Playing Mp3s Over The Rx330 Sound System?

[eckhart]

I posted this on theRX 330 forum but this venue seems more appropriate.

My RX330 does not have the Nav system. I have a lot of good mp3 music on CDs and in my Ipod and I want to play them over the sound system. Either changing the CD player to one that plays MP3s, or adding a connector for an iPod would work.

I called the Service Department at Santa Monica Lexus and the guy I talked to said he couldn't do it. I've seen some expensive 3rd party systems on this board for iPod connectors, and ads for some cheap systems that involve FM transmission or cassette replacements. Is that it? I've seen nothing that discusses changing the CD player, Is that not possible?

Any advice would be appreciated?

Thanks,

eckhart

[jainla]

What year is your car? This will help narrow down your options.

2004 and later RX models seem to be able to use the Vaistech units with or without the Nav:

http://www.vaistech.com/sli.html

I'm not sure if the Denision DICE unit will work or not:

http://www.diceelectronics.com/ipod_integration.htm

Both these units patch into the AV network in the car and come up as additional CD/MD changer units, so you don't actually remove anything. If you search this and other forums you'll see what experiences other users have had; I think somebody posted install instructions for an RX (or maybe it was a GX).

Changing the CD player is difficult because its not a straight audio line-in connector but a proprietary network-type system that most likely nobody makes an aftermarket replacement for (and as expensive if not more so than using one of the aformentioned connector units). In Japan some of the Lexus models (the LS430 in particular) came with fancy DVDA/CD changers; I'm not sure if they played MP3s or not.

Most aftermarket mods end up replacing the entire AV system because its just too difficult to patch into; the Mark Levinson and Nakamichi systems in particular are too difficult to piggyback on top of.

I posted this on theRX 330 forum but this venue seems more appropriate.

My RX330 does not have the Nav system. I have a lot of good mp3 music on CDs and in my Ipod and I want to play them over the sound system. Either changing the CD player to one that plays MP3s, or adding a connector for an iPod would work.

I called the Service Department at Santa Monica Lexus and the guy I talked to said he couldn't do it. I've seen some expensive 3rd party systems on this board for iPod connectors, and ads for some cheap systems that involve FM transmission or cassette replacements. Is that it? I've seen nothing that discusses changing the CD player, Is that not possible?

Any advice would be appreciated?

Thanks,

eckhart

[eckhart]

What year is your car? This will help narrow down your options.

Hi Jainla,

First, thanks for the reply.

I checked both the Dension and AIC websites. The Dension (DICE) unit was cheaper (($150) and will work for my 2004 RX330. The company referred me to Al & Ed's Autosound here in Santa Monica who will install the unit for $150 unless I need a "bracket" fir the iPod holder. The "bracket" will cost an additional $75. This looked pretty good although I want to check out the "bracket" stuff a bit. I downloaded the company's 4 page installation instructions and it looks pretty simple.

eckhart