N95 Output to Car Stereo

[bob0smith]

I'm due an update to my head unit, and recently I dug up an old 3.5mm to Tape Cassette adapter, which doesn't sound all that bad (better than tape, not as good as CD) surprisingly. New unit certainly won't have Tape, but I'm thinking USB and the N95 opens up more options in that regard :) . However, my guess is that the N95 will then only be able to pass on the MP3's I've put on its memory card in Mass Storage mode, while at the moment the adapter passes all sound to the speakers including directions from the sat nav and callers.

So question is, is their perhaps some other adapter for the N95, presumably from the 3.5mm jack, that could plug into some headunit? Am I right in thinking that the 3.5mm jack on the N95 couldn't plug into the digital in 3.5mm jack I've seen some head units sport on the front? What about as an AUX device? Anyone got a setup running similar to what I'm trying to achieve?

[LittleJohny]

Originally Posted by bob0smith

Am I right in thinking that the 3.5mm jack on the N95 couldn't plug into the digital in 3.5mm jack I've seen some head units sport on the front?

I don't know too much about head units... but I think you are wrong... a 3.5 mm male to male cable should work as far as I know...

Edit: I think I use something similar in my car. I have a ciggy lighter FM Transmitter that has a 3.5mm in. So I plug one male end in there and the other male end in my iPod. I don't see any reason why this wouldn't work on an N95, since it has a standard 3.5 mm port.

[Anarchi]

All you need is an adapter that is compatible with a "portable cd / mp3 player" 3.5mm plug, such as an FM transmitter or a Line-In adapter that plugs into the CD Changer socket of your Head Unit (if it has one).


But if you are serious about car audio, you would want to get an iPod and Adapter (google for "icelink"). The N95's audio quality isnt spectacular. An iPod has much better sound quality, thats what its designed for ;)

[Malossi]

Do like I did... Buy a deck with bluetooth built in and that's it , wireless and good sound...

[pseudofinn]

I have a Sony head unit with RCA inputs in the rear, and a 3.5mm jack in the front. The RCA's in the rear have a bluetooth receiver plugged into them. As soon as I turn on my car, the connection is instantly activated and every sound from my N95 is routed through my car stereo's sound system.
Before I got that bluetooth receiver- I had just been plugging the N95 into the 3.5mm jack on the front of the stereo. Worked great.

Don't forget- it's not just sound from music and video (yeah... I watch episodes from the first couple seasons of the West Wing when I drive around. That's a cue for someone to tell me all about the laws ;) ) or your navigation software- it's for phone calls too! The bluetooth receiver I have has a microphone input- but of course a 3.5mm cable doesn't usually- the N95 is smart enough to realize this and enables the phone's microphone while using the car stereo as the speakers for the call. Brilliant.

And you don't need a special cable designated for MP3 or CD players. Any 3.5mm stereophonic cable will work.

Or you can get an FM tuner. I'm surprised that someone would recommend an FM tuner when better options exist, then go on about being serious about sound means you have an iPod hooked up to your car stereo. I'm not trying to start some crap, I just found it a bit amusing.

Anyway- whatever you do, don't use an FM tuner. You're getting a new stereo- so don't even count this as an option for you. I used one until I had the ability to hardwire my music to the car stereo. There is no comparison between fm tuners and a straight cable.

[lakerz4sho]

i have this thing from soundgate that i used with my ipod to connect to my car stereo.. it allows auxilary input from ipod, etc. it plugs in via 3.5mm jack... so i just plug my n95 into it and it works just the same. i know there's another out from icelink.. and probably many more now.. it's been a while since i purchased mine.

[spyda]

I have often wondered if there is a such a device as a tape to bluetooth adapter. Mine is a factory fit head unit and is one of the older type with CD/tape and radio. There is no 3.5mm jack and as far as I am aware, no auxilary inputs on the back (although there may be).

I would like some solution (not wired) that allows the playback of all sound from the phone through the car stereo. If this could double as a hands free car kit that would be perfect - although I am not sure how best to go about this.

If there was some device like the old tape to CD adapters available but one that added bluetooth functionality I guess that would work to an extent - although I am not sure of the feasibiltiy of using this as a hands free car kit.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[pseudofinn]

About the only thing I can suggest is a bluetooth receiver plugged into the cassette adapter, loaded into the stereo deck.

But if you were going to do that, you'd just want to plug the cassette adapter into the N95...

A cassette adapter with a little bluetooth chip in it would be slick- but I fear there wouldn't be much of a market for it anymore.

[spyda]

Originally Posted by pseudofinn

A cassette adapter with a little bluetooth chip in it would be slick- but I fear there wouldn't be much of a market for it anymore.

I think you could be right ... but surely I am not the only one that could make use of such a device?

Ok, lets assume I have an auxilary input ... what bluetooth adapter would you (or anyone) recommend to give my head unit BT functionality? You mentioned that you use some such device - would you be so kind as to share the details?

[pseudofinn]

Originally Posted by spyda

I think you could be right ... but surely I am not the only one that could make use of such a device?

Oh no... I'm not saying you're the only one-

I'm saying there's six of you guys.

Originally Posted by spyda

Ok, lets assume I have an auxilary input ... what bluetooth adapter would you (or anyone) recommend to give my head unit BT functionality? You mentioned that you use some such device - would you be so kind as to share the details?

I recommend the BlueLife line of receivers from Scosche. Works great with a home stereo or in a car with RCA or 3.5mm connections.