Cheapest way to use MP3 player in car?

[johnjohn320]

...besides an FM transmitter. Too big of a city (lots of static), too lousy of a product.

I drive a 99 Civic, with the original head unit. The CD player stopped working awhile ago anyway, and the unit's too old to have an AUX-in. I would like to use my iPhone in the car, to have the mp3 player come through the car speakers with decent quality. iTrip was a terrible waste, returned it right away. I've been looking at new head units, and don't care about all the bells and whistles as long as it has an AUX port I can use for this purpose. I went to Best Buy, they weren't much help. Kept trying to sell me $300 units, and wouldn't give me a quote on the install (one of them pulled $110 as a number out of his ass). I know I've seen head units online for <$50, should I just order one of those and take it to someone for an install?

Any other options I'm missing? Thanks for the advice.

 

[RavenSEAL]

...besides an FM transmitter.

Shit, now I don't know what to say.

 

[nageov3t]

crutchfield.com

input your car model/year and it will give you a list of compatible head units.

they come with pretty comprehensive self-install kits/guides, or you could buy the head unit yourself and take it to your own local place to pay them to install it for you... I'd imagine anyone capable of building a computer would be capable of figuring it out, though.

 

[lxskllr]

Installing a radio can be easy, or a PITA. Not hard especially, just a PITA. I wouldn't pay anyone to do it. If they have such a thing at a decent price, I'd look for a radio that takes USB drives. No point in wearing out your Iphone when you can use the 400 old flash drives I'm sure you have laying around.

 

[shortylickens]

The best thing about my audio system is the AUX jack. Universal MP3 player right there.

 

[johnjohn320]

The best thing about my audio system is the AUX jack. Universal MP3 player right there.

Well... Yeah. That's why that's what I'm looking for.

 

[masteryoda34]

do you have a cassette player?

 

[xanis]

Sounds like the best option is installing a cheap head unit. It's a '99 Civic, I can't imagine it being too difficult.

do you have a cassette player?

^^ also this

 

[shortylickens]

Well... Yeah. That's why that's what I'm looking for.

So buy a simple unit with an AUX jack.
Is this a challenge?

 

[nageov3t]

The best thing about my audio system is the AUX jack. Universal MP3 player right there.

sometimes I wish I had a USB jack in mine instead of/in addition to the aux.

it'd be nice for long drives when I want to conserve my cellphone battery but I also need my standalone GPS running (which takes up the lighter outlet for its traffic receiver)

 

[masteryoda34]

http://www.amazon.com/XM-Satellite-R.../dp/B0052FCRPY

 

[shortylickens]

sometimes I wish I had a USB jack in mine instead of/in addition to the aux.

it'd be nice for long drives when I want to conserve my cellphone battery but I also need my standalone GPS running (which takes up the lighter outlet for its traffic receiver)

My 700BT had a USB and SD slot. AUX jack is better. As technology advances its still useful. The unit wont handle USB above 8 gigs or SD above 16 gigs. I have no idea why.

 

[SZLiao214]

I use a cassette player in mine hooked up to my mp3 player.

 

[Insomniator]

Can someone explain to me how the hell those cassette adapters work?!

Also OP just buy a $50 unit with AUX. I found a JVC on sale at best buy for 40 bucks, took 20 minutes to install in my 96 camry. Works perfect.

I would get a brand you've heard of.. JVC, Sony, Pioneer etc. Most of the cheap ass brands (Boss, Dual, Pyle) get horrible reviews.

 

[BlackTigers]

Honestly, check out walmart for headunits. i picked up a sony with bluetooth, an aux in, and a usb port for $80 on clearance a few weeks ago.

 

[Leros]

Can someone explain to me how the hell those cassette adapters work?!

Also OP just buy a $50 unit with AUX. I found a JVC on sale at best buy for 40 bucks, took 20 minutes to install in my 96 camry. Works perfect.

I would get a brand you've heard of.. JVC, Sony, Pioneer etc. Most of the cheap ass brands (Boss, Dual, Pyle) get horrible reviews.

I think they just record incoming data to the tape which gets immediately read.

I know mine have never lasted longer than few years, so I assume the tape breaks.

 

[jlee]

Link

Alternatively, go a little more expensive and get a free installation kit too. Link

 

[lxskllr]

I think they just record incoming data to the tape which gets immediately read.

I know mine have never lasted longer than few years, so I assume the tape breaks.

There's no real tape in them. They have fake tape to fool the machine, but it isn't part of the playback process. I don't know exactly how the mechanism works, but it basically puts out electric(magnetic) signals the tape head can read. They quit working cause they're Chinese junk.

 

[SillyOReilly]

Get a headunit, cheapass

 

[waggy]

Can someone explain to me how the hell those cassette adapters work?!

Also OP just buy a $50 unit with AUX. I found a JVC on sale at best buy for 40 bucks, took 20 minutes to install in my 96 camry. Works perfect.

I would get a brand you've heard of.. JVC, Sony, Pioneer etc. Most of the cheap ass brands (Boss, Dual, Pyle) get horrible reviews.

I have tried both a cassette adapter and wireless. both suck.

next car i get is having the damn adapter in it.

 

[basslover1]

The cheapest Alpine HU is like 100 bucks, then you need the 30 dollar iPod cable. Best Buy offers free install every once in a while.

Installing a CD player is pretty simple (99 Civic should be cake) but if you don't want to bother BB isn't that bad

 

[Leros]

The cheapest Alpine HU is like 100 bucks, then you need the 30 dollar iPod cable. Best Buy offers free install every once in a while.

Installing a CD player is pretty simple (99 Civic should be cake) but if you don't want to bother BB isn't that bad

Most players offer free installs for radios over $100.

 

[waggy]

The cheapest Alpine HU is like 100 bucks, then you need the 30 dollar iPod cable. Best Buy offers free install every once in a while.

Installing a CD player is pretty simple (99 Civic should be cake) but if you don't want to bother BB isn't that bad

the radio may be $100. then you need wire and installation kit

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Find a local shop. Usually if you buy from them they'll install for free. Also brand name HUs such as Alpine and Pioneer dont really lose value if you try to sell it later down the road. I sold a 5 year old Alpine HU for $100 when I got it for $120.

 

[frostedflakes]

I think they just record incoming data to the tape which gets immediately read.

I know mine have never lasted longer than few years, so I assume the tape breaks.

I haven't even had that good of luck unfortunately, mine seemed to break after 6 months or so, even when I bought more expensive name brand ones.

It's a bit more expensive, but a nice $100-150 head unit with aux in and USB is well worth the investment IMO if you want to hook an MP3 player up to your car stereo. If you order from a site like Cruchfield they'll tell you what wiring harness adapters and other accessories you need and they also provide instructions. Made my first car stereo install pretty painless if you want to do it yourself instead of paying someone else.