Adding MP3 Player Question

[MacShee98]

Thanks Andrew!

That's Sony is an interesting concept and I'm sure we'll be seeing built-in hard-disks in head units now that Sony's taken the lead.

Unfortunately, it doesn't solve the problem of adding an MP3 player, or another type of aux audio unit, to the existing factory setup. I'm sure that there are some people who would prefer to leave the factory player AS IS and not mess with tearing the radio out and figuring out how to fit a single DIN unit into a 2 DIN space, etc., etc. "Plug and Play" is what we're looking for.

JOURDAN,

The antenna junction box is located behind the drivers seat inside the same plastic panel where the seatbelt retractor is. The unit is powered up by the radio on/off so tieing the 12v positive there should be easy. Just attach the ground to the same ground lead as the junction box, and you should be up in no time.

How do you get in there? Pull up the door sill cover, straight up then back. Then pull the interior panel toward the center console and it should pop away giving you enough access to make your connections.

I'd consider mounting the FM MOD box under the carpet behind the drivers seat on the angled slope (not on the floor) rather than inside that panel for two reasons 1) access, 2) to avoid proximity to the retractor assembly - safety. Velcro should do it. Then run your input to the center console area where you'll be able to keep the NOMAD out of sight and power-adapted via the 12v access. plug.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW THE JVC SOUNDS!!!! It's the unit i would have bought from Crutchfield. Hey, great minds think alike.

 

[Jourden]

Thanks for the input, Andrew!

And thank you, oh great-minded Mac, for all the help. I will report on the results on Sunday.

By the way, Crutchfield's service is outstanding. Along with the parts, I also received a generic install guide and a car-specific install guide complete with photos, that stepped me through R&R of the entire stereo and speaker system. It didn't address the diversity junction Mac spoke of but, for the 40 bucks I spent, I got a lot for my money. Indeed, a highly recommended source for car electronics...

Oh, and if you do plan to order from Crutchfield based on my experience, let me know. I get $20 bucks off my next order for the referral!

 

[MacShee98]

Crutchfield's got a great web-site and they've been in business for over 20 years. No doubt, I'll buy from them.

What exactly did they include in the kit - fuse, ballun-filter, etc.? It's my understanding that the GM ant. connectors require adaptors (size changers) to get this to work. They included them?

I'm very interested in your install because this looks 1) highly do-able, 2) not expensive, meaning if it sounds bad there won't be too much out of pocket.

Interested to know how the FM stations sound AFTER the install - I listen to FM alot in NYC area - tons of good FM here - and wouldn't want to compromise my FM reception for the sake of an MP3 player.

By the way, I've got a NOMAD Jukebox 6gig which is now ancient and looks prehistoric compared to what you've got and the iPod generation of players. But considering what I paid for it (free, $0.00) I can't complain. It may be slightly too big (!) to park it in the center console. Haven't tried and won't until I hear more about your FM MOD mod.

Have fun doing the install.

 

[Jourden]

They sent both adapters needed. For free. The install manual from JVC is thorough. This particular one has an auto-off feature so that it takes itself out of the antenna circuit when there is no input to the RCA jacks. Thus, it should not adversely affect regular FM reception. It also had the widest range of FM station settings of any of them and so, I look forward to finding the setting that works. I'll let you know how it goes!

 

[MacShee98]

Thanks!

If you've got access to a camera during the install - hint, hint..

Hope it goes well - should be a piece of cake.

 

[Jourden]

Photos! Good idea. Will do. Ignore the beer bottle in the background.

 

[Jourden]

Job complete!

Sorry I do not have any pictures, the daughter took the digital camera to a horse show. But, the job is complete!

The lower sill cover came off easily. The seatbelt retractor cover was not so easy but, with care, it was removed.

The diversity box has two GM-sized jacks. One is for the front antenna input, the other is the output to the radio. Both are clearly marked. There is a plug connector for the rear antenna input. The other plug to the unit has two feed wires, 5V and 12V. The blueish-green one carries the 12V. The ground is clearly visible. I just connected the fused power lead of the JVC to the 12V and the JVC ground to (you guessed it) ground.

Now for the part that didn't go completely as planned. Like I said earlier, Crutchfiled sent two adapters:

#1, A Motorola plug on one end and a GM-sized jack on the other

and,

#2, A Motorola jack on one end and a GM-sized plug on the other.

I believe these would have worked if I had installed this on the back of the radio. But, I was installing it at the diversity antenna box behind the driver's seat...

Unfortunately, because the JVC unit's output was a Motorola plug and the JVC's input was a Motorola jack, my adapters were not quite ready.

The JVC Output (Motorola plug) needed to connect to the radio feed cable which had a GM-sized plug. So, I needed an adapter that had a Motorola jack on one end and a GM-sized jack on the other. So, I cut the Motorola jack off of adapter #2 and installed a solderless Motorola jack (Radio Shack part number 274-710) on the cut off end. (Motorola jacks and plugs are easy to get. Do not cut off the GM-szed ones or you are screwed).

