Plug n Play Aux-in mod for 2005 6cd radios

[Mario5]

I have a Japanese outback, with 6cd changer and AC controler in one unit, it has an input for an erternal cd changer, but it is not standard, since it also inputs the nav unit if equiped (mine is not).

It is a Kenwood GX-201SEF2, I also have the circuit diagrams but it is a 2.3mb pdf file.

Would your aux work?

[jazzymt]

I've been thinking about ways to improve the silent CD some, but I haven't had a chance to try any of them yet. One idea I had was that I think it might be possible to record mono audio and possibly double the length of the CD. Another was that I should look into possibly using a lower CDA sampling rate...although I don't know if there is such thing and if all CD's are just 48kHz... If anyone knows more about this sorta thing, feel free to try it out for us...I just haven't found the time yet.

 

Also this week I'm going to hunt down another radio so that I can start benchtop testing with the scope & get started on the next edition.

[jazzymt]

I have a Japanese outback, with 6cd changer and AC controler in one unit, it has an input for an erternal cd changer, but it is not standard, since it also inputs the nav unit if equiped (mine is not).

It is a Kenwood GX-201SEF2, I also have the circuit diagrams but it is a 2.3mb pdf file.

Would your aux work?

Uh...It's anybody's guess if it would work. The plugs on the back look like they're in different places too, not just more or less, so I'm decidedly unsure. The front makes it look like it has similar enough internals, but I can't be sure since nobody's tried it. I guess what I'm saying is, you can try it at your own risk. If I were you I'd use the JDM double din bezel & a new head unit.

[rony]

I've been thinking about ways to improve the silent CD some, but I haven't had a chance to try any of them yet. One idea I had was that I think it might be possible to record mono audio and possibly double the length of the CD. Another was that I should look into possibly using a lower CDA sampling rate...although I don't know if there is such thing and if all CD's are just 48kHz... If anyone knows more about this sorta thing, feel free to try it out for us...I just haven't found the time yet.

 

Also this week I'm going to hunt down another radio so that I can start benchtop testing with the scope & get started on the next edition.

 

CD's are Stereo 44khz PCM sample only... Or at least that's my understanding... Someone correct me if I'm wrong, please.

[c_hunter]

Just wanted to pass on another iPod tip...iPod's are not known for having loud volume (cuz the guvment has to protect our ears, ya know)...so bump the volume up on your entire iTunes library by 10-15%. iTunes does a great job of cranking up the volume without creating any clipping or distortion. After you do this and play it back in your car, you will get much better sound especially on any bass parts of the music. Try it, it really works well. Remember to use full volume too. You won't have to turn it up on the head unit as much.

 

 

This only affects the headphone jack. If you're using the dock connector, it's standard line-level out and is not affected by the volume adjustment in iTunes.

 

If you are using the headphone jack for output, you should switch to the dock connector. The headphone level is much lower than the dock's line level, and when you crank up the volume to compensate, you're adding distortion. By using the dock connector, you are getting a clean line-level signal with the proper amplification to connect to other devices.

 

The only time you have to use the headphone jack for external hookups is with a 1G or 2G iPod that did not have a dock connector.

 

Craig

[c_hunter]

OK - I made a fascinating discovery (not sure if it's been noted before, but I haven't seen anything about it). I had the radio on and all of a sudden the music was messed up. I realized that I had hit play on the ipod and it was coming through with the radio on. Got me to thinking - might not need a blank cd if you could have the unit on but without it playing anything. Currently - I have an old fm modulator that I hard wired in the back of the wagon (where the 12v socket should be that blanks out 88.3 - no static (well hardly any) and it seems to work. If anyone can think of another way to do this, I'm open to suggestions...

 

btw - I'm using Jazzy's board - hence the post in this thread

 

In retrospect, it makes sense. Why bother cuting the input from the cd, when they just turn the cd off when it's not in use...

