Best Way to Get MP3 Capabilities in Car?

[newt_101]

For my sister's birthday I want to allow her to listen to her mp3 player in the car.
She has an Acura CSX with a factory stereo.

What is the cheapest/easiest way to do this and what price am I looking at?
Change the whole deck, or just buy one of those auxiliary wires to attach to?

Thanks!

[coriolis]

Does it have a factory standard Aux port?

Do you want to use a MP3 device like an iPod/Zune, or do you want it to have a built in hard drive, etc.

[00project]

also depends how difficult/costly it is to remove teh stock deck.
if the deck is integrated, she will need a costly kit to fit an aftermarket deck in.

the cheapest way is just get an FM transmitter (assuming she already has an ipod or something similar).

otherwise get deck with auxilary input (if her current oem deck does not have it), or better yet, get something with USB input so she can just stab a usb key in there. this is better ebcause she can use the deck controls to change tracks, instead of fiddling around with the ipod while driving.

[srg83]

uh if it already has an aux port than the easiest way is an audio cable. Don't even bother with a new stereo.

[ES_Revenge]

If it doesn't already have an AUX input, then there may be an aftermarket-to-factory aux input adapter available. This will usually run $50-$100, if there is one made for that car. HU replacement is always the ideal but some people don't like doing that for reasons unknown to me. (If it were up to me it would be law to have a stereo delete option so you didn't have to pay for the overpriced crap they give you from the factory on 90% of today's vehicles.)

[macnut]

Hard to believe that the CSX being a fairly new model didn't come with an aux-in as standard.

Check out the Honda/Acura forums, but I would think you could get the required Honda cable for less than $50 and install it yourself in an hour.

For example:
http://www.csxworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1606

This assumes that your sister wont need to charge the player in the car - that can introduce some complexity.

P.S. Don't even bother with the FM transmitter solution - I've never heard of anyone totally satisfied with that.

[angel_wing0]

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10130

Best $8-9 CDN spent imo :D

[funky_monkey_99]

agree with everyone. aux cable if there is aux port or fm transmitter if there is not!

[newt_101]

Hard to believe that the CSX being a fairly new model didn't come with an aux-in as standard.

Check out the Honda/Acura forums, but I would think you could get the required Honda cable for less than $50 and install it yourself in an hour.

For example:
http://www.csxworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1606

This assumes that your sister wont need to charge the player in the car - that can introduce some complexity.

P.S. Don't even bother with the FM transmitter solution - I've never heard of anyone totally satisfied with that.

I've had FM transmitters before, and they were horrid, waste of money.
Acura sells the 3.5mm aux jack for the CSX for $89 and they said it's a 30min installation (so I'm sure I can do it myself).
Any links for diagrams or instructions on the installation of it?

Very strange that with the CSX you cannot install an aftermarket deck as there are no kits available for it. I thought all you Acura guys like to mod :D

If there was an input for it it would be the easiest thing to visit Dollarama for a wire, but alas, there is not.

Thanks guys!

[joejack]

I just did this for my wife's 2007 Odssey van. I bought USA spec hon2 from crutchfield. Not only it has the aux port it also has iPhone port so she plug her phone in and controls the music through the sterao controls

[exploreanu]

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10130

Best $8-9 CDN spent imo :D

+1 LOVE mine!

Aux In, USB, SD CARD, what else could you ask for 6 something?!?! with a remote too :D :D :D

[mystery]

I plug my Axim X51V PocketPC with a cassette tape adapter, and is mounted using a generic holder from Canadian Tire costing < $10.

It also allows me to hear the directions over the car speakers when I'm using it as a GPS.

I tried an FM transmitter, and it was horrible: there was always static.

[ct027]

+1 LOVE mine!

Aux In, USB, SD CARD, what else could you ask for 6 something?!?! with a remote too :D :D :D

How is the sound quality using the Aux input?
Mine has serious sound quality issues when I hook up my mp3 player to the device with the supplied aux cable. SD and USB sounds perfect.