What to do about my iPod???

9297 Views 60 Replies 21 Participants Last post by uncle dude, Nov 11, 2007

dgm

Discussion Starter · Sep 20, 2006

I traded in a 2004.5 Cummins Turbo Diesel truck for my '07 GTI. In that truck I had an alpine head unit that interfaced directly with my iPod. Worked pretty darn well.

In the GTI, I've come to learn that the iPod cable alone is $170. ...ridiculous. ...and worse, that the functionality at the head unit is horrible. So, I'm not sure what I should do. I'm looking for advice from those who've done it and have more experience than I with modern car audio systems.

1. buy a iPod interface from VW and suck it up
2. install my Alpine head unit (or something similar) in the GTI and hope for an installation kit to be produced by Crutchfield sometime in the near future.
3. go with something like the ...looks pretty cool for $99Harmon-Kardon Drive-n-Play
4. ...or is there another option that I'm missing?

41 - 60 of 61 Posts

Thalo

· #41 · Nov 30, 2006

DGM's right, the iPod is 10x more convenient.

But come on, we're getting spoiled in this day and age. Remember when you had to load a new CD into the player for every 10-15 songs? 6 disc changers were considered a major convenience, cause you get get up to 6 hrs of music before having to change your discs. Now we've got 6 disc MP3 changers, which I think is awesome. You can get up to 1000 songs loaded into the thing at once.

dgm

Discussion Starter · #42 · Nov 30, 2006

Yeah, I agree. The 6-Disc in-dash mp3 CD changers are cool, but to be totally honest, I've driven my '07 almost 11,000 mile and I've only used the CD player once... for maybe an hour. Its slow to change discs and no one has an answer for the podcast question yet. Your CD's can't automatically update your RSS feeds for you.

If I didn't have an iPod though, I'd probably be all over the mp3 cd changer.

dsgti

· #43 · Dec 27, 2006

maybe it's just me, but wouldn't this be the solution to all the ipod troubles?

only one review so far (5/5)

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Y8MIbjbzeQh/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?I=581PA11VW6

USMC_NBC_Guy

· #44 · Dec 27, 2006

Hello all!
I'll be picking up my new 2006 GTI tomorrow, as soon as the check gets here from the bank. The day after that, unless the folks here tell me I'm completely out of my mind, I'll be taking my new vehicle over to the local sound shop and having them put in an Alpine IVA-W200.

Mine came with XM, and since I'm a huge Opie and Anthony fan from their FM 102.7 days, That makes me very happy. I spend a few hours in the car each day driving to and from client sites in the area, so a proper iPod solution is very important to me. I bought the 60 GBiPod Photo when it was brand new, and since that guy just died a few weeks ago, I replaced him with his bigger brother, the 80GB iPod Video. I've almost got it filled up, and I synch at least 5 or 6 podcasts every morning before I leave the house. I can't WAIT to get this thing installed. I actually saw what it looked like in a similar VW Jetta, so I know the look and feel of the system. Once I get it, I'll be happy to post pictures if anyone would like. This is not an inexpensive solution, and I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to everyone, but I'm a bit of an electronics snob (comes with the line of work), so I think that this will work best for me.

I participated in a similar message board when I bought an Audi S4 a few years ago, and I found it to be an excellent resource for everything relating to my vehicle. I hope this board proves to be as useful and entertaining.

Thanks for listening.

Michael

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USMC_NBC_Guy

· #45 · Dec 28, 2006

I came to my senses and decided that a thousand dollars on a car stereo was not a good way to spend money...

I guess i'll just by a new DLO FM cradle for my new iPod......at least I'll get it in black.......

dgm

Discussion Starter · #46 · Dec 28, 2006

USMC_NBC_Guy said:
I came to my senses and decided that a thousand dollars on a car stereo was not a good way to spend money...

I guess i'll just by a new DLO FM cradle for my new iPod......at least I'll get it in black.......

Oh no! not an FM deal. Surely you can do better than that. You were just about to drop a grand on a head unit and suddenly you go for an FM system???

USMC_NBC_Guy

· #47 · Dec 28, 2006

dgm said:
USMC_NBC_Guy said:

I came to my senses and decided that a thousand dollars on a car stereo was not a good way to spend money...

I guess i'll just by a new DLO FM cradle for my new iPod......at least I'll get it in black.......

Click to expand...

Oh no! not an FM deal. Surely you can do better than that. You were just about to drop a grand on a head unit and suddenly you go for an FM system???

Well.....I like my OEM head unit, and I'm very happy with XM, and unless there is someone out there that offers decent functionality through the OEM unit, I figure that if i'm happy with what I've been using for the last 2 years or so, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.......

superwagen

· #48 · Dec 28, 2006

USMC you were saying that you are a bit of an electronic guru didn't you? There are plenty of ways to link your I pod directly to a head unit with a little skill in the soldering realm you should be able to figure this out. And I think you should be able to find a wiring diagram to help out somewhere on the web or something. I wish I had a link to give you to help out. Hope this helps out if you come up with something let us know so we can copy your ideas.

dsgti

· #49 · Jan 1, 2007

anybody have an ipod setup AND a subwoofer in their car?

do the aux connections allow both?

mxyzptplx

· #50 · Jan 2, 2007

dsgti said:
anybody have an ipod setup AND a subwoofer in their car?

do the aux connections allow both?

