Topic: Any IPOD gurus out there ?

[greenjeans]

I have an Ipod, finally got my music collection on there.  Want to have in my vehicle... I tried a FM frequency modulator with very poor results.  Currently using an old school tape cassette do-hickie that goes from the vehicles cassette to the ipod... problem with that is - it sounds like crap when turned up LOUD.  I know eventually I'm going to get a new radio/deck in my vehicle that will have some sort of direct connection to it.  Anybody have one ?  The guys at best buy seem to be pushing the Alpine brand.  Anybody have anything the like that works well with the ipod and doesn't lose sound quality when the volume is turned up?
 
Eleven. Exactly. One louder.

Why don't you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?

These go to eleven.



Most importantly, what format do you import the CDs into itunes with - I mean, which one will have the best sound quality once imported/converted etc. 
MP3 vs AAC etc.   File size isn't an issue, I have plenty of hard drive space & the 80g ipod model.  What would you suggest ?

As usual, I'm a few years behind in technology (same thing happened when I went from records to CDs - still crying over that switch)  Somebody help me out with some suggestions.  Thanks in advance

[zanzara]

HEY GREENJEANS!

Wolcome to the future! IMporting...if you use itunes I always use the apple lossless. Seems to work well for me on all playback devices. When I had my BMW I had an older alpine deck in it with the alpine ipod thing-a-majig. That was the best working thing I have used for controlling it. The newer ones are better because of the larged display but you can tuck the pod in the glovebox or anywhere and charge and control it from the deck. Really I had no complaints about it myself. The stereo was one of the things I miss most about that car. And the fast.

[greenjeans]

Ah... thanks for the info, I'm off to Best Buy

[mmtsquid]

I installed the Alpine head unit into my fiances Olds, and she loves it!
However, a bit of caution - plan on setting up playlists, as trying to navigate through endless artists and songtitles while driving is kind of dangerous.

Good luck!

[greenjeans]

Amen to that....  I spent about 4 hours last night making playlist after playlist...
Can't wait to get that installed in my vehicle.  I usually keep 2 or 3 CD's in there for weeks at a time - gets kinda boring.

[mmtsquid]

Also - you probably already know this, but in addition to the new head unit you also have to buy a special cable - runs from $75-$125 (Yikes!)

[greenjeans]

Evidently, whatever they quoted me at Best Buy comes with everything.... $425for the deck, an amp & 4 new speakers installed....seems reasonable to me - hopefully it will sound as good or better than the factory system which I was very happy with, only it's about 8-9 yrs old now and the speakers are just plain worn out.  

[kuyarico]

Eleven. Exactly. One louder.

Why don't you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?

These go to eleven.

Nigel Tufnel: The sustain, listen to it.
Marty DiBergi: I don't hear anything.
Nigel Tufnel: Well you would though, if it were playing.


  I didn't want your Spinal Tap reference to go un-noticed.

[Gordon]

Also - you probably already know this, but in addition to the new head unit you also have to buy a special cable - runs from $75-$125 (Yikes!)

Maybe with some systems, but many of the one's I've seen just have the common mini-jack input that you connect to the headphone output of the iPod.  You can't control the iPod with the stereo controls with that kind of connection, but for the price difference, I can overlook that aspect. 

[greenjeans]

The one I'm looking at has the cable, and they are going to run into my glove box w/ extra so I could lay in it in  the seat/console etc.   I love this thing - can believe I waited so long to get one... now if I could find enough for an i-phone - just kidding.... broke my cell phone last year, and haven't replaced it yet - the silence is beautiful.