Needing Help!

jwgeorge · Rated PG Joined: 09 Jul 2005 Posts: 2

I am needing help in connecting a portable mp3 player directly to a car amplifier. What I am wanting to do is eliminate my car stereo head unit from my vehicle and use a Sandisk-like portable mp3/FM tuner, connected directly to a car amplifier.
I would like to velcro the mp3 player to the dash and plug it into the amplifier.
Why not just use a car head unit?
Because, I have a Scout 4x4 and it rides like a box of rocks and destroys head units.
I am trying to understand if I can interface the line-level output of the mp3 player into the line-level input of the amplifier.
Is this possible? Will the voltages play nicely together? I do understand I have to compare the specs of the two components together.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
I am a mechanical engineer, not an electrical engineer, so I am electronically disadvantaged.

**Doctor Feelgood** · Posted: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 17:17:09 Post Subject:

As another mechanical engineer, I think this would work... I have connected the headphone jack of my MP3 player straight to a small stereo amp using a cable that goes from the 1/8" stereo jack to two RCA jacks to match the amp.

Worth a shot... Just start with the volume way down low on the MP3 player, since I am guessing that will now be your only source of control, and you don't want to blow anything... Laughing

jake_johnson · Posted: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 21:07:20 Post Subject:

Thats how I do it. For volume control you have the power adjster on amp. And volume on mp3 player.

And I can have bother mine at 100%. Note. My amp max power is 800wats. I wont user speakers that have less then a 1000watt max. I dont chance blowing things.

I have pretty penny invested in speakers etc.

But yes it works.

Hellfire · Rated XXX Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Posts: 3473

Yup, that's how mine is configured in my car. Pluged the wire that BB mentioned into the Aux port on the back of my mp3/cd in dash player, and connect the headphone end to my MP3 player. Works great.

Next time I get a new in-dash player though, I'm going to look at one of those with a USB connection on it, that uses USB flash memory sticks.

jwgeorge · Rated PG Joined: 09 Jul 2005 Posts: 2

Thanks for all the replies.
I assumed that there would be some interface issue.
But, I am glad to hear that it works!
Thanks to all ! Grin