Ok, I've played with the new for '07 aux input on the Shaker 500 and I don't think it's very useful at all. I've hooked up both an ipod nano and a sony PSP and, while I certainly can play media from those sources through the head unit, I can't change tracks, shuffle, fast forward, etc. from the head unit. Plus you need to set the volume level on the aux player before you adjust from the radio itself.

Why would someone go this route when you can burn hours of music on MP3 format, and then load up the changer? Am I missing something?

 

I prefer being able to load my entire collection on my MP3 player and going random. The other point of the aux jack is to allow for direct playback instead of via an FM frequency...

 

Most people these days use the iTrips and modulators and stuff - same deal, no changing tracks and what not - but the line in is alot better quality and stable.

 

I already have an in-dash MP3 player on my current car, and use the AUX in a lot for Podcasts. The iPod is a lot easier to carry around and sync podcasts to it then the car MP3 player.

And having your entire music collection is real handy. I've had it at my fingertips in the car since 2000, and can't imagine going back to shuffling around CDs, even if they are MP3 CDs.

 

I'm pretty sure the idea is that you can hook ANYTHING with a line-out up to the AUX input, not just MP3 players. Two prominant uses would be a roadtrip where your passenger decides they want to listen to their collection of 80's folk music on cassette or hook up the laptop/dvd player so they can actually hear what's going on in the movie they're watching.

 

Well you're right about being able to hook up anything with a headphone jack. I thought it would just play music tracks thorough the aux input, but my kids we able to get the audio from their PSP game to play through the Shaker today.

 

Oh, that's not distracting while driving!

 

I wouldn't mind just spending 6 bucks for a 3.5m cable instead of around 150 to use my ipod with my 05.

 

...aaaaand there's a way to do that?

 

with an aux port all you should have to do is take a 3.5m stereo cable and plug it into the headphone jack of the ipod and then plug it into the aux port. I don't really care if the head unit controls the ipod (which it won't with this hook up) Since most of the time i just use the shuffle function.

 

Misread it. I thought you were making a comment about something on the cheap for the '05.

 

haha, i wish.

 

They were playing, I was driving. I guess I'll have to warn them about playing and driving once they finally get their licenses!