When the iPod was first introduced about six years ago, the memory capacity was only available up to 40GB, and the battery life was about eight hours. Now, the iPod is available in almost any conceivable size and memory capacity. The iPod Shuffle is one inch square, with a clip to attach it to an article of clothing. The iPod Nano is as tall as the iPod Classic, though thinner and not as wide. The Nano is also available in a wide variety of colors. The Classic has also gotten an upgrade, it is now available with a 120GB memory capacity, a 40-hour battery life, and is capable of playing video as well as music.

The iPod has gotten to the point where any version travels very well, you can listen while jogging or in your living room, but the problem still remains of how to connect your iPod to your car stereo system. The ear buds are obviously not an option while driving, so here are some of the other options to still listen to your music while driving in your car. The first option is to buy a new vehicle. While this is by far the most expensive option, if you are in the market for a new vehicle, many new cars come equipped with an iPod docking port.

For those of you who are not looking to buy a new vehicle just to be able to listen to your iPod while driving, there are other, cheaper options. One option is a cassette adapter. It is a cord that plugs into your iPod at one end, and has a cassette-shaped adapter at the other end. This goes into your car’s cassette player, and then you can listen to your iPod music through your stereo speakers.

Another option is an FM Transmitter. It plugs into your cars cigarette lighter, and then attaches to your iPod. There are different models, some which can only transmit a few channels, and some that can transmit along the whole FM band. The latter may be slightly more expensive, but is likely to cause a lot less aggravation in the long run. To use it, turn your car radio to a channel which receives no outside signal, or where you only hear static. Once you find this channel, tune your transmitter to the same channel. The static should go away, and once you push play on your iPod, you will be listening to your own music on the radio waves.

To conclude, it is possible to connect an iPod to a car stereo on a variety of budgets and interests by either buying a new vehicle, purchasing a cassette adapter, or purchase an FM Transmitter.

What are the common car stereo features?

1) Pre-amp outputs:
Many stereos come with pre-amp outputs. These outputs can be crucial if you are planning to run a car amplifier without need for any modifications. Some units are equipped with multiple outputs and occasionally ones that are crossed over. Since car have a lot of electrical noise in them, many stereo units have 4 volt outputs to eliminate interference.

2) Theft Protection:
Since car stereo theft is increasing, many car audio companies have created there units with detachable faces. There are 2 main kinds of faces (completely and partially detachable). Completely detachable faces let you take your head unit out leaving your panel empty. On the other hand, partially detachable faces let you take the main features out of the head unit leaving the useless components behind. Some high end stereos are passwords protected. In able to work, a password must be inserted. Otherwise, the unit won’t operate.

3) Screen:
Some car stereos come with a screen. You no longer have to get a double din unit to get the GPS navigation feature or watch your favorite DVD. Few years ago, this used to be a problem if you have a limited din size. A good example of a stereo with a screen is the JVC KD-AVX77 which has a 5.4 inch wide touch screen that can easily be customized. With this incredible unit, your stereo system will blend with your car interior.

4) Bluetooth Ready:
Some car stereos can handle Bluetooth for hands free calling. With this feature, you can drive and talk legally. This type of units also has a voice recognition dialing that works with compatible cell phones. You no longer need to press any buttons to call your friend.

5) Remote:
Most stereo systems come with a remote to control your components easily. Back passengers can now adjust the volume and change the radio channel without moving from their seat. These remote controls can be mounted in the steering wheel for convenience.

Finding the right car stereo is getting harder due to the increasing number of features these units provide. Moreover, the price of some sophisticated units is not affordable by an average car owner. You need to make sure to get the unit that fits your needs to avoid paying extra for features that you won’t be using.

Looking for a car stereo? Find the one that fits your need to improve your car audio performance.

The standard car stereo system is installed in the dash; therefore, this article will provide the steps necessary to complete this task. Custom or modified vehicles will require a different set of instructions for stereo installation. For this task you will need a new car stereo or CD player (which is also called a head unit), wire strippers, electrical tape, a screwdriver set, and wire cutters. You will also need a guide outlining how to remove your dash panel and how to adequately remove the old stereo system without causing any damage. By following these simple steps, you will be enjoying your new stereo in no time!

1) Buy a new stereo system. Purchase one that fits properly where your old one was located. In addition, when purchasing a stereo you might wish to get a specific wiring harness which is specific for your new stereo and your vehicle’s make and model. Wiring harnesses make the whole wiring job a snap, literally.

2) Make sure the engine is turned off. Disconnect the negative (black) battery cable. Never work on any part of your car’s electrical system with the battery connected, as the electrical shock could be fatal.

3) According to your manual, remove the dash panel surrounding your stereo. Unscrew and remove your old stereo (head) unit. On the back of the unit there will either be a batch of individual wires or one single plug connecting a lot of wires. If you find a whole bunch of wires, do not take them apart just yet. You will need to do them one at a time in a few moments in order to avoid confusion.

4) Wiring can be connected manually or with the wiring harness. If you have a wiring harness do step 5, then skip to step 9. If you do not have a wiring harness, skip step 5, and follow steps 6 through 8.

5) Plug your new wiring harness into the connector, if you were able to purchase one. This wiring harness will then plug into the backside of your new car stereo. If you were able to do this, then you can skip steps 6-8.

6) You will need to connect each of the wires manually if you did not buy a wiring harness. Connect positive wires from each of your speakers to positive connectors on the backside of your stereo first. Next, connect negative wires from each of your speakers to negative connectors on the stereo. If you find only one wire coming from each speaker this means that they have been grounded at the chassis. If this is the case, new speaker wiring must be installed.

7) Connect the -/black (ground) wire on the stereo to a bolt or screw near where the stereo is mounted within the dash. This attachment must be made to metal, not fiberglass or plastic.
Connect both +/red ignition power wires and the 12 constant wires to the new radio. Refer to the installation manual for correct placement of these wires.

9) You should now have a single connecter which is can be hooked to the proper wires in your vehicle, either through the new connection made in steps 6-8 or from your wiring harness.

10) Slide the new stereo into your mounting bracket, which should have been included with purchase. In some cases, you may need to use your old bracket from your original stereo.

11) Plug the wiring harness connector into the backside of your new radio or CD player. You should see one, single wire hanging unaccounted for, coming from your old system. This wire is your antenna. Plug this wire into your new stereo unit. You may also see a power antenna wire, which must be connected as well.

12) Slide the stereo into dash slot. Test it before screwing it in. Reconnect your battery cable. Start your engine to power up the stereo. Turn on some music and listen for the performance of each speaker. If everything seems to be working well, screw your stereo into place and replace your dash cover.