iPhone 3G Car Integration

[g00dbye]

Hey all. This is my first post here and I'm really excited to be apart of the MacRumors community. So, I have just purchased my iPhone 3G and I couldn't be happier with it. But alas, now that I have one of these, I'd really like to replace that bulky cd collection in my car with this device alone. I'm sure this has been inquired about before but I was wondering if some of the previous solutions stated work just the same with the iPhone 3G. I have no desire to use FM Transmitters or the audio jack out as I would like premium sound quality. I want to use the official iPhone input and after some research, the best solution I have found is buying the Alpine CDE-9881 Head Unit as it also comes with the cable that plugs into your iPhone and supposedly displays song titles and playlists right on the display. I'd like to know if anybody has had prior experience with this head unit or what they know about it (does it work the same with the 3G, does it work 99% of the time, etc). Or if there any other suggestions for car audio integration utilizing the dock input of the iPhone. Thank you so much for taking the time to read all of this and I'm really anxious to hear back from you guys. -Brian

 

[DallasChief]

I was wondering if anyone with a 3g has tried the Alpine EX-10 I/pod bluetooth adapter. I would really like to keep my current head unit and I really like the screen feature and remote on the Alpine unit.

 

[akindy]

I myself have an Alpine CDA-9883 with the iPod 'Full Speed' Cable (I believe that's how they refer to it). It worked well with my first iPhone, but the new iPhone 3G doesn't charge off of it confused, which in my experience has made it almost unusable. The reason for this is the new iPhone only charges via USB (5 volts) while every other iDevice before it could also charge off of FireWire (12 volts) and a car's electrical system is already at 12 volts so most things didn't bother to have a step down transformer, they just output the standard 12 volts.
My solution was to do an Aux Input instead, bundled with a Griffin AutoPilot. I prefer this solution because to be honest, while Alpine's menu navigation was the best I saw the iPod's still blows it away. It's so much easier just to pick the song right on the device itself rather than go through the head unit.
I realize you said you didn't want to use Aux, but this uses it with the line output of the dock connector, so consider this a different option (I too didn't want to rely on the headphone jack of the iPhone). If this isn't something you want to do then I recommend something from Alpine's iDA series or any other head unit that has a USB connection.

 

[EngBrian]

The head unit I want to get, when I finally get an iphone, is the Pioneer FH-P8000BT. It is a double din though and I think based on your selection from your message your car accepts a single din sized head unit. If I am wrong though you should check it out...seems like a nice unit.

Good Luck

 

[meglet]

The head unit I want to get, when I finally get an iphone, is the Pioneer FH-P8000BT. It is a double din though and I think based on your selection from your message your car accepts a single din sized head unit. If I am wrong though you should check it out...seems like a nice unit.

Good Luck

I have this unit, and it works perfectly playing music from my iPhone 3G. Can't speak to the bluetooth sync, since I just use my Jabra headset, but it worked correctly with my original iPhone.

 

[djrobsd]

I have the DEH-P700BT which is a normal DIN sized receiver, basically the exact same as the 8000, only it's single DIN so you only get 1 line on the display. This receiver uses USB to connect to your IPOD/Iphone, so it does work great, and charges too.

I was even able to get Pandora to work once, but you gotta have songs loaded in the ipod portion of the phone and start playing the ipod, then switch to Pandora. It's kinda hit or miss on that.

 

[g00dbye]

I'd like to go with an either Pioneer or Alpine Head Unit as the rest of my car audio are those brands (speakers, subs, etc). I'd REALLY like to use the dock input and not the auxiliary (I'm quite the audiophile, quality = everything). And lastly, I need a head unit that will charge while it is plugged in. So, basically I should look into USB based head units? Are the new Alpine and Pioneer models 3G compatible? Any other input on the subject? Haha, I realize I'm asking a lot but this is something I've wanted to do for quite some time. Thanks again.

 

[g00dbye]

I have the DEH-P700BT which is a normal DIN sized receiver, basically the exact same as the 8000, only it's single DIN so you only get 1 line on the display. This receiver uses USB to connect to your IPOD/Iphone, so it does work great, and charges too.

I was even able to get Pandora to work once, but you gotta have songs loaded in the ipod portion of the phone and start playing the ipod, then switch to Pandora. It's kinda hit or miss on that.

Are you using the new iPhone with this receiver?

 

[speedbumpnv]

the iPhone 3G will not charge via conventional iPod integration systems. you will need to find a newer car system that uses USB integration. the Alpine iDA series for example provides both iPod Full Speed as well as a USB option. the USB interface still provides full integration.

