with aux-in anyone??

it's not like these portable MP3 players are "rare" anymore...we cant be the only couple people in the world looking for this simple feature!!!

Pretty much any Pioneer deck with the cd changer option hookup.

bob32 · 06-28-2005, 12:14 AM

here's aux input adapters for pretty much every brand name radio, Sony, Pioneer, Alpine, Kenwood, etc. If a stereo does not come with aux input, there's an adapter to make it have one.

You can find many stereos for under $150 and buy an adapter for $10-$35.

Nelson · 06-28-2005, 08:33 AM

Any Alpine with an 'A' in the model # (CDA7847) will work using the KCA121B Aux input cable. '05 models start at $199 retail. www.alpine1.com

Any Pioneer with a 'P' in the model # (DEHP3700) will work using the CDRB10 Aux input cable www.pioneerelectronics.com

Several Clarion models offer Aux input for 05 www.clarion.com

All sites should have locators for AUTHORIZED RETAILERS in your area. A LOCAL BRICK AND MORTOR SPECIALIST retailer should be able to help with technical questions and installation as well.

ChistledStone · 06-28-2005, 11:49 PM

Probably easiest just to get a casette shaped device that has a cord that plugs into your headphone jack. Cheap, easy and the best quality you can possibly get. Speaking of this has anyone heard about the supposed design by Apple to have a 60 gig radiolike device which goes in the car like the radio and syncs with your computer by wireless, or is that just a rumour?

/end threadjack.

asshopo · 06-29-2005, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChistledStone

Probably easiest just to get a casette shaped device that has a cord that plugs into your headphone jack. Cheap, easy and the best quality you can possibly get.

Uhm, no, as I said above, you can kiss your sound quality goodbye if you use a cd->tape adapter. Easiest, yes, most horrible sounding, yes!

You would be better off starting in the $200 range with RCA inputs.

shakran · 06-29-2005, 05:31 AM

The belkin radio units are OK as long as you get the kind that plugs into the cigarette lighter. If you run 'em off batteries they don't have the power to send a clear signal.

laconic1 · 06-29-2005, 03:13 PM

My Zen Micro is supposed to show up tomorrow along with a Belkin radio unit since all my car has is an AM/FM radio. A friend of mine has a Belkin radio unit for his Ipod and it sounds decent to me, probably an audiophile would be dissatisfied, but good enough for someone whose only other option is to listen to stupid radio morning show hosts and commercials. I dont think reception will be too much of an issue since the transmitter will be about 8 inches from the antenna going into the radio.

kofspades · 07-03-2005, 11:13 AM

Most Aiwa decks have aux-in and I think some JVC models are now putting them on. Easy solution.

monkeysugar · 07-25-2005, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fartre

Why is it so hard to find a car stereo with an AUX-IN?? Even searching on google comes up with NADA!!! I am soooooo in the market for the same thing for my zen xtra...but without droppin $350 its damn hard!! I got lucky with my second car at a liquidator and found an aiwa for $50 with an aux in, but there was only one of them...

Any recommendations for $100-$200ish decks with aux-in anyone??

it's not like these portable MP3 players are "rare" anymore...we cant be the only couple people in the world looking for this simple feature!!!

You just have to look for the right buzzwords. On pretty much any newer deck, "satellite radio ready" is a pretty good indication that there will be auxiliary inputs of some sort, typically RCA jacks or an 1/8" jack. Another option you might consider is getting a direct wire fm modulator as opposed to an FM transmitter.

06-26-2005, 05:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
The Ballplayer Upright	Looking for a Car Radio that will hook into my Creative Zen Extra I have been looking around for a car radio that will hook up with my Creative Zen Extra Mp3 player and i havent had any luck. I know i have seen some that hook up with ipods but i was wondering if anyone has seen any radios that are compatable with my zen extra. Otherwise im gonna have to get one of those crappy tape deck transfer things. __________________ Funky cold madena!

06-26-2005, 07:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
asshopo Insane Location: Michigan	The tape adapter setup sucks so bad, I tried it with my Zen Micro and the sound was horrible. My personal choice would be just to get a MP3 cd deck, burn some cd's and do it that way. Not as nice has having 4gb+ of music, but hey, it works. I wont get an iPod because of their battery issues (or have they been fixed now) and it seems silly to choose from a few decks that hook into an iPod vs the 100's of models that pay MP3s. But, I cheated, bought a new vehicle which had a in-dash 6 disk MP3 cd changer and couldnt be happier __________________ Patterns have a habit of repeating themselves.

