Audio inputs on rear of car stereo?

[MS]

Sorry if I sound like a "dummy", but I don't know much about car audio.

I believe I have heard somewhere that car stereos that have changer
connections (as most or all car radios made in the last few years do, I
think) have RCA audio inputs in the back. Is that true?

If so, is there an easy way (for someone who is not a car radio installation
expert) to get to those jacks, in order to attach a Y cable (dual RCA plugs
on one end to stereo mini plug on the other) to them, in order to be able to
plug in a portable audio (mp3, etc.) player directly to the car stereo using
that input, rather than using inferior methods such as cassette adapter or
FM transmitter?

How does one get to the back of a car radio? (In my case, it's the factory
radio cassette player on a 2001 Ford Focus ZX3. I'm pretty sure it has
changer control capability.)

[Eddie Runner]

there are NO factory stereos with RCA inputs.... There are some
adapters made for some cars (not all) that adapt the cd changer
ports to RCA inputs....

To get to the back of your radio pull your radio out, I think for the
Ford Focus you need to get some Ford radio removal tools.

Eddie

MS wrote:

> Sorry if I sound like a "dummy", but I don't know much about car audio.
>
> I believe I have heard somewhere that car stereos that have changer
> connections (as most or all car radios made in the last few years do, I
> think) have RCA audio inputs in the back. Is that true?
>
> If so, is there an easy way (for someone who is not a car radio installation
> expert) to get to those jacks, in order to attach a Y cable (dual RCA plugs
> on one end to stereo mini plug on the other) to them, in order to be able to
> plug in a portable audio (mp3, etc.) player directly to the car stereo using
> that input, rather than using inferior methods such as cassette adapter or
> FM transmitter?
>
> How does one get to the back of a car radio? (In my case, it's the factory
> radio cassette player on a 2001 Ford Focus ZX3. I'm pretty sure it has
> changer control capability.)

[MS]

"Eddie Runner" > wrote in message
...
> there are NO factory stereos with RCA inputs.... There are some
> adapters made for some cars (not all) that adapt the cd changer
> ports to RCA inputs....
>
> To get to the back of your radio pull your radio out, I think for the
> Ford Focus you need to get some Ford radio removal tools.

So, the changer controls do not generally include RCA inputs? Where do you
get such an adapter, to adapt the changer inputs to auxiliary inputs?

Are you being sarcastic about "Ford radio removal tools"? Are there special
tools only for removing Ford radios, that have no other purpose? Or do you
think that's funny, that you are "putting down a newbie" (and thereby
feeling superior yourself) by making such a comment?




>
> Eddie
>
> MS wrote:
>
> > Sorry if I sound like a "dummy", but I don't know much about car audio.
> >
> > I believe I have heard somewhere that car stereos that have changer
> > connections (as most or all car radios made in the last few years do, I
> > think) have RCA audio inputs in the back. Is that true?
> >
> > If so, is there an easy way (for someone who is not a car radio
installation
> > expert) to get to those jacks, in order to attach a Y cable (dual RCA
plugs
> > on one end to stereo mini plug on the other) to them, in order to be
able to
> > plug in a portable audio (mp3, etc.) player directly to the car stereo
using
> > that input, rather than using inferior methods such as cassette adapter
or
> > FM transmitter?
> >
> > How does one get to the back of a car radio? (In my case, it's the
factory
> > radio cassette player on a 2001 Ford Focus ZX3. I'm pretty sure it has
> > changer control capability.)
>

[DJ TecThreat]

" MS" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Eddie Runner" > wrote in message
> ...
> > there are NO factory stereos with RCA inputs.... There are some
> > adapters made for some cars (not all) that adapt the cd changer
> > ports to RCA inputs....
> >
> > To get to the back of your radio pull your radio out, I think for the
> > Ford Focus you need to get some Ford radio removal tools.
>
> So, the changer controls do not generally include RCA inputs? Where do you
> get such an adapter, to adapt the changer inputs to auxiliary inputs?
>
> Are you being sarcastic about "Ford radio removal tools"? Are there
special
> tools only for removing Ford radios, that have no other purpose? Or do you
> think that's funny, that you are "putting down a newbie" (and thereby
> feeling superior yourself) by making such a comment?

