How to use an IPod with a Mach1000?

I've been down this road, but without success.

There are adapters on the market, but they only work with head units and a separate CD changer. In effect, they are inserted between the CD changer and the HU.

With the Mach 460 & 1000, with indash changers, there doesn't seem to be a way of getting an AUX in to work which is necessary for an iPod.

Right now, I'm using a Griffin iTrip, which is, at best, only just passable, and then only on some tracks.

There are two possible solutions. Soon there will be a new FM transmitter which is supposed to be really good:

which uses the audio line output from the multi-connector on the base of the iPod as opposed to the headphone output jack, which is what causes the less than impressive performance currently available.

But the ultimate is the new Alpine system, which actually controls and charges the iPod. This is what I'm waiting for:

It uses the iPod as a hard drive, and has inbuilt iPod search and display functions.

I'll tear out my entire system and go with Alpine when this is released.

I replaced the head unit with a sony that has aux in on my 02 mach460 system.

The easy way is to buy an rf antenna interceptor that allows your ipod to pretend it is an fm radio. Cheap, but cheap sound too.

Don't waste your time with the Fm transmitters, they are crap.

The real answer is don't buy a mach sound system if you want aux input, because you need to use the money you saved to buy a more useful head unit.

I would suggest that either you use headphones with your iPod, or scrap the mach1000 system and replace it from scratch.

The good news is that you already have a pair of headphones, so that is free.

Replacing your head unit and adding all the nice stuff will cost you $1k, for starters. That's what I did, but I only had to toss out a Mach460, so it wasn't that much of a loss.

Gluck

John

No way. Headphone outs are fine for audio fidelity. It is far greater quality than FM radio. So sending any signal (no matter how perfect) to an FM transmitter will produce mediocre sound.

John

seems at the moment, there are 3 solutions for iPods to be used with 'Mach' systems

1) fm transmitter - iTrip - I have tried this unit and was not impressed at all

2)fm modulator with in-line rca's and an antenna lead on the other - several vendors make a device that actually tees off of your antenna input - as close to an inlin connection as you will find for the ipod - performance not too bad - but no where near CD quality (based on my ears anyways) . check your local circuit city - about $40.00 to $50.00

3) I believe Visteon is the actual vendor who OEM's the Mach systems for Ford. After speaking with their engineers, they mentioned that it may be possible to use an unused input on the head unit for external CD changer. CD changer would need to be purchased and plugged in (and accessed on head unit) the instead of having the audio RCA cables input fron the CD to the deck, they would would attach to the 1/8 inch jack to rca adapter cable and then to the iPod. At the moment, I think this is the only way to make a 'direct' inline connection.

tw