I currently have mine plugged into the ai-net adapter using the monster cable and it sounds cd quality to me.

 

But i'd like to see what you've come up with.

 

[quote name='NFRs2000NYC' date='Feb 22 2005, 12:39 AM'] I am doing an IPOD install, and am doing a step by step writeup on how to do it.

 

No, you absolutely need to use the dock. Try it (while playing) dock, then headphones.

If you do it through the dock, the IPOD is just sending information.....just the song data.
If you use the headphone jack, the IPOD amplifier/processor decodes the song, applies its own amplification, EQs it, and out comes sound. Thats great for non active audio devices, (headphones) but not a stereo headunit. The sound quality is night and day.

That charger you posted will work, because it takes the audio signal straight from hte IPOD, and not though the IPOD amp.

 

I'll grant that line out may sound better, but that doesn't mean the headphones sound bad, and the difference is certainly not night and day. I had the exact setup sonicjai is proposing for two years in my civic: Ipod, heaphone out to Y cable, to ground loop isolator, to Alpine RCA in, and charging via firewire. It was a 2G ipod with no dock connector and that was the only way to go. It sounded great.

In the end, even the fanciest options like the alpine connector and the bmw solution are still pretty half assed. It comes down to preference. I shouldn't even be badmouthing the FM transmitter option, which is cheap and which a lot of people like. I happen to dislike it, but in the end, it's my own taste. Best bang for the buck is still definitely a $10 Y cable, no doubt.

 

I have tried using the Y-cable and have been unsuccessful. I have an Eclispe headunit which has an extra set of aux cables for either a mp3 player or cd changer.

I installed the Y-cable to the aux cables in the back of my headunit. Then I've tried connecting the 1/8" male connector to my ipod headphone jack, as well as the jack in the dock connector. Both times I get sound out of my speakers but it is very quiet, no matter if I turn the volume up on the ipod or headunit. The headunit controls all the volume, so when I turn it down I can't hear anything and when I turn the volume up I only get more static.

I have no idea what the problem is, but if someone does know please chime in.

 

I wonder if there is any noticeable difference in quality.

 

Anyone know?

 

NFRs2000NYC/Silkk,

Bluedevil is correct that the headphone jack is good enough for the VAST majority of us - you don't "have" to use the dock connection. The headphone jack's sound is fine - I use it everyday in my other vehicle which has a far better sound system than my S2000. Think of all the other noises you hear when driving this convertible. The typical person would be very hard pressed to tell the difference when you disable the EQ settings on the ipod and set the volume to about 3/4 in my S2000.

-Jordan