Actually, if you put the paranoid shield down.. there are actually removal
tools for certain vehicles, in fords case its 2 fork-like tools that have
small pins that slide into the four holes around the radio, popping a
release. The same tool works with most lincoln, mazdas, mercury's, etc..
becuase they are all essentially the same company.

Back to the topic at hand, like eddie said, no stock radio has RCA inputs,
and only a FEW (NOT ALL) radios have adapters available to put in place of
the changers din plug.

DJ TecThreat
The Real Threat

[Les]

" MS" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Eddie Runner" > wrote in message
> ...
> > there are NO factory stereos with RCA inputs.... There are some
> > adapters made for some cars (not all) that adapt the cd changer
> > ports to RCA inputs....
> >
> > To get to the back of your radio pull your radio out, I think for the
> > Ford Focus you need to get some Ford radio removal tools.
>
> So, the changer controls do not generally include RCA inputs?

I have never seen any, so if they are they are in the minority.

Where do you
> get such an adapter, to adapt the changer inputs to auxiliary inputs?

IF there is one made you would likely aquire it at your local car audio
shop. Or you could search around the internet, google can work wonders.

>
> Are you being sarcastic about "Ford radio removal tools"? Are there
special
> tools only for removing Ford radios, that have no other purpose? Or do you
> think that's funny, that you are "putting down a newbie" (and thereby
> feeling superior yourself) by making such a comment?


Do you read into every comment made? There are actually tools designed to
remove factory Ford radios.

Les

[Bryan Jackson]

Ok well, the answer was maybe until the end.
Stock radio's have no such capability.
Alpine and Pioneer both have adapters for their changers that would
work. I'd buy the adapter and have the shop install it when I had the
deck installed.

This is not a very cheap option, so you could have an FM modulator
installed, I guess, a hard wired one though. I had one that worked
well, and sounded a lot better than wireless but a lot of bass became
muddy and I got a lot of alternator whine, but that could be my own
losey install, but I don't think so, my ground was quite good.

I have an Alpine CDA-9823 and aux RCA that I "custom" (read:crappily
drilled holes then epoxyed in) mounted in the console for it. I
wouldn't recommend that, I'd do like a 1/4 inch or 1/8th inch
headphone/phono jack, however have the shop install it.



" MS" > wrote in message >...
> Sorry if I sound like a "dummy", but I don't know much about car audio.
>
> I believe I have heard somewhere that car stereos that have changer
> connections (as most or all car radios made in the last few years do, I
> think) have RCA audio inputs in the back. Is that true?
>
> If so, is there an easy way (for someone who is not a car radio installation
> expert) to get to those jacks, in order to attach a Y cable (dual RCA plugs
> on one end to stereo mini plug on the other) to them, in order to be able to
> plug in a portable audio (mp3, etc.) player directly to the car stereo using
> that input, rather than using inferior methods such as cassette adapter or
> FM transmitter?
>
> How does one get to the back of a car radio? (In my case, it's the factory
> radio cassette player on a 2001 Ford Focus ZX3. I'm pretty sure it has
> changer control capability.)

[MS]

"Les" > wrote in message
...
> Do you read into every comment made? There are actually tools designed to
> remove factory Ford radios.
>
> Les

Sorry about that. It just sounded unusual to me, that there are different
tools for removing each brand of radio. It sounds like that's the case
though. (Is that to discourage consumers from doing their own installation,
due to not having the necessary tools?)

Where could one get tools to remove a Ford factory radio? Are they
expensive?

After one has the tools, is it a fairly simple procedure, to take out the
radio to look in the back of it? Or difficult and time-consuming?

