C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Cassette/Ipod Adapter

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-02-2012, 06:47 PM
  #1  
TeeVette850
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
TeeVette850's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2011
Location: Panama City Florida
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default Cassette/Ipod Adapter

I have a 1986 Corvette and have been listening to my radio while driving but I remembered that they sell the cassette tapes with the ipod adapters, so i bought a cheap little 7 dollar one at walmart and every time i popped it in the cassette deck it kept spitting it back out at me. The adapter said to turn off auto-reverse but im clueless how to do that if you can even do it. Does anyone have a cassette/ipod adapter that they use or reccomend? Or should i just keep listening to the radio.
Old 05-02-2012, 06:56 PM
  #2  
caddyboy84
Burning Brakes
 
caddyboy84's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2011
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Originally Posted by TeeVette850
I have a 1986 Corvette and have been listening to my radio while driving but I remembered that they sell the cassette tapes with the ipod adapters, so i bought a cheap little 7 dollar one at walmart and every time i popped it in the cassette deck it kept spitting it back out at me. The adapter said to turn off auto-reverse but im clueless how to do that if you can even do it. Does anyone have a cassette/ipod adapter that they use or reccomend? Or should i just keep listening to the radio.
Those things don't work. Once I tried to "cheap out" and got a cd adapter for my radio and it sounded like crap and had no volume, so I just ripped out the system and bought some decent stuff. Do a modern cd radio with an I-pod jack. It's easy to put in a radio, use the Bose speakers and just bypass the amps and work the speaker boxes from the radio amp.

Last edited by caddyboy84; 05-02-2012 at 06:59 PM.
Old 05-02-2012, 07:23 PM
  #3  
TeeVette850
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
TeeVette850's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2011
Location: Panama City Florida
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Yeah i figured i was going to have to do that haha.
Old 05-02-2012, 07:37 PM
  #4  
bac22
Le Mans Master
 
bac22's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2000
Location: Epping NH
Posts: 8,213
Received 186 Likes on 163 Posts

Default

Just try another higher quality cassette adapter, the cheap ones will do that. I actually use an FM transmitter and rather surprised how good it sounds.
Old 05-02-2012, 07:42 PM
  #5  
caddyboy84
Burning Brakes
 
caddyboy84's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2011
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Originally Posted by bac22
Just try another higher quality cassette adapter, the cheap ones will do that. I actually use an FM transmitter and rather surprised how good it sounds.
I actually used one of those for a DVD system I had and it did work great, I didn't know they had them for I-Pods. It uses an unused FM station to transmit the signal, I forget the actual name of the thing but it was like 20 bucks. I still have it and the DVD set-up with the 2 7" screens. I should sell it on E-Bay.
Old 05-02-2012, 07:57 PM
  #6  
caddyboy84
Burning Brakes
 
caddyboy84's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2011
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

It's called an FM modulator, it's about 20 bucks. You can give this a shot, they DO work good.
Old 05-02-2012, 08:11 PM
  #7  
gunnerjuju
Drifting
 
gunnerjuju's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2011
Posts: 1,491
Received 49 Likes on 31 Posts

Default

I use a cheap radio shack cassette adapter with no issue
Old 05-02-2012, 08:16 PM
  #8  
caddyboy84
Burning Brakes
 
caddyboy84's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2011
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Originally Posted by gunnerjuju
I use a cheap radio shack cassette adapter with no issue
See if the modulator is for an I-Pod, the sound is crystal clear because it don't need the old tape-head to work. I remember the music videos I watched sounding as good as my stereo did using that set-up.
Old 05-03-2012, 08:46 AM
  #9  
87FIREREDRAGTOP
Racer
 
87FIREREDRAGTOP's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2005
Location: Carson City Nevada
Posts: 304
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Check to see if your tape player actually works. Mine had a broken belt.
Old 05-03-2012, 09:35 AM
  #10  
Nick DL
Drifting
 
Nick DL's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 2008
Location: Souderton Pa.
Posts: 1,254
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts

Default

My wife used the cassette adapter for XM before I changed out radios. This was in her Impala but either way the unit worked really well. I did not like the FM modulation, I thought the sound was very poor. Try a different adapter to see if it works better.
Old 05-03-2012, 10:25 AM
  #11  
Chuck Tribolet
Burning Brakes
 
Chuck Tribolet's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 2008
Location: Morgan Hill and Marina California
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

I use an FM adapter and it works just fine, except through LA where
there are NO unused FM frequencies.

Chuck
Old 05-03-2012, 10:37 AM
  #12  
NTL1991
Heel & Toe
 
NTL1991's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2007
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

My experience with FM modulators is that you get what you pay for... Wireless FM transmitters usually sound terrible, but a good, wired FM modulator can sound very good. Some special modulators will even charge your iPod as well, and you can run the wire into your center console for a sleek look. FM modulators use a relay to switch between the car's antenna, and your auxiliary input, which can help with interference in dense areas.

