Ipod hookup for a clarion head unit

[Gschmidt1]

Hey guys,

I am trying to track down whatever I need to hook up my ipod to my Clarion head unit. I cannot give you the exact stereo model, but my boat is an 04' switch V.

All I really want is a direct in ability.

[delongheavyhaul]

i have a fm transmitter for my ipod. i just put the radio on a station, and make the ipod the same station. works great. no wires or anything.

[Gschmidt1]

Ok, let me make this a little more clear...

I want direct input options only.

[billspin]

I have the XMD3 Clarion head in my 04 22i and I attached to plugs that are coming out of the back of the head unit and ran an extension to the dash area and I plug my mp3 player in and set the head on AUX. I do not remember the color of the plug I hooked up to but I do remember seeing this in a thread here a while back.

[xpjim1]

Need a little more input here

Do you want to just play your ipod thru the Head unit?

Do you want your ipod to charge

Simplest solution is a 1/8 mini jack to aux inputs cable. I bought a 20 foot long Monster cable, ran it around the bow and hooked it to the headphone output on the IPOD and the AUX inputs on the Clarion. You must have a CMD3 clarion unit to have the aux inputs. You can control volume through the stereo and song selection through the ipod. You might need to adjust the aux sensitivity on the head unit to boost the volume

If you want charging capability you will need an additional cable that will connect the ipod to the aux inputs. I believe peripheral electronics make one. I will try to get a link later.

Next clarion makes an ipod interface which charges. Check cruthfield. You must make 6 playlists. Unsure what displays on the remotes as this was truly made to be a car interface.

I chose the Harmon Kardon Drive + Play approach. It is a display and control knob. The ipod is hidden under the dash. The HK Display is on the dash and mimics the ipod screen, the control knob I am mounting infront of the throttle. Hopefully the screen will not discolor in the Arizona heat like my clarion display remotes. This unit also charges the ipod.

[mtnsmith]

I posted a link to the owner's manual I found the other night for that particular headunit and it has a full wiring diagram in it. It is in General discussion. All that is needed is a cord that goes from a Stereo Mini plug to an RCA plug. You should be able to get one from Wal-mart, radio shack, target...just about anywhere. The female part that you will need to plug into is probably bound tightly with cable ties up and behind the glovebox with all the rest of the leads from your head unit wiring harness. Then as the above post says, switch to AUX input and you should hear your i-pod or any other stereo mini device. My friend uses his portable XM receiver that he uses in his car so he would not need a second sattelite radio account.

[Gschmidt1]

That is exactly what I needed. Thanks guys. One more thing, is there a company that just makes a dock (no cords/extensions) that my ipod could slip into, and mount to the boat?

[Domsz06]

if you have a clarion, you can buy thier cnet control. it's like 100 bucks and it does all that stuff for you. But why waste the money when you can make your own nice and neat with some cable ties and creativity. Worried about ruining your ipod? get an otter box www.otterbox.com and your golden!!

[Domsz06]

if you don't have the XMD3 then you can't do any of the options. Just look on the front and it will tell you XMD1, 2 or 3. I have the 1, but just bought a 3 so I can use my ipod!!

[wrangler]

I know it's not the Clarion...but we have the Alpine head unit with the IPOD adapter...I can't tell you how happy we are that we did this little add on. Get it figured out so you can plug the IPOD directly in... The FM transmitter never works as well and the sound quality is clearly not as good... Good luck...

[Domsz06]

I agree I think the fm transmitter sucks!! It was never clear. I mean it could be that the speakers I have are crystal clear, so any imperfection it picks up, but none the less, new head unit is on the way