Thread: Connecting mp3 player to car stereo

So my head unit doesn't have an aux input, but it does have RCA Connectors 1 x audio line-out ( RCA phono x 2 ). Not exactly sure what that mean, but what would be the easiest way to connect my MP3 player to that head unit? Is there one cable that connects the head unit to the mp3 player via the headphone jack?

edit - Will this do the trick? http://cgi.ebay.com/6-Ft-1%2f8-%22-S...QQcmdZViewItem

But you're saying it's a line out and you need a line in for your mp3. The line out is probably to connect a power amp for that ear crushing whomp whomp.

Best bet is likely to get a little fm broadcaster and just play it through the radio. My gps has the fm and mp3. The fm is a bit weak so not great in the city but not bad.

Originally Posted by L7

But you're saying it's a line out and you need a line in for your mp3. The line out is probably to connect a power amp for that ear crushing whomp whomp.

Best bet is likely to get a little fm broadcaster and just play it through the radio. My gps has the fm and mp3. The fm is a bit weak so not great in the city but not bad.

Ah. Was gonna do the fm thing, but I've read many horrible reviews on pretty much all of them. There is a way to add an aux input, but I don't have the skills to do it.

Can anyone recommend a good one? I don't do much city driving.

MP3's and FM transmission is/are horribly, horribly compressed, and basically awful, acoustically.
Unless you are old and deaf, like me, in which case it is academic.

What make/model head unit?

If you say stock you are screwed...

JVC KD-G210.

Originally Posted by funkendrenchman

JVC KD-G210.

Yep, line out only. KD-G210

The FM modulators are OK, but not the best. If your car/truck has stock speakers, go for it, you are missing out on a lot of the sound quality anyways. If you go this route don't get a cheap off-brand one, and make sure you get one with as many available frequencies as possible.

Try this:


JVC-KD-R200 for $80

Combined with
Stereo-Mini-Cable-6-ft for $5


A better head unit is the JVC-Arsenal-KD-A305

This was just a quick search, but when i did my car a few years back JVC had the best features for the money, and my Arsenal head unit works and sounds great.

Would the wiring harness from my old unit plug right into this one or do I have to rewire?

Originally Posted by funkendrenchman

Would the wiring harness from my old unit plug right into this one or do I have to rewire?

My guess would be re-wire, but crutchfield usually (unless it needs some goofy adapter) includes everything.

On my last install from them all i did was solder/crimp the head unit to the included adapter and plug it in to the car's stock plug. If you buy from them just go through the "Select Your Vehicle" Prompt to make sure you get all the required freebees

Originally Posted by funkendrenchman

Would the wiring harness from my old unit plug right into this one or do I have to rewire?

Normally you buy a deck and a vehicle specific wire harness and a bunch of crimps. The deck will have pigtails (bare wires) and you crimp those wire to the harness and plug it into the connector in the dash. Since you have an aftermarket deck that wire harness might already be there -- you can just cut it off the old deck and attach to the new deck. If the installer hardwired the radio (cut off the car's connector and attached all the wires then it's a big mess. Sell the car.

I'm just here to say that when my head unit was stolen out of my old car a while back that I plugged my ipod directly into the speaker amplifier using that headphone to rca cable and continued to rock out. minus the radio, and I had a decent system with external amplifiers.

That $80 JVC looks dope, and at a decent price. Do it, and upgrade some speakers too. Crutchfield is great.

as said b4 dont buy a $40 fm mod. it wont work. you have to spend like $75 to actually be somewhat satisfied. At that price the $80 JVC would be a better bet

Also, if you're ordering something from crutchfield, I've found their phone reps to be very knowledgeable and helpful. I'd recommend ordering over the phone instead of online just to make sure you get exactly what you need.