 

 

Go read centerpunch's original thread (it's a sticky) where we have discussed this in gory detail. Maybe you will get some other ideas on how to do it. Another fellow posted a thread (which got located in the entirely wrong forum) where he physically cut and switched the lines from the tuner. If you can find that one, it's worth a read as well.

 

CRaig

[jazzymt]

CD's are Stereo 44khz PCM sample only... Or at least that's my understanding... Someone correct me if I'm wrong, please.

AFAIK, you are correct Rony. I just thought there might be a way cuz some guy approached me and said his buddy is a sound engineer and had a way to make 3 hour silent cd's (and wanted to sell them to me for $5 a piece). If there's a secret, I don't know what it is, but I thought it might be something along those lines.

[StringFellow]

AFAIK, you are correct Rony. I just thought there might be a way cuz some guy approached me and said his buddy is a sound engineer and had a way to make 3 hour silent cd's (and wanted to sell them to me for $5 a piece). If there's a secret, I don't know what it is, but I thought it might be something along those lines.

 

3 hour silent CD! Now that would be awesome!

 

-S

[LegacyGT 05]

Go read centerpunch's original thread (it's a sticky) where we have discussed this in gory detail.

 

I have read a lot of it and did not see anything exactly like this. Also, I do not want to make any mods that cannot be removed - hense no cutting/splicing/etc... It has to be able to be returned to normal in case of warranty issue.

 

Tried it today and was getting some static driving. Am going to try the mp3 cd - last time I put it in it played, but nothing came out. Not sure how long it will play though. Should be interesting...

[jazzymt]

OK - I made a fascinating discovery (not sure if it's been noted before, but I haven't seen anything about it). I had the radio on and all of a sudden the music was messed up. I realized that I had hit play on the ipod and it was coming through with the radio on. Got me to thinking - might not need a blank cd if you could have the unit on but without it playing anything. Currently - I have an old fm modulator that I hard wired in the back of the wagon (where the 12v socket should be that blanks out 88.3 - no static (well hardly any) and it seems to work. If anyone can think of another way to do this, I'm open to suggestions...

 

btw - I'm using Jazzy's board - hence the post in this thread

 

In retrospect, it makes sense. Why bother cuting the input from the cd, when they just turn the cd off when it's not in use...

Actually, I discussed the possibility of this in post #58 in this thread:

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18504&page=4

 

One of the guys that simply soldered inline relays into his radio to interrupt the radio signal and eliminate the silent cd requirement has a walkthru here: (although I will note that I know he wasn't the first to try it, I saw taddison do it about a month or so earlier, but he does have a good walkthru).

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21047

 

I'd agree also that this is an unacceptable way to treat a factory radio/ACC system that costs upwards of $500 to replace...especially for those of us that are leasing, hence the desire to make a better plug and play solution. I'm sure someone could figure one out quicker than I, but so far, nobody has, so I'll give it a try.

[StringFellow]

I am one who also wanted/wants a solution that can be removed as needed. If the climate controls go out, if the display goes blank, etc., I want to be able to remove the mod and get the unit fixed. The convience of the other MODs just isn't worth $500, not to mention the possibility of screwing up the radio at mod time.

 

-S

[bemani]

I've been thinking about ways to improve the silent CD some, but I haven't had a chance to try any of them yet. One idea I had was that I think it might be possible to record mono audio and possibly double the length of the CD. Another was that I should look into possibly using a lower CDA sampling rate...although I don't know if there is such thing and if all CD's are just 48kHz... If anyone knows more about this sorta thing, feel free to try it out for us...I just haven't found the time yet.

 

Also this week I'm going to hunt down another radio so that I can start benchtop testing with the scope & get started on the next edition.

 

If you can figure out some way to not write the lead-out, the CD will play forever.

[jazzymt]

Just a quick update on the PCB's - they are currently being screened, which is the last step before shipping. ~ and the peasants rejoiced...hurreeh ~ With any luck they'll ship them in the next couple of days & I can start shipping backorders early next week.

