My Stock Aux In Adventure

[plasmadis]

Hey there. After reading this post (http://3geez.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44949) by Frantik, I discovered it was possible to use the CD/EQ connection on the back of our cars stock deck as an auxiliary in connection. I had nothing better to do this past weekend, so I decided to give it a shot.

As you can see from this lovely diagram (http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/6540/wiregj7.gif) that Frantik made, the connection on the back of the deck is a 8 pin DIN connector. Lucky for me, in my vicinity I have an electronic surplus store (http://www.weirdstuff.com/), where such a thing could be found.

They have an aisle filled with boxes and boxes and old power supplies, I knew one of them just had to have this kind of connector:

http://members.dslextreme.com/~plasmadis/theaccord/auxin01.jpg

And sure enough, I found one, a steal at only 5 bucks. As an added bonus, it happens to be a 12 volt power supply, which can prove useful for other things later.

http://members.dslextreme.com/~plasmadis/theaccord/auxin02.jpg

Here's the back of our stock deck, and an cap that passes the audio through from the preamp to the amp inside the deck. Note by taking this off, you no longer get to hear the radio or tape deck, unless you make a cable with a switch like in Frantik's diagram above.

http://members.dslextreme.com/~plasmadis/theaccord/auxin03.jpg

Well, how about that. A perfect fit.

http://members.dslextreme.com/~plasmadis/theaccord/auxin04.jpg

Now you have to cut open your cable, and find out which wires go to which pins. You can test the wires using batteries and an LED, as you can see in my pic. Be careful, if you happen to miswire a power wire where an audio wire happens to go, you'll let the "magic smoke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_smoke)" out of whatever device you happen to connect.

http://members.dslextreme.com/~plasmadis/theaccord/auxin05.jpg

For the brave, you can get the 12 volts coming out of this cable, that would've normally gone to the EQ, to power the device you connect. Thus, you wouldn't have to use a cig lighter adapter or whatever. I chose not to, fearing what would happen due to miswiring.

Here I got some RCA connectors off an old receiver, and soldered them onto my cable. And behold, I've created the amazing 3gee Stock Deck Auxiliary In Adapter:

http://members.dslextreme.com/~plasmadis/theaccord/auxin06.jpg

Let's give it a shot. I happen to have a device called the Apple iPhone (http://www.apple.com/iphone/) that I wish to use as my audio source. Anyone heard of it? :p

http://members.dslextreme.com/~plasmadis/theaccord/auxin07.jpg

Hmm...well...I dunno. The result is...less than spectacular. The sound is very distorted, like the line out of the iPhone is too high for the stock deck. Maybe the output of the EQ or stock CD player was really low back in the day, lower than things are now? Ok, so I try my other iPod, this time going through the headphone jack, with the volume down low. Now there's too much "fuzz", like the sound is too low. Turn it up, even just a bit, and it gets distorted again. WTF?

Maybe my stock deck is messed up? Maybe it's just too picky about the input? Maybe this connection on the back was only for Honda proprietary stuff. In any case, my verdict with this experience was:

THE STOCK DECK AUX IN SUCKS. JUST GET A NEW DECK.

And so I did. I happened to be swinging by Target that afternoon for some other things, when low and behold I saw this beauty. They sell car stereos now? This was news to me.

http://members.dslextreme.com/~plasmadis/theaccord/auxin08.jpg

Not bad for 90 bucks. I don't need anything fancy, I'm mostly just going to be using it for the Aux In. I don't even really use CDs anymore. :p

And there it is:

http://members.dslextreme.com/~plasmadis/theaccord/auxin09.jpg

Looks good. Mostly black face matches the interior, not too flashy, simple clean layout, and it sounds really good. Lots of bass, even from the stock speakers, and it pairs well with the line out from the iPhone.

Well, don't mean to knock the stock deck, or discourage anyone from trying this on their own, it could very well be that my stock deck is bad, or it just didn't like my iPods, or maybe you have to put a line filter or something in between to get good sound. Also, I'm greatful to Frantik for making the diagram, this was a fun experiment to try regardless.

And thus ends my Aux In adventure, the most excitement I had all weekend. Hope you enjoyed hearing about it. :)

[Hazwan]

Nice work.

I :lol: when I read this "THE STOCK DECK AUX IN SUCKS. JUST GET A NEW DECK." and then saw that Pioneer box :lol:

[ghettogeddy]

hmmm never seen a stock deck with a fuse in the back
and if u read frantics write up it should be in there but u have to have the eq hooked up so the line out will be amplified and cleaned up

[MessyHonda]

yup i got a pioneer with a aux input and it sounds way cleaner than the tape deck method with the wire hooked up to a ipod.

[russiankid]

yup i got a pioneer with a aux input and it sounds way cleaner than the tape deck method with the wire hooked up to a ipod.

Since you don't use your ash tray, hide the AUX input cable in there, it looks clean and when you need it i place my MP3 player in the ash tray.

[MessyHonda]

Since you don't use your ash tray, hide the AUX input cable in there, it looks clean and when you need it i place my MP3 player in the ash tray.



i have mine wire in the back and it goes all the way to the armrest. my ipod would not fit in the ashtray but it does fit in the armrest storage compartment.

[Sabz5150]

i have mine wire in the back and it goes all the way to the armrest. my ipod would not fit in the ashtray but it does fit in the armrest storage compartment.

Ditto. I have that exact deck he purchased along with the IP Bus iPod control unit with the business end in the armrest.

Keeps the toys outta sight too :)

[ghettogeddy]

hmmm never seen a stock deck with a fuse in the back
and if u read frantics write up it should be in there but u have to have the eq hooked up so the line out will be amplified and cleaned up

[LX-incredible]

Cool. Reminds me of when I made a aux in for my pioneer with a couple of connectors from an old monitor. Screw paying 90 bucks for a adaptor.

[knarg]

my ipod connection is in my glovebox :)
it is also actually a dock connector, so tags are displayed and it charges/powers

[frantik]

THE STOCK DECK AUX IN SUCKS. JUST GET A NEW DECK.

sorry to hear that.. honestly mine sounds pretty good coming from my ipod. Geddy and Messy heard it on my new speakers and i remember geddy even being surprised that it didn't sound shitty lol :D

[2oodoor]

good info
I was reading this and thinking there may need to be a preamp for the line out, or either add some resistance (makeshift crossover) not sure what values though.

[A18A]

haha good post

[GraniteLXI]

Lol, love the ending

[frantik]

I was reading this and thinking there may need to be a preamp for the line out, or either add some resistance (makeshift crossover) not sure what values though.like i said mine sounds great so i dunno why his would be any different :dunno: .. though maybe it only works if you use the eq?

[Civic Accord Honda]

send me that cable :P lolol

[2oodoor]

like i said mine sounds great so i dunno why his would be any different :dunno: .. though maybe it only works if you use the eq?

Makes sense !!

Is that the same connector they used on dual tape decks to interface with recievers "back in the day" Like old Pioneer or Lafayette stereos? I also have an old Hitachi video camera power supply/charger that looks like that, 12 volts too.