Connecting an iPod to Forrester audio unit

[Zeppo]

Hi,
My 20 yo daughter's 2001 Forrester we bought for her has a very nice factory
in-dash AM/FM cassette, 6 CD changer unit. My daughter is looking for a way
to easily connect her iPod so she can avoid listening to the radio or CDs.
We've tried radio frequency adapters and she has found the iPod cassette
adapter too clunky and always in the way.

Is there a way to connect the ipod directly to this unit? Is there an
auxiliary input on the back of the unit?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Jon

 

[ntadime]

No, sure isn't. Subaru didn't think of that until 2006 on the B9 and
2007 on the legacy.
I have a an XM radio on my legacy gt that inputs into a directly wired
FM modulator. The sound is significantly better then a typical
broadcast FM modulator and there isn't any station bleed in bigger
cities. The input would plug right into the IPods headphone jack. Thats
how my daughter listens to her IPod on her '05 Impreza. Same set up as
mine.

Another option is a device designed and sold on the legacy gt board
called the jazzy board. It requires some additional skill on
installation but it creates a true aux. input jack.

 

[Victor Roberts]

Hi,
My 20 yo daughter's 2001 Forrester we bought for her has a very nice factory
in-dash AM/FM cassette, 6 CD changer unit. My daughter is looking for a way
to easily connect her iPod so she can avoid listening to the radio or CDs.
We've tried radio frequency adapters and she has found the iPod cassette
adapter too clunky and always in the way.

Is there a way to connect the ipod directly to this unit? Is there an
auxiliary input on the back of the unit?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Jon

Have you tried a wired FM adapter or only the wireless FM
adapter? See
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-teZtywT1dxz/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?I=142FMMOD01

 

[Wim]

Hi,
My 20 yo daughter's 2001 Forrester we bought for her has a very nice
factory in-dash AM/FM cassette, 6 CD changer unit. My daughter is looking
for a way to easily connect her iPod so she can avoid listening to the
radio or CDs. We've tried radio frequency adapters and she has found the
iPod cassette adapter too clunky and always in the way.

Is there a way to connect the ipod directly to this unit? Is there an
auxiliary input on the back of the unit?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Jon
search on ebay for kenwood kca-ip500 ipod interface

wim

 

[Zeppo]

Hi Wim,
It appears that this will only control newer Kenwood head units, not the OEM
Subaru radio.

Thanks,
Jon

 

[Zeppo]

No, sure isn't. Subaru didn't think of that until 2006 on the B9 and
2007 on the legacy.
I have a an XM radio on my legacy gt that inputs into a directly wired
FM modulator. The sound is significantly better then a typical
broadcast FM modulator and there isn't any station bleed in bigger
cities. The input would plug right into the IPods headphone jack. Thats
how my daughter listens to her IPod on her '05 Impreza. Same set up as
mine.

Another option is a device designed and sold on the legacy gt board
called the jazzy board. It requires some additional skill on
installation but it creates a true aux. input jack.

Thanks to both you and Victor. I'm investigating the wired FM modulators,
but leaning towards replacing the head unit with one that either has an
accessory or USB port on the face or has an iPod cable coming off the back.

Jon

Jon

 

[DMH]

Last year I got a 2006 Forester and was looking for the same solution.
I ended up replacing the factory unit with a JVC player that comes
with a custom iPod adapter. The installer put the iPod plug in the
glove box - a nice solution. I can control the iPod from the JVC's
controls. The whole setup cost me about $350.