New music and music-related toys:
- I got a Soundgate auxiliary input converter that plugs into my car's CD changer auxiliary input and allows me to plug my iPod right into the sound system. Very sweet!
- Well, almost very sweet. Problem is that the line level is too low, so I have to crank up the volume on both the iPod and the sound system to be able to hear anything. Worse is that when I arrive at my destination and exit the vehicle, I invariably end up taking the iPod with me, popping in the earbuds, and proceeding to make myself jump out of my own skin because I forget to turn the iPod down first! Easy fix, though: a Precision Interface Electronics LD-1 adjustable line driver to act as a preamplifier.
Of course, having more great music to play through this setup is always a necessity. Lately the following CDs have been getting a lot of my attention:
- "Hangover Music, Volume VI" by Black Label Society. Some BLS fans don't like this CD, apparently because it's not the typical all-out Zakk Wylde aural assault typical of previous BLS CDs, but those people must not have experienced enough hangovers to appreciate the music Zakk has put together here. The album title is perfect -- this is hangover music, and damn good hangover music at that. Zakk is just an amazing and outstanding guitar player, whether electric or acoustic. (Too bad his website doesn't work with the Apple Safari browser though!)
- "Live at Bonnaroo" by Warren Haynes. Warren is the man. Not only does he play with the Allman Brothers, not only does he play with The Dead, not only does he lead his own band Gov't Mule, and not only does he play with Phil Lesh & Friends, but in his "spare time" he plays solo acoustic, which he does on this CD for the huge crowd at Bonnaroo last year. This CD is simply excellent. And BTW if you don't own any Gov't Mule, you can't consider yourself a rock fan -- it's that simple.
- