i have searched and didn't really find what i'm looking for. i bought my new taco last week and i want to get an mp3 player. i'm getting tired of digging for cd's and running off the road and such.
i need to know a few basic things. i am not old, but when it comes to newer tech stuff, i'm as clueless as a 80 year old.
i've contacted my local stereo shops and they say that they can hook up an FM modulator which they say is the same thing as the ones you can get that plug into your cig lighter. will this set up be as loud as playing a cd or will it be muffled or sound quality turn out crappy?
next, what is the easiest to use mp3 player out there? i'm looking at a sony that is around $100 and it looks to be pretty good.
last, how do you get the songs? can i rip songs from cd's that i currently have onto my computer and then download them into the player?
sorry for the redundant questions that you have all probably heard before.
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2007 Tacoma Access Cab, 4cyl., 5 speed, Prerunner, and FOOL INJECTED.
Alright, I'm fairly new at this myself so if I give incorrect info somebody please enlighten me. From what I came up with, the FM modulators, if same as FM transmitters, are crap. You will most likeley experience some static and sound will not be of the best quality. The DFToy which some people are having problems with now seems like the best way to go. It bypass's the FM Transmitter reducing static and improving quality. The sound will always be a little lower coming through your mp3 player or satelite radio but will be clearer if routed through the DFToy. You can pick a DFToy up at Circuit City for around $60.00 and the install looks pretty easy(plugs directly into the back of the stock head unit). The DFToy also creates another input which is great if you want to add satelite radio or a dvd player in the future.
As far as mp3 players go, I'm pretty clueless. I'm gonna be getting an Ipod Nano only because it seems like the most popular but again I really don't know any difference between that and other products. Hope this helps some.
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2005 DC Sport, 6spd, 265/70/R17 BF Goodrich AT KO's, Leer 100XQ Cap.......
i have searched and didn't really find what i'm looking for. i bought my new taco last week and i want to get an mp3 player. i'm getting tired of digging for cd's and running off the road and such.
i need to know a few basic things. i am not old, but when it comes to newer tech stuff, i'm as clueless as a 80 year old.
i've contacted my local stereo shops and they say that they can hook up an FM modulator which they say is the same thing as the ones you can get that plug into your cig lighter. will this set up be as loud as playing a cd or will it be muffled or sound quality turn out crappy?
next, what is the easiest to use mp3 player out there? i'm looking at a sony that is around $100 and it looks to be pretty good.
last, how do you get the songs? can i rip songs from cd's that i currently have onto my computer and then download them into the player?
sorry for the redundant questions that you have all probably heard before.
An FM modulator/transmitter is the easiest solution, however in most cases not the cleanest sounding. You're basically transmitting on your own preset station your mp3 player or external audio source through the radio. The best this will get is "FM" sounding clarity. Usually the highs (treble) is weak, and the bass/midbass ranges sound muddy (not clear). There are inline (connected between the antenna and your radio, needs to be installed behind the radio) and wireless (a little box that sits on your seat or console that transmits locally to your antenna). If you have to go FM modulator the inline is less headache. Depending on where you live the wireless may/maynot be able to lock on to a free station and get clear reception. I only use these with rent-a-cars because your obviously not going to install anything. The upside is the wireless FM modulator requires no installation.
If you are going to install anything you should use an aux input adapter (like the DF-toy). Your stock radio (non JBL system) has the ability to add a cd changer to it. The aux input adapter has a plug that tricks your radio in to thinking it has the cd changer and allows the adapter to input your sound source. Much cleaner sound and some even have multiple inputs. It requires the same install as the inline FM modulator, that is removing the head unit (radio) and pluging in a harness and routing the input cable. This would be my choice! I use this on our Sienna for our Ipod. A whole other Opera is some of these aux input adapters will control, for example your Ipod as well. So not only do you have the ability to input your Ipod's audio, but your radio can control most of the Ipod's features.
I don't want to open a flame war over MP3 devices but the Ipod is one of the easiest most commercially supported MP3 players out there. There are a ton of accesories and addons for these things. I'm not a Apple fanboy by trade (in the PC industry) but you have to hand it to Apple for their Ipods. Anyway getting off subject here...Ipods and most MP3 players ship with software to convert your current CD collection to mp3. You probably can't go wrong with any of them. In your choices you should consider size, storage capability, battery life, what type of info does the player give you, video playback, is it easy to use, etc....