Then, I needed to connect the JVC Input (Motorola jack) to the diversity box output which had a GM-sized jack. So, I needed an adapter that had a Motorola plug on one end and a GM-sized plug on the other. So, I cut the Motorola plug off of adapter #1 and installed a solderless Motorola plug (Radio Shack part number 274-709) on the cut off end.

That made all the connections. I installed the box behind the driver's seat, under the carpet flap using double sided tape.

The last connection I needed was from the MP3 player to the JVC. A 6ft long cable with RCA plugs on one end and a 1/8 inch mini plug on the other did the trick. I routed the 1/8 mini plug to the console.

How does it play? Great. I used 89.3 as the frequency. When the JVC has no input, it does not interfere with my FM reception one bit. When the JVC has input (the MP3 player is on), I tune into 89.3 and the sound is great (just as good as the other FM stations).

To an audiophile, this is probably not considered the best I could have achieved. But, to the other 95% of the planet, this was a great and easy to use solution.

End of story. Thanks to everyone that offered their assistance. It made the job a snap to accomplish.

Now where's that jet engine and ejection seat I was gonna add?.......

 

[MacShee98]

Congrats. Glad it sounds good (would have been such a drag to go thru the install only to find out it didn't do what you expected.)

Does Crutchfield have the adapters that would be required for this install, without cutting and modifying??? I guess that was the only tricky part.

Pretty sure that I'm gonna do the exact same install, JVC Modulator, etc.

How long did the whole thing take to do?

 

[Jourden]

Not counting the drive to Radio Shack, not more than 2 hours.

As far as the adapters go, I am not sure if they have them or not. They may only have those that allow connections at the back of the radio. But, you should call and see.

If they don't, the modification to the ones they send is not hard. The connectors are solderless and the blister packs have the illustrated directions right on the back. A tiny phillips screwdriver and a razor blade to strip the cable is all you need. Pretty straightforward, really.

One last note: Installing the RF unit under the carpet flap behind the seat is a good idea because you can always raise the flap later if you need to change out the fuse, change the frequency setting, or change the output level. And, even when the seat goes all the way back, it does not come in hard contact with the added bulk of the RF modulator.

 

[MacShee98]

Thanks for the reply. Only wish I could hear it (there's no substitute for one's own ears) but if it sounds like any other FM station, it should be absolutely fine.

I'd hesitate a guess here that the overall sound quality is secondary to having literally TONS of tracks at your disposal, without the hassle of juggling CD's up front or the limit of "only" 12 in the back if you've got the CD changer option.

If you've got "golden" ears, it can be a blessing and a curse. When I first starting ripping tracks into MP3 files, I noticed a loss of openness and space that was disconcerting, no pun intended. Then I started ripping at 192kps and the differences all but disappeared. But even a standard 128kps MP3 file should be virtually indistinguishable from the original when factoring in road noise and the "average" quality of the Delco/Bose factory stereo.

Keep us posted on how you like the JVC FM modulator/MP3 player in the next few weeks after the "novelty" period - if you like it more, or not as much, etc.

I'm sure there are more than a few of us out there that would love to have TONS of our own music in the Vette without lugging around a suitcase full of disks - we'll be seeing more of these installs in the future I'm sure.

Enjoy your monster tune box, but don't forget to turn it off every now and again so that the LS1 can sing it's glorious song - solo.
Cheers

 

[jhiiidoc]

iPod interface

This is what I have planned to replace the damn useless CD changer in the trunk:

http://www.pfyc.com/store/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PFYC&Product_Code=GN8004&Product_Count=54&Category_Code=VTINT

The other alternative is to see if the head unit in the C6 will go into the C5. The base model Bose unit is Mp3 capable.

Good luck, but I've never liked the sound quality from RF Modulators.

 

[Mart86&04]

AUX input

What You need is the P.I.E. GM10-AUX logjam electronics and the factory CD changer cable.Install is very easy

 

[fdxpilot]

What You need is the P.I.E. GM10-AUX logjam electronics and the factory CD changer cable.Install is very easy

I agree. The changer cable plugs into two places in the Pass footwell, and the GM10-AUX plugs into the other end and gives you a set of RCA inputs. These inputs can be selected with the Aux button on the head unit. The length of the CD cable will allow you to mount your unit anywhere in the car, although if it's up front, you may want to shorten the cable. As I remember from installing a changer in my 02, the cable is a little over 8 ft long.

 

[jhiiidoc]

Installed the iPod contoller and mated it to an iPod mini. The cable that came with it allowed me to run it up into the armrest. I can change songs from the Bose head unit, the iPod charges as long as it is hooked up, and it turns on and off with the head unit. Sound quality is excellent. This is really something you should consider if you listen to alot of mp3 music and want to listen to it in your car without changing the head unit.