Hi, I have a laptop computer setup with speakers for all my mp3s,
But I'm very passionate about stereos and music, so my retro side is pushing me to add a car stereo to the mix so I can listen to the radio and CD's too, since no radio can get such a clean signal as a car stereo.
The easy thing to do would be to hook it up to 2 speakers, but I want to have it all streaming out of the computer speakers if possible.
Anyway, I need a way to output a stereo signal out of this old Ford stereo into the miniplug on my laptop.
Is there an adapter/converter that can help acomplish that?
Here is the actual stereo
Ford CD player single disc | eBay
all your help would be greatly appreciated.
But I'm very passionate about stereos and music, so my retro side is pushing me to add a car stereo to the mix so I can listen to the radio and CD's too, since no radio can get such a clean signal as a car stereo.
The easy thing to do would be to hook it up to 2 speakers, but I want to have it all streaming out of the computer speakers if possible.
Anyway, I need a way to output a stereo signal out of this old Ford stereo into the miniplug on my laptop.
Is there an adapter/converter that can help acomplish that?
Here is the actual stereo
Ford CD player single disc | eBay
all your help would be greatly appreciated.
Doesn't your laptop have CD playback capability already?
If it does that leaves only radio, and that can be done with a 3.5mm male-to-male cable.
If it does that leaves only radio, and that can be done with a 3.5mm male-to-male cable.
ok, So one male goes into the line in of the laptop? where do I plug in the other male end?
Isn't one of those pin sockets on the right an output for an amplified signal?
Isn't one of those pin sockets on the right an output for an amplified signal?
Does the head unit have a preamp level output on it?
If so, you can get a wiring harness kit with a plug with RCAs on it. If not and it has speaker level output, you'll need to use a line output converter. If you use the RCA plug from a kit, you may need a ground loop isolator to eliminate engine noise.
If so, you can get a wiring harness kit with a plug with RCAs on it. If not and it has speaker level output, you'll need to use a line output converter. If you use the RCA plug from a kit, you may need a ground loop isolator to eliminate engine noise.
What you want requires the 2 speaker grounds (R- & L-) to be tied together outside the head unit.
You might also want to confirm the feasibility of doing that... else it lets the smoke out.
You might also want to confirm the feasibility of doing that... else it lets the smoke out.
actually, i've had many recievers, and dedicated tuners, and i have to say they surpass car radios no problem, it just takes the newer ones to get the hd radio with info tag, etc. btw, i know my zune has had that built-in for all their players, that i know of... one of the big factors of a car radio, however, is the factory antennas are actually tuned. proper tuning for fm wavelength is usually in the 31-32 range, to cover a broad number of channels. iirc, longer for lower frequency channels. not sure if you want a 2010 factory ford radio, especially with all the extra oem/databuss junk in there. i would say that, if you want to throw a car stereo in the mix, why not use it as your reciever, and input your laptop audio to it via aux? you can get some decent sftermarket used head units for, sometimes, the same amount, or less. i know alpine has a head that i have seen for about 100new, and it has aux/usb.
If you keep the caveats in mind...
I'd bet the rent that the head unit has a "proprietary" Ford connector on the rear. No big deal as it ought to be easy enough to obtain the pinout. You'll need to know the R+, R-, L+, and L- connections. You then need some resistors - I'd use something like 1.8kΩ. Connect one to each + pin on the head unit. In series with that, connect a 100Ω resistor. The other end of the 100Ω connects to the - speaker terminals on the head unit. The point in between each 1.8kΩ and 100Ω resistor is now your preamp outs. Get a cable with 3 bare wires on one end and a 3.5mm male stereo connector on the other. Connect the bare wires between the resistors; tip = L+, ring = R+, and the sleeve is - (you can jumper the - terminals at the head unit). I'd advise using some heatshrink tubing to insulate the connections at the head unit, and use 1/2W resistors.
The resistor values aren't critical. What you want is a voltage divider that will attenuate the speaker-level outputs by >20dB, ie the larger value resistor is more than 10 times bigger than the smaller value.
