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How To Add XM Radio And An Ipod To The Stock Toyota Stereo (base, single CD stereo)
I bought and installed a USA Spec twin auxiliary input adapter from Crutchfield. It was $59 and arrived today. It took me 1/2 hour to install.
Bottom line, it goes in quick and easy and it works great... Instead of using the crappy wierless FM modulators for my ipod, I just plug my ipod into the 1/8 inch mini plug. I then hit the "CD" button on the stock Toyota head unit and presto - I get crystal clear sound over the stereo system.
Now here is the best part... I hit the "Track Up" button on the stock Toyota stereo and now I get to hear my XM radio over the stereo!!! Again, perfect sound. And remember, the ipod is still connected. You can switch between the two inputs on the fly by just hitting a button on the stock radio!!!
Just for fun, my kid wanted to plug in his game boy. He had a great time playing his game boy with the sound coming from all the car speakers...
I dont work for USA Spec or for Crutchfield... But, this is one hell of a product that works great for us guys who want to listen to XM radio and/or an ipod (or DVD player, CD style mp3 player, game boy, etc.) over thier stock Toyota stereo. And in case you missed it in my above post, I have the base, single CD stereo.
The only drawback is that you are forced to turn up the volume on the radio a little bit extra in order to hear the same sound level you would normally hear from the stock radio/CD player. I my opinion, it is not a big deal at all. It still sounds very good.
-Steve
Last edited by Hughes500Pilot : 10-27-2005 at 01:36 AM.
I can verify everything that is said above.
I got mine 2 weeks ago for my XM Skyfi 2.
I was tired of the terrible sound of the FM modulator.
It installed easily, and can be hidden well.
Worth every penny.
JUST TO CLARIFY FOR EVERYONE!
This unit works with the stock CD player.
My head unit is the lowest level with only single CD and non JBL.
The USA SPEC adapter plugs right into the back of the unit with a plug that is not filled the back of the head unit.
When this plug is installed, the head unit recognizes it and you can switch between the adapter and the single CD by pressing the DISC button.
It works great.
Hope the is clears up the issue totally because I have seen many people asking the same question over and over about this adapter.
Buy it, It works!
Hey Hughes.
Do you run your XM with the line out option and the FM mod turned off?
I found that if you run it with the FM modulator tuned to the lower numbers like 88.5,
the sound output is much louder. Not sure why, but if your leave just the line out option selected, the output is very quiet.
Try it and see if I am right. That is what mine does.
Later
This sounds perfect for me. I am a complete novice when it comes to hooking stuff like this up, so does anyone know of any retailer that sells this and offers installations?
I guess there are a couple of questions that people want answered.
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Can you send a picture of it installed?
Sorry, but I'm not going to take the stereo back out to take a photo. But all I did was remove the stereo and then plug in the connector cord to the back of the stereo. There is only one unused port on the back of the stereo (at least on my base model, sindle CD stereo) so it is pretty simple to figure out where to plug it in. I then ran the cable down and to the rear of the center consule. At the bottom of the center consule I mounted the AUX box with high quality double sided tape. The box is small, so it;s easy to hide. I then ran the two input cables out of the back of my center consule. One went to my XM radio and the other goes to my ipod.
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Can anyone confirm that it will work on the factory non JBL 6 disc in dash changer?
Sorry, but I cant answer this question since I dont have that stereo.
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How much did it cost? And where did you install it?
It was $59. See above for where I installed it.
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This sounds perfect for me. I am a complete novice when it comes to hooking stuff like this up, so does anyone know of any retailer that sells this and offers installations?
My understanding is that Circut City also sells this exact item (for $59 as well). I guess they would install it for a fee. Crutchfield (where I bought mine) offers "professional installs" of this through local stereo shops. Call them and ask how that works.
But in all honesty, this is a very, very simple job. I would suggest you do it yourself. Lets be honest, who is going to do a better job (even if your not the "handy type"). You - the guy who paid $30,000 for your truck and will be extra careful as you work. Or, some high-scholl drop out, making minium wage working as a car stereo install guy who probabbly does not give a damn about your truck... Food for thought.
