Adding MP3 Player Question

[Jourden]

I have a 2003 Coupe with the factory single CD player (changer not installed). I would like to investigate the possibility of using the AUX input normally used by the changer for the connection of a portable MP3 player.

Does anyone know where I can get the signal pin-out for the AUX input on the stereo? I cannot seem to find the data anywhere.

BTW, this is my first post. As an introduction, I own two coupes, a '65 and a '03. I drove the '65 for six years and now have a more comfy 2003 parked next to it. The '65 is Goldwood Yellow and the '03 is Millenium Yellow. It's pretty neat to see both cars next to each other, with 38 years between them... Oh, and don't fret about the '65... the orginal engine is in a crate for safe keeping.

Perhaps, if anyone is interested, I'll post some pics of them together.

 

[Red73BB]

I would like to see some pix 65 is one of my favorite years.
Gary

 

[BoeingMan]

Pics......

Pics now...
Do it...
Post 'em dude...



Engine room, I need more power

 

[MsSchroder]

Hi Jourdan,
2 corvettes, lucky you!
I don't know the answer to your question, but welcome to the forum.
You should definitely put up some pics (the gallery is useful for this and then you can link to the image in your posts), and put up a post in news & introductions.

 

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,
I am unfamiliar with the MP3 system. Please explain further about this.
Your Corvette does not have any aux outputs, above and beyond the standard CD changer inputs, that are sometimes used when they are installed at the factory.
If you are using an RF antenna adapter, then that is something that you can work with.
Please expand on what you have and we can proceed.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[Jourden]

Howdy all. Thanks for the warm reception! I first would like to answer c4c5specialist:

The MP3 player has an analog output. I was not interested in aux OUTputs, but I am interested in the aux INput to the stereo unit in the dash. The CD changer must plug into the back of the stereo unit and I am looking for the signal/voltage on each pin on that plug/jack. My concern is that the input to the sterao from the changer may be digital which would prevent me from using it since my MP3 player out is analog. And yes, I am looking closely at RF modulators as well.

As for posting pics, Have have a few that I will link to (so as to not burden everyone with the downloads unless they really wish to see them). I have some great ones of both cars together but, they are at home and I'll post them later. (How to I post to the Gallery, BTW?) But, here are a few (caution, some are LARGE):

The '03

Collage of '65 when I pulled the original engine.

BIG collage #1 of the '65. Good for zooming in to see detail.

BIG collage #2 of the '65.

More details on the '65: Factory power windows, steering and brakes. Factory telescoping steering wheel, back-up lights, leather, 350-300hp 4spd. Repro knock-offs and sidepipes, and I added a Vintage Air R134a AC system.

Wee!

 

[MsSchroder]

awesome cars! I am also partial to yellow
To post pics to your space in the members gallery, look BENEATH the tabs at the top of the page (do not be confused by the TAB that says Gallery, this is not the one you want). You will see a bunch of links that look like this

Calendar :: Chat :: Discounts :: FAQ :: Gallery :: Members :: New Posts... <more>

Click on Gallery.
From there you should see some links in the top right:
Home | Profile | Upload Photos | Logout

just click on upload and go from there. You are limited to 700K and each pic has to be 100K or less.

-Tammy

 

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,
Ok, well, you can tell that they are digital, unfortunately, because of the 2 connectors, under the passenger side toe board.
The 4 pin square connector is held to the plastic frame. The 3 pin flat connector is taped to the wiring harness.
I think you will have to go with the RF system, if you can get one.
Let us know if we can help further, c4c5

 

[Ctfoodguy2000]

Welcome to CAC!! You have two beautiful Vettes.

 

[Jourden]

OK, I am gonna go the RF route, methinks. Thanks for the help!

Here are some links to some more pics of the two of them together. They are too big to post in the gallery so, this will have to suffice. Hope you all enjoy them. I hope the all the '65 fans at this webby get to see this...



Fronts

Backs

New Panel

Old Panel

Upper Fronts

Upper Rights

That's gonna be the last of 'em for a bit.

 

[Justin_cv87]

Welcome to Nice vettes by the way!

 

[TripleBlack'99]

Jourden,

If you're OK with going the RF route, then I would recommend the Sony CDX-565MXRF. It's a 10-disc RF CD changer with MP3 playback capability, 12-second Electronic Shock Protection (memory buffer), and wired/wireless remotes. The wired portion of the controller would probably tuck away nicely in the ashtray area.

If you'd like to see it, copy/paste the link below:

http://www.xplodsony.com/products/?CATEGORY=Changers&MD=CDX-565MXRF

I admit to being a bit partial (as I work in the Marketing group of Sony Mobile), but rest assured, this is a pretty killer piece. Good luck in any case. ;-)

Andrew

 

[MacShee98]

Hey Andrew,

Thanks for the link above. I've been looking for something like this. Sort of.

