Trying to help a friend find a decent car deck he can plug his iPod into. I think I already sold him on using a TURBOdock line out converter. I guess RCA inputs would be preferred, but a mini jack on the front would be fine (I don't like mine cause the cable sticks out next to my shifter).

So what are some good lower, or reasonably, priced options? I don't think he wants to pay too much for it, but I also don't want to recommend something junky. I'm not even familiar with car audio forums to search.

Thanks.

Why not get a unit with an iPod interface and skip the analog stage altogether? For example here is a reasonably priced ($99) deck that has both an iPod interface and a rear RCA aux input in case he ever changes to a different player. I would have him browse crutchfield.com, as there are a ton of other options as well.

I hadn't realized that option was so affordable now. Thanks.

Well the iPod adapter will cost you an additional $50, but that's still pretty cheap!

I paid over $300 for a system two years ago. I should also mention that the interface that I got (Alpine KCA-420i) is dreadfully slow. Later models are much more responsive, at least the one by Alpine. Hopefully this is true for the Panasonic.

You say skip the analog stage does this mean you can view playlists etc on the stereo without having to select the track on your ipod?

Plus on the above example where is the ipod adapter connection is it behind the fold down display?

2Pacalypse,

Cyanehes is incorrect in saying that the analog stage is skipped when using an iPod interface. The interface uses the iPod's analog line out to pass audio to the head unit. I've found this to be a common misconception.

But yes, this is how it works, you use the head unit to select and display tracks/albums/playlists.

Really? I had just assumed. That seems illogical on the face, as you would have to have two connections between the unit and the iPod. Perhaps it's necessary because of DRMed iTMS tracks. Is there any way to get digital output from an iPod, on a car or home playback unit?

Sounds good by most stereo head units screen will display less lines of songs then the ipod.

A while ago i was thinking of the Pioneer AVIC-X1BT but it is by no means a BUDGET stereo. Its touch screen and you can buy a ipod adapter.

In light of what greynol said does that mean it would display your playlists on the touch screen monitor and you could browse?

im trying to get a understanding of what features (mainly visual) these ipod adapters give car stereo? can you search for songs?

atm i just have a rca connected to my ipod and use the ipod for selecting songs?

You can use RockBox and simply use the iPod as an external drive.

Yes, but what does get displayed is larger and should take less attention away from your driving.