iPod in your Car

Live forum: http://forum.freeipodguide.com/viewtopic.php?t=46853

bruman

08-10-2006 13:39:45

Ok, so I was looking for a good way to listen to my iPod in my car. Of course, there are ways like cassette adapters and FM transmitters, but those aren't always the best quality. So I wanted to a direct connect from my iPod to my car.

I have a 1999 Chevrolet Lumina..

And I was looking on crutchfield and there were some pretty good aftermarket cd players + iPod adapters I could buy for like $200.

But then I looked further into it and found this

"Jensen VM9311TS"

It's a DVD/CD/iPod Player Touchscreen

It can play VCDs, SVCDs, iPod videos - pretty much anything. Most in-car players like this cost like well over $1,000.. this one is only $400 though.

Here's a link

http//www.cardomain.com/item/JENVM9311TS

I'm seriously considering buying one this week. I've never installed a CD player into my car before so I don't know what exactly I have to do, but I can figure it out.

Anyone have any experiences with these type of CD/DVD players.

What do you think of the Jensen VM9311TS?

Thanks

Gooogler

08-10-2006 13:52:22

Get one that is controlled from the iPod, not the head unit. Being able to just hide the iPod in the golvebox/console sounds nice, but having to navigate from the buttons on the head unit is just a pain.

bruman

08-10-2006 14:00:05

[quotedca11d358f="Gooogler"]Get one that is controlled from the iPod, not the head unit. Being able to just hide the iPod in the golvebox/console sounds nice, but having to navigate from the buttons on the head unit is just a pain.[/quotedca11d358f]

Yea, I read that that was a prob on just the general cd players... But that one Jensen has a touchscreen monitor, so it's just like scrolling from the ipod, except bigger.

See?

http//images.cardomain.net/products/jen/JENVM9311TS_1.jpg[" alt=""/imgdca11d358f]

icy

08-10-2006 14:13:30

it might work but be reminded that jensen is garbage

Gooogler

08-10-2006 14:26:07

It looks cool, and mobile video would be nice. You should look into the sound quality though.

amir89630

08-10-2006 17:17:54

bestbuy has a great deal on an alpine HU + adapter installed for 200$.


Alpines sound great, and are sexy.

touchscreen is all abunch of bs when it boils down to it.

johnjimjones

08-10-2006 17:29:28

I just use a cassette adapater to the iPod, works just fine for me.

Vector

08-10-2006 17:30:10

ive got a rockford fosgate sound system and the head unit has an auxilary input so i just connect it to the ipod like it is the headphones and the quality is greater or equal to cd quality.

ragefu

08-10-2006 23:14:05

Yeah I was thinking about getting the same one. I'd always thought that Jensen was shit but Cnet actually gave it a good review

http//reviews.cnet.com/Jensen_VM9511TS/4505-3426_7-31836025.html?tag=pdtl-list

You can also get a rear view camera hooked up to it. I'd suggest getting it installed (circuit city sells them) because it sounds like it's difficult. And when you hook the ipod up a scroll wheel (looks like an ipod) comes up so it seems pretty easy

Edit The one cnet reviewed is retailing for about $700 so I'm not sure if it's the same one, maybe the one you linked is an older model?

bruman

08-10-2006 23:43:01

The one I was talking about was the 9311 model, the cnet review is the 9511. I can't find many reviews aside from crutchfield (which two people gave it 5 stars). I think it might actually be NEWER than the 9511 model, not sure. It's about $200 cheaper though.

And if something happens to it, I can always send it back can't i? (if I buy from a reliable source)

dmorris68

09-10-2006 07:58:48

Crutchfield is an extremely reliable source. The best mail-order electronics shop in the country, IMO. Their prices aren't always the best, but their service is the best bar none. I've been ordering from them for about 15 years now.

jadem

09-10-2006 08:04:41

I wish I could install a cd player without having to mount it elsewhere in the car...damn Ford Escorts and their crappy console design!!!!

