Ipod connection to Panasonic HU

[capri_rob]

I have an old but what appears to be high-ish end Panasonic Cassette Head unit which I intend to put in the Touring - mainly because it has an Aux In for ipod connectivity.

This is the back :



It has controls on the front panel for a CD Changer setup but don't know if this can be used to control the Ipod or not ? Guessing this connects into the black DIN socket ?

Or is it just the case that I can connect the Ipod via the RCA IN ( on the lead ) that would have been used for the CD changer and select the songs via the Ipod itself ?


I'd rather use the rear RCA connection than the Aux in on the front panel so I just have the ipod connector poking out from between the dash and centre console rather than having it plugged in at the front - looks neater and I understand RCA connectors give better quality than a 3.5mm headphone jack input.

Anyone got any tips ?

Are the other RCA connectors labelled pre-out for an Amp ?

[rover-2000]

Could well be the CD changer connections Rob. Ours has a Blaupunkt head unit and the iPod "converter" lead for them plugs into the CD changer port.

[capri_rob]

Can't seem to find the right cable

This looks like the right 8 pin plug

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alpine-8-Pin- ... 3ca64f47a7

but all it gives you is 2 more RCA ports - what I need is one of these with an Ipod connector on the other end

[rover-2000]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NISSAN-3-5MM- ... 2021wt_905

In the USA Though.....

[capri_rob]

Not quite right - this on the other hand I think is the one :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALPINE-8-PIN- ... 53ded8e5c2

[beemerbird]

An RCA is an unbalanced Mono connector, whereas a 3.5mm headphone jack is balanced stereo. What you want here possibly is two RCAs to a stereo jack plug adaptor for direct plugging into your iPod, or two RCAs to a panel mount jack socket that you can put somewhere discreetly near your ashtray (I'm guessing) and then a mini (3.5mm) jack to jack cable to plug into your iPod headphone socket.

Maplins does this kind of thing.

[beemerbird]

That other connector is an 8 pin DIN. Alpine Mbus may well be something completely different. I'd avoid them, really, as you'd need to know on which core of the cable the audio and power were placed.

If your Panasonic unit pre - dates iPods, I wouldn't think that any of the pins on it's DIN connector would kick out power.

[rover-2000]

Do what I did-second hand Blaupunkt off the bay for £40.00, ipod connector £9.00
Might be less hassle.....

[capri_rob]

An RCA is an unbalanced Mono connector, whereas a 3.5mm headphone jack is balanced stereo. What you want here possibly is two RCAs to a stereo jack plug adaptor for direct plugging into your iPod, or two RCAs to a panel mount jack socket that you can put somewhere discreetly near your ashtray (I'm guessing) and then a mini (3.5mm) jack to jack cable to plug into your iPod headphone socket.

Maplins does this kind of thing.

Surely you'll get better quality by connecting the main ipod socket ( not the Headphone jack ) via the 2 x RCA in's - rather than the rather basic lead with a 3.5" plug on both ends from the headphone jack on the Ipod to the Aux-in on the front of the HU ?

Something like this :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stereo-Audio- ... 53e8f863e6

Hopefully a bit better quality but you get the idea

As you say the discreet cable near ashtray is what I'm going for rather than cables all over the place

[beemerbird]

Not necessarily, but I was suggesting connecting via the two rear PHONOS, rather than the front jack socket, hence 2 x RCA to one stereo jack (iPod end).

We're talking MP3s which are compressed, sub standard audio, at the end of the day.

[capri_rob]

Sorry just re-read your post - just done a bit of t'internet research and the general consensus seems to be that if you are connecting the Ipod to anything other than headphones for the best quality you connect via the main socket not the 3.5" headphone jack - something about the signal via the main socket doesnt go through the Ipod's internal "Amp" - so you get a basic signal which you then use your external "Amp" ( Either in your Head unit or home hi-fi etc ) to amplify the signal. - just pinched this off a geeky site which was what I thought but explains it better than I can ::

The benefit of using the Line Level output off the dock connector is for the raw clean unamplified audio output at a steady voltage. This clean signal is usually connected to a Line Level input that is set to accept the same steady voltage, such as one found on the back of a stereo. You then have one amplifier, the stereo, amplifying the sound from the iPod.

The headphone jack takes that raw signal and amplifies it with a variable output. Since all amplifiers introduce some level of distortion, the iPods amplifier adds a little distortion. The higher the volume, the more distortion. You probably won't here it on the standard set of ear buds.

