[Manny]

I'm thinking i need a bit of advice here.

Car is an '05 Saab 9-5 Aero

Id like to be able to hardwire an ipod or sat radio (not an FM transmitter or modulator which is what my dealer is offering), but it seems like its not possible as my factory radio does not have an Aux Port.

I'd like to get some good professional input on this. Does anyone have a place in the boston area they have worked with. Im considering replacing the factory radio inorder to get things compatible if its even possible, but I odn't know if thats a total bonehead move or not.


Thanks for any advice,

Manny

[bigred875]

do you have an all stock radio? if so I'd say just use the fm modulator. On a stock system I don't think you will notice the difference....

have you heard one through an FM modulator?

[skiierx]

The Saab systems are excellent and set up just right. Mine is a Harman Kardon and I think they still use them in the new ones. You couild have it switched out and find something compatiable but you would have to replace most everything except the speakers, the stock system already has an amp too. I would say to not mess with it and use the Fm modulator but go to a car stereo place, maybe even tweeter on Comm ave and see if they can splice into your stock system without replacing the entire setup.

Hope that helps!

[benVFR]

Yah the FM modulator they are talking about is not something like the iTrip and other transmitters..

It should be disabling the cars real antenna while you're operating off the ipod.

My brother did this with his satellite radio. It sounds suprisingly good, although I think in that case you can still hear a difference with the stock radio. (And that's just a civic)

It won't sound as good as a CD, but then the ipod is not capable of sounding that good anyway unless you get a setup that uses the dock connector so it bypasses all of the ipods sound circuitry.

If you must have the best sound quality look into one of the aftermarket headunits + the interface box. These usually hide a 2nd module somewhere in the car. The ipod plugs into that box via it's dock connector NOT an audio connection. The secondary unit interfaces with the ipod just like a PC/Mac does. You get full control right from the head unit and you should get excellent quality.

I had priced these out and I think you can do it in the $300-400 range if you install it yourself and $500-600 if you let Tweeter or someone install it for you. Most of the major brands offer this kind of setup, just read the fine print. They all have slight limitations in terms of playlists, etc.. if you are finicky about how you listen to the music you might be disappointed. I.e. you insist on making 1000 song playlists and not listening any other way. If that is the case you need to make sure the stereo you buy supports that.

[Manny]

I'm not looking to increase the sound quality over what it is now. I think its very good. BUT, i would like the sat radio/ipod functionality.

For many cars (i think) an aux port is available to tap into for an ipod or sat radio. I don't think there is one for my radio.

In terms of the fm modulator, I have heard mixed reviews quality wise. I,m not sure it makes sense to go that route if there is a more solid hardwire option.

Part of the problem is that Saab isnt too aftermarket friendly and a lot of people don't have experience working with the radio system making it hard to trust someone to work on it.

[bump909]

i think the best route is to go with an aftermarket headunit with ipod support, meaning you can control your ipod from the headunit while charging it, too. the downside to this is ontop of the cost of a new headunit, you need to buy the controller box or whatever the hell it is to make it work which is around $100.

alpine's 2006 lineup has got my attention, though. they are available in march i believe, and some of the headunits will have direct compatibility with ipods where all that is required is a specific cable.

[bump909]

also, benefit of aftermarket is most headunits are satradio ready. crutchfield makes installing any stereo you buy from them really easy as long as you know how to twist together a few wires, plug in a harness, and turn a screwdriver. the only drawback is you pay a little more, but their customer support is top notch.

[bigred875]

i'd recommend listening to an FM modulator first then decide...

I suspect the people that say it doesnt sound good are hardcore audiophiles with thousands of dollars of gear....

if your stock radio sounds good to you I am sure the FM deal would be fine...

you will be spending big bucks getting a system that is hard wired to the ipod...if yous system is like jamies then you will want to replace everything in your car.....radio, amps, and speakers.....

sort of....

If you change just the radio in order to add the ipod you will not be able to use the factory amps....so you will either have to buy new amps or run speaker wire from your new radio to the factory speakers...and if you are doing that you should just replace the sepakers while you are in there....and at this point you should add a sub....this is if you want a full sounding system

IMO either just use the FM modulator like most people or spend a couple grand to upgrade your entire system....it will cost that much to get equipment that is better then what you have in the car already...

[bigred875]

another factor to consider is theft....if you park in questionable areas leave it stock or you are asking for trouble...

[rjh200]

Another thing to consider is with new cars alot of funtionality is tied into the radio. For instance if your Saab has Onstar like most GM vehicles do you will lose that functionality if you replace the head unit. In some other vehicles the heat/AC is tied in through the radio. After market audio companies have lawsuits out against the major manufacturers for this because it takes away some potential customers.

[bigred875]

Originally posted by rjh200
Another thing to consider is with new cars alot of funtionality is tied into the radio. For instance if your Saab has Onstar like most GM vehicles do you will lose that functionality if you replace the head unit. In some other vehicles the heat/AC is tied in through the radio. After market audio companies have lawsuits out against the major manufacturers for this because it takes away some potential customers.

yeah thats true also...like the door ding sounds etc....but for most cars you can by a harness...but it is usuallu around $90 for it...