06-26-2005, 08:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
The Ballplayer Upright	What ive decieded on is a nifty little transmitter that will put the songs on a radio station. http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...duct_Id=166893 Hopefully it will work out. __________________ Funky cold madena!

06-27-2005, 08:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	All you need is a head unit that has an auxiliary input jack on the front. Then you just get a male-male extension cord with a headphone plug on both ends. Or, if you have an external CD changer, you can disconnect that and put the aux in jack in place of it. __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

06-27-2005, 11:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	Alot of pioneer radio and some alpines have the cd changer hookup, which they have adapter that turn the input into an aux with two rca jacks. Then just get an RCA jack to 1/8" male plug. __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

06-27-2005, 08:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
catback Psycho Location: North America	Yea like nelson said, the wireless transmitters are pretty crappy. Station interference, poor audio quality, the readjusting when station interference occurs, they are pretty much sucksville in a car. They work better when the radio isn't moving and even then the audio quality sucks.(note: I haven't had the opportunity to play with the belkin but reviews don't give it alot of praise). If you want to hook up your mp3 player get a car radio that has auxillary inputs (on the front would be nicer but the back ones will work too) and hook into that. Either that or get a wired fm transmitter, they lose a smidge of quality when compared to the aux input but you don't need a new radio to use it and they are many times better than the wireless fm transmitters.

06-27-2005, 12:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
The Ballplayer Upright	Thanx for the info, ill look into getting a radio like that with auxillary inputs. Hopefully Best Buy or Radio Shack has something like that. If not does anyone know any site that has some good deals? __________________ Funky cold madena!

06-27-2005, 02:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
bob32 Crazy	Crutchfield should have everything you need.

06-27-2005, 08:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
fartre Tilted	Why is it so hard to find a car stereo with an AUX-IN?? Even searching on google comes up with NADA!!! I am soooooo in the market for the same thing for my zen xtra...but without droppin $350 its damn hard!! I got lucky with my second car at a liquidator and found an aiwa for $50 with an aux in, but there was only one of them... Any recommendations for $100-$200ish decks with aux-in anyone?? it's not like these portable MP3 players are "rare" anymore...we cant be the only couple people in the world looking for this simple feature!!!

06-28-2005, 12:14 AM	#12 (permalink)
bob32 Crazy	here's aux input adapters for pretty much every brand name radio, Sony, Pioneer, Alpine, Kenwood, etc. If a stereo does not come with aux input, there's an adapter to make it have one. You can find many stereos for under $150 and buy an adapter for $10-$35.

06-28-2005, 08:33 AM	#13 (permalink)
Nelson Tilted	Any Alpine with an 'A' in the model # (CDA7847) will work using the KCA121B Aux input cable. '05 models start at $199 retail. www.alpine1.com Any Pioneer with a 'P' in the model # (DEHP3700) will work using the CDRB10 Aux input cable www.pioneerelectronics.com Several Clarion models offer Aux input for 05 www.clarion.com All sites should have locators for AUTHORIZED RETAILERS in your area. A LOCAL BRICK AND MORTOR SPECIALIST retailer should be able to help with technical questions and installation as well. __________________ Nelson

06-28-2005, 11:49 PM	#14 (permalink)
ChistledStone Crazy Location: Australia	Probably easiest just to get a casette shaped device that has a cord that plugs into your headphone jack. Cheap, easy and the best quality you can possibly get. Speaking of this has anyone heard about the supposed design by Apple to have a 60 gig radiolike device which goes in the car like the radio and syncs with your computer by wireless, or is that just a rumour? /end threadjack. __________________ A.minor.fall.then.a.major.lift

06-29-2005, 05:31 AM	#16 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	The belkin radio units are OK as long as you get the kind that plugs into the cigarette lighter. If you run 'em off batteries they don't have the power to send a clear signal.

06-29-2005, 03:13 PM	#17 (permalink)
laconic1 Junkie	My Zen Micro is supposed to show up tomorrow along with a Belkin radio unit since all my car has is an AM/FM radio. A friend of mine has a Belkin radio unit for his Ipod and it sounds decent to me, probably an audiophile would be dissatisfied, but good enough for someone whose only other option is to listen to stupid radio morning show hosts and commercials. I dont think reception will be too much of an issue since the transmitter will be about 8 inches from the antenna going into the radio.

07-03-2005, 11:13 AM	#18 (permalink)
kofspades Crazy	Most Aiwa decks have aux-in and I think some JVC models are now putting them on. Easy solution. __________________ Even if you stop the clock, it gives the right time twice a day. Once we get out of the eighties, the nineties are going to make the sixties look like the fifties.