Bose steering wheel control adaptor for new radio

[w261w261]

My Bose system works fine, but I'd like an aux plug so I can play from my cell phone. I originally was thinking of one of those converters that plug into the antenna input of the head unit, but I read the reviews and they basically don't deliver well.

I called Crutchfield, intending to order a new head unit as well as one of the adapters that would allow me to continue to use the steering wheel controls. The problem is, all the manufacturers they accessed do not promise compatibility back to '89 - only one goes close, and that's only back to '92.

I'm wondering what the big deal is? Seems to me that there are 4? wires coming from the steering wheel to the radio: volume up, vol down, preset change up and presents down (I don't know that, just seems like that's the way it should be).

My ultimate question is: can I get an adapter that doesn't specifically say it will work with the '89? How hard can it be to make it work, given the somewhat simple functions the steering wheel controls?

Thanks.

[carotman]

You can fabricate an AUX input from the CD player/ Equalizer connector at the back of the unit.

No need to change your BOSE system for this.

[w261w261]

You can fabricate an AUX input from the CD player/ Equalizer connector at the back of the unit.

No need to change your BOSE system for this.

Thanks Carot, you're the man!

Might there be a line level problem, as the head unit is looking for a high-level signal from the CD player, and it's only getting a relatively feeble signal from the headset plug of my phone? Maybe a little amp to help it out?

Hal

[phrenology]

Thanks Carot, you're the man!

Might there be a line level problem, as the head unit is looking for a high-level signal from the CD player, and it's only getting a relatively feeble signal from the headset plug of my phone? Maybe a little amp to help it out?

Hal

Do you use an iphone? If so, go to radio shack or best buy, whatever is around and get a dock connector to 1/8" line out male cable something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UCESP8/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0041F3A02&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=17R8HVSB4G85MWY2ASV0

If not you can use the 1/8" out on whatever phone you have. You may get cell interference when using a phone as your sound source, unless you use airplane mode, that's why I have an ipod or a dummy iphone with no cell signal to use for playback.

Either way I would recommend getting a headphone amp unit or a pre amp unit to match the impedance and level to the Bose Head unit. Its important to drive the signal to the line level the head unit is looking for or you'll be taxing the internal amp or blow the line if its too loud. I have had success with this little guy:

http://goodcans.com/HeadphoneStore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=117

Its not cheap but the sound quality is great and it recharges via USB, just charge it with your phone each night. It has a variable volume headphone output. There might be better units to use with a preamp out but shop around when you know the output level you need.

[carotman]

Thanks Carot, you're the man!

Might there be a line level problem, as the head unit is looking for a high-level signal from the CD player, and it's only getting a relatively feeble signal from the headset plug of my phone? Maybe a little amp to help it out?

Hal

Actually, this is a pre-amp input. It's looking for a low level signal so everything should be OK.

I think there's a thread about this kind of mod somewhere.

[ghettogeddy]

frantic has all the info on it and a working model

[carotman]

Found it!

http://www.3geez.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44949&highlight=aux+input

Post #19

[w261w261]

Unfortunately, I have a Palm Pre, which only has a 3.5 mm headphone out. If I understand the previous posts, the Bose head unit is looking for a low-level signal, so perhaps first I should just connect the Pre to the back of the Bose unit? I gather that the Bose has an 8 pin socket, so I need to get an 8 pin male plug and wire the 3.5 mm head phone plug to pins 1,7, and 8 per the diagram on the thread Carot referred to. Perhaps there's an adapter that will do this for me?

If the resulting volume is too low, then I should plug in a head phone amp, correct?

[carotman]

You could also use one of those cassette adapters

http://www.microsoft.com/library/media/1033/windowsxp/images/using/mobility/expert/cassette-adapter-small.jpg

Cheap, effective.

Or.. an FM Transmitter which is stealthier.

http://www.microsoft.com/library/media/1033/windowsxp/images/using/mobility/expert/FM-Transmitter-small.jpg

[charliekuney]

^ I would definitely go for the transmitter. While you may run into the frequency problem, but tape ones click.

[w261w261]

I read up some on the various approaches. Worst, in terms of fidelity, seems to be the cassette adapter. It might be particularly bad on mine because my cassette player has been weird ever since I got the car. Next up is the modulator that broadcasts to the radio. Yesterday, I called Crutchfield and actually ordered a unit that plugs into the antenna input (and then the antenna plugs into it). Then I read the reviews. That's when I started thinking in terms of getting another head unit, but I don't want to lose my steering wheel controls...hence starting this thread.

But it sounds like I can make the cell phone headphone jack to CD input work, and maybe without a supplemental amplifier. Could someone confirm that the input plug in the back of my Bose head unit is the same as referred to in the diagram in message #19 here?

http://www.3geez.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44949&highlight=aux+input

[ghettogeddy]

i use the monster fm transmitter that plus into the cig lighter and it works awesome well untill i broke the cable lol but still it works great just has a patch on it

http://www.amazon.com/Monster-RadioPlay-Transmitter-MBL-FM-XMTR300/dp/B000E43GOO
this is the newer version of mine only dif is mine dosent have a lcd display for radio freq jsut a lil led light that shows