Commentary

After installing the Harman/Kardon Drive+Play to use my iPod to with the stereo system, I discovered the wired and transmitted FM Modulation methods of getting the signal to the head unit were not satisfactory.  The quality of the sound just wasn't there.  The FM interference and the narrow frequency response of the FM signal conspired to make the sound quite poor, lacking channel separation.  Additionally, the OEM head unit did not offer a way to connect auxiliary units. 

The closest it comes is a mono connection for the cell phone system. (diagram)

 

I knew that the iPod and recorded material was not the problem.  By comparison, the same iPod plugged directly into my Jeep head unit with a stereo connector produced the kind of music quality that I expect - clean sound with no static or noise, and the full frequency response and stereo imaging available at the head unit.  The missing link was definitely a directly wired connection with no FM in between.  The problem was that the Becker factory radio (rebadged as an Infinity 6806) did not provide an auxiliary input.  Well, the hardware has provisions but the firmware isn't programmed to support it.

I explored the options and found two for my existing head unit:

• Go on a pilgrimage to have my Becker/Infinity head unit "flashed" by a Porsche or VW dealer to enable the CD-changer channels and then purchase a CD-emulator port to provide me with an AUX input... or

• live with it

In short, the Infinity/Becker head unit offers no easy way to add high quality auxiliary inputs.  My plans to wire in a hands-free blue-tooth phone accessory would have to be achieved.  This would add yet another device to the already cluttered dash panel.  This just wasn't shaping up very well.

The solution was fairly obvious.   I needed to have a head unit that natively supported auxiliary inputs. 

The Pioneer in the Jeep has a bus circuit ("IP BUS") that enables a host of options, including the support for an auxiliary channel.  I took a look at the latest Pioneer units compatible with my car and found one unit that both fit the opening in the dash and solved several problems for me at once:

• natively supports auxiliary inputs via 3.5mm/1/8" mini phono jack

• CD/MP3/WMA/AAC compatible CD player

• built-in Bluetooth wireless phone with voice dialing, etc.

• supports the standard Pioneer bus just like my Jeep head unit:

  • enables iPod with control through front of head unit

  • enables XM or Sirius radio through the front of the head unit

  • enables remote CD Changer

More here... Overview | Specifications | Accessories

This effectively solved all my problems in one fell swoop.  I canceled the Motorola IHF-1000 Bluetooth Hands free unit that I had just ordered.  I can directly connect my iPod to the head unit without using FM modulation.  I can play a wide variety of CD formats.  And I have iPod, Satellite Radio, and CD-changer options.

I considered and dismissed units with built in navigation.  I considered and dismissed DVD units with the flip-out screens.  And I dismissed lower end units of similar design to the DEH-980BT.

Installation

The install is pretty straightforward.  The unit comes with a DIN panel insert that is locked in place with tabs.

I purchased separately a harness connector that fits the plug leading to the existing system.  It is spliced to the wires on the new head unit.

Schosche VW01B

I left the Socket A, Pins 1 and 2 disconnected; and connected the rest of the pins on Socket A.  I left the rear speaker leads disconnected and connected the front speaker leads on Socket B.

		Becker Radio Connector (into car)	Wires (into aftermarket stereo)
Socket	Pin		Color
		Socket A (power/modes)
A	1	Speed Volume Control
A	2	unused or reversing lamp signal
A	3	telephone mute	Blue/White
A	4	permanent positive 12v (fuse terminal 30)	Yellow *
A	5	Amp/power antenna on	Blue
A	6	Illumination (fuse terminal 58d)	Orange
A	7	switched postive 12v (fuse terminal 15)	Red *
A	8	Ground (-)	Black
		Socket B (speakers)
B	1	RR (+)	Violet
B	2	RR (-)	Violet/Black
B	3	RF (+)	Gray
B	4	RF (-)	Gray/Black
B	5	LF (+)	White
B	6	LF (-)	White/Black
B	7	LR (+)	Green
B	8	LR (-)	Green/Black
		RR - Right Rear
		RF - Right Front
		LF - Left Front
		LR - Left Rear
	*	Permanent Positive and switched positive
		leads should be checked and wired based
		on state measured coming out of car harness

Note:  This chart shows the colors of the wires in the Schosche VW01B connector.  The purpose of the red and yellow wires are swapped for this application:

• the red wire of the connector is spliced to the yellow wire in the stereo harness

• the yellow wire of the connector is spliced to the red wire on the stereo harness

I routed the AUX lead and the microphone lead into the console and out to the Drive+Play and driver's side visor respectively.  I connected the socket to the car wiring harness.  I used an antenna adapter from the previous phase of this install to connect the antenna lead to the back of the stereo.

Euro female to Motorola male
Works with a variety of 1999-up European and American vehicles

Then I slid the head unit into place in the dash.  I turned on the car and everything worked first try!  I used the automatic features for setting the equalizer base setting and speaker phasing.  I turned on the AUX port, tested the iPod and external XM radio (both rock!) and coupled my Bluetooth phone.  Then I uploaded some new screen visualizations.  The manual is thick - nice bedtime reading!

As part of the installation of the Pioneer DEH-P980BT, I installed an auxiliary fuse panel for the stereo and other electronic devices to be added.

---

 

With External GPS, Drive+Play iPod Interface and XM Radio

 

I plugged the existing XM radio receiver into the Harman/Kardon auxiliary input which eliminates the FM modulation of XM radio signals. 

The Harman/Kardon automatically switches between the iPod and the XM radio channels so I don't have to deal with it on the head unit.

Later if I want, I can select one of the bus adapters available and eliminate the XM radio receiver from my dash and use a hidden unit available from Pioneer, and add a CD changer.  If the iPod sound quality is as good as in the Jeep, I doubt I will need to add a CD changer.

This greatly reduced the complexity of the wiring to the Drive+Play and eliminated the addition of the hands-free unit which would have further complicated this install and dash.

Click image to Enlarge

Operation Manual

Installation Manual

Overview | Specifications | Accessories