cassette player fed MP3 music upgrade.

[forestfarm]

After buying some cassette tapes and being somewhat disappointed with the sound quality I went online and purchased an Ipod Shuffle MP3 player and a Monster brand cassette adapter.Its a cassette tape with a wire that plugs into the MP3 player.The player is the size of a pack of matches and it is well made out of aluminum and conveniently and securely clips to the throttle cable adjacent the radio.This location enables me to tinker with the unit while riding to jack up the volume or switch songs.It has sound quality and volume that far exceeds that of the cassette tapes.The unit has enough volume to actually be too loud.I set it approx. 1/3 volume and then use the handlebar volume controls when necessary.If that's not enough power for you there is plenty more on tap if you so desire,simply by increasing the volume on the Ipod.It works great,it was less than $70 for both parts.The music can easily be had from either your own CD collection or buying music online for about a buck a song.I opted for ripping the music from my own CD's.It really does sound good with the exception that the bike lacks any real bass from the wee little speakers.I think I will do a powered subwoofer upgrade over the winter months just to give it a little thump.I will post some pics soon

[broksonic]

You can use the same adapter to plug into your smart phone and listen to music from there.
Have that setup on my XII now..

Next will be my Sirus unit

[lockwoodjohn]

Where do you get these adapters. Store bought or on line somewhere?

[Avidrider62]

Google "Monster cassette adaptor"

[randallar]

Really you can get these adapters anywhere, Walmart or any large chain still has them. I also have one that goes through the radio and plugs into the cigarette lighter power plug. It has a remote control and you can plug a SD card into it also. This works great for the passenger when they want to listen to something else. Just set a preset to that station on your radio and your ready.

[suzib6sw]

The problem with all cassette adapters is that they rely on the belts to pull the heads to engage agains the adapter pickup.. Once that belt stretches, and it will, you are left with no option but to replace to take the radio out..

I put a line in socket on the back of the radio that allows you to play an external device without having a cassette in place, thus preventing that problem..
I also do a Bluetooth /flash drive/usb/sd card mod..
See the picks in the link in my SIg..

Pete

[sheiserman]

The problem with all cassette adapters is that they rely on the belts to pull the heads to engage agains the adapter pickup.. Once that belt stretches, and it will, you are left with no option but to replace to take the radio out..

I put a line in socket on the back of the radio that allows you to play an external device without having a cassette in place, thus preventing that problem..
I also do a Bluetooth /flash drive/usb/sd card mod..
See the picks in the link in my SIg..

Pete

In my unsolicited opinion, the socket at the back of the radio sounds better than the cassette adapters. Considerably better.

[chevyman1]

The Bluetooth /flash drive/usb/sd card mod.. is well worth the money

[kjsett]

Different issue, but may do upgrade if repair needed:
Since I got back from my 5 week trip this summer my radio reception locally is very poor. Since I replaced the right side dash piece (don't ever let brake fluid get on your bike ) during the trip, I thought maybe the wire had been pulled off. Checked it this weekend where the antenna lead comes out of the radio and reconnected it just to be sure - not it.
So the question: can the antenna come apart in it's mount, or can the radio have an issue that would cause everything to still work, but poor FM reception?
It is still usable, mostly, here in the Phoenix metro valley, but it acts like I am out in the hills.
Anyway, leaving for Colorado Saturday for a week. Here's praying the weather holds for a week as we will be up around 8500ft west of Colorado Springs.
Bluetooth during the trip (in my helmet).
Thanks,
Ken

[usmalenurse]

sheiserman said ~
"In my unsolicited opinion, the socket at the back of the radio sounds better than the cassette adapters. Considerably better."

I concur I have been very happy with my upgrade!!

[forestfarm]

Does the adapter cause wear on the player that a cassette tape does not?

[usmalenurse]

Does the adapter cause wear on the player that a cassette tape does not?

I'm not sure but I don't think it would cause any more wear and tear than playing a cassette. My cassette player quit while I was using an adapter (belt broke) but then the bike was 16 yrs old at the time. I had the belt replaced but also had Pete do the upgrade with the plug which IMHO is much better.

[aldosdad]

The Bluetooth /flash drive/usb/sd card mod.. is well worth the money

How much does that " Bluetooth /flash drive/usb/sd card " mod cost?

[Draxxis]

Is it easy to take the radio out? I'm thinking I'd like to run rca to a 3.5mm and plug my phone I to it so I can have music and GPS read out to me over the bike speakers.

[Tonyvdb]

Is it easy to take the radio out? I'm thinking I'd like to run rca to a 3.5mm and plug my phone I to it so I can have music and GPS read out to me over the bike speakers.

Quick, no. Easy well it get easier as you do it more often but be prepared to take a couple hrs.

You need to strip down some of the plastic
Here are some instructions.
https://amervoyassoc.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9230" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Draxxis]

Next question, since I can't find the info online, what wattage does the head unit put out to the speakers? I only have the front speakers. Never had rear speakers installed.

[Tonyvdb]

25watts X2

[chevyman1]

The Bluetooth /flash drive/usb/sd card mod.. is well worth the money

How much does that " Bluetooth /flash drive/usb/sd card " mod cost?

Contact Pete (suzib6sw) he does the mod.

[krasmu]

I will be contacting Pete for some pricing because I do feel that is the best option out there, but I wanted to bring up another option that I have not seen mentioned in any of these posts. Instead of using the tape deck inserts, (and chancing the dreaded belt breakage), there are many FM modulators out there for well under $50. These use a radio frequency to transmit your MP3 or other connected device to your stereo. There are hard wired units and plug and play units. Many are Bluetooth and even allow hands free call answering. I used a very cheap version of this in my cars for years, before I got a new enough car that had an MP3 port. You preset one of the FM buttons to the frequency selected on the modulator. when you want to use your MP3 or phone to listen to music you use that preset button and the modulator sends out you music through that given frequency which is picked up by the radio antenna. The only draw back is if you happen to travel through an area where they have a radio station broadcasting at or near that frequency. Food for thought..

[forestfarm]

When my cassette tape deck belt finally does break I will definitely look at the FM modulator you described as my next option.Thank you.