Ipod AUX in for Clarion XMD1

[Tip]

Saw this on another site. I'm putting a cable together and hope to test it this weekend. I'll post the results:

[Domsz06]

did this work out for your? i've wanted to make mine work. any feed back?

Dom

[Tip]

Works great. I use it all the time.

[Domsz06]

so how did you make it work?

Dom

[Tip]

I made a cable based on the diagram and plugged it into the CD Changer port on the back of the clarion head unit. When I throw the switch on the cable, the head unit displays AUX. Then I just plug the cord into the IPOD.

It works well but I don't like having the cable hanging all over.

Another thing, if you have some kind of 12v charger for your IPOD, you will likely(I did) need a noise arrestor otherwise you will get a nasty hum when you listen to the IPOD through your deck while its charging (with the motor running).

I found the 13 pin DIN at a local audio store, the rest of the stuff is availlable at Radio Shack. Ordering the 13 Pin DIN online is much cheaper.

[jsz]

TIP

I'm trying to do the same thing you did. Can you tell us what parts you bought to make it and show a pic or 2. How much did it cost?

[Tip]

I went to a local audio store and bought the DIN plug. I think I paid about $8.00 for the plug, but you can find them on the internet for $2-3.

I don't use the cable anymore, it was too much of a hassle and was not able to charge my Ipod.

I bought a really good RF modulator that plugs into a cigarette lighter plug. The RF modulator I bought allows me to select any freguency on the FM band (this is important), the sound quality is not that bad when you find an open frequency.

Here is a link to the company where I bought my RF modulator (it was not cheap, I think I paid around $100 for it, but it works great).

http://www.dlo.com/Products/car_Prod.tpl?command=showpage&cart=11428017555401292

[jsz]

what was the hassle? Cant you leave the 13 pin plugged into the back and the other end in the glove box (or run it to the driver seat)?

I'm also curious about the on/off switch (on your self made adapter). What would happen if there were no on/off switch? would the radio show aux until the 13 pin DIN got unplugged from the back of the radio?

I thought once the adapter was pugged in you could just plug the MP3 in when you want it and unplug it when you're done.

By the way, I'm assuming this can be used for non-ipod MP3 players. Was the other end of your adapter a 1/8" male jack?

[Tip]

The hassle was where to run the cord. I don't like leaving my ipod on the seat so I ran the cord out of the seat and into the clove compartment. I could not charge the ipod while using it because it would create an awful hum (this can fixed by buying an audio isolator filter). And everytime I wanted to change songs I had to open the compartment.

With my RF device I plug my ipod into the cig lighter next to the driver's seat on the right, it has a nice cradle to keep it from getting banged around if you hit some wake, and it's easy to change songs.

I used a 6mm (1/8") plug on my cord so that I could hookup either my XM radio or my ipod. I stopped using my XM radio because everytime I turn off the motor (which is a lot when changing riders) the XM radio would turn off, it just got too painful to have to keep turning on all the time.

I think the ultimate solution is a head unit that has built interface for the ipod and satelite radio. There are several companies making these now but not 3 years ago when I bought my boat.

[jsz]

I'm still curious about the on/off switch you put on the adapter. What would happen if it wasn't there? Would the radio stay on aux as long as the 13 pin was plugged into the input? Or would unplugging the MP3 return the the radio to normal operation?

Was the cord you used just a 4 strand wire? And how did you connect that to a 1/8" jack?

Got a lot of ?'s here. Thanks for your help.

[Tip]

I suppose if you hardwired the 5 pin to the 9 pin you could just plug in the cord to get the "AUX" message, but I never tried it.

There are two ways to convert to a single 1/8" plug. You can wire the inputs exactly like the diagram using two standard RCA jacks and then buy an adapter at radio shack to convert two RCAs to 1/8".

Or you can connect the two shielded ground wires in the diagram together and solder them to the tip portion of a 1/8" stereo plug. Then solder each of the remaining wires to the other two terminals on the 1/8" plug.

I would not recommend option one because it will put a lot more pressure on your Ipod headphone outlet if the plug gets moved around while plugged in.

[Tip]

I'm going back to NC in May to get my boat ready for the long haul to the west coast, I'll take some pictures of the cable and post them.

[Tip]

I forgot to say that I used plain 18 ga. speaker wire for the whole thing.

[whitlock87]

you can get them at Crutchfield.com for about 20.00 already made

[jsz]

whitlock87

Is that adapter for the Clarion xmd1 (13 pin input on the back)?

[jsz]

I just typed in about 10 different searches on crutchfield.com and could't find that part. I saw others but none that worked with clarion. Did you see a part # or what did you type in to bring it up? thanks for the help.

[whitlock87]

You will need to do a search by part number.
You can get this part number from your owner’s manual.

If you give me the brand name and model number I will try and find it for you.
David

[lee]

Have you thought about a Dension Ice Link Plus? It fits to the bottom of an iPod and has RCA outputs that plug into any headunit. It will also charge at the sametime.

[jsz]

David, thanks for the offer. It's a clarion xmd1. I looked though the owners manual but couldn't find anything on aux input info.

Lee, it's not an ipod. It's another brand of MP3 player so accesories are a little harder to find.

[whitlock87]

jsz
I herd from my friend, and he said that there is no adapter made for you radio.
If you find out different, please let me know
Thanks
David

[jsz]

OK, I just finished the teak step and I'm up for another project. I'm determined to get this MP3 adapter to work for My Clarion XMD1.

