Adding iPod/Satellite Radio Aux-In

[Sadler]

I don't know what year Clarion started adding an aux-in to their marine head units, but my 1997 290 Sundancer unit did not have an aux-in, so I decided to add one to get better sound from my iPod.

After some searching, I found what looked like a likely pin-out for the C-Bus 13 pin cable from the CD changer to the Clarion head unit. I tried it, and it worked. Below is the link. To make this work well, you'll need to leave a CD in the changer. I burned an 80 minute blank CD to minimize the time the changer is "changing" to the next CD.

I was using a cassette adapter input before, and the improvement in sound quality was substantial with the aux-in.

The photo was taken before I ran the output cable to the back of the power panel and the head unit.


Sadler

http://users.adelphia.net/~jlehome/aux_input.htm

 

[Searay Jim]

It's good to see another solution for updated audio without "updating" the audio.

The Clarion in my 2000 doesn't have an aux-in either, so I bought an Audiovox FMM100A FM Modulator. It's an inline modulator with a isolator (the FMM100 is the same thing without the isolator which isn't very user friendly so don't fall for the cheaper price)

It installs inline with the antenna and has a power switch. When powered off, the antenna works as usual. When you power it up, it takes over and being wired, directly provides the MP3/PMP/Aux input on 1 of 2 FM frequencies without any interference. The stereo interface is simply RCA jacks.

It needs 12v power and a place for the little switch (I had an existing hole next to the ignition key that was perfect) and it plugs into the head unit and the antenna plugs into it.

Since it's not a "air" transmitter, it sounds awesome and is easy to use. I'm running an A/V cable from the interface harness at the head unit (I mounted it in the helm strorage next to the head unit) to the helm so all I have to do is plug it in and flip the switch.

I toyed with replacing the head unit, but found this at uBid and used Google checkout for a $10 discount so it was $34.99 delivered to my house. I thought it was a great compromise and gives me my music, skip free, without spending more on ahead unit.

 

[Sadler]

Nice solution Jim. I never knew the FM modulation would do so well.

Update: My head unit failed last weekend. I don't know if I caused it to fail with too low an impedance (added speakers) and playing the unit loud underway to be able to hear it well, or if it just failed. It was ten years old. So, despite my best efforts, I have ended up having to replace my head unit after all. I bought a Clarion M455A, since the remote on the boat was able to just plug right in and I did not have to replace and rewire the remote. The new unit has an aux-in with an adjustable level control. The new head unit has almost twice the rated power of the old Clarion and does sound noticeably better. Plus, there's no two second silence every 80 minutes the iPod plays, as the CD changer restarted the dummy CD. I was also able to fix something that had bugged me since day one on my boat: Sea Ray had miswired the stereo, connecting the front and rear speakers backwards, so turning the front speakers off ( e.g. to keep the cabin quiet), actually turned the rears off, and vice versa.

Sadler