Has anybody experimented with any of the Ipod connections to their 3? In my old car i had it done by using the preamp outputs in my headunit through the white and red stero cables which connected to the Ipod, it worked well. However since i am leasing my 3, i dont feel like putting a headunit in just yet, i will prob do it after the lease is up. I also tried using the Belkin wireless unit, and that was a waste of money. So if anybody has some advice or insight i would appreciate it, thanks.

 

http://search.ebay.com/search/search...pod&category0=

Good Luck!

 

That unit looks pretty slick. Anyone have experience using one? How hard is it to install?

 

thanks ivo, i have never seen this before but it doesn't look too difficult to install, can anyone back that claim up? has anyone used this unit for their ipod? anwyays thanks again ill def look into this option for my ipod hookup.

 

Well i know a guy in our club www.manitobamazdaclub.com who installed an ipod. He didn't tell us the details on how he mounted it in the car or how installations went. If u want, u can check out the site and ask GQ_WhiteMZ3

 

I have one and works pretty well.

 

there are many people over at the mazda3forums that have used that adapter (or another similar renamed one) without any problems. Of course there ae also lots of them that have had lots of problems with them. I seems kinda like a quality control/assurance with the company. Assuming the one you got works then you probably won't have any problems.

I use the Aux Mod basic (www.sylfex.com). Plugs into the Tape/MD plug and gives a line in only. Note there is no ipod control from the HU and no info is displayed, it's only a line in. The Aux Mod advanced should have full integration but it's not out yet, has a long waitng list, and will cost three times as much. If you just want something simple for a line in then get the Aux Mod basic. $55 shipped, $5 for a cable, $10-15 if you need a ground loop isolator.

 

I just got a Transpod for my iPod. Its a radio transmitter, but my goodness the power of this thing. If my wife is in front of me in her car my music plays on her stereo! It sounds great, keeps the iPod charged and can be moved from car to car. I highly recommend it. Plus the station # can be programmed on the fly. I regularly drive to a different part of the area and I can very easily move to a different channel. Sweet.

 

I bought myself a PIE interface a while back from discountcarstereo.com along with an Alpine KCA-123B (I believe that's the correct model number) cable. My 5G 30GB iPod sits atop a TenTechnology Flexible Dock that charges my iPod and which uses the dock connector for the audio out instead of the headphone jack.

 

Here's a quick breakdown of the options available for you. If anyone sees something I've forgotten please let me know. some of these were already mentioned in this thread, but now they're all in one place.

PIE- Line in only. Provides RCA inputs through the sirius/CD changer jack on the back of the HU. ~$100 http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=445 (you also need the ALP/M RCA connector) http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=124

Aux Mod Basic- Line in only. Provides 3.5mm input through the Tape/MD jack. ~$55 http://www.sylfex.com/products/AuxMod/

Audio Link/NASmusic- Full Integration with steering wheel controls. Provides a line in plus either a ipod dock connector or a USB plug, and charges the ipod. Connects through the sirius/CD changer jack on the back of the HU. ~$140 http://www.therpmstore.com/index.php...03e6 fb416b97

Aux Mod Advanced- Not yet released will give full ipod integration with steering wheel controls. Provides a 3.5mm line in with connections to a dock connector. Should also integrate with WinAmp. connects through the Tape/MD jack on the bottom of the HU. ~$150 http://www.sylfex.com/products/AuxMod/

Neo Ion- Full ipod integration with steering wheel controls. Connects to ipod with dock connector, and into the sirius/CD changer jack on the back of the HU. Charges the ipod. ~$220 http://www.mp3yourcar.com/productdet...&productID=617

Here's a thread with links to pretty much all of those, and links to discussions about them. http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.ph...8701#msg498701

 

Hey guys, check this out,
I got a T-Mobile MDA phone that plays, mp3, and like you, I’ve been researching for ways to play on my 3 stereo. I found this Bluetooth system that can integrate your, phone, Ipod, or any compatible Bluetooth system… It cost $100 (without the transmitter) at Best Buy and comes with a dashboard “air vent mount” in the package (Look at the car aisle):

This is the direct link to the manuf website: http://www.scosche.com/scosche_bluet...&ItemID=IUBCKH

Have you guys seen this before? Does it work?

It requires an RCA input in the car stereo. Does anyone know if the Mazda3 stereo has the RCA input? My ride has buttons for the Sat and Tape/MD, but since I don’t have those features, I’m wondering if the stereo will have those inputs available…

If the question to the RCA question is YES, once I plug a system, will it become available in the “mode” switch of the steering wheel?

Thanks in advance for any response to my questions!

 

I haven't seen anything like that yet, but I don't think I'd go for it just for the wireless capability. I mean, $250? No way. I have a BT headset that only cost ~$65. That's just my $.02 though.

The stock HU doesn't have RCA inputs. If you want those then you need to get a PIE adaptor (see my above post) and then you'll have them. However if you just want to be able to plug in your phone and listen to the Mp3's then just get an AuxMod Basic (also in my post above). It's cheaper than the PIE, and then you just need a 3.5mm-3.5mm cable to go from the phone to the AuxMod. No further adapters necessary.

 

Thanks for the great break down of the audio options. Its nice because none of the mazda DEALERS have a friggin clue when i ask about the options for line-in audio.

So it looks like the AUX MOD is out of stock, and i have a question about mounting that PIE interface. Is it smaller than it looks on the website? where would it be mounted behind the dash of a new mazda 3?

thanks for your time..

 

The AuxMod is usually out of stock as they have some trouble sourcing the connectors to plug into the HU. Once they get those in they produce them pretty fast. I was on the waitlist for about two months for mine.

The PIE isn't too big.... maybe 3x4" or so. It's small enough that you can put it underneath the HU where the tape deck should be... right next to where the AuxMod would go. If you're between the two of those I would just go with whichever matches the connections you're using. RCA, or 3.5mm.

 

Incidentally, I test drove an '07 3 and they now have a direct aux input in the center console, next to a second 12 V power plug so you can listen to AND charge your mp3 player at the same time. Woohoo! However, it is still only an audio input, and so you won't be able to use the stereo to control the mp3 player functions.