[mycirus]

I noticed my cigerette lighter modulator comes in better with my cell charger unplugged. If I plug cell phone charger in there is noticble interferance. Oh yeah, this is with muttiple cigerette ligher sockets.

Bruce

[TheIglu]

Typically saab's have controls buuilt into the steering wheel. Say goodbye to aftermarket.

Just get an ICarPlay. I got my woman one and it sounds fine. I used to use my FM modulator that comes built into any Sirius reciever and it worked fine. I spent the $29 to get the harness to add an Aux into my brandy new Pioneer fancy-pants head unit and it doesn't sound that much better. Even satellite radio doesn't sound like a CD does with direct connection.

Keep in mind that it's a car, not a home theater. You will NEVER get great sound quality. Well, you could completely sound-proof, cut holes in dash, etc etc etc......

It's a car, so get something that works good enough.

[Manny]

My car does have steering wheel mounted controls. However, with the interfaces available for other cars ive seen you can hardwire the ipod connection to the back of the radio and it leaves the steering controls fully intacts. The data on the face of the ipod transfers to the screen on the stock radio and the steering controls control the ipod. The new saab 9-3's are pre-wired to allow this to work, you just need to activate the aux port, and there is a jack in the center console to plug in the mp3 player.

I'm ideally interested in this type of system. Not only for sound (which Im not super concerned about), but b/c the ipod gets stuffed in the center console with no wires or anything else.....its a prety nice system, which for most cars is an easy install with a low cost.

I should also note that an fm modulator for satalite radio is available for saab, but I cannot find a kit for an ipod, so if I don't replace the radio (my last choice) the only other one seems to be a wireless fm transmitter. Ive got the itrip and it really isnt too good.

[ssg]

For Ipod..this is off their website, links to most of the 'aftermarket' on this page...

http://www.apple.com/ipod/ipodyourcar/accessories.html


FWIW I use a kensington Aerielle Enabled FM (w/digital tx selection) and its pretty decent for an FM mod. I usually hate having to change stations around and stuff but don't have to too much with this one.


PIE or PAC (can't remember who it was that did at the moment) electonics may also make an aux-in adapter cable for your factory h/u that you could just run line from everything into the rca's if they make such a beast.

[SSearchVT]

I ran into the same problem with my BMW. Check the Saab specific forums, or give crutchfield a call. Through E46fanatics I found out about the Dension Icelink (about $180). It plugs into the CD changer harness and lets me have full text display on my factory head unit with HK sound package, and still use my steering wheel controls. I checked their website, they don't have one for the Saab, but an e-mail to them couldn't hurt to see if anything is being developed.

www.densionusa.com

Good luck...

[Bhavesh]

Originally posted by Manny
The new saab 9-3's are pre-wired to allow this to work, you just need to activate the aux port, and there is a jack in the center console to plug in the mp3 player.

Can you get that stereo out of a 9-3 and install it in yours?

Originally posted by Manny

Its a prety nice system, which for most cars is an easy install with a low cost.

If you know this exists, have you tried searching Saab forums to see how this installation is done altogether? Have you tried calling audiophile shops around and asking if they can do this type of installation? Another alternative is to post at a car audio forum like forums.sounddomain.com and see if anyone's done it before.

Iif you can in fact hardwire the ipod, retain the steering controls, view the ipod display on the factory stereo, and keep the ipod stashed away, do more research on getting that done. Don't get another deck. Don't get an FM transmitter and let us know how it works out.

[KB]

Just sell that toilet and get a car that is ipod/sat setup from the factory.

[ZX-12R]

I'm certainly no audiophile but I've never had great results with FM modulators. Their limitations are even more prevalent when you are starting off with a decent stereo system because your sound will only be as good as the weakest link in the chain.

The most noticeable problem is they lack the dynamic range of CD and MP3 players so hard attacks and transients come through sounding "muddy" for lack of a better term. In addition, their frequency response is inferior to a digital source which takes away from the sharpness of the original.

If I was in your situation, I would be looking to upgrade the head unit.

[Manny]

Someone mentioned that if I replace the head unit I would need to either loose the amp and or sub - that is what is concerning me. I dont want to replace a good sound system for no reason. It seems like there needs to be some other way. Im going to go to Sound in Motion on Monday and see if they have any experience with my car specifically.

[Manny]

What I am saying is that if replacing the head unit was all I needed I would gladly do it.

[ZX-12R]

There is no reason why you should have to lose the amps in your car. I highly doubt that Saab had a custom amplifier made that will only work with their factory head unit so a new one with preamp outputs should be able to be wired in with the appropriate harness. Amplifier front ends are pretty much standard so I bet there will be a harness for your car.

[Manny]

Thanks for the info. Have you ever heard of Sound in Motion? It's located a mile from my house in Brighton so Im going to check them out next week.