A variety of solutions, some simple, some not so simple, to get sounds from your iPod to play through your car's existing audio system
Now that you own Apple's clever little white music machine and have stuffed it to overflowing with your music files of every possible genre, you're curious as to the best way to get your music to play through your car's audio system. Thankfully, due to the aftermarket's unceasing quest to tap this opportunity, more than two dozen different adapters are now available, from simple, universal FM modulators and transmitters to sophisticated black boxes that can fully integrate your iPod and control its functions from the front panel of an increasing number of recent factory-installed head units. In addition, if the time has come to replace an existing receiver, most of the major full line manufacturers have iPod-friendly in-dash radios that offer full iPod control functionality.
In a recent article in the trade publication Mobile Electronics, industry expert Todd Ramsey breaks down iPod integration into four separate categories: audio-only wireless interfaces, audio-only wired interfaces, OEM application-specific pre-amp audio interfaces that provide audio and control capabilities in one device, and iPod to aftermarket direct-control interfaces. Here we'll breakdown the advantages and disadvantages of each.
The audio-only, wireless category includes the most universal devices. Think of them as the cassette adapters for the iPod generation. When plugged into the headphone (audio output) jack on your iPod or other portable digital music player (instead of an iPod, it could be Sony's Network Walkman as an example of an alternative digital music player), they broadcast the signal into a pre-selected, unused station on your existing receiver. A good example of such a device is the Monster iCarPlay Wireless Plus (monstercable.com/mp3/). The advantages here are obvious; this device will work with virtually any player/head unit combination. The downside is that interference can also degrade the signal and the resulting sound is only as good as the FM section of your existing receiver. This means typically diminished high frequency response.
In an effort to address this issue, one manufacturer, Scosche Industries (scosche.com), has developed a Bluetooth interface, similar in concept to a mobile phone interface, plugging into the player's headphone jack and broadcasting the signal to a Bluetooth receiver connected to the head unit that provides auxiliary input, if so equipped. A good ICE specialist should be able to even connect the signal to the inputs provided by an unused CD changer input, the component that the iPod is quickly relegating to the dustbin of car audio history.
As many aftermarket head units have dedicated front- or rear-panel aux inputs in addition to a CD changer bus, category two, the wired solution, is going to be appealing. These range from simple conversion devices that go from the mini jack on the iPod and convert the audio signal to a pair of RCA plugs as in the Dual (dualav.com) example, or more sophisticated devices that provide a mount for the iPod that can charge it at the same time, such as the Belkin (belkin.com) solution. The big advantage over the wireless solution is that the audio quality will be superior as this will be a line-level, direct connection.
A premium version of this approach can also take the form of signal processors like the JL Audio Cleansweep (jlaudio.com) or the AudioControl HPX (audiocontrol.com). The HPX, seven individual components in one, provides a 1/8-inch input on the face of the unit and employs a proprietary signal processor that restores dynamics lost in the conversion from uncompressed media, such as your CD collection, to smaller, compressed MP3 files.
Moving into the third category, pre-amp level audio interfaces that also offer direct iPod control capability, we have the best of all worlds, high quality audio along with the ability to control your iPod from your head unit's front panel and charge your iPod, all at the same time. In order to provide this level of connectivity, you will need an OEM head unit with an available CD change bus. BMW was the first to offer such an option on the dealer level and now a number of aftermarket companies offer similar, universal application devices. The two most widely distributed are the Peripheral Electronics PDXP (peripheralelectronics.com) and the Monster Cable iCruze (iPodiCruze.com).
In concept, both units are quite similar in that they each consist of a central processor that can convert your head unit's control commands so your iPod can understand them, combined with application-specific cables that adapt to a wide variety of factory head units through the CD changer bus. The iCruze even offers the option of a separate, two-line LCD display that shows artist, track and title information.
Moving to the final iPod interface solution we see devices that will allow you to connect your iPod directly to specific aftermarket head units. At the 2004 Consumer Electronics Show, Alpine (alpine1.com) introduced the first such unit, the KCA-420i ($200), and has used that head start to gain a leadership position in the category with iPod-friendly head units starting as low as $200.
Pioneer (pioneerelectronics.com), which sells more aftermarket head units than anyone, now offers a similar piece, the CD-IB100 ($140), compatible with the three million IP-Bus units already on the road. Quite possibly the most elegant (and expensive) solution comes from Clarion (clarion.com), in its VRX755VD AM/FM/DVD receiver with a flip-out LCD screen that, when connected to your iPod via the optional CCA649 connecting cable, emulates the iPod's control interface on a 7-inch touch-screen. If you want satellite radio with your iPod connectivity, then Kenwood (kenwoodusa.com) offers the solution, the KCA-iP500 adapter ($100) that offers simultaneous iPod and Sirius satellite radio capability, available on most recent Kenwood head units.
As this review covers just a fraction of the available interface components, we suggest visiting a local mobile specialist or visit Crutchfield online (crutchfield.com) for expert advice for the solution that best fits your needs, sonic expectations and budget.