 

I'm also not having any luck finding a junkyard VDC radio so I'm going to just sacrifice my own radio for awhile to start mapping the digital I/O. I purchased a reverse wiring harness so I can get it set up on the bench & I should get that some time this week.

[Leonardo]

Where do I sigh up?

[jazzymt]

I'm going to try something new...use the link in the first post to purchase the board:

[Mario5]

The japanese outback comes with a kenwood gx-201sef2 (or other electronicaly identical versions depending on left or right hand drive), the full specifications and circuit diagrams can be downloaded from http://archive.espec.ws/section392/file6639.html

 

The kenwood c-929 cd changer data, which is the one sold by Subaru to use as an extermnal cd changer, but with a different conecting cable to fit the radio conector, and that should make possible to make an aux input in that conector, is in

http://archive.espec.ws/section392/file6719.html

 

Maybe someone an get to some solution with that data to make a "plugable" aux in.

[c_hunter]

The japanese outback comes with a kenwood gx-201sef2 (or other electronicaly identical versions depending on left or right hand drive), the full specifications and circuit diagrams can be downloaded from http://archive.espec.ws/section392/file6639.html

 

The kenwood c-929 cd changer data, which is the one sold by Subaru to use as an extermnal cd changer, but with a different conecting cable to fit the radio conector, and that should make possible to make an aux input in that conector, is in

http://archive.espec.ws/section392/file6719.html

 

Maybe someone an get to some solution with that data to make a "plugable" aux in.

\

 

 

That's not going to help us in North America, as we have Panasonic/Matsushita radios that do not have an external CD changer jack.

[jazzymt]

How on earth did you find that info Mario5? I'm not sure it isn't at least partially useful...although it's a lot of info to sift through, but do you think you can find the equivalent for the LHD version? It would be invaluable.

 

On another subject - the PCB's have shipped. UPS expects to deliver them Friday so I should be able to get the orders out early next week.

[jazzymt]

note: updated the FAQ & other info in the first post...

[Mario5]

How on earth did you find that info Mario5? I'm not sure it isn't at least partially useful...although it's a lot of info to sift through, but do you think you can find the equivalent for the LHD version? It would be invaluable.

 

On another subject - the PCB's have shipped. UPS expects to deliver them Friday so I should be able to get the orders out early next week.

 

Found it on the web, but the site seems to be down for now.

 

I need help:

 

Facts for japanese outback owners:

1- The Kenwood HU has a 20 pin rectangular input for an external CD changer and NAVI system, and a selector for band-cd-tape (yes, it has a cassete deck)-chr.

2- The CHR option does not work if no cd changer is connected, the same as the tape option does not work if no tape is in the player.

3- The optional CD changer is a kenwood c-929, with a special Subaru cable to fit the rectangular HU input, that does not have the standard 13 pin round Kenwood CD changer input, that cable seems not to be sold.

4- The CD changer must return some sort of "protocol" to be detected as such by the HU, not just connecting the cables to audio chanels (I did that and it doesn't work).

5- Kenwood makes the kca-ip500 adaptor to connect the ipod to combatible kenwood HU, with 13 pin round plug input, so I assume it returns the right protocol for it to be detected as a CD changer.

6- I have the pin diagrams for the Subaru HU rectangular plug, the c-929 (out to radio) changer, and the pin input of two kenwood radios compatible with both the kca-ip500 adaptor and the c-929 changer with the standard (not Subaru) cable.

 

Now, the question is, if I get hold of a 13 pin kenwood female plug, as the one on the back of some aftermarket units (should not be that difficult), and wire it to the right equivalent pins of the Subaru HU rectangular input (by the way, computer power source cable terminals fit very nice on the pins):

1- Could I connect a kca-ip500 to that?

