cgperry
New Member
Some people have asked about adding aux inputs to our radios before. This morning I installed Peripheral Electronics CHYX adapter in my truck, along with their PXP01V iPod adapter cable. The CHYX was $110 at Discount Car Stereo.com and the iPod cable was $52.
I had originally wanted their CHYP adapter (which gives iPod control and display on the head unit, along with another AUX input), but that unit uses the head unit's input for the satellite radio, so you have to give up the Sirius to use it. I didn't want to do that, so I got the CHYX instead. The CHYX emulates the rear DVD system (VES - Vehicle Entertainment System) and gives you two regular AUX (RCA jack) inputs. You select the VES with the head unit's MODE button (or steering wheel control) (mine is the REC navigation radio), and then you switch between the two aux inputs using the track up/down buttons on the head unit or steering wheel.
The install was very simple - the hardest part was figuring out how to take the dash of the truck apart without breaking anything. After that it's pretty much all plug and play. I connected the PXP01V to the first input and an RCA to 1/8" plug to the second input. The PXP01V is nice because it uses the bottom plug on the iPod, so you get a fixed line-level signal out and since the adapter has power inputs (and the CHYX has an accessory output), it will also charge the iPod when the truck is running. The 1/8" plug I can use with other people's MP3 players, portable DVD, etc.
The only modification I had to make was to drill a small (3/4") hole under one of the cigarette lighters to let the cables come through the dash so that I could have the cables where I wanted them (front of the floor console, 06 QC). The hole is completely covered by other trim in the truck, so once everything's reassembled there's no visible evidence of the modification, and if I ever sold the truck I could remove the adapters with no evidence.
Whole affair took about 2 hours start to finish, and the sound quality is definitely dramatically better than with the FM modulator I was using. If anyone wants more detailed info about doing this to an 06 QC, let me know.
I had wanted to try Mopar's iPod adapter since I was hoping it would give iPod control and display on the head unit without giving up the satellite radio, but they don't seem to be available for 06 radios yet and my dealer had no luck getting any info from Dodge. I'm using this kit in the meantime since it's totally removable if Mopar's ends up better.
I had originally wanted their CHYP adapter (which gives iPod control and display on the head unit, along with another AUX input), but that unit uses the head unit's input for the satellite radio, so you have to give up the Sirius to use it. I didn't want to do that, so I got the CHYX instead. The CHYX emulates the rear DVD system (VES - Vehicle Entertainment System) and gives you two regular AUX (RCA jack) inputs. You select the VES with the head unit's MODE button (or steering wheel control) (mine is the REC navigation radio), and then you switch between the two aux inputs using the track up/down buttons on the head unit or steering wheel.
The install was very simple - the hardest part was figuring out how to take the dash of the truck apart without breaking anything. After that it's pretty much all plug and play. I connected the PXP01V to the first input and an RCA to 1/8" plug to the second input. The PXP01V is nice because it uses the bottom plug on the iPod, so you get a fixed line-level signal out and since the adapter has power inputs (and the CHYX has an accessory output), it will also charge the iPod when the truck is running. The 1/8" plug I can use with other people's MP3 players, portable DVD, etc.
The only modification I had to make was to drill a small (3/4") hole under one of the cigarette lighters to let the cables come through the dash so that I could have the cables where I wanted them (front of the floor console, 06 QC). The hole is completely covered by other trim in the truck, so once everything's reassembled there's no visible evidence of the modification, and if I ever sold the truck I could remove the adapters with no evidence.
Whole affair took about 2 hours start to finish, and the sound quality is definitely dramatically better than with the FM modulator I was using. If anyone wants more detailed info about doing this to an 06 QC, let me know.
I had wanted to try Mopar's iPod adapter since I was hoping it would give iPod control and display on the head unit without giving up the satellite radio, but they don't seem to be available for 06 radios yet and my dealer had no luck getting any info from Dodge. I'm using this kit in the meantime since it's totally removable if Mopar's ends up better.
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