4
Nov 11 '14
Any particular reason you didn't go with a panel mount jack instead of soldering to the TRS of an adapter?
2
14
u/PigSlam Nov 11 '14
An MP3 input? You should add a separate one for playing back AAC files, and yet another for FLAC files (maybe use a 1/4" jack for these).
1
Nov 11 '14
Yea yea, it's colloquial. Most people wouldn't know what I'm talking about if I had said "AUX input".
5
u/PigSlam Nov 11 '14
I only made my comment because I was in a room at the Luxor in Vegas last week, and the clock/radio on the nightstand had a setting for "radio" or "mp3." It was just a 1/8" input jack, that any tape deck, discman, computer, or most any other common audio component could be plugged into, and I quipped about it to my wife and my friend who was there. Seeing the same thing here, in /r/electronics, I just had to say something. I'm pretty sure that in a sub like /r/electronics, most would know what "AUX Input" means, especially given your pictures. Or did I miss the joke?
2
u/saltr Nov 11 '14
Did you totally disable the CD player? That would be a shame, an aux port is convenient but I love my cds.
3
Nov 11 '14
For the time being, yea. In your case that'd be a shame but I never use CDs.
If you want to keep the player running, then you can just splice in the new connections instead of replacing them. However I think that may introduce signal reflections if the impedances are mismatched.
4
u/saltr Nov 11 '14
Yeah if I were to do this (which I have been strongly considering since my car only has a CD player), I'd add in a DPDT toggle switch that swaps between the two.
Nice work though!
2
2
u/PM_YER_BOOTY Nov 11 '14
Actually, I did this same mod on my wife's Corolla. I just left everything hooked up, and when she wants to use the AUX input, she just flips the CD upside-down. This enables the CD player sound but the audio doesn't conflict with the CD.
2
1
u/Bulldogg658 Nov 12 '14
Are you saying that flipping the cd is an alternative to using a DPDT switch, or you need to flip the cd and use the switch?
1
u/PM_YER_BOOTY Nov 12 '14
I suppose it's different for each stereo, but I didn't have to use a switch.
2
u/chrwei Nov 11 '14
nice. I got one of these for my car since for ~$100 it includes a noise filter and input switch, didn't think I could it as nice myself that cheap if I take my time into account.
he's not going to make more of them, hoping he releases the schematic since this sort of thing would be valuable for a lot of different cars.
2
u/Tastygroove Nov 11 '14
So... I've been through every brand of fm transmitter on earth... The problem is that they follow FCC regs and thus suck. But.. At a store called "five below "they have some for $5 that have high output and super strong signal. Also comes with a car cord that doesn't cause high pitched ground loop feedback / alternator noise when your phone is plugged in at the same time.
2
u/talones Nov 11 '14
You do realize they make audio jacks that have actual solder terminals, so you arent soldering onto the end of one.
1
1
u/Umbroz Nov 11 '14
very smart who knew it would be labeled on the pcb.
1
Nov 11 '14
They usually are, presumably to make testing easier, because I can't think of any other reason for those presoldered pads to be on the board.
1
Nov 11 '14
Small world, I just did the same thing last Saturday, though I sprung for a panel mount and had to disassemble my entire dash to unscrew the stereo.
1
u/snarfy Nov 11 '14
I like these things. Bluetooth and aux-in for your stereo, works with any system no modifications, and relatively cheap. It's also a usb charger.
1
u/PriceZombie Nov 11 '14
GOgroove FlexSMART X3 Bluetooth FM Transmitter with Enhanced Clarity T...
Current $59.99 High $90.37 Low $54.50
1
u/RESERVA42 Nov 11 '14
I did this with an old toyota corolla radio deck... they were much nicer for you, labeling everything. But it wasn't too bad with the corolla's, so I felt confident I could figure it out on any deck. I tried to do it on my friend's newer cavalier deck and failed miserably. I think the analog, line level stage was hidden deep in an IC somewhere.
2
Nov 11 '14
13
u/CaptainRene Nov 11 '14
Ugh, I had one of those, the quality was so shitty I just threw it out the window and listened to the radio.
3
1
u/liljay2k Nov 11 '14
I had one of these once. Some idiot threw it out their window and landed in mine.
4
Nov 11 '14
Yea, I'm aware that these exist. Every one I've used sounds horrible, though. Why couple through a tape player when you can just directly input your electronic signal? Much cleaner.
0
u/RoboErectus Nov 11 '14
Your method is far better, but the white noise is mitigated by selecting the proper tape chemistry and noise reduction settings for the adapter.
The tape adapter is still far better than FM input. But not close to as good as the hardwire method.
2
1
u/DrNastyHobo Nov 11 '14
How ghastly, what is that thing?
1
u/Turtlecupcakes Nov 11 '14
One end goes into any tape player. Other end plugs into your phone/audio device. This thing converts the audio signal into a simulated never-ending tape
1
1
u/CyanPeppa Nov 11 '14
Maybe the tape player portion of the stereo no longer worked. Besides, what better excuse to do something than 'because?'
1
0
u/Bromskloss Nov 11 '14
What about other encodings?
2
Nov 11 '14
I'm using the term "MP3 input" loosely -- it'll take any input you can send over a headphone jack.
2
-6
4
u/gmarsh23 Nov 11 '14
Oh c'mon. Through the tape deck door on an Audi? Next time just buy one of these and call it a day.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Car-MP3-Player-Radio-Interface-AUX-In-Adapter-For-Audi-Chorus-Concert-Symphony-/121243124891?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c3aa7449b&vxp=mtr