iPOD AUX

[quietcoolone]

Many of you using the BLAU/8-pod or BLAU/8-3nput may still be able to use them to play the new iPod/iPhones released September 2008 but should know that these will not charge. Apple decided to change the way these iPod charge by switching from 12V FireWire to 5V USB.
So, if you purchase one of these new iPods (iPhone(3G), Nano(4G), iTouch(2G) you will have to charge them elsewhere or update your dock connector to one that supports 5V USB Charge.

Peripherals just released the IS75 (Audio) and IS76 (Audio/Video) adapter cables and it appears that these cables will charge both new and older iPods/iPhones.
The problem is that these adapters terminate in RCA plugs instead of the 8-pin plug that fits the aux input on the radios .

Two separate parts are required to complete installation:
BLAU/8-RCA
http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=288

IS75 or IS76(PXP01V)
http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=896
http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=1299

I recommend the IS75 because it has two inputs;
A 3.5mm (1/8" jack) for an MP3 or SAT Radio etc
and the dock connector for iPod/iPhone

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by quietcoolone

Many of you using the BLAU/8-pod or BLAU/8-3nput may still be able to use them to play the new iPod/iPhones released September 2008 but should know that these will not charge. Apple decided to change the way these iPod charge by switching from 12V FireWire to 5V USB.
So, if you purchase one of these new iPods (iPhone(3G), Nano(4G), iTouch(2G) you will have to charge them elsewhere or update your dock connector to one that supports 5V USB Charge.

Peripherals just released the IS75 (Audio) and IS76 (Audio/Video) adapter cables and it appears that these cables will charge both new and older iPods/iPhones.
The problem is that these adapters terminate in RCA plugs instead of the 8-pin plug that fits the aux input on the radios .

Two separate parts are required to complete installation:
BLAU/8-RCA
http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=288

IS75 or IS76(PXP01V)
http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=896
http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=1299

I recommend the IS75 because it has two inputs;
A 3.5mm (1/8" jack) for an MP3 or SAT Radio etc
and the dock connector for iPod/iPhone

That's interesting. The iPod could always be charged through USB 5V. The iPod doc interface carries both 12V and 5v input. I didn't realize the 12v could also be used to charge the iPod but it makes sense that that's what automotive based chargers were doing. Now we'll need a 12-5v transformer and wire up the the 5v pin in the doc connector to charge in the car, which presumably is what the two cables you linked to are doing.

http://pinouts.ru/PortableDevices/ipod_pinout.shtml

Another alternative would be to buy an older iPod for listening to music in the car and continuing to use the 12v charge port. The early touch wheel iPods are not very expensive anymore.

[rick3000]

http://www.scosche.com/products/productID/1667

You need something like this to get new iPods to charge off of cables that provide power over via firewire. Personally, I use my old 3rd Generation 40GB iPod in my car, it has four separate buttons so it's easy to use without looking. 40GB is plenty for just music, and it can be charged via FW.

[quietcoolone]

Originally Posted by rick3000

http://www.scosche.com/products/productID/1667

You need something like this to get new iPods to charge off of cables that provide power over via firewire. Personally, I use my old 3rd Generation 40GB iPod in my car, it has four separate buttons so it's easy to use without looking. 40GB is plenty for just music, and it can be charged via FW.

Rick3K i heard about that adapter and failed to mention it as an option.
Those with Firewire (12V charge) dock connectors (i.e. BLAU/8-Pod etc) should give the "Passport" some consideration, however here is what some people are saying about it.

[blue2000s]

Question for the folks using the iPod doc connector instead of the headphone jack to aux:

I'm using the RCA adapter kit from Becker and plugging my iPod into it through the headphone jack. When I listen to the iPod, I have to turn it's volume all the way up to be about the same volume as the radio/CD.

Do the folks using the doc connector get about the same volume level as the radio/CD without adjustment?

[rick3000]

If you use a dock connector the audio adjustments on your iPod will not affect the audio going to the stereo, and you use your stereos volume to control it. Because of this you don't need to worry about you're output volume affecting sound quality which can be a problem with the 3.5mm connection. (For example if you turn your iPod all the way down and your stereo all the way up, it will sound horrible.)

[blue2000s]

It's understood that the audio signal from the doc is audio out and not volume controlled. The question is, what is the level of volume? Is it high enough that you don't have to turn it up compared to the radio?

On a side note, there is no discernible distortion on the iPod's max volume setting. They're very high quality devices.