2- What cable do i need to connect to what? (some are easy, but CLK, DATA C, DATA H, CH CON, etc?), I am only an electronic fan.

I include pictures of the pinouts.

Thanks for any help.

 

PD: if you have the full details (brand, model) of the USA SUbaru HU I could try a search for those service manuals.

[petes99]

i don't suppose there's any hope for an Outback Sport SE (260W 6disc).. labeled "P133" on the face..

 

http://yettas.com/images/impreza/hu.jpg

[jazzymt]

i don't suppose there's any hope for an Outback Sport SE (260W 6disc).. labeled "P133" on the face..

 

Sorry, no hope to be found here. If you decide to replace your stereo however (the opportunity of which has many of us envious) PM me...I might be interested in picking up your stock deck for my GF's saturn if the price is right (around $50?).

[pattali]

Found it on the web, but the site seems to be down for now.

 

I need help:

 

Facts for japanese outback owners:

1- The Kenwood HU has a 20 pin rectangular input for an external CD changer and NAVI system, and a selector for band-cd-tape (yes, it has a cassete deck)-chr.

2- The CHR option does not work if no cd changer is connected, the same as the tape option does not work if no tape is in the player.

3- The optional CD changer is a kenwood c-929, with a special Subaru cable to fit the rectangular HU input, that does not have the standard 13 pin round Kenwood CD changer input, that cable seems not to be sold.

4- The CD changer must return some sort of "protocol" to be detected as such by the HU, not just connecting the cables to audio chanels (I did that and it doesn't work).

5- Kenwood makes the kca-ip500 adaptor to connect the ipod to combatible kenwood HU, with 13 pin round plug input, so I assume it returns the right protocol for it to be detected as a CD changer.

6- I have the pin diagrams for the Subaru HU rectangular plug, the c-929 (out to radio) changer, and the pin input of two kenwood radios compatible with both the kca-ip500 adaptor and the c-929 changer with the standard (not Subaru) cable.

 

Now, the question is, if I get hold of a 13 pin kenwood female plug, as the one on the back of some aftermarket units (should not be that difficult), and wire it to the right equivalent pins of the Subaru HU rectangular input (by the way, computer power source cable terminals fit very nice on the pins):

1- Could I connect a kca-ip500 to that?

2- What cable do i need to connect to what? (some are easy, but CLK, DATA C, DATA H, CH CON, etc?), I am only an electronic fan.

I include pictures of the pinouts.

Thanks for any help.

 

PD: if you have the full details (brand, model) of the USA SUbaru HU I could try a search for those service manuals.

 

That's really interresting because in Europe We get same HU with 20 pins plug. It's really a nighmare because this plug doesn't work except pluging C929 cd-changer.

So I decide to buy Jazzy solution, when I receive Jazzy solution and modify my HU, I will tell you if it's work.

PS : I don't think that kca-ip500 works with our HU because it only works with some Kenwood unit.

[jazzymt]

Well, I assembled boards to have enough to ship to everyone plus some extras, thinking I had all the parts I needed, only to find out I didn't have enough heatshrink... Sorry. My bad. I'm making up for it by having more overnighted to me so that I can get the rest of the orders out by Wednesday morning at the latest (and then I'll be gone all weekend for Thanksgiving).

 

Other than that, the new boards look good...audio lines finally corrected & otherwise, about the same as the last batch. Besides the screw up on HS to be corrected shortly, I have parts to make quite a few more boards and should have them in stock for a good while now.

 

I also received the forward & reverse wiring harness. 12V Power supply should arrive some time this week & will get started on bench testing the HU by early December. I dunno if I will complete this project in a time frame that helps anyone, but I'm gunna try anyway.

[direavenger]

I dunno if I will complete this project in a time frame that helps anyone, but I'm gunna try anyway.

I'm watching your progress jazzy, and I'm not in any rush. I purchased v1 of your board, and I'm anxiously awaiting v2.

 

Thanks for all the work that you have done for this community!