-Steve
Last edited by Hughes500Pilot : 10-27-2005 at 10:55 PM.
Thanks for the info. I've found a friend that is going to install it for me (who I trust).
I have a question about the XM radio. Do you need to hardwire the XM radio, or do you simply put the antenna on your car and then plug the radio to your aux box? Sorry for the dumb question, but I have never used XM and am sort of unfamilier with it...but I want to purchase a receiver.
I did a semi-hardwire install. I use a Roady 2 XM receiver. The Roady 2 currently sells for $49 and comes with everything you need to put it in your car (receiver, antenna, cigarette lighter power adapter [which also doubles as a FM modulator] and mounting system).
Since I use my XM receiver in my truck, my RV and in my work car, I just bought two extra antennas and power adapters. Now all I have to do is plug in the receiver into each car and I'm all set.
In each vehicle I have put the antenna on top of the roof and ran the wire to the rear of the dash board. I then "hardwired" my cigarette lighter under the dash (so I dont have the ugly power adapter sitting in my cigerette lighter hole all the time). I also have hard wired AUX input to all my stereos. So it is simply a matter of pluging in the power, antenna and the line out cables. Takes me about 15 seconds...
If you want to keep it really simple, you can just put the antenna on your roof and play the XM radio over the cigarette lighter power adapter / FM modulator. That allows you to listen to your XM radio over any FM radio. However, I think it sonds crappy. That is the whole reason I installed the AUX adapter on my stereo.
One last thing, you know XM radio cost $13 per month... But, they have a "friends and family" program that they offer. I can add up to 4 more receivers to my account for only $8 extra per month... Since you are like a friend to me... I'd be more then happy to let you on my account and then we can split the savings. It's a win - win situation for both of us. Let me know if your interested.
-Steve
Last edited by Hughes500Pilot : 10-28-2005 at 02:10 AM.
I did a semi-hardwire install. I use a Roady 2 XM receiver. The Roady 2 currently sells for $49 and comes with everything you need to put it in your car (receiver, antenna, cigarette lighter power adapter [which also doubles as a FM modulator] and mounting system).
Since I use my XM receiver in my truck, my RV and in my work car, I just bought two extra antennas and power adapters. Now all I have to do is plug in the receiver into each car and I'm all set.
In each vehicle I have put the antenna on top of the roof and ran the wire to the rear of the dash board. I then "hardwired" my cigarette lighter under the dash (so I dont have the ugly power adapter sitting in my cigerette lighter hole all the time). I also have hard wired AUX input to all my stereos. So it is simply a matter of pluging in the power, antenna and the line out cables. Takes me about 15 seconds...
If you want to keep it really simple, you can just put the antenna on your roof and play the XM radio over the cigarette lighter power adapter / FM modulator. That allows you to listen to your XM radio over any FM radio. However, I think it sonds crappy. That is the whole reason I installed the AUX adapter on my stereo.
One last thing, you know XM radio cost $13 per month... But, they have a "friends and family" program that they offer. I can add up to 4 more receivers to my account for only $8 extra per month... Since you are like a friend to me... I'd be more then happy to let you on my account and then we can split the savings. It's a win - win situation for both of us. Let me know if your interested.
-Steve
Cool. In that case I think I am just going to use the AUX input and the cigarrette adapter, since I loathe FM modulators. I have a seperate cigarette lighter/aux input in my truck, so I assume I can use that.
I would definitely be interested in joining up on your plan. You can send me an email at tenderbranson@gmail.com with the info.
Well, my friend isn't able to help me install it, so it looks like I am basically screwed.
I can't seem to install ANYTHING in my Tacoma because nothing supports the 2006 models yet. I've been trying to install an auxialary input or ipod connector for over a week now and have inquired on numerous products, but no one seems able to do it.
I am too scared to try to do something myself...so I guess I am out of luck. This is starting to get really annoying.