Cassette tape adapters are a good alternative to an FM modulator, but the wire is ugly... If you don't use other cassettes, you could run the adapter's wire INTO the radio, and then out the back and into the center console... Remember, though, that the cassette decks in our cars are getting quite old now, and they could REALLY benefit from a good cleaning if you choose to go down the Tape Adapter road.

Nick

Last edited by NTL1991; 05-03-2012 at 10:40 AM.
Old 05-03-2012, 12:40 PM
  #13  
ProjectC4
Instructor
 
ProjectC4's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2010
Location: Shrub Oak NY
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts

Default

I installed the Audiovox FM modulator in line with the radio's antenna (just like we used to use the ones in the '70's to get an AM radio to play FM). You unplug the antenna from the radio and into the modulator then plug the modulator's antenna lead into the radio. It works great, has signal isolation coils on the input leads, no hum, very clean.

I velcro'd it to the transmission hump ahead of the heater controls. It has left and right RCA plugs for the input, I just used an RCA to 1/8" adaptor and plug my mobile phone right in. It will not charge an IPOD. It does need 12v power and ground and you have to mount the on/off switch that switches the modulator into or out of the antenna circuit somehere. I think it was 80 bucks or thereabouts.

I never had great luck with a cassete adaptor, none were very solid. Antenna transmitters the same, not solid or you had to change stations halfway home. The only FM transmitter that worked well was the one that came with my Sirius radio and they were, I think, putting out more watts than they should have so the car next to you at a traffic light might pick up your Howard Stern.

Last edited by ProjectC4; 05-03-2012 at 12:46 PM.
Old 05-03-2012, 12:45 PM
  #14  
oilyfishhead
Racer
 
oilyfishhead's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2011
Location: Louisburg NC
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
Received 12 Likes on 10 Posts

Default

I use the cassette thingy that came with my XM radio. It works fine.
Old 05-03-2012, 03:43 PM
  #15  
gungatim
Burning Brakes
 
gungatim's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2008
Location: shelbyville West Michigan
Posts: 1,221
Received 89 Likes on 84 Posts

Default

I have converted several tape decks to ipod receivers for free. take the deck out, get to the casette head, snip the 3 wires on the head (usually Red, Black, and gnd) and re-connect to a female mini headphone jack that you will plug in to the ipod headphone jack (Red is Right, Black is Left, Gnd is Gnd). run the cable out the radio somewhere to where you can access it and plug your ipod (I use my laptop because it holds more music). when you turn the deck on, it will get the signal through the jack, you'll need to adjust the volume on the ipod pretty low to where you are not overpowering it (you'll know because it will sound like crap). The ipod won't charge, but you'll have a dirt cheap ipod capable stock system, just won't ever be able to play tapes again...I first saw this in the instructables site and was skeptical but it does work well.
Old 05-03-2012, 10:31 PM
  #16  
ghlkal
Safety Car
 
ghlkal's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2005
Location: Fredonia WI
Posts: 3,566
Received 491 Likes on 392 Posts
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2018 C4 of Year Finalist

Default

I have a Coby CA-747 Dual Position CD/MD/MP3 Cassette Adapter (search Amazon) and it works great. The wireless FM modulators didn't work well for me. Another cheapo cassette adapter didn't work either.
Old 05-04-2012, 08:41 AM
  #17  
bac22
Le Mans Master
 
bac22's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2000
Location: Epping NH
Posts: 8,213
Received 186 Likes on 163 Posts

Default

I use the GOgroove FlexSMART X2 works great. I use bluetooth to connect to my phone, so no cords and then it streams via FM to my stereo. It does have a stereo plug in port though to connect an ipad or other mp3 player.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o05_s00_i00

Get notified of new replies

To Cassette/Ipod Adapter

Old 05-04-2012, 02:11 PM
  #18  
AaronDoud
Racer
 
AaronDoud's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2012
Location: Galva IL
Posts: 268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I use a casette adaptor in my 96. In fact the one I am using was left with the car. I think it's a bit cheap though cause the one I use in my Grand Cherokee sounds better.
Old 05-20-2012, 05:25 PM
  #19  
QZRBLU
Racer
 
QZRBLU's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2006
Location: Tucson/Santa Paula AZ/CA
Posts: 438
Received 11 Likes on 6 Posts
2017 C4 of Year Finalist

Default

Originally Posted by bac22
I use the GOgroove FlexSMART X2

Thanks bac,
I just ordered this adapter and a windshield/vent mount for MY car. My wife said she would consider it my Fathers day gift. I recently had my receiver gone through and repaired. I do NOT want to do that job again. The non-bose units are REALLY buried under the passenger-side dash area.

Mick
Old 05-20-2012, 09:50 PM
  #20  
93VettePilot
Pro
 
93VettePilot's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2009
Location: Cincinnati OH
Posts: 714
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I sent my Bose head unit and had it fitted with an Ipod adapter on the cassette deck face from Dr. Dons. Sounds as good as my Kenwood deck in my other Vette.


Quick Reply: Cassette/Ipod Adapter



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:04 AM.