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iPod to CR 814 900

(I decided to start another thread on this subject)

I removed the radio to use the mbus adapter but ran into problems.

Here are some photos for you radio-techy types. I'm stumped!

http://picasaweb.google.com/hovonogila/NoahSCR814ForITouch#

1) There are three connections to the back of radio. The antennae, a modular block with about a dozen wires, and a black round connector that fits into a receptacle marked "AMP".

2) The m-bus adapter only fits into the receptacle marked "EQ". It had a white plug in it when I removed the radio. The plug has four pins and I would suspect acts as an exterior jumper across the connections.

3) The round receptacle next to it is labeled "AMP" and it is used by the car. When the m-bus adapter is plugged into the EQ receptacle for the iPod it blocks the AMP receptacle for the car's harness. You CANNOT PLUG BOTH IN AT THE SAME TIME.

4) There is a last receptacle labeled "CD" and you can see it in the picture. The m-bus cable does not fit this connection.

My dilemma is I cannot plug both in at the same time and I thought the iPod was going to take the place of the CD changer connection. Right now I'm stuck. I'm not going to give up...and I could use some guidance. Then...off to the FAQ...once I get it working.
--
I'm stuck on Volvo and Volvo's stuck on me....








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iPod to CR 814 900

Where did you get the ipod to 8 pin din connector harness?

I also have a cr-814 radio and have been planning to make up a harness to attach a ipod or other mp3 player, but just haven't gotten to it yet.

From what I understand, the harness you are trying to use might not be a workable solution. I'm not sure that the cr-814 can be connected to an external player through the m-bus connector (which is the smaller connector labeled cd on the back of your headunit). Some Alpine systems (Alpine made the Volvo units) can accomodate an ipod through their m-bus connector, but I'm pretty certain that the cr-814 is not one that will work

The setup on the cr-814 is different than that of most earlier volvo headunits. The large connector is where the power connections enter the headunit. A preamp signal then comes out the 8 pin din connector labeled EQ and goes to an external Equalizer (if so equipped) - the signal then returns back to the headunit through the same 8 pin din connector. When the white plug is in place it just jumpers the signal back into the headunit (no EQ). The signal then leaves the headunit through the jack labeled amp and goes to the external amp which is mounted above the drivers left knee, behind the dash. Finally, the external amp has a connector identical to the large connector on the back of the headunit (but with leads attached to different pins) through which the signal is sent to the four speakers. This is where the cr-814 is different than most earlier volvo headunits - many of them use an external amp but the signal is returned from the amp to the headunit and then sent out to the speakers on them.

As I understand it, the workable way to connect an external ipod or other mp3 player to a cr-814 is to use a din plug similar to the one you have (but with a straight type connector rather than the right angle type you have so that it doesn't block the amp jack) and to then connect it so that the signals coming out of the headunit connect to a 1/4" stereo pin female jack (just like the headphone jack on your mp3 player. The leads that carry the signal back to the headunit would then be connected to a 1/4" pin stereo male connector just like the plug end of your headphones. Then, if you want to listen to the mp3 player you would just plug the male lead into the mp3 player's headphone jack. If you wanted to listen to the radio you would unplug it from the mp3 player and plug it back into the female jack coming from the headunit (effectively jumpering the leads just like the white plug was doing before.

As I say, I haven't actually gotten this done yet, but I have been planning to for a while. In my case, I have both an external CD player and an external EQ attached to my cr-814 so I just plan to cut the wire going to the EQ and install a pair of 1/4" connectors to reconnect the cut ends (of course I'll have to make sure to get the male and female connector on the right ends so that the male end connects to the side carrying the signal towards the headunit)

Hope this helps! If anyone knows of another way to connect a mp3 player into a cr-814 (or any other volvo headunit) I'd love to hear about it too.

Jim








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iPod to CR 814 900

Where did you get the ipod to 8 pin din connector harness?

>>>> another member suggested this listing in amazon.

I also have a cr-814 radio and have been planning to make up a harness to attach a ipod or other mp3 player, but just haven't gotten to it yet.

>>>> I had hoped that someone had already done this.

From what I understand, the harness you are trying to use might not be a workable solution. I'm not sure that the cr-814 can be connected to an external player through the m-bus connector (which is the smaller connector labeled cd on the back of your headunit). Some Alpine systems (Alpine made the Volvo units) can accomodate an ipod through their m-bus connector, but I'm pretty certain that the cr-814 is not one that will work

>>>> I am not so sure this is the proper harness either. As soon as I saw it fit the connection in the back for EQ I was suspect. I figured the CD connection made the most sense; substituting the iPod in place of a CD player.

