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factory stereo mods

Featured Replies

Hey everyone-

I just got a new mp3 player, and I was wondering if anyone has any experience with hooking up an external source to the factory stereo. I've got a 2002 Outback, with the standard AM/FM cassette stereo with the in-dash single CD player.

 

Anybody have any ideas?? Other than a crappy FM transmitter or cassette adapter...

You know, I could kick myself--I just had my factory CD receiver pulled from the dash this past week to hook up a remote 6-disc changer and I did not even think to look and see if it or the tape player/radio had an input jack for an MP3 player. I had an aftermarket CD player a couple years ago that had one on it, but at that time I didn't have an MP3 player. I was so overcome with this urgency to see if my eBay special changer worked and if it would play my CDRs.

 

I have the crappy tape adapter for my MP3 player and I've not really ever minded it, but I don't use it very often. I'd love to foot the $$$ and buy a CD player that reads MP3 files...

  • Author

oh well, wish you had checked. This guy on ebay had my unit for sale. This is the front:

 

ca_1_b.JPG

 

I've got an in-dash cd player below it.

This is the back:

c0_1.JPG

 

He claims it will control Subaru OEM disc changer...

I'm assuming I'm using that for my in-dash cd player. Do you think, I can install a switch and connect both. Any ideas??

Hey everyone-

I just got a new mp3 player, and I was wondering if anyone has any experience with hooking up an external source to the factory stereo. I've got a 2002 Outback, with the standard AM/FM cassette stereo with the in-dash single CD player.

 

Anybody have any ideas?? Other than a crappy FM transmitter or cassette adapter...

My friend at work has one that tricks the factory desk into thinking it has a cd changer (which is your mp3 player)

 

I will get the name of the adapter from him for you.

I was reading on the Internet the other day that Alpine and Apple (ipod, if that is what your mp3 player is) signed a deal that Alpine stereos from now on will have the ability to hook up to an ipod through a seamless interface. Sounds expensive, but cool. TMB

  • Author

it's actually not an ipod, and I'm hoping to get it to work with my current stereo. If I wanted to, I could buy a new one with an aux input built in and be good to go...

 

 

rweddy, thanks for your help and let me know what you find out.

 

Cheers

I would like to see the outcome of this cause I have the single cd player in the Imp and no tapedeck and I would like to know if it can be adaptable to hook it up via a mini headphone jack to a aux source like a MP3 player/MiniDisc player cause of Wife and I have Minidisc players and would like to listen to our tunes without going through the expense of trying to get a cd burnt on a 2x burner properly and then get it to work in the cd player instead of just going with the MD stuff which is simpler to do and also saves 5 hours of music too

My friend at work has one that tricks the factory desk into thinking it has a cd changer (which is your mp3 player)

 

I will get the name of the adapter from him for you.

Yes, please post the name, I have an adapter for my Kenwood deck that plugs into the CD Changer slot and has RCA plugs on the other end so you can hook up external devices....and if I could get something like that for the stock deck in my Subaru that would be great.....

 

Heath

They do make an FM adapter you could easily use.

..first post...

Anybody have any ideas?? Other than a crappy FM transmitter or cassette adapter...

My friend at work has one that tricks the factory desk into thinking it has a cd changer (which is your mp3 player)

 

I will get the name of the adapter from him for you.

It is a Dension.

 

http://www.dension.com/main.php?pageid=50&topid=42

 

Very cool set up. It treats the mp3 like it is a cd changer.

That's exactly what I'm doing. I did however replace the factory head unit with an Alpine CDA-7830 (?). The unit has a rear line-level input that I simply plug my iPod into. This was way before Apple and Alpine signed a deal. It would be really nice to control the MP3 player from the head unit though. Also wired in a power adapter for my iPod from the back of the cigarette lighter. Removed the ash tray (as I don't smoke) and the MP3 player, along with power and audio sit right there perfectly. This is in a 1997 Subaru Outback...

 

There are several other makers who sell head units with aux. audio connectors. I know JVC has one anyway... I'm sure Kenwood probably has something too.

 

Have fun!

 

Kevin Altree

 

it's actually not an ipod, and I'm hoping to get it to work with my current stereo. If I wanted to, I could buy a new one with an aux input built in and be good to go...

 

 

rweddy, thanks for your help and let me know what you find out.

 

Cheers

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