I'd bet the rent that the head unit has a "proprietary" Ford connector on the rear. No big deal as it ought to be easy enough to obtain the pinout. You'll need to know the R+, R-, L+, and L- connections. You then need some resistors - I'd use something like 1.8kΩ. Connect one to each + pin on the head unit. In series with that, connect a 100Ω resistor. The other end of the 100Ω connects to the - speaker terminals on the head unit. The point in between each 1.8kΩ and 100Ω resistor is now your preamp outs. Get a cable with 3 bare wires on one end and a 3.5mm male stereo connector on the other. Connect the bare wires between the resistors; tip = L+, ring = R+, and the sleeve is - (you can jumper the - terminals at the head unit). I'd advise using some heatshrink tubing to insulate the connections at the head unit, and use 1/2W resistors.
The resistor values aren't critical. What you want is a voltage divider that will attenuate the speaker-level outputs by >20dB, ie the larger value resistor is more than 10 times bigger than the smaller value.
You can't generally use a simple voltage divider because the outputs are biased to 1/2 of the power supply voltage (supply = 10v for preamp level and 12v for speaker level). You can isolate the DC with capacitors but that can leave nasty on/off transients. That's one reason that transformers are used.
That's a good (overlooked by me) point. Too many caveats to be worth it IMO, when the built-in disc drive and a USB tuner can achieve the same thing for about the same $$.
On 3rd thought, wouldn't the DC blocking caps be inside the unit?
On 3rd thought, wouldn't the DC blocking caps be inside the unit?
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I'm thinking using the unit as a receiver might be a much better idea as mentioned by AKHeathen.
I believe the radio has in-dash, but I'm not sure. If so, could I use an adapter that converts the in-dash input to a stereo RCA input or an audio jack?
what do you think?
I believe the radio has in-dash, but I'm not sure. If so, could I use an adapter that converts the in-dash input to a stereo RCA input or an audio jack?
what do you think?
i think if it has the aux, you may need a factory module. i don't know how it hooks up, but i do know some of the newer fords can be the hardest for integration
i found out it does have a faxtory AUX that works once you push cd twice. still not sure how to make it work. teres a lot of converters outthere that would go through the radio, but why go that way when it actually has an aux. i bought the male harness that goes on the back of the stereo. can i just make te other end into an rca input or mini plug input with the right wire combination, or the stereo won't recognize it?
i am unsure on the ford radio. i know on my delphi, you need the serial interface module to be recognized first. were you able to determine if the usb/ aux requires a module? might stop by a dealership and pop the attachment cover of another vehicle to see what is going on. what does an i-pod interface look like for that vehicle?
Ok, I got more specifics.
the reverse part harness serial is
71-5520-1
All I want to do at this point is adapt it to an RCA or stereo AUX input in the back to get my computer amplified through it.
Anyway I can do this without buying the modules that do it through the radio? if it has an AUX in, it should be able to take a stero or RCA input, correct? help please.. and thank you!!!
the reverse part harness serial is
71-5520-1
All I want to do at this point is adapt it to an RCA or stereo AUX input in the back to get my computer amplified through it.
Anyway I can do this without buying the modules that do it through the radio? if it has an AUX in, it should be able to take a stero or RCA input, correct? help please.. and thank you!!!
i don't know. some used to do that in the 90's, but, like i said, most take modules via databus recognition. anyway you could get the full stereo dash harness schematic for the gran marquis? even that may not show, unless you get it from the full service manual, which usually lists the full pinout.
Thank you, I want to give it a try. I believe this is the wiring for it.
http://www.installer.com/cars/carphotos/mustang_05.jpg
Is it possible to get a female 'stereo in' from the 16 pin or 8 pin?
http://www.installer.com/cars/carphotos/mustang_05.jpg
Is it possible to get a female 'stereo in' from the 16 pin or 8 pin?
So I finally connected the HU. Everything works fine, CD, Radio, Illumination.
I added 2 female RCA to the (4) DVD inputs + and -, but I'm not able to switch between CD to DVD. It seems as it's not recognizing it? I push the CD button twice and nothing.
I'm thinking maybe there's something I have to tell the stereo to recognize it through programming? If there's a dvd input it should work right?
any help would be greatly appreciated it. thanks folks.
I added 2 female RCA to the (4) DVD inputs + and -, but I'm not able to switch between CD to DVD. It seems as it's not recognizing it? I push the CD button twice and nothing.
I'm thinking maybe there's something I have to tell the stereo to recognize it through programming? If there's a dvd input it should work right?
any help would be greatly appreciated it. thanks folks.
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