Now connect the headphone jack to the stereo's Line Input. You now have to crank up the iPods volume to 3/4 or more to get an acceptable volume level. This will increase the iPods internal amps distortion levels which are fed into the stereo's amp. As I have stated all amps introduce distortion on some level. So with the distortion added from the iPod's amp (which can get high since they are close to the iPods processors), the stereo's amp will add it's distortion and amplify the distortion from the iPod's amp.

[beemerbird]

If that's the case, the last link you posted would be your best bet.

The only down side would be that the iPod wouldn't be getting any charge whilst using one of those cables, so you'd have to max your battery power prior to long drives.

It might be worth experimenting to see if any pair of poles on the DIN connector kick out voltage. If you could establish where power and audio were on it, you could make something bespoke for your HU. DINs are an absolute tw*t to solder, though

And I say that as someone who solders audio for a living ,

[miniblob]

Not sure about that particular h/u, but some i believe will only accept audio in when a cd changer is connected and activated via the din connection - it's used as a control bus, so if it see's nothing, it might not receive!!! Fingers crossed though!!

Also, as you found in your research, a few guys at work have been having problems using ipod headphone socket to 3.5mm inputs - either get nothing, or a lot of distortion/interference from one channel (normally the left!!).
One of them has ordered a cable from ebay that takes the feed from the main connector on the ipod and has a 3.5mm jack on the other end - just waiting for it to turn up!!!

Not trying to put a downer on your efforts, but a couple of things to be aware of if you struggle getting it to work!!

The pre-out is as you said, to go to an external amp!!!

[beemerbird]

Also, as you found in your research, a few guys at work have been having problems using ipod headphone socket to 3.5mm inputs - either get nothing, or a lot of distortion/interference from one channel (normally the left!!).
One of them has ordered a cable from ebay that takes the feed from the main connector on the ipod and has a 3.5mm jack on the other end - just waiting for it to turn up!!!

This could be rewired as a ipod connector to two phonos in your case, Rob. Might be worth seeing if Miniblobs colleague has success with his ebay purchase. . . . .

[bss325i]

I use my iphone4 and ipod 3.5mm jack with my 22 year old blaupunkt which has a 3.5mm jack on the front.

Sound quality is fine with no distortion even at higher volumes.

Shame you lot are so far away.

[bss325i]

Not quite right - this on the other hand I think is the one :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALPINE-8-PIN- ... 53ded8e5c2

Now my Blaupunkt has an 8 pin DIN the same as that, in fact im using an Alpine CD changer cable betweeen my HU and blaupunkt amp so as my HU has a CD player input which is also 8 pin DIN that cable may just work with my HU.

[beemerbird]

I doubt it, to be honest, Barry. The Alpine DIN to iPod cable would, I imagine, have two cores carrying voltage to charge the iPod whilst playing, when plugged into an appropriate Alpine HU.

The DIN cable you are using to link your kit will I guess only be dealing with audio signals.

It's unlikely that the Blaupunkt HU will kick out DC volts for any external kit because, let's face it, there wasn't much about in 'the day'.

[bss325i]

I guess i need the pin out for the blaupunkt 8 pin din.

[beemerbird]

If you get a chance to remove the casing from your HU, you'll probably find that the PCB is pretty well labelled to show each function serving each pin of your DIN plug.

[bss325i]

I have a spare indentical HU!

[beemerbird]

Well you bloody would have, bloody wouldn't you?

P.M me what your PCB tells you and I'll offer some advice.

We will of course then need to know what an iPod connector does, but I have no fear

[bss325i]

I found these schematics but there only appears to be one 8 pin din on there. The HU has two, one for an external amp and one for a CD player.

http://smanuals.ru/manuals/audiotech/bl ... sqr88.html

[beemerbird]

Looked through those. I could only find a 9 pin DIN? PCB is your best bet

[bss325i]

I'll get it opened up.

[capri_rob]

Got these delivered today :



Checked dimensions prior to purchase to ensure they will fit in the OEM apertures behind the standard grilles - which they will.

Will I still need the OEM fitted door tweeters at the front, or will that give too much top end ?

[bss325i]

Trouble with co-axial speakers in the foot well is that the treble is being fired at your feet.

Components are best with an E30, tweeter in factory location behind mirror and mid in foot well (although still not ideal place for the mid)

[miniblob]

I agree with bss - but am still only running coax's in both my E30's at the mo

I wouldn't use the standard tweeters as well as the coax's. Mix up of different speakers might sound very disappointing!!