I just installed an aftermarket Auxiliary input on my truck and it works great. I wasn't able to find a definitive answer as to whether it could actually be done prior to purchasing the part, so I thought I'd do a post and let everyone know what I learned. Here's the details:
- I have a 2006 Tundra Double Cab 4X4 Limited
- the stock stereo is a "JBL AM/FM/Cass with 6 Disc Changer & 8 Speakers in 6 Locations"
- the number in tiny print on the front of the stereo is "A56830"
- The adapter I used was from Precision Interface Electronics (PIE) http://pie.net (I was really impressed with these guys, you can call them directly and they'll help you out 800-526-8590)
- I bought the part from ancoauto.com. Andy was really helpful and I would definitely buy from him again. He seemed to have the best prices and the part was at my house the next day.
I won't go in to all the installation details but I will say it was easy to do, took about an hour. I'm now playing my ipod through the stereo and the sound quality is excellent. I know that PIE and some other companies make more advanced "ipod controllers", but all I wanted was a basic auxiliary input. The reason is the adapters that use a docking cable connector are always charging your ipod, which will decrease your ipod's battery performance in the long run. Also, with a docking cable you can ONLY play an ipod. With an aux input (looks just like a headphone plug) I can play audio from any device, including sound from a movie coming off a laptop, or music from any non-ipod mp3 player.
which button do you press to use the aux input?? what does the screen display while using it???
__________________ 2008 Tundra CrewMax Limited 4x4 5.7, White w/ oak leather, Moonroof, NAV, Factory 20's, XM.
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The headunit now thinks you have a remote cd changer, so you toggle through the inputs until you get to the cd changer...the steering wheel controls still work.
The unit is actually plugging into the back of the headunit where a cd changer would go. On the adapter being discussed, you can also choose between two inputs, which is really nice if you want to have a sattelite radio and a dvd player (or something else) hooked up at the same time.
The reason is the adapters that use a docking cable connector are always charging your ipod, which will decrease your ipod's battery performance in the long run. Also, with a docking cable you can ONLY play an ipod. With an aux input (looks just like a headphone plug) I can play audio from any device, including sound from a movie coming off a laptop, or music from any non-ipod mp3 player.
Of course with the dock your battery on your ipod won't die while you driving. The actual loss of battery performance loss by continuosly charging your ipod is pretty small, and it is fairly easy and cheap to change your ipod battery (i have done it for my ipod and 2 family members as well). I have also heard that sound quality through the headphone plug isn't as good as directly throught the dock connector, although i'm not sure if this is true.
Charge/discharge cycles is the main limiting factor to the life of the battery. Heat will be the next life-limiting factor (if you leave it in hot truck). The iPod cuts off full charge rate once the battery is recharged.
I have also heard that sound quality through the headphone plug isn't as good as directly throught the dock connector, although i'm not sure if this is true.
This is true, though in practice I can't discern a big difference between the headphone output and the dock connector output. The headphone output is already amplified, while the dock connector offers a preamp output. I use an iPod cable that plugs into the 12V accessory outlet and also terminates to RCA A/V outputs (from the pre-amp audio output). I get the convenience and sound quality of a single cable iPod control solution, but still control the iPod from its (superior IMO) built in interface.
I put a P.I.E Aux Input in my 2002 Mustang GT, and it has been excellent for 3 years so far. I will be ordering one for the Tundra soon, but can't decide if I want this one or the one in Crutchfield that allows for multiple inputs.
I only post that because the Anco Auto page says 'this item is in short supply'... Logjam looks to be about $7 more, but they also had very good customer service.
Thanks again for the information... Most people don't know it is possible to interface with the truck's stereo directly! FM Modulators stink!!
-john
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2005 BLK Limited Double Cab Mods - Tinted front windows, Farenheit overhead DVD player, Toyota Bed Liner, Unicover Safari I X-TRA fiberglass cap, Pioneer AVIC F700BT, License Plate backup camera, DEI Viper 5701 alarm w/remote start.
but still control the iPod from its (superior IMO) built in interface.
That is so true. No interface yet comes anywhere close to the actual ipod interface. The one thing I do like with the alpine is that it scrolls the name of the song on the headunit, but the interface pales in comparison to the actual ipod. Plus the alpine unit locks up the ipod so you don't even have the option to use its controls.
The advantage to using an actual docking connection instead of the headphone jack is actually one of safety more than anything else. When I first bought my ipod I was constantly playing with it in both my celica and my tundra, usually through an fm adaptor.
You think people talking on cell phones are distracted? What about people scrolling through song lists and such while they are driving? I was a danger to myself and others every time I picked up the ipod.
The primary advantage you get from having a true ipod adaptor is that you can plug in your ipod and PUT IT AWAY and control all your sounds through your stereo head unit. MUCH LESS DISTRACTING. Much safer.
Either buy a head unit that allows a usb input, or one directly compatible with whichever MP3 player you have, and keep yourself and everyone else on the road safe. Don't fiddle with your ipod while you are driving. I like the ipod's interface too, but I can't use it without looking at it.
I received a private message about this post... I'm copying it here in case others have the same question...
original message:
>>
I have just purchased a 2006 Tundra like yours and would like to add an aux input. Does your CD players still operate like normal?
Thank you,
xxxx
<<
Yes, the factory installed 6-disc changer still works great. What happens is once you connect the PIE part to the back of the stereo the stereo recognizes that there is an external device and displays an option called "CD 1" which you can get to by pressing the "disc" button on the front of the stereo.
Previously, before installing the device, if you pressed the "disc" button it would switch over from wherever you were (am, fm, etc.) to
the cd player. And if you were already in cd player mode and pressed the "disc" button nothing would happen.
Now, with the PIE part installed, pressing the "disc" button multiple times simply toggles back and forth between "CD" and "CD 1". Also, the stereo system automatically ads "CD 1" to the toggle loop in the "mode" button on the steering wheel controls. I really like this part, I almost always use the steering wheel control to switch modes.
The PIE part has a "Y" in the cable with an empty socket that matches the socket in the back of the stereo in which the PIE part plugged in to. I suspect (can't confirm) that this plug is for an additional device (such as a 12 disc changer), and that if you were to plug a device in to this the stereo would recognize it and give you a "CD 2" option.
no full text. What I installed is aux input only. Again, there are more advanced pieces that will use the doc connector on your ipod and give you steering wheel control of your ipod, but I don't know if any of these actually display text from your ipod on the stereo screen. I think they only display track number, but I'm not sure. I know there are at least 3 companies who make this advanced device.. check out ancoauto or logjamelectronics for more info
Aux input for 2006 Tundra JBL Stereo
Re: Aux input for 2006 Tundra JBL Stereo
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