best way to hook up to play media through car speakers?

[the14thgod]

All the forums don't really point to a good solution, lots of unanswered questions so I was just wondering if anyone has had any success yet with this?
I have 2 auxiliary and a 3.5 jack. I just bought a car and am looking for a viable solution. I just want to play music through the speakers. (I thought I had usb somewhere..but can't seem to find it yet).

Also has anyone tried just a external drive with mp3's on it? that would be ideal..

I've found these on amazon:
http://tinyurl.com/4l2cmn8
http://tinyurl.com/4zseg48
http://tinyurl.com/48m7g3w

 

[savagebunny]

In theory, playing through the 3.5mm jack from the phone > In-dash reciever would be the best.

Although, my buddy has a iTouch, and plays through USB and its sounds nice on his Infinity Kappas and Polks.

Don't use the FM Transmitter, never good results imo

 

[the14thgod]

Ya I tried playing earlier through it and for some reason it kept skipping/stopping/playing. it was weird... I'm not sure i want to buy the car dock/charger if I can't get the music to play through. I didn't try a different player though, just the stock app.

 

[TeH PLAYA]

i just use a cassette that has a wire sticking out of it and plug that into the headphone jack. works perfect. works on phone calls too.

for you, just get an aux wire that's 3.5mm male on both ends, that should work.

poor man's bluetooth. lol.

 

[the14thgod]

Ya I'm not sure what's up with it. It just worked today, but didn't work so well the other day. I'll probably just get a used mp3 player and store it in the car, hidden of course. It has a power outlet next to the hidden aux jack, so that's convenient.

 

[white2kss]

You could always get an FM tuner that plugs into the lighter. I do hear that quality is not the best going that route.

 

[Jes7er]

I have an FM transmitter because my car doesn't have a tape player. It works OK, sometimes its a little bad quality but it gets the job done. If you have a tape player definitely just get the cassette adapter to 3.5mm

 

[rcicu]

Hello,
I have tried using the headphone jack to my line in on my head-unit. I have to use a groundloop isolator to clean up the signal interference from my alternator and the speakerphone part works okay.

I have and use this most of the time Jabra Cruiser It is very clear and for music and phone. When playing mp3s it also transmits the RDS info to the head-unit.

One of my buddies uses this GOgroove Flexsmart X2 and has great success using the Bluetooth to FM.

Both are great BT to FM devices.

Take care,

 

[kevinbakon08]

The hard wired 3.5 or aux inputs are your best bet for sound quality

 

[elixir911911]

I know at this point my reply may be a little late....I don't know too much about dev but I can keep my head afloat with car audio ^.^ so considering your available options, 3.5 to 3.5 will be your best option for sound quality, followed closely by an auxiliary to 3.5 cable. FM transmitters are never a good way to go. This is attributed to the amount of signal loss that occurs when the sound is turned into electromagnetic waves to be transferred. Plus FM opens the door for a lot of outside interference. I personally don't know if incredible are capable of doing usb output for sound, and I understand that you don't have a usb input, but this is by far the best way to go. You can pick up a stereo with usb input for cheap, and they're very easy to install. If you're smart enough to keep up with some if the discussions on xda, I'm sure you can match up some wire colors! minimal signal loss occurs when using usb, much less than even the loss due to 3.5-3.5. If you ever have an extra 50-100 bucks, grab a usb stereo and slap it in. Always the best way to go. And to the question about a straight drive with mp3's, that method would be pretty much identical to usb input. Now, if your vehicle still has its stock speakers and you haven't put any aftermarket parts in it, you probably won't notice the difference between usb and 3.5. If you have done work and have put even a small amount of work into your speakers, you will definitely notice it. Sorry for the ramble figured I'd try to give you a solid answer if you wanna know anything else feel free to pm me. And for those of you that stuck in there on this rant, kudos.

Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

 

[mtown_cyclone]

There's some good suggestions in this thread

I bought a Clarion CZ500 and the Bluetooth streaming works great. I also tried to connect my DInc to the USB port but it could not find my music. My guess is that it gets confused because two drives show up when you plug a DInc into USB.

 

[Truckin'Ain't4Sissies]

Hello all,
From my personal experience I have learned a thing or two about car stereos and external media sources.

If there is only an input for "external" or Cd changer" (RCA) do the following.

1. Get yourself one of these
(plug#1)

2. Don't buy a Ground Loop Isolator, they're bulky and IMO a waste of money. Instead get a cable that has the nose reducing feature built into it. I highly recommend the following pictured cable. I personally use it on a daily basis.
(Plug#2)

3. Plug the RCA male ends into the rear of your stereo.

4a. Connect plug #1 &#2 into the end's of each other.
Note: Plug#2 has the noise filter closer to one end than the other. You'll want to plug the short end into plug#1.

4b. Use electrical tape to secure the connection between 1&2.

5. Run plug#2 towards the front of the dash.

6. Enjoy a MP4 copy of a movie or some music.





Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

 

[elixir911911]

@dmadrid98....out of curiosity, why would you want to use multiple plugs when you can buy simple noise reducing rca to 3.5 plugs? Doesn't make much sense to add in yet another joint for signal loss

Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

 

[Truckin'Ain't4Sissies]

@dmadrid98....out of curiosity, why would you want to use multiple plugs when you can buy simple noise reducing rca to 3.5 plugs? Doesn't make much sense to add in yet another joint for signal loss

Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

Good point, I was just stating what my preference was because I use the same audio cable in my Semi-Truck & Personal Vehicle.

 

[Chuck-D]

IMO best bet is to get a iPod ready Head unit that can control an ipod and an iPOD hook em all up you can crontrol your music stright from your head unit and sound output is as good as the recording.

 

[tony5104]

All this makes me so glad I bought a Bt enabled car stereo, with the seperate
input setting for phone and media.

 

[rotaryboots]

My phone gets used a lot in the car for its media. My setup consists of my phone charger, a simple 3.5 male/male audio cord, and sometimes I put it in my car cradle. Can't get better than a direct audio out from the phone, to aux in on the stereo.

 

[red rage]

The hard wired 3.5 is your best bet

 

[thumper26]

Been addressing this myself. For simplest integration, 3.5mm to aux input on your factory radio is the best/easiest way to go.

If your car doesn't have an aux input, there is a company named PAC that makes auxiliary inputs for most factory radios. It allows 3.5mm or rca inputs.

With the Incredible, you can use the tv-out cable to the rca's, but you'll need to short the connection on the video rca to enable tv-out on the incredible. (Provided how you mount it) you have a single plug charge and play solution.

I'm working on an implementation of this in my car, and have confirmed the tv-out works, just got to get the dock fabbed and mounted.

 

[hazell222]

I recently put in a new stereo in my car. Sony MEX-BT3900U. Absolutely love this stereo!! I can pair it with bluetooth, stream my Pandora, and when I get a phone call, it mutes the audio (even when on tuner) and with a push of a button I can answer the call and start talking. It's like having a high end car with the hands free. Best purchase ever!