Can I hard wire my zune to my car stereo?

Jeff Roy · 05-18-2008, 12:24 PM

I went to circuit city today to see if they sold anything that would allow me to hard wire my zune to my car stereo but they didnt. the kid gave me a website to check out but its very hard to navigate. Does anyone know if this is possible to do? I have a 2003 ford explorer.

Gregory · 05-18-2008, 12:33 PM

Just get a stereo with an AUX Jack.

Jeff Roy · 05-18-2008, 12:58 PM

Are there any websites that can tell me if my factory head unit had aux inputs? i have a 2003 ford explorer xlt with a 6 disc changer and factory sub, so i would think i have aux inputs.

Gregory · 05-18-2008, 01:30 PM

^^AUX input in the lower right hand corner.

runtohell121 · 05-18-2008, 03:49 PM

most cars around that year do not have aux input, if your car has a cassette player.. go buy a cassette adapter and those work fine

good sound quality.. better than fm transmitter by a lot lol.

tedbone · 05-19-2008, 06:13 PM

Kicker Audio will soon be releasing Soundgate compatible with Zune for most makes & models. The awesome thing is that it plugs into the bottom Zune port wich will unlock audio & video, will charge it, and the factory radio can control the zune.

I've read reports that say the release will be as early as Mid June to July 2008!

zune08boardaccount08 · 05-23-2008, 05:52 AM

I've got a VR3 car stereo with USB, SD and Aux inputs. These gadgets have been sold by the millions thru Walmart and Target stores. Sometimes they have QC problems, but when they work (like mine) they are fantastic. The USB port accepts flash drives and generic MP3 players that act like a Windows mass storage device. But Zune and Ipod won't work thru USB, they must use the Aux in jack.

I like the USB connection much better than AUX in, for a few reasons.

1. The sound quality seems better because the weak pre-amp in the tiny MP3 player is bypassed. The car stereo's MP3 decoder and amp do all the work with a USB connection. Most MP3 players have puny power output because they are so small. I swear I can hear a loss of sound quality when I crank up the volume to compensate for the low input level of the Aux jack. When an audio input signal is weak, the high and low frequencies suffer the most.

2. Playing thru Aux runs down the Zune battery on long trips. The USB port charges my cheapo COBY player while it plays. I can even use my Nokia cell phone as a USB storage device - why not the Zune? IF only there was a hack that allowed the Zune to emulate a flash drive. I do have a Zune car charger, but it creates noise in the stereo if I run it while playing.

I know this is not just a Zune issue - RCA Opal players and Ipod's won't connect thru USB either. (Although my RCA Opal player will connect to an RCA home stereo thru USB - there must be some brand-specific protocol at work there.)

zuneboy1992 · 05-27-2008, 11:00 AM

most cars around that year do not have aux input, if your car has a cassette player.. go buy a cassette adapter and those work fine good sound quality.. better than fm transmitter by a lot lol.

05-18-2008, 12:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jeff Roy Zewbie Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 8 Reputation: 10 $zB: 8 Donate	Can I hard wire my zune to my car stereo? I went to circuit city today to see if they sold anything that would allow me to hard wire my zune to my car stereo but they didnt. the kid gave me a website to check out but its very hard to navigate. Does anyone know if this is possible to do? I have a 2003 ford explorer.

05-18-2008, 12:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gregory Support Team Moderator Ultimate Zuner Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: What a stalker! Posts: 6,396 Reputation: 251 $zB: 3706 Donate Awards Showcase Total Awards: 1	Just get a stereo with an AUX Jack. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Do you live outside of the US, have Paypal, and want the Zune Pass? If so PM me.

05-18-2008, 01:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Gregory Support Team Moderator Ultimate Zuner Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: What a stalker! Posts: 6,396 Reputation: 251 $zB: 3706 Donate Awards Showcase Total Awards: 1	^^AUX input in the lower right hand corner. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Do you live outside of the US, have Paypal, and want the Zune Pass? If so PM me.

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05-18-2008, 12:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jeff Roy Zewbie Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 8 Reputation: 10 $zB: 8 Donate	Are there any websites that can tell me if my factory head unit had aux inputs? i have a 2003 ford explorer xlt with a 6 disc changer and factory sub, so i would think i have aux inputs.

05-19-2008, 06:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
tedbone Zewbie Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1 Reputation: 10 $zB: 0 Donate	Kicker Audio will soon be releasing Soundgate compatible with Zune for most makes & models. The awesome thing is that it plugs into the bottom Zune port wich will unlock audio & video, will charge it, and the factory radio can control the zune. I've read reports that say the release will be as early as Mid June to July 2008!

05-23-2008, 05:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
zune08boardaccount08 Jr. Zuner Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 36 Reputation: 9 $zB: 3 Donate	I've got a VR3 car stereo with USB, SD and Aux inputs. These gadgets have been sold by the millions thru Walmart and Target stores. Sometimes they have QC problems, but when they work (like mine) they are fantastic. The USB port accepts flash drives and generic MP3 players that act like a Windows mass storage device. But Zune and Ipod won't work thru USB, they must use the Aux in jack. I like the USB connection much better than AUX in, for a few reasons. 1. The sound quality seems better because the weak pre-amp in the tiny MP3 player is bypassed. The car stereo's MP3 decoder and amp do all the work with a USB connection. Most MP3 players have puny power output because they are so small. I swear I can hear a loss of sound quality when I crank up the volume to compensate for the low input level of the Aux jack. When an audio input signal is weak, the high and low frequencies suffer the most. 2. Playing thru Aux runs down the Zune battery on long trips. The USB port charges my cheapo COBY player while it plays. I can even use my Nokia cell phone as a USB storage device - why not the Zune? IF only there was a hack that allowed the Zune to emulate a flash drive. I do have a Zune car charger, but it creates noise in the stereo if I run it while playing. I know this is not just a Zune issue - RCA Opal players and Ipod's won't connect thru USB either. (Although my RCA Opal player will connect to an RCA home stereo thru USB - there must be some brand-specific protocol at work there.)

05-27-2008, 11:00 AM	#8 (permalink)
zuneboy1992 Jr. Zuner Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 30 Reputation: 10 $zB: 23 Donate	most cars around that year do not have aux input, if your car has a cassette player.. go buy a cassette adapter and those work fine good sound quality.. better than fm transmitter by a lot lol.

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