I think I would look into quality, rather than the lowest price for something that seems cooler. Good luck.

bruman

10-10-2006 16:47:30

I think i'm going to buy this, it has gotten really good reviews.

Here's some pictures of his that someone bought

http//www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=97468

I'm probably going to buy it at Wal-Mart.
Then if it's a POS I can just return it with wal-marts 90-day return policy.
So I can't really go wrong there.

There are two versions of the VM9311. The VM9311 and the VM9311TS.

The VM9311TS is a new version that is a Touch Screen (TS).

bruman

10-10-2006 18:40:36

Also.. hopefully someone can help me out on this.

I just found out that you can't watch the DVD's while driving (apparently it has to be in park or something) and when you try to it gives you a security warning.

And apparently there are ways to bypass this.

Anyone know how?

doylnea

10-10-2006 19:47:17

[quote888d730c26="bruman"]Also.. hopefully someone can help me out on this.

I just found out that you can't watch the DVD's while driving (apparently it has to be in park or something) and when you try to it gives you a security warning.

And apparently there are ways to bypass this.

Anyone know how?[/quote888d730c26]

That's illegal and you can, in many states, be charged with a felony (if you injure or kill someone while doing so) if you decide to do so...fwiw.

Are the FM modulated iTrips still a load of crap? I don't have an AUX in on my headunit, and don't care enough to buy a new headunit. If however, the LCD iTrips worked well, I'd buy one of those for fun.

Gooogler

10-10-2006 21:21:06

[quote467966aeef="bruman"]Also.. hopefully someone can help me out on this.

I just found out that you can't watch the DVD's while driving (apparently it has to be in park or something) and when you try to it gives you a security warning.

And apparently there are ways to bypass this.

Anyone know how?[/quote467966aeef]

Good question, if I bought that bypassing the security warning would be my number one priority. My guess is that when you hook it up it has a cable that connects to something besides the power, so only connect the power and audio, no unidentified cables... Just guessing though. wink

DrVortex

10-10-2006 21:42:36

Alpine has a cool setup on their equipment. I have the 2005 high end unit which I still need another box to plug in the back of it. But the 2006 model of the Alpine has a direct connect...only need to purchase the cable which is like $40 or so. Pretty awesome deal but I have to pay an extra $30 for this adapter which will cost me a total of $60 or so used. I still haven't gotten that far but can't wait. I have a 60gb iPod which I would love to hook up to my pounding system.

Allen626

10-10-2006 22:20:44

Supposedly you ground out the connection or something instead of connecting it where it should go. I don't know im sure google has the answer.

bruman

10-10-2006 22:27:23

[quote22c8f12e21="DrVortex"]Alpine has a cool setup on their equipment. I have the 2005 high end unit which I still need another box to plug in the back of it. But the 2006 model of the Alpine has a direct connect...only need to purchase the cable which is like $40 or so. Pretty awesome deal but I have to pay an extra $30 for this adapter which will cost me a total of $60 or so used. I still haven't gotten that far but can't wait. I have a 60gb iPod which I would love to hook up to my pounding system.[/quote22c8f12e21]

Yea I really haven't decided yet.

The alpines + iPod adapters look really cool and I could probably save like $200 if i go that way.. but then again I wouldn't have a touch screen or be able to play videos. So I don't know............

Allen626

10-10-2006 22:30:37

I got a JVC with HD radio with a ipod adapter for like 170$ love it. The iPod buttons go a little slow when scrolling but you get use to it. Don't get anything without a removable faceplate I don't think that one has one. Radio theft sucks.

bruman

10-10-2006 22:36:19

[quote4183050352="Allen626"]I got a JVC with HD radio with a iPod adapter for like 170$ love it. The iPod buttons go a little slow when scrolling but you get use to it. Don't get anything without a removable faceplate I don't think that one has one. Radio theft sucks.[/quote4183050352]

What is HD Radio? Does it cost anything extra?