tape adapter vs. rca

sheriff · 03-21-2001, 05:25 AM

Hello,
I've recently installed my mp3 car player in my volvo s60. I've started building the player before I got the car and no one could tell me if the tape deck has rca inputs(or ouputs)which it doesn't. I hooked up my mp3 system through a tape adapter and I guss it was okay(after solving a SB problem) but stil there is a hiss when I switch to tape mode I'm gussing it's because of the tape adapter, and the sound is more like a cassete rather a cd. I contact a lab That told me they can add rca inputs to my head deck my Q's are do you think this would help the sound quality I just want to be sure before I invest more money that with the rca input every noise can be eliminated(eventually).
Thanks

hornet · 03-21-2001, 06:11 AM

If it definatly does have RCA inputs, the sound quality will definatly improve. Using RCA inputs you have a physical connection for your audio, where as using a tape adaptor the audio is converted from electrical, to magnetic(?) then back to electrical, each time, loosing quality.

Of course it is going to sound like a cassette when you are using a cassette adaptor, because that is what it is, your simulating a cassette in the player.

As for investing more money, unless you need a special adaptor to utilize your RCA inputs the only things u should need are a decent set of RCA cables.

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My plans and progress on my install http://www.mp3car.com/usersites/hornet

Dartman111 · 03-21-2001, 01:53 PM

This is sort of on the topic. I have an old head unit with only tape and I was thinking there might be a way to "hardwire" the sound in. The idea was to skip the tape adapter and solder a line in into the cassette deck. I connected the wires right after the magnetic? pickup of the cassette deck. I tried this and could get excellent sound as long as i only used the left or right channel but there was loud popping if i tried to use both. Can anyone explain this? This seems like a good way to get a cheap aux input on your head unit.

sheriff · 03-21-2001, 05:54 PM

My head deck doesn't have a rca input but I contected a lab and they told me they can make it an rca input that connects to the units amp.

Chris Snyder · 03-21-2001, 07:42 PM

If it costs more than $50 to add RCA's, just get a new HU.

gizmomkr · 03-21-2001, 09:05 PM

Dartman.... Humm I tried this a while back, and ot worked great for me. Im not sure why yours is poping. Maybe over voltage, try a small resistor or variable resistor to adjust the levels, the tape deck is expecting a verry low signal to come into the magnetic pickup line. its probably just too loud.

the other thing is- An audio isolation transformer. radio shack sells them for about 2 bucks. you could throw one of those on there.

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