Honda Car Forum

I have a 2003 Odyssey. It has a radio with cd player. What is the best way
to get a mp3 player into the audio system? Is there a good phase locked FM
transmitter to use? I got a cheap FM transmitter that plugs in to lighter
but its really crappy and drifts of station every few minutes.

any thoughts?
r

On Fri, 29 Jul 2005 23:08:55 -0700, "trs80" <trs80@yahoo.com> wrote:

>I have a 2003 Odyssey. It has a radio with cd player. What is the best way
>to get a mp3 player into the audio system? Is there a good phase locked FM
>transmitter to use? I got a cheap FM transmitter that plugs in to lighter
>but its really crappy and drifts of station every few minutes.
>
>any thoughts?
>r

There are kits available to allow a direct cable connection to your
radio. I think these kits won't work if you have the Navigation
system built in, but I could be wrong. Unless you're handy enough to
install them yourself, they're going to cost you well over $100. You
can Google for threads describing these, but here's one example:
http://www.myradiostore.us/auxadapte...03-pc-son.html

The reason I'm responding, though, is to say that you might want to
consider trying one or two more FM transmitters before going to the
expense and trouble of installing a jack on the radio. Your
experience is perfectly typical because most of these FM transmitters
do not work well. Currently, I found a thing for my daughter's iPod
Mini, however, that works very well, indeed. It's called the PODFM by
Macally and it was only $35. The important factors in these
transmitters are that they get their power from the car's 12V outlet,
as opposed to the MP3 player's batteries, and that they're designed
well. Your first one apparently got one out of two. I've heard that
the units from Belkin are often problematic, but that the ones from
Griffin are generally a little better. Anyway, if you find a good one
right off the bat, you can save $100 and have a solution that's
portable from vehicle to vehicle and doesn't have to go with your
Odyssey when you sell it. It might be worth the gamble of trying a
different one.


Ron

trs80 <trs80@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I have a 2003 Odyssey. It has a radio with cd player. What is the best
> way to get a mp3 player into the audio system? Is there a good phase
> locked FM transmitter to use? I got a cheap FM transmitter that plugs
> in to lighter but its really crappy and drifts of station every few

The FM transmitters are junk. They introduce hiss if they work at all.

There is an empty connector on the back of my 2003 Civic single-CD.
This is intended for a cassette or CD changer, but the P.I.E adapter plugs
in there. My MP3 player appears as a CD changer that's always on disc one
track one. The audio is far superior to the FM adapter.

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/piehon98aux.html
PIE HON98-AUX Auxiliary Input Converter


--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

Have you successfully integrated a Music Keg? You Say it sees a changer
always showing disc 1 and track 1. I am currently looking for a way to
integrate mine to the factory audio system. I have a couple of Kenwood head
units but they won't look right
Shaun


>
> There is an empty connector on the back of my 2003 Civic single-CD.
> This is intended for a cassette or CD changer, but the P.I.E adapter plugs
> in there. My MP3 player appears as a CD changer that's always on disc one
> track one. The audio is far superior to the FM adapter.
>
> http://www.logjamelectronics.com/piehon98aux.html
> PIE HON98-AUX Auxiliary Input Converter
>
>
> --
> ---
> Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5
>

Ive been using the iTrip FM xmitter with the iPod, and it just .. works.
Its easy, and the quality is great. Just a little tip there. Otherwise -
just swap out the headunit with one that plays MP3.


--
strepto
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"Shaun Matherly" <smatherly@socal.rr.com> wrote in message
news:AOTGe.2127$5g.2072@tornado.socal.rr.com...
> Have you successfully integrated a Music Keg? You Say it sees a changer
> always showing disc 1 and track 1. I am currently looking for a way to
> integrate mine to the factory audio system. I have a couple of Kenwood
> head units but they won't look right
> Shaun

Contact www.phatnoise.com. They make the "PhatBox" (same thing as the
Kenwood Music Keg) and sell systems specific to many cars, including Civics
with CD changer controls in the radio. They could tell you if their
adapters will work with your specific music keg and sell you the adapters.

trs80 wrote:
>
> I have a 2003 Odyssey. It has a radio with cd player. What is the best way
> to get a mp3 player into the audio system? Is there a good phase locked FM
> transmitter to use? I got a cheap FM transmitter that plugs in to lighter
> but its really crappy and drifts of station every few minutes.

iPod and Belkin FM Transmitter,

--
"I'm the commander -- see, I don't need to explain --
I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the
interesting thing about being the president.
Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they
say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody
an explanation. "
- George "Dubya" Bush

I've found that my $10 Tape Adapter works great. Probably better then any FM
transmitter on the market. The head/tape unit is Alpine, which might also
contribute to the the amazing sound quality.

Pars


"trs80" <trs80@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:OPEGe.189053$Qo.108378@fed1read01...
> I have a 2003 Odyssey. It has a radio with cd player. What is the best
way
> to get a mp3 player into the audio system? Is there a good phase locked
FM
> transmitter to use? I got a cheap FM transmitter that plugs in to
lighter
> but its really crappy and drifts of station every few minutes.
>
> any thoughts?
> r
>
>

"slim" <pickin's@nyc.rr.com> wrote

> > I have a 2003 Odyssey. It has a radio with cd player. What is the best way
> > to get a mp3 player into the audio system? Is there a good phase locked FM
> > transmitter to use? I got a cheap FM transmitter that plugs in to lighter
> > but its really crappy and drifts of station every few minutes.
>
> iPod and Belkin FM Transmitter,

I'd never tried the iPod transmitter but FM transmitters have limitations. It
won't cover the 15Khz range very well. Tape adapter does it better. But the
best sound quality will come from line input.

I'd go with an affordable CD unit with an auxiliary input on the face.
Wait 'til Best Buy or such has a free installation sale. That FM stuff
is open to too much interference.


trs80 wrote:
> I have a 2003 Odyssey. It has a radio with cd player. What is the best way
> to get a mp3 player into the audio system? Is there a good phase locked FM
> transmitter to use? I got a cheap FM transmitter that plugs in to lighter
> but its really crappy and drifts of station every few minutes.
>
> any thoughts?
> r