The setup on the cr-814 is different than that of most earlier volvo headunits. The large connector is where the power connections enter the headunit. A preamp signal then comes out the 8 pin din connector labeled EQ and goes to an external Equalizer (if so equipped) - the signal then returns back to the headunit through the same 8 pin din connector. When the white plug is in place it just jumpers the signal back into the headunit (no EQ). The signal then leaves the headunit through the jack labeled amp and goes to the external amp which is mounted above the drivers left knee, behind the dash. Finally, the external amp has a connector identical to the large connector on the back of the headunit (but with leads attached to different pins) through which the signal is sent to the four speakers. This is where the cr-814 is different than most earlier volvo headunits - many of them use an external amp but the signal is returned from the amp to the headunit and then sent out to the speakers on them.

As I understand it, the workable way to connect an external ipod or other mp3 player to a cr-814 is to use a din plug similar to the one you have (but with a straight type connector rather than the right angle type you have so that it doesn't block the amp jack) and to then connect it so that the signals coming out of the headunit connect to a 1/4" stereo pin female jack (just like the headphone jack on your mp3 player. The leads that carry the signal back to the headunit would then be connected to a 1/4" pin stereo male connector just like the plug end of your headphones. Then, if you want to listen to the mp3 player you would just plug the male lead into the mp3 player's headphone jack. If you wanted to listen to the radio you would unplug it from the mp3 player and plug it back into the female jack coming from the headunit (effectively jumpering the leads just like the white plug was doing before.

>>>> So you are saying the iPod connection takes the signal going to the amplifier after the head unit, and replaces the head unit signal with the iPod?

As I say, I haven't actually gotten this done yet, but I have been planning to for a while. In my case, I have both an external CD player and an external EQ attached to my cr-814 so I just plan to cut the wire going to the EQ and install a pair of 1/4" connectors to reconnect the cut ends (of course I'll have to make sure to get the male and female connector on the right ends so that the male end connects to the side carrying the signal towards the headunit)

>>>> I would love to find a way to connect the iPod by way of the CD connection on the back of the head unit. Is there any reason I should give up hope of doing this? Is the signal coming off a CD changer that much different than the iPod that the head unit won't be able to use it?

Hope this helps! If anyone knows of another way to connect a mp3 player into a cr-814 (or any other volvo headunit) I'd love to hear about it too.

>>>> Are you kidding? You are a tremendous help! I need to be pointed in the right direction.
--
I'm stuck on Volvo and Volvo's stuck on me....








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iPod to CR 814 900

You are correct that it should be possible to send the ipod signal in through the cd jack, I just have not found any specific info on the pinouts for the cd connector - should also be possible to connect to the ipod through either the ipod connector or the headphone jack but again you'd have to have the info on the specific pinouts - they shouldn't be too hard to find I wouldn't think though.

The setup I have planned would connect through the EQ jack partly because I already know the pinouts for the EQ jack but even more because I have a volvo cd changer already in the car and dont want to disconnect it. I'm just waiting for a little warmer weather so I can get out in the car and work on hooking it up - its about 5 degrees out there right now!

Here's a link to another thread with some good info from others who have actually got an adaptor that is working - unlike mine that is still just on paper!

http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=1317590&show_all=1








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iPod to CR 814 900

You may be able to unscrew the Equalizer's DIN receptacle and rotate it 180deg. You'll have to take the top (or bottom) of the radio unit off to see if that receptacle has long enough wire leads, or has legs soldered to the circuit board. If the latter, my suggestion won't work.
--
Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F/M46








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iPod to CR 814 900

nope....tried that...mounted to board....no leads!
--
I'm stuck on Volvo and Volvo's stuck on me....








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iPod to CR 814 900

I've bought DIN connectors at digikey.com both in straight and right angle. They're really easy to assemble and secure to the cable sheath. Don't know how it applies in your 900, but in my 240 installations there was plenty of room behind the radio for a straight-on connector.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. -Anonymous








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iPod to CR 814 900

If I put an inline DIN male on the cord to the iPod it still plugs into the receptacle marked for the equalizer, and not the CD player.

I am under the impression the iPod needs to plug in for the CD changer...and use the receptacle marked for the CD. I don't know if the cord recommended to me would have worked in this EQ receptacle.

What did do on the 240? Maybe this is a question for someone with an early 850?

I want to follow this thing through to a resolution.

--
I'm stuck on Volvo and Volvo's stuck on me....








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iPod to CR 814 900

Sorry, I have no background on your adapter. I looked at your photo, and it looked to me like you had a right angle plug in the EQ spot, which then blocked access to the amplifier connector.



My post was merely a suggestion to cut the right angle plug off and replace it with a straight plug.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul -- chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth! -Anne Tyler







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