Lastly Itunes, Napster (remember them?!?), etc are legal ways to pay for MP3 downloads you can transfer to your player. There are a ton of sites out there that offer this service.
Do your homework and you should be able to find an Mp3 player and input device that will fit your budget. The sky is really the limit on this one.
As stated above I'm not trying to promote any one product of the other.....but fm mod's are crap.......I've got an interface from mp3yourcar.com It plugs into the changer port on the back of your factory stereo.....run the cable from the stereo to the control box....set a couple dipswitches (they tell you which ones)...and then a cable from the box to where you want your Ipod.....I personally have mine coming up into the center console...then I just hook up my Ipod and set it upside down in the cupholder just in front of the center console. I think it was around $150.....bestbuy carries the same interface systems....I think they are around $99 now.......I've never had any problems with it.
yeah, this is gonna be fun. the DFToy, that installs directly to the head unit on non-JBL units. how do you know if you have a non-jbl unit? mine does not have a cd changer. i think i'm gonna go to best buy or circuit city and talk to those folks. man, i knew i was probably jumping in over my head, but i didn't know the water was that deep. ya'll have been a great help and i'll just have to do some researching and find out if i really want to do this. thanks alot.
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YOU SAY REDNECK LIKE IT'S A BAD THING.
2007 Tacoma Access Cab, 4cyl., 5 speed, Prerunner, and FOOL INJECTED.
yeah, this is gonna be fun. the DFToy, that installs directly to the head unit on non-JBL units. how do you know if you have a non-jbl unit? mine does not have a cd changer. i think i'm gonna go to best buy or circuit city and talk to those folks. man, i knew i was probably jumping in over my head, but i didn't know the water was that deep. ya'll have been a great help and i'll just have to do some researching and find out if i really want to do this. thanks alot.
No CD changer, steering wheel controls or sub = no JBL setup. If you have the basic 6 speaker single disk the DFTOY will work.
The dash comes apart VERY easily (just try to avoid scratching it!). You'll have it hooked up in under an hour... and you'll learn something about your truck at the same time.
__________________ 2008 Black D-Cab Limited 4x4 5.7, Red Rock leather, stock... for now
No CD changer, steering wheel controls or sub = no JBL setup. If you have the basic 6 speaker single disk the DFTOY will work.
So what do I have? lol I have the changer, steering wheel controls, no sub. I assumed non-jbl.
Anyway, I have a wireless fm-mod. It works. But that's about it. I have a Samsung 4gig player and I have to have it's volume near max (i get some distortion at max volume), and the headunit volume up in the 40's for decent volume. So yes, you lose a lot with that method. But the fm-mod was free from a friend that bought it online for around $1 so I can't really complain.
An mp3 capable headunit would probably be best, but then you're still burning MP3s to CD. I have an alpine unit in my car that I do this with. I can fit 6-7 full albums as MP3s on one CD so you figure with a few CDs in the truck you can have a lot of music on hand.
Another option would be an MP3 capable headunit with USB inputs. That would let you use a simple USB drive for the music. Some have the USB port on the back so you can run an included cable to the glove box or center console and use a thumb drive or even USB hard drive.
As for music, I get most of mine off torrent sites...
But you can also get DRM-free MP3s for free from www.sideload.com and www.mp3tunes.com. You can sign up for a free "locker" at mp3tunes, and copy the free songs from sideload.com to the locker, then download to your PC. It takes some time to find what you want, but they have a search function and 186,000+ songs available for free last time I checked last week. I currently have a locker with them for $40/yr with unlimited storage, unlimted syncing to PCs (meaning I can download my collection to any number of PCs for free), online streaming without downloading/installing anything, and support Linux, Windows, and Mac. Right now I have about 50gig uploaded (about 8,000 songs), and can access it anywhere I have a net connection. The sync software also allows me to download songs I want and put them on another player or burn to a CD. Or whatever I want as there's no DRM limiting what can be done with them.
iPods have LOTS of accessories, and some HU's even have built in support for them. But by the time you fork over $200-$300 for one and accessories to hook into your HU then you could have a better HU that supports MP3s natively. It all depends on if you want an MP3 player to use elsewhere.