(Just to clarify, the SONY unit in the link above is a CD CHANGER that can play MP3 encoded files that are burned to CD, correct? That's a very useful capability, if so, because you could "jukebox" roughly 10X the number of tracks.)
I think JOURDAN is trying to connect a stand-alone MP3 player (like a Rio, Nomad Jukebox, etc.) directly to the Delco/Bose head unit's ANALOG INPUTs. But it seems that there aren't any analog inputs. I've been trying to do the same thing, but it always leads me down the FM modulator route.

It's been told that FM Modulators do not deliver the best sound, and in most cases are vastly inferior to direct analog inputs or digital inputs. Is that true?

As a marketing rep for Sony, what we need is a replacement "changer" that is, in fact, not a changer but a removable MP3 player/hard-drive that interfaces directly with the DELCO/BOSE factory harness inputs and mimics a standard CD changer. The factory head unit could control play just like it would a CD changer, only you would then have access to thousands of tracks (depending upon hard-disk size, of course). It wouldn't need its own control interface, making it cheaper to manufacture, but it would need to be removable such that you could take it to your computer and load/remove MP3 files as the spirit moves you.

You tell the Powers That Be at SONY HQ that if they build such a unit, I'll buy it, and likely so would a lot of other GM music lovers of which there are millions - catch my drift? You'd cover two groups here, those without a CD changer in the trunk and those who've already got one but want to move up to the 21st century.
Hey, Kenwood built one (The Music Keg, i think) but it doesn't interface with the GM radio harness.

 

[Jourden]

Yes, you are correct, MacShee98. I have a Nomad Zen, which is a 20GB laptop harddrive with a MP3 player wrapped around it. It's a wonderful thing and carries my library of over 2,500 songs. I have custom playlists of every variety that I wish to play in the car and thus, even an MP3-capable CD changer is not what I am looking for.

Without a detailed summary of what each pin in the GM harness is for, I'll have to play it safe and use an RF modulator. I have found the following promising candidates:

Crutchfield's RF Modulators

But, I am still holding out to see if anyone has that signal data out there...

 

[MacShee98]

Anybody out there have and FM modulator hooked up to the diversity antenna switch box, located behind the driver near the seat-belt retractor??

If so, how does the sound compare to a strong FM station??

I've read that some FM modulators deliver pretty good sound considering that they are not under FCC contraints to limit frequency bandwidth - the highs and lows missing in broadcast FM are NOT missing thru these modulators.

There's a few of us, JOURDAN for one, and myself, who are looking to tie into the Delco/Bose audio inputs such that we can run portable MP3 players without having to go the FM modulator route. You know, just hit the AUX button on the head unit and steal the CD input for whatever we want in terms of hand held audio device. Hell, you could patch hands-free cellular audio thru that, whatever.

Audio gurus? Can we do this??

 

[Jourden]

OK, I went ahead and ordered the JVC KS-IF200 RF Modulator from Crutchfield. It comes with both adapters I need to integrate it into my existing antenna circuit. And, since I only paid $39.99 for the unit (with both adapters included for free), that's not a bad deal. I'll let everyone know how it works after I get it installed.

 

[Cali]

I think this is what your looking for http://www.logjamelectronics.com/piegm10aux.html

Cali
02 Z06
http://Z06.WaveSolutions.com

 

[Jourden]

Thank you!

Thanks very much!

I had looked at the PIE site quite a bit but never came across this item. (PIE needs to make their site easier to use for doofi like me).

Since the FM modulator is already on its way, I am gonna at least give it a shot. If it does not do well, I'll go this route.

Yay.

 

[Jourden]

OK, the modulator is here. Where is the best place for me to introduce this into the antenna circuit?.. at the back of the stereo or, better yet, is there a place where the diversity antenna signals join... is this juntion in a better spot? If so, where is it?

Also, having only worked on my '65, my understanding of the sensitivity of a modern electrical system is daunting. Just to be safe, what is the easiest and electrically correct place to pick up 12v and where can I safely ground? Can I use any ground that's close?

Can't wait to get it installed...

 

[TripleBlack'99]

MacShee98,

Yes, you are correct, the CDX-565MXRF will play MP3 files that are burned to CD. Fill-up ten CDs with MP3s and you end up with quite a bit of music!

The sound quality of a device connected through an FM modulator is limited by the frequency response of the radio it's connected to. In other words, at best, the device will only match the sound quality of the FM tuner.

We do not offer a remote hard drive product, but I will tease you with something else. The MEX-1HD is an in-dash AM/FM/CD player with a built-in 10GB hard drive. It will store up to 165 hours of music, which you "rip" directly from your CDs. It records at up to 8x speed (variable, just like a CD-ROM drive on your home computer), so it only takes about 10 minutes to download an entire CD. There's no sub-chassis or external boxes, so it fits in the same space as a standard radio. Click below if you want to check it out:

http://www.xplodsony.com/products/?CATEGORY=CD&MD=MEX-1HD

This is the unit that's going into my '99 as soon as I have some time! It's a blast to have all of your favorite music at your fingertips, without having to leave your CDs in the car.

To interface it, you can use an adapter from Soundgate (http://www.soundgate.com/) called the GMCRV1. It's a pre-wired adapter that's made specifically for C5s with the Bose system.

If I can help with anything else, let me know.

Andrew