IPOD, RCAs, AMP??

5280HighButter · Soul Rider Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 258 City: Littleton

I am already running a 2 channel amp off my HU. If I get an RCA/audio cable to hardwire my ipod can I split the two rca outs from my deck and run both, how will this affect my current setup? Could I run the ipod off of the amps 2 rca outs (doubt it)? Also does my HU need to have an Aux mode to run my ipod?

tmbrown · Outlaw Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 218 City: East Roseville

sounds like an absolute last resort - sound would only come out the 2 channels on the amp - if you have deck speakers, nothing would come out of them... and basically you'd have to have the stereo on with the volume down... a much, much, much better option is just a stereo with some sort of aux. function... or I even picked up one with direct iPod control for $200 a few weeks ago - and it charges the iPod, and allows me to control it by the stereo's remote. not to mention, I'd anticipate problems caused to the deck or the iPod by them receiving each other's voltage across the RCA's. As for running off the amp's RCA out's, no - wouldn't work.

technically you could bypass the deck altogether and run the iPod directly into the amp (assuming of course you switched the remote turn on somehow)... but I doubt that's a path I'd ever explore.

Honestly, if the head unit doesn't have some sort of input, I'd personally either replace it, or use an FM transmitter off the iPod.

QNev · Posted: Jun 22, 2006 12:38 am Post subject:

You could just save a ton of money and go for the iTrip or some other FM Transmitter. Got mine for $20 and it does the trick Very Happy

swilly · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 362 City: Eugene

Are you saying run your Ipod rcas piggy backed into your amp along with your stereo, but only use one at a time?

5280HighButter · Soul Rider Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 258 City: Littleton

Swilly: No, I have a set of RCA outs on my deck, I would split those. 2 for the amp and 2 for the ipod.

QNev: I am trying to hardwire things so I don't have to use an FM transmitter. I have already tried my friends and......it sucked.....a lot.

tmbrown: Are you thinking the same as Swilly? If I had my amp and ipod plugged into the deck how would only the amp work, that doesn't make sense to me. I am not familiar with a direct ipod control, how does it connect to the stereo?

swilly · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 362 City: Eugene

Okay, i'm a little confused.

So are you talking:

Ipod to Head Unit
Head Unit to Amp
Amp to Speakers

If the rca on the back of the head unit are "out", then you cannot run anything into the deck. But you can just buy piggy back rca cables, then run your ipod to the amp along with the head unit, then if you using the ipod, turn off the deck, if your using the deck, turn off the ipod. Thats probably the easiest solution for you. That piggyback setup shouldn't cost you more than $15

tmbrown · Outlaw Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 218 City: East Roseville

swilly - same problem though - he'll have to get power to the remote turn-on of the amp - right now it's probably wired to the deck... and again, sounds will only come out of the speakers on the amp, not the deck...

5280highbutter - you're asking about splitting the RCA's that come off the deck and go to the amp - those are OUTPUTS - not Inputs... they're for taking sound from the deck to the amp - they won't go the other way around - it's not one big shared system. you need some form of input... if the stereo doesn't have one, then your only hope with that stereo is an FM transmitter. Try others - there's a lot on the market - if you don't go cheap, I'm sure you can find one that'll sound decent.

As far as iPod control, there's things you can do for a lot of stereos assuming they have some sort of Changer or Aux. control. For instance - my factory stereo in my 03 yukon XL has a CD Changer port... I bought a device called iPod2Car which emulates a CD Changer to the stereo, and takes the commands such as forward/back and sends them to the iPod - giving me complete forward/back control of the iPod through the stereo - even the rear seat controls and steering wheel controls... and pauses when I change sources. That's one type... on the Panasonic stereo I just bought for my boat, it has an "Auxillary" port on the back that's designed to hook up with a whole myriad of devices, from cd changers, video players, etc., and one of the options they sell is an iPod cable - it plugs into the BUS on the back of the stereo and plugs into the iPod - giving me song titles and control from the deck. In both cases, the volume on the iPod doesn't affect the stereos, so sound level is always ideal for aplification, and both charge the iPod. Pretty cool setup for both. As an added bonus, I have a wireless remote for the iPod that I can attach to my motorcycle, so I can use the iPod there too - so it's a great all-around solution. However, all the accessories were expensive. The truck one was $150; the iPod add-on to the boat's stereo was $50, and the remote was $40... but so far, apple's been smart, and all the new ipods share the same dock connector, so nothings obsolete yet.

Is there any way you can get the make/model of the stereo in your boat? I'd be more than willing to look it up and see if there's any other options that are being missed short of using an FM Transmitter or upgrading your stereo.

swilly · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 362 City: Eugene

My solution is very easy and will still work. As for the remote power on the amp, just wire it to your circuit where the power is only on the the ignition is on. Thats easy and doesn't cost anything. With piggy back rca's, you can run both options, when your using one, the other just needs to be off. Thats it!

tmbrown · Outlaw Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 218 City: East Roseville

Right - but I think he has speakers running off the deck too - how much could he possible have running off a 2 channel amp? If not, yeah - that works; but if so, he'd likely lost most of his speakers when on iPod only.

swilly · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 362 City: Eugene

I think we need a diagram from him! Mr. Green

5280HighButter · Soul Rider Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 258 City: Littleton

All I'm trying to do is hardwire the ipod so I don't have to use a transmitter. My HU runs my inside 4 speakers. I then have both rca outputs from my deck running my 2 channel amp. My amp runs my tower speakers. It is very straight forward. Without a CD changer input or other kind of aux input I guess Swilly's solution would be my only option but I would like to have all the speakers working so I might have to buy a new ipod ready deck or get a FM transmitter. Thanks for the help.