I've been using MP3s for 8 years now so if you have questions..... I'll try to answer them.
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Toytec 3" lift & AAL, 285/75r16 Kumho Road Venture
DTRL, Fog Light, locker, & diff breather mods, Bestop Supertop, Hi-Lift mount, hood struts, reinforced tailgate, BHLM, ABS kill switch, bed lights, rock lights
[quote=PiercedTiger]So what do I have? lol I have the changer, steering wheel controls, no sub. I assumed non-jbl.
Does your radio say JBL on it? I didn't think you got the cd changer and steering wheel controls without the JBL setup. If so I think there are aux input adapters that will allow the cd changer and external sources. There is an extra cable that is needed though, looks like a Y adapter. (Not 100% sure myself as my Sienna and Taco don't have the cd changer)
I still don't get why Toyota was so late to the table with MP3 support (forward thinking?!?) or aux in options on their radios. My dad's Honda 2 years ago had an aux input port. I do agree though that if you want more bells and whistles swapping out the head unit is the best thing to do.
As far as I know, there are three heads: single disc non-JBL, six disc non-JBL (DZ option code), and the six disc JBL that has the sub and is ONLY available with a double cab (because of the sub/amp). I've been told that all TRDs have the 6 disc changer and steering controls (but that may just be my region, and it doesn't mean you can't order it differently).
For the original poster, just say no to the modulator imho. AUX is the only way to go. And mp3s are pretty simple to learn. I'm sure you'll be up an running in no time.
Yeah, I have the TRD package. So that's why I probably got the six-disc non-jbl version. Wasn't something I was looking for, or would have paid extra for but am glad it's there!
I, too, don't understand the lack of MP3 support from Toyota! I mean, c'mon! From cell phones to watches, PDA's and DVD players, and seems like most aftermarket head units all support them! Supposedly, at least one of the Scion unit's support them too. Same company, different product line, but still.... The technology was there so wtf?
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Toytec 3" lift & AAL, 285/75r16 Kumho Road Venture
DTRL, Fog Light, locker, & diff breather mods, Bestop Supertop, Hi-Lift mount, hood struts, reinforced tailgate, BHLM, ABS kill switch, bed lights, rock lights
I'm getting an mp3 player for Christmas (finally) and am leaning towards the Creative Zen Vision:M. Cnet reviews and the user reviews all say good things about it. Better screen than the ipod, and it supports more media sources. User reviews also claim better audio quality. Creative has been in the mp3 player market the longest (longer than ipod I believe) but only now are rivaling the storage space of ipod. The Vision:M has a 60Gig version, and ipod has 80Gig. Decent enough for me...
For video the Vision:W looks pretty nice.
The Archos 604 looks awesome because it is actually a DVR so you can record off cable or satellite....nothing like your favorite HBO series on-the-go, but I think I will wait a couple iterations until they come out with a better one.
What I reallly would love to see is a DirectTV tuner that size with a palm-size dish. Pocket NFL ticket would be nice.
I was a bit confused too. I have the version 2 stereo (per the manual), 6 disc changer. I have a TRD access cab. I guess this is a non-JBL and the DF-TOY will work? I have a creative zen nano MP3 player, only 1G, but it works for me. I'd like to be able to use it in my taco.
I was a bit confused too. I have the version 2 stereo (per the manual), 6 disc changer. I have a TRD access cab. I guess this is a non-JBL and the DF-TOY will work? I have a creative zen nano MP3 player, only 1G, but it works for me. I'd like to be able to use it in my taco.
Yes it should work. You can check the thread below to see other people confirm this (post #12 is the first to confirm, but I'm sure there are more just to lazy to read the multi page thread).
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yeah, this is gonna be fun. the DFToy, that installs directly to the head unit on non-JBL units. how do you know if you have a non-jbl unit? mine does not have a cd changer. i think i'm gonna go to best buy or circuit city and talk to those folks. man, i knew i was probably jumping in over my head, but i didn't know the water was that deep. ya'll have been a great help and i'll just have to do some researching and find out if i really want to do this. thanks alot.
I'll try to answer them.
I mean, c'mon! From cell phones to watches, PDA's and DVD players, and seems like most aftermarket head units all support them! Supposedly, at least one of the Scion unit's support them too. Same company, different product line, but still.... The technology was there so wtf? 
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