I've been searching the net for a few days to figure out what I'll need to do to get my portable MP3 player to plug into the stereo on the 2003 Accord Coupe (AT EX-L) that we'll be getting this week or next.

Many people have said there are adapters available, and reference PIE and autotoys.com as places to obtain these adapters. However, logjamelectronics.com sells the PIE adapters people refer to, but state that these will not work in 2003 Accords. This leads me to believe that things changed so much between 2002 and 2003 that none of the available adapters that claim 1998-2000+ haven't really confirmed that they will work with a 2003 Accord.

My question is, has anyone one here actually bought and installed one in a 2003 Accord, and is pleased with the results?

I am currently using a really nice FM transmitter I bought from C Crane, and it works wonderfully in my '93 Civic, since I can put the antenna down and get less interference from "real" stations, but in cars without retractable antennas, it's a bit of a pain on long drives to have to change the frequency because of interference. It would be much nicer to have rca jacks in the "breadbox" (our term for the pocket under the HVAC/stereo), and just keep the player in there.

 

i'm working on the same issues for a DVD player to have tha audio go through the factory unit.

 

From a pointer in the audio & electronics forum, I learned that the Soundgate SNHOND3 will do what I want (provide RCA inputs into the AUX port in a '03 Accord). I did see that device somewhere on-line this past weekend, but not with confirmation that if you don't hook-up an external cd changer you can use it just for RCA inputs. Now I just have to get one...

 

get a plug-in style fm modulator. you just run power and ground to it and then plug it in-line through your antenna input on your head unit(one end you put into your head unit and the antenna you plug into it). you can attach rcas or one of those rca to headphones style wire and run that out of your dash...

...you can plug in anything you want that has a headphones output ie. laptop, cdplayer,dvd,mp3...anything

and the sound quality is excellent.

you can find these "fm modulator", pyle makes one, on ebay for pretty cheap.

 

I have the AUX adapter installed on my 2003 Honda Accord.
Works fine, only there is engine noise and you have to use Ground Loop Isolator to reduce it.

 

I have the Soundgate aux input from Logjam in my 03, and have no problems at all with it. Not even the aforementioned engine noise.

The only complaint is that the input level is too low, but that could just be my satellite receiver.

What you saw is right, the PIE adapters don't work in the 7th gen Accords, because of the serious headunit overhaul. Unless you take the FM modulator route, the only option right now is the Soundgate adapter. Oh and the RCA inputs work just fine without having a CD changer. The display on your headunit will say CD-C but it doesn't matter.

 

2 crzychrisj:

I've read a lot of posts from people that complain about the noise. You may not even know if there is an engine noise. With ground loop isolator I can only hear mine when AUX engaged but no audio is coming throught (Paused).

Some people of course may not have it at all. It all depends on how your car was assembled.

Does you headunit have built-in 6 disk cd-changer???

 

Yes, I have the in dash 6 disc changer. I have turned my volume up with no sound input coming in and can't hear any engine noise. The funny thing is, I do get engine noise in my fouth gen with an FM modulator, using the same satellite setup (I have a Kenwood PNP setup). Maybe I'm just lucky that it's not a problem in my seventh gen (knock on wood). Do the people with engine noise have a CD changer hooked up to the input? Maybe that's the difference? Like you said, it could all be in how the car was built. There could be an extra ignition noise filter in there somewhere that we don't know about.

 

Does anyone know if the head unit in the 2003 Accord discussed in this thread is the same as in the 2004 Odyssey? I'm looking to add an in-dash DVD player with ceiling and sunvisor LCD screens. If I could find a non-IR steering wheel control converter, I might replace the deck with an in dash DVD player/tuner and use an in-dash LCD instead of the visor.

Hey, not all of us can drive sports cars!

 

I assume you've tried checking for engine noise with your car running?

What do you mean SAME SATELLITE SETUP? Did you use Soundgate auxi adaptor?

As far as I heard, Alpine mp3 cd-changer can be installed without Soundgate AUX adaptor.

If there is extra ignition noise filter then all 2003 Accords have it. And if I get engine noise and you don't then it's not doing a good job, is it