LS1Baron

Help me out here, guys. I'm looking for an aftermarket, universal CD changer which has AUX outputs. I'm tired of my FM-modulated one, and I'd like to convert it over to the AUX port on my aftermarket head unit. Trouble is... NOBODY MAKES ONE!!! If anybody had any information or ideas, please let me know.

VIP1

What headunit?

LS1Baron

Jensen IC-8010 (Intellicar system). It has the perfect connections to control my DVD player, PS2, satellite radio, and computer. I really don't want to repace it. I know it's not considered high end, but with enough amplifiers, everything sounds good.

VIP1

I did some searching on Google. This Jensen unit can control any Jensen CD Changer. There is also an optional four source AV Selector available.

Here is a review with more info about it:
http://www.carsound.com/news/archives/5_23_101_1.shtml
(Jensen's site didnt list it and it didnt say much about their other products anyway).

LS1Baron

Yes, I saw that, too. What I'm looking for is an aftermarket CD changer that handles MP3s, and outputs through RCA, rather than FM modulation. I hate the sound quality loss.

VIP1

You can probably use any CD changer and convert its proprietary output to RCA with an adapter:
http://store.myradiostore.com/pieauxinaf.html
I depends on whether you can retain the alternate CD Changer remote (because your headunit wont be able to control the CD Changer).

I used this the Pioneer PIO/P-RCA adapter to conver the IP-BUS to RCA output on my XM Receiver.
http://store.myradiostore.com/pioneer.html
The controller used a different port, so this worked out for me. You may be able to do the same with a Pioneer CD Changer (as long as is has an alternate CD Changer controller instead of just relying on a Pioneer headunit).

See if you can get an adapter for your current CD Changer. That would be the cheapest and easiest solution.

LS1Baron

Unfortunately, those are AUX inputs, not outputs. Thanks for looking though.

VIP1

Did you miss this line:
They can be used for outputs. I used the PIO/P-RCA adapter to contert the IP-Bus port on my Pioneer XM receiver to RCA OUTPUT. This is what is currently in my car. I used another adapter to convert the CD-Changer port on my stock Monsoon stereo to allow RCA input.

Here is that adapter if anyone is interested:
GM9-AUX
http://store.myradiostore.com/20chch.html

BTW...
I bought both adapters at http://www.myradiostore.com

VIP1

Well, its been a couple days....
TTT

LS1Baron

I'm waiting for my shipment from SoundDomain and PIE. I'll let you know how it works out. Thanks for all your help.

VIP1

You're welcome.
Yeah, let me know.

VIP1

I dont want to sound pushy, but have you installed it yet? Did it work out for you?

Here is a note for you...
If it doesnt work at first wait 30seconds. When I hooked it up to my factor headunit, it didnt work for the first 30seconds after installation. I dont know if it was an issue with the XM receiver or the stock headunit. Either way, it works fine now. The wait was only for the first time it was installed. There is no wait now.

LS1Baron

Well, I got everything installed, and it didn't work. Crap. I got the Alpine CHA-S634 and the PIE AiNET adapter. It simply would not work no matter how long I waited. I'll keep trying, though.

VIP1

Sorry to hear that.

Does the Alpine have a remote? (as opposed to having the headunit control it).

Its possible that the remote turns off the AiNet port.
(I guess I got lucky with the Pioneer IP-Bus.)

LS1Baron

Yes, the Alpine has a remote. That could be it. Oh well... now I'm stuck with an Alpine MP3 player instead of my old Alipne CD changer... wait...

VIP1

You do need the wired remote to control the unit (Im using mine). I was just trying to make sure you didnt forget to use the wired remote to control the unit.

VIP1

I was just looking at the manual on Alpine's site and noticed a couple things that can hang you up.

http://iweb.alpine-usa.com/html/asb/...ha-s634_om.pdf

* Did you remove the "transport locks"?
* Is the "Bus Selector Switch" set to AI-Net?
* The manual didn't mention anything about a separate remote (maybe I missed it).
* If you can't get it working with AI-Net, order a M-Bus (Mini-Bus) cable and try it in M-Bus mode

LS1Baron

The setup works fine. It just won't use the PIE controler as an output unit. The remote unit is a CRA-1667RF.

VIP1

Did you make sure it was switched to the AiNet position?
If so, I guess you can try getting a M-Bus converter and try it in M-Bus mode.

VIP1

http://iweb.alpine-usa.com/html/asb/...-1667rf_om.pdf

I was just looking at the manual for the remote unit (CRA-1667RF).
On pg22 is a wiring diagram of how it should be hooked up.
After looking at that diagram, I am wondering where you connected the PIE adapter cable?

With that setup, there doesnt appear to be a place that the cable can be used. With my Pioneer XM receiver, the unit had 2 ports built directly into it. One was for the remote and the other was for IP-Bus. My remote is connected to its port and the PIE adapter is connected to the IP-Bus port.

It appears that that CD-Changer & Remote combination only has one port, the AI-Net port, which is used by the remote. So... where did you connect the adapter? This may not be possible with that setup.

I have attached a picture so you can see what I mean. Its an older picture that I took before I had the PIE adapter. I connected the PIE adapter to the IP-Bus OUT port and disconnected the FM-Modulator. The FM modulator in my setup was a very simple small metal box (no real internal circuitry).

A Pioneer CD-Changer is probably set up the same way. I looked on www.pioneerelectronics.com, but the manuals didn't have wiring diagrams and there werent any pictures of the ports. BestBuy has the CDX-FM687 for $180. You can probably look at it on display and see if its set up the same way. At least three Pioneer CD-Changers (CDX-FM687, CDX-FM1287, CDX-FM1289) also come with built-in FM Modulators and a wired remote instead of having to buy it seperately.