Connect your iPod to your 850, S70, V70, XC70

tkoegel · Post by **tkoegel** » 20 Mar 2005, 13:07

As between cassette adapters and FM transmission, is there a significant quality difference? I have a CD changer and would not be inclined to junk it merely to accommodate a solution such as the iCruze.

Post by **tina** » 20 Mar 2005, 16:14

Yes there is a significant difference in sound quality - FM odulators and cassette adapters sound like a cassette tape. RCA or CD input adaptors will sound like CD quality.

The solution I am going with is one of the very new iPod dock adaptors that are compatible with Volvo factory stereos. They allow control of playlists from the head unit, charge your iPod and require no special installation. I plan to put the iPod in glove box and drill a hole to route a cable to the back of the stereo.

A) USA Spec iPod adaptor (available April 11, 2005)

They have one adaptor for 2000-2005 Volvos, and for older models (1994-2000) you can use the Honda adaptor with an additional part for the end. Total cost is $140

Manufacturer Website http://www.usaspec.com/ipodhon.htm

Discount Car Stereo http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=717

B) Monster iCruze is compatible with many Volvo stereos and costs $279.90 for required parts. Easy to use configurator helps you set up for your car, and it's available now. Seems identical to the USASpec product but you pay for big brand name (and perhaps there would be value in reputation/customer service).

http://www.monstercable.com/iCruze/overview.asp

Happy MP3ing!

jesse · Post by **jesse** » 20 Apr 2005, 18:41

For I-pods, one of the better transmitters is called the ROAD TRIP.... strong frequency, charges your POD and digital display to choose stations... It's cost about $100cdn....pretty cool.. plugs in 12 volt lighter socket..

blackbeard · Post by **blackbeard** » 04 May 2005, 12:26

I got the biltzsafe adapter for my 1998 S70. Plugged it in to the back of the head unit, found a hot wire (on my car, the pink one--but I just went to my local mechanic and asked him to find an ignition hot 12V) for the yellow 12V wire off the blitzsafe (used a 11 cent clip to put them together). Ran a mini to aux adapter behind the radio and under the drivers seat, and it all looks totally clean, and works. Great sound.

Total price, with shipping =$100 (discountcarstereo.com)
Total time = <1hr

When ten technology comes out with a flex dock for a 4G in June, I'll plug the aux wire into its base and the ipod will sit perfectly for choosing songs and it will charge, and it will all look clean.

The Blitzsafe adapter is just that, an adapter. Nothing fancy, don't know why it costs $80, but it works. You might try and hack the CD changer port in the back, but it might take a long time. For me, $80 was worth it.

Doug444 · Post by **Doug444** » 10 May 2005, 01:29

I have recently fitted the belkin 'Tunebase' (for the iPod Mini only) unit to my 850 along with the Belkin cassette adapter. This combination works very well through the tape channel.

Black850 · Post by **Black850** » 19 May 2005, 14:51

Somehow this press release was missed here, but here it is:

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2005/jan/11cars.html

Post by **tina** » 19 May 2005, 15:37

Yay! On Saturday I finally received my USASpec iPod adapter from http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=717 (it's been on backorder for 2 months and I think they are out of them again - I pre-ordered mine!) and installed it today... it works great! In fact I think it sounds better than my mix CD's (which were burned from iTunes and converted from AUD compressed format to audio format. I love hearing things in the songs I didn't notice before.

The cable plugs into the CD changer port and then you just have to splice in a battery and accessory wires. I drilled a hole in the side of the glovebox to run the dock cable through, and the iPod sits in the glove box. The stereo now controls the playllists through CD select buttons, skips back/forward via the FF Rewind buttons, and can be set on random play. Also it charges the iPod battery and remembers the last song played when the car is turned off. The sound is CD quality and controls simple and easy to use. It took me about 20 min to install and all I needed was a drill to make the hole to glovebox, wirecutters to strip the wire insulation, and a splice wrap from Radio shack (didn't want to resort to twist and tape splices).

Great product, I highly recommend! Basically this item does everything the Monster iCruze does but at half the price

thebigwilley · Post by **thebigwilley** » 24 Jun 2005, 13:45

Great tips. Currently I use a tape adapter in my non-Volvo vehicle and I find that on songs that are higher in pitch the sound quality is horrible, but a cd of the same song sounds fine. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS SET UP. Its not clean looking, the sound is sub par and taking it all apart everytime I stop somewhere is getting old.

Thus I really want my next vehicle, quite possibly a Volvo V70, to be able to have a hard wired iPod connection where the iPod is in the glove box or something; because that's the main reason I got the iPod was for travel time in my car, afternoon radio is the worst in my area, I mean how many times can we play the same ten songs in two hours, seriously?

Again, great information on this whole site, thanks.

Post by **matthew1** » 24 Jun 2005, 15:24

From Black850's link, above:

[quote]Volvo

Post by **matthew1** » 02 Jul 2005, 14:01

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20 ... OADTRIPLS/

Just got one of those. Whooops the crap outta the iTrip because it
a) charges the iPod
b) runs on only one frequency (87.9), and does it well
c) is much simpler -- no frustrating dialing in a frequency on the iPod

Connect your iPod to your 850, S70, V70, XC70

Cassette Adapter vs. FM transmission?