 

[meglet]

I'd like to go with an either Pioneer or Alpine Head Unit as the rest of my car audio are those brands (speakers, subs, etc). I'd REALLY like to use the dock input and not the auxiliary (I'm quite the audiophile, quality = everything). And lastly, I need a head unit that will charge while it is plugged in. So, basically I should look into USB based head units? Are the new Alpine and Pioneer models 3G compatible? Any other input on the subject? Haha, I realize I'm asking a lot but this is something I've wanted to do for quite some time. Thanks again.

I'm using the USB input on my Pioneer 8000, connected to the dock port on the 3G iPhone. As mentioned earlier, it plays and charges correctly. It will even begin playing if the iPod portion of the phone is off when I plug it in or turn on the car stereo. I do still get the "This accessory is not made for iPhone. . . " prompt, but I just say no to airplane mode without any problems. In fact, half the time I just ignore that message and it goes away on its own.

 

[g00dbye]

I'm using the USB input on my Pioneer 8000, connected to the dock port on the 3G iPhone. As mentioned earlier, it plays and charges correctly. It will even begin playing if the iPod portion of the phone is off when I plug it in or turn on the car stereo. I do still get the "This accessory is not made for iPhone. . . " prompt, but I just say no to airplane mode without any problems. In fact, half the time I just ignore that message and it goes away on its own.

Hm, interesting. I was curious to know how phonecalls are received/answered while music is playing. Also, I don't use bluetooth headsets.

So, I'd like to compile a list of compatible receivers at this point which work with the iPhone 3G's USB input of 5 volts. Also, it must be single DIN as that what's my old car can offer. So far, I believe the following are compatible:

The Alpine IDA-X001
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-TcFYE4VxQNy/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?I=500IDAX001

and the Pioneer DEH-P7000BT
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?search=PIONEER+DEH-P7000BT&i=130P7000BT

Both of these headunits look promising but could anyone confirm which would be better suited to iPhone's needs? Answering calls in the car, compatiblity, etc.

And if you'd like to contribute to this list of compatible head units, please feel free. Thanks for all of your help, guys.

 

[meglet]

I think the DEH-P7000 should work as well as the 8000 model that I have. They are both new enough, and use USB for connection.

As for answering calls, it worked really well with my 1gen iPhone. I paired the phone and the stereo (had to find the instructions for the stereo in order to do this) and from then on, any time I got back in the truck, the iPhone would automatically link back up with the bluetooth stereo. If a call came in, the iPhone would pause the music properly, and the stereo would switch to the bluetooth phone source automatically. When the call was done, the iPhone would resume the music and the stereo would switch back to the USB input automatically.

I haven't paired my new iPhone with the stereo because I have to move the stereo mic to a different place in the truck first. Recommendations are to put the mic either on the steering column, or up around the rear-view mirror. Mine is on the door column of the driver's side door, and callers hear road noise more than they hear me. So for now I've just stuck with my JX10 headset. That's more convenient anyway since I use it for work calls, so I always have it with me.

 

[stylishgeek]

EDIT - iPhone works great with Alpine IDA-X100, as long as you do some very specific things:

Use the USB connector, combined with the supplied Alpine USB to iPod adapter. I tried to use my Apple-supplied USB to iPod cable, but that would not work.

As long as you remember to use the Alpine USB to iPod adapter, it both charges and plays the music.

 

[g00dbye]

EDIT - iPhone works great with Alpine IDA-X100, as long as you do some very specific things:

Use the USB connector, combined with the supplied Alpine USB to iPod adapter. I tried to use my Apple-supplied USB to iPod cable, but that would not work.

As long as you remember to use the Alpine USB to iPod adapter, it both charges and plays the music.

This is great news but I have a couple questions:

1. Are you using this with the original iPhone or the iPhone 3G?

2. So, are you saying you need to use the supplied Alpine USB to iPod adapter AND the supplied Apple USB to iPod cable for it to both charge and play music? I'm slightly confused.

 

[MacBookJoePro]

EDIT - iPhone works great with Alpine IDA-X100, as long as you do some very specific things:

Use the USB connector, combined with the supplied Alpine USB to iPod adapter. I tried to use my Apple-supplied USB to iPod cable, but that would not work.

As long as you remember to use the Alpine USB to iPod adapter, it both charges and plays the music.

I can also confirm that the iPhone 3g works with this car stereo. My friend just bought it and installed it and it works great! Then we found out there is no cd player which is something that we just might have to live without. I guess you don't really need a cd player if you have an iPhone. hehe.

-JoE