Tip mentioned he used 18g speaker wire and built it just like the diagram.

As shown, does the 2 and 3 join together to go to the left RCA?

Is the AUX/normal part in the lower left corner basically the on/ off toggle? A picture would help a TON!!!

I want to try and wire it directly from the 13 pin DIN to a 1/8" jack (wothout the RCA jacks) Is this what you were talking about in your 3-23-2006 post that I've quoted below?

"Or you can connect the two shielded ground wires in the diagram together and solder them to the tip portion of a 1/8" stereo plug. Then solder each of the remaining wires to the other two terminals on the 1/8" plug."

I'm sorry but you lost me here. I know you didn't do yours this way but I'm sure it can be done. It's now a mission, a quest and once we figure it out we could make $$$MEELIONS$$$. Let me know if you have any pics or could possibly clarify the explination. Thanks

[Tip]

I'll take some pictures of my cable and get them posted, I'll try to get the pictures posted this evening.

[spharis]

I can make one of those, maybe even without having to use a toggle switch, for about $25 shipped. I would just need to know what you wanted on the end of it, M-RCA, F-RCA, mini, etc.

[b/w05]

Tip,

Are you back in Vancouver now? Have you had your boat in the NW waters? We leave for Prineville Reservoir this Wednesday until Sunday. Should be nice, in the 90's, water is 80 degrees.

Then the next weekend is the Stayton Motor Sports weekend at Detroit lake. Are you going to go?

Mark

[Tip]

Mark,
We are back in Vancouver. We had a little trouble in Las Vegas, my Suburban was stolen. Fortunately the boat was not attached at the time. We have not lauched the boat in NW waters yet because the boat keys were in the truck when it was stolen so I have to replace the ignition.

Next weekend is not looking likely because of all the insurance mess I have to deal with as result of the auto theft.

[jsz]

Bummer we lost those last couple days worth of posts on this thread. Luckily I printed out the last couple pics that Tip posted.

I found a local electronics shop that has all the parts for the adapter( 13 pin din, toggle, and 3.5mm jack with wire) I hope to buy the stuff and get started on it this week.

[spharis]

Yeah I had posted up a method to get it to where all you need to do is turn your ipod on, at which point the radio will select it.....The other cool thing is that the ipod will be charging.

You have to but a $3 ipod harness, and the 13 pin......I can repost if anyone wants to do it, or I can make one if someone sends the parts.

[jsz]

REPOST!!!! I just bought some parts but I want to see yours before I start cutting.

[jsz]

13 pin din, on/off toggle, and 10' of 3.5mm headphone jack extension = $11.
Soldering tiny wires to even smaller pins = 1 1/2 frustrating hours
Plugging it in and having it work on the first try = PRICELESS
Being able to tell my wife I've finished the last stereo project on the boat = EVEN MORE PRICELESS

Thanks for the help Tip!!!

[typerider]

so this is a really old thread but i thought it'd be fun to add my :02: anywhoo i was going to build one of these connections for my 2001's clarion headunit but decided that since i will be using 2 different ipods in multiple cars/boat i would get an fm transmitter instead. well dlo came to the rescue with their newest ipod transdock. this thing is sweet. its got a beefed up fm transmitter so with a little tweak or two you can easily get a clear station. we live just north of (apx. 10 min.) downtown austin and were still able to get open frequencies while driving midday. later in the day it got even clearer though. on the lakes we go to most of the channels are open anyway so its gonna be nice i'm assuming. the best part though is that the dock has usb ports, an aux. input, and an a/v input. you can play movies off ur ipod if you have screens. the usb allows you to charge a cell or whatever else you've got simultaneously while listening to ur music. it also charges ur ipod while playing. the other cool thing is that if you get a male to male input you can play a shuffle or any other device you can think of throgh the aux. input. i got one at target for like $80 but i'm sure the price will drop soon. cool gadget though when compared to what else is out there. :D

[Jason B]

It'll be a lot easier to just buy a new stereo and be done. :D

[dogbert]

It'll be a lot easier to just buy a new stereo and be done. :D

That's what I ended up doing. Now I may have to get a new head unit because they finally have a waterproof remote. :(

[Jason B]

Dog,
I had the XMD2 and upgraded to the CMD4. The old remotes work fine with it. (though I'm told if remotes have an LCD readout the text part won't work but everything else will) I haven't had any trouble with them not being "waterproof".......let's hope I didn't just jinx myself!

[dogbert]

Dog,
I had the XMD2 and upgraded to the CMD4. The old remotes work fine with it. (though I'm told if remotes have an LCD readout the text part won't work but everything else will) I haven't had any trouble with them not being "waterproof".......let's hope I didn't just jinx myself!

I don't have a Clarion. My boat originally came with a JVC and I replaced it with a Kenwood. I've got all Kenwood amps, so I'll probably go with their head unit. I really like their iPod interface since it lets me control my iPod like a CD changer.

[typerider]

new headunit is in future plans. i'm trying to hold out for a little while longer because i've got a few other more pressing issues i have to deal with. new upholstery and some nasty hull dings that need to be re-gelcoated.

[Cheeky]

Yeah I had posted up a method to get it to where all you need to do is turn your ipod on, at which point the radio will select it.....The other cool thing is that the ipod will be charging.

You have to but a $3 ipod harness, and the 13 pin......I can repost if anyone wants to do it, or I can make one if someone sends the parts.

I know this is older than dirt, but what was the method of building the adapter where it charges?