Can't see why not...

SilverMkVGTI

· #51 · Jan 2, 2007

dsgti said:
anybody have an ipod setup AND a subwoofer in their car?

do the aux connections allow both?

Ummm, the auxiliary connection is an input only. A subwoofer will need a radio output as its signal input. You can add a subwoofer using a line-level (speaker) adapter to an outboard amplifier/subwoofer box combination or buy an amplifier (or powered subwoofer) that has built-in line-level connections.

dsgti

· #52 · Jan 2, 2007

derrrrrrrrr :

just wanted to know if anyone has the setup yet...

USMC_NBC_Guy

· #53 · Jan 26, 2007

Here is what I bought today:

Alpine IVA-W200
Alpine Blackbird PMD-B10
Alpine PMD-DOK1 Docking Station for Blackbird
Terk XMDirect XMD1000
Terk XMDALP100 XM Direct For Alpine Units
Alpine KCE-422i

Once I get it all installed, I'll post some pictures.
I decided to buy it after getting lost a few times driving to client sites.
6.5" touch screen, navigation with traffic over FM, and full speed iPod integration.

Whoohoo!

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kryptonkid07

· #54 · Feb 19, 2007

iPod Adapter What do you guys think about this one?

hold em gti

· #55 · Nov 10, 2007

Here it is, ANOTHER I-pod aux jack question. I've searched the threads relating to this topic and still need a couple simple answers. My GTI is an '08.

1. Does using an I-pod through the provided jack suck as bad as everyone has said it does? (From what I've read here it sure seems that way.)

2. Can another mp3 player (other than an I-pod) be used with the I-pod aux jack. ( Excuse me for being ignorant in this area!!)

3. Or, should I just load up 6 CDR's as this should be enough music for me. I will be loading music in a radio station format rather than recording full "albums".

I'm looking for the simplest solution. (I may have answered my own question with number 3) I will be shopping today, so a quick answer would be appreciated. Thanks!!

hold em gti

· #56 · Nov 10, 2007

Believe I picked up an answer on rabbitownersclub.com. Another mp3 player can be used with the aux jack, doesn't have to be an i-pod. Also, use a stereo cable that has one end that plugs into the port on your i-pod and the other end has a mini jack for the aux jack. These are available at Radio Shack. They say this will give you better quality sound than a cable with a mini jack on each end. Also claims you should get better control of the i-pod through the stereo this way. Don't know about that though. Any other advice would still be appreciated. Thanks and GO BUCKEYES!!!

nvroadwarrior

· #57 · Nov 10, 2007

kryptonkid07 said:
iPod Adapter What do you guys think about this one?

If that does everything they say, I would say it beat VW's "iPod adapter" hands down for about the same price. I'd get it if I didn't already have the VW POS adapter.

hold em gti said:
Believe I picked up an answer on rabbitownersclub.com. Another mp3 player can be used with the aux jack, doesn't have to be an i-pod. Also, use a stereo cable that has one end that plugs into the port on your i-pod and the other end has a mini jack for the aux jack. These are available at Radio Shack. They say this will give you better quality sound than a cable with a mini jack on each end. Also claims you should get better control of the i-pod through the stereo this way. Don't know about that though. Any other advice would still be appreciated. Thanks and GO BUCKEYES!!!

Do you have an iPod adapter or just an AUX input in your glove box? VW's iPod adapter set up does suck, but it is usable. If you have the AUX input in the glove box, then you can use any MP3/CD whatever you got using the correct cable, but this will only provide sound through your stereo with no display and will not charge what ever device you are using. If you use a cable with the mini jack on each end, be sure not to turn the volume on what ever device you are using up all the way. Max volume will be distorted, use around 3/4 volume on the device and control the loudness with your VW stereo for best results.

hold em gti

· #58 · Nov 11, 2007

I'll probably just use my sandisk for now. Got a cable today to plug into the glove compartment jack (VW could have picked a better place for it) and I'll see how it sounds. That plus 6 cdr's should be a big enough music library. Just got home tonight so I'll try it tommorow. Thanks!!

uncle dude

· #59 · Nov 11, 2007

I opted for the VW adapter. I understood it's limitations before buying it, and I have to say I am pleased with it. I have a new Nano, and find it easy to organize the music so I know what is where (i.e. Jazz on playlist 4). The sound is terrific, and it is nice having access to 600 songs from my steering wheel. I got a deal, $125 installed.

hold em gti

· #60 · Nov 11, 2007

Where did you have it installed; dealership? Did you have put in the console storage?

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