If not all factory radios that can control a changer have RCA jacks that one
could use for auxiliary input, where could one look that up, to find out if
a particular radio model that came on a particular model and year of car has
the input jacks or not?

If not, and if one can use an adapter (as someone mentioned) to convert the
disc changer input into a standard audio input, where could one get such an
adapter.

Thank you (all) for your input. Sorry about my surprise (wondering if it was
sarcasm) about the "Ford factory radio removal tools".

[Les]

" MS" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Les" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Do you read into every comment made? There are actually tools designed
to
> > remove factory Ford radios.
> >
> > Les
>
> Sorry about that. It just sounded unusual to me, that there are different
> tools for removing each brand of radio.

Well, not different for every brand, but there are some speciality tools for
some radios.


It sounds like that's the case
> though. (Is that to discourage consumers from doing their own
installation,
> due to not having the necessary tools?)

With how cheap the tools are I doubt it. It likely looked good on paper.
Besides I would think that most people just keep the factory radio.
>
> Where could one get tools to remove a Ford factory radio? Are they
> expensive?

Virtually any car audio place would have them. I think even Wal-mart has/had
them. IIRC they are around $8, but it has been sometime since I bought any.

>
> After one has the tools, is it a fairly simple procedure, to take out the
> radio to look in the back of it? Or difficult and time-consuming?

Usually very simple. There are guides online that can help you with the
process.

>
> If not all factory radios that can control a changer have RCA jacks that
one
> could use for auxiliary input, where could one look that up, to find out
if
> a particular radio model that came on a particular model and year of car
has
> the input jacks or not?

I don't know, but I would suspect that you could get an answer here, or call
up Crutchfield and see if they have it written down.

>
> If not, and if one can use an adapter (as someone mentioned) to convert
the
> disc changer input into a standard audio input, where could one get such
an
> adapter.

Online or your local car audio store. (Note: not a best buy or CC type
place, if they have them it has been my experience they are only "sold" if
they are installing it)

Les

[DJ TecThreat]

>If not all factory radios that can control a changer have RCA jacks that
one
>could use for auxiliary input, where could one look that up, to find out if
>a particular radio model that came on a particular model and year of car
has
>the input jacks or not?

No factory radio has RCA input jacks on the back of it. Non. You're wasting
your time with trying to look for them and are better off trying to find
another solution.

You can, either upgrade your radio to one with the abilitied you are trying
to add to yours, you can get a FM modulator that can connect between your
radio and antenna and modulate over a certain radio frequency with your
input device. Or you can get one that just sends the signal out into the air
and your radio will pick it up.

DJ TecThreat
The Real Threat

[Chris Guynn]

"Les" > wrote in message
...
<snip>

> Virtually any car audio place would have them. I think even Wal-mart
has/had
> them. IIRC they are around $8, but it has been sometime since I bought
any.

I paid less than $3 at Wal-Mart less than a year ago.

[Chris Guynn]

"Chris Guynn" > wrote in message
.. .
>
> "Les" > wrote in message
> ...
> <snip>
>
> > Virtually any car audio place would have them. I think even Wal-mart
> has/had
> > them. IIRC they are around $8, but it has been sometime since I bought
> any.
>
> I paid less than $3 at Wal-Mart less than a year ago.
>
>

They have them online for about $4 (+ s/h)

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?cat=3947&dept=3944&product_id=870835&path=0%3A3944%3A3947%3A4429

[Les]

"Chris Guynn" > wrote in message
.. .
>
> "Les" > wrote in message
> ...
> <snip>
>
> > Virtually any car audio place would have them. I think even Wal-mart
> has/had
> > them. IIRC they are around $8, but it has been sometime since I bought
> any.
>
> I paid less than $3 at Wal-Mart less than a year ago.
>
>

Wow, cheaper than I thought. I never can remember the little stuff and how
much it costs. Good to know.