auxiliary audio jack

In a word, yes. But you can't control the songs on the ipod or pseudo-pod from the steering wheel. Volume yes, but it won't skip songs etc. You must do that from the player.

 

I use my phone (Palm Pre) plugged into my aux in. I can listen to music, hear the GPS through the car speakers, and do hands free phone calls. Its pretty great...

 

I have my MP3 player connected to the aux input jack.

I converted my entire CD collection (about 400 CDs) to MP3s, then downloaded them all to my MP3 player. I had installed an aux input device in my 2004 Prius; now I just use the built-in aux input jack.

 

Essentially it's just a place to plug the headphone output from your iPod or MP3 player (or anything with a headphone "out" jack). You'll need to go to a Radio Shack type store to buy a double-ended adapter cable (not an extension cord type cable) with male plugs on both ends. One end plugs into the headphone jack of your device and the other end plugs into the AUX jack in the car.

From the steering wheel or radio volume control you can adjust the output volume level but you have to use the controls on your device to control tracks/folders, etc.

Also, you want to keep the output volume on your external device as high as it will go without introducing distortion so that the volume control on your built-in radio can be used to up/down the actual volume level.

Stu

 

I tried to use a 3.5mm cable with two male ends, it doesn't work? Do I need a special cable?

 

I don't get why we have to set the volume on the MP3 player to the max? It's a bit annoying when I have to take the player with me and change the volume all the time.

Does this happen with every 2010 Prius?

 

I've tried it with both an IPhone and IPod -- I don't have to change the volume on either. I can switch between headphones and the aux cord without problems.

 

You don't have to set it at max volume. Just leave your iPod at 60-75% volume and then control the rest from the Prius' stereo. It really is that easy.

Bryan

 

No, that's all you need. Connect the iPod's headphone jack to the aux jack, select AUX from the dash, start the iPod playing and turn the iPod's volume up.

 

It needs to be a stereo cable or you'll only hear one channel. Radio Shack sells an 'Aux Cable' for about 4 bucks. Look near all the other iPod accessories.

 

The higher the volume on the player, the higher the signal-to-noise ratio, so when you turn up the volume on the car radio you'll get more music and less hiss.

 

I tried 4 different types of 3.5mm stereo male to male cable. It still doesn't work. It doesn't work on my uncle's civic either.

 

What kind of a device are you trying to connect to the aux jack?

Make sure you plug the cable into the headphone output jack of the device. Also, make sure the plug is pushed all the way into both jacks. You may also have to turn up the volume on the device. I keep the volume on my MP3 player set at maximum.

Check that the plug fits snugly into the device. I suppose it is possible that some devices use a non-standard headphone jack, and the 3.5 mm plug might not fit correctly.

 

When I initially plugged an aux cable into my ipod touch 2nd generation, it didn't work, but I tried it on ny ipod nano 3rd generation and it worked fine.

 

Works fine for both our iPod nano and 5G. Surprised how good it sounds. Just save $325 that the dealer wanted to charge me for the iPod/glove box cable.

 

Another option is to use the line-out port on the ipod rather than the headphone jack. I bought a Cables To Go 35508 4ft iPod-Compatible 3.5mm to Dock Connector Audio Cable from Amazon for $14 that bypasses the volume control on my ipod nano. The sound is much better than thru the earphone jack and is not affected by the volume control on the ipod. Only issue is that I can't charge the ipod while playing it. But that's not a big deal as my nano plays hours without a recharge.

 

OK, first off - NO LAUGHTER!

I have an iPod Shuffle. Planning to go to Radio Shack for the cable. Anyone using a Shuffle in the Prius? Is it OK?

I'm not buying the XM subscription - up this week. So thought I'd plug in the Shuffle along with my CDs and FM.

And second , what would be a good low-end iPod or generic MP3 that would be a step up from the Shuffle and allow me to view songs etc on the iPod screen? Don't need anything with a lot of bells&whistles.

 

You can't go wrong with the Ipod Nano. You can get the 8GB or 16GB. The 5th gen Nanos were released not very long ago.

 

I just tried to connect my phone to the aux audio input of my 2008 Prius, and after some investigation I think I've determined why some devices work and some don't. My mobile phone will work with headphones, but not my Prius's aux connector, unless I fake it out by plugging the phone into the cable, jumping the right channel to the ground return on the other end of the cable with a 300 ohm resistor, then plugging it into my car.

Apparently, my phone is performing an impedance check on the device I plug into it. I've verified this by plugging in a 3.5mm plug to RCA cable. The phone does not detect the cable until I short the right channel with a resistor. Then, it knows the cable is plugged in until I finally remove it. It doesn't matter that the resistor is no longer there.

I plan on making a little box that has some built-in impedance to force my Prius to look like a set of headphones.