MP3 + Factory Audio

[mike80]

Hello everyone!!! I'm a total newbie on this topic:

I'd like to get an MP3 player and connect it to my car directly. Possibly so that I could control it through the factory audio console. Please reply how you would do somth. like that or what configuration works for you (which player, port adapter ..., who can install it).

looking for options

Thank you all

[philosophicaljt]

I notice that you are new. so first things first. Welcome.

Try doing a search. Also, try telling us important information, like which radio you have. Do you have the JBL system, the navigation, or the base model stereo? What year is your car?

But thanks for posting and I hope we can help.

[PXLpainter]

What year/model Solara do you have? Do you have the JBL head unit?

[Down2TheC]

Yeah man... you haven't introduced yourself yet.
Assuming you're starting with a JBL in a Gen2...
You can get a cable to plug in the back of your headunit. If it's an Ipod, you can pay some more to get one that adds control so you can work it from the steering wheel.
Or you can swap for a Gen2.5 head unit from ebay and have MP3 CDs.

Check out the tutorial section for AUX2Car. Pretty much all the cable you'd find out there will install like that. Simple and quick.

[mike80]

I notice that you are new. so first things first. Welcome.

Try doing a search. Also, try telling us important information, like which radio you have. Do you have the JBL system, the navigation, or the base model stereo? What year is your car?

But thanks for posting and I hope we can help.

Thank you for the welcome note!

I have an 06 SE with a base model stereo, that's it. Sorry for missing that part in my post. Also, I do not have an Ipod nor any other MP3 player, so I wanted to see what is the most optimal way to get MP3s with my "base" configuration.

[philosophicaljt]

Easy. Buy a new headunit. If you don't want to do that, there are numerous universal toyota input adapters that should work with that radio.

I would seriously consider a new headunit that includes HD radio. It rocks.

[Donnie]

Welcome to SG. Get some pics up man. Personally I'd get a new HU. I picked up a nice one, HD, mp3 and front load usb. I keep an 8G stick in it and dont remember the last time I had to hear a comercial.

[mike80]

Guys, thank you all for replies.

Welcome to SG. Get some pics up man. Personally I'd get a new HU. I picked up a nice one, HD, mp3 and front load usb. I keep an 8G stick in it and dont remember the last time I had to hear a comercial.

Donnie, I like your recommendation. What HU did you get (make/model)? Who installed it? Do you have a pic of how it looks inside the car?

I'll upload my pics soon.

P.S.
Being able to load mp3s from a USB drive or an SD card actually sounds much better to me than getting an IPOD!

[Donnie]

I looked all over North Nashville and couldn't find a front load USB and the last place to look was Electronic Express. They had 2 JVC's which is what I wanted on display and 1 Kenwood but didn't have a one of them in stock. so the last one was a DUAL and having the S for a whole week with a nasty old regular cd player I had to have something. Turns out it's not a bad unit.

I'm not sure which harness you'll need but I'm sure some of the newer S owner's can help on that. I paid the guy at Elex Xpress 50.00 to install it. Took about 1/2 hour. I didn't go with a major system in the S because the one in my truck has cost me about 1/2 my hearing.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3018564
Yeah I'm one of those guys that believe if it's too loud, you're too old.

[boaclub923]

cable/adaptor to hookup factory stereo is around 50~100 bucks
a new stereo system, 150.
why don't u get a new one? since most new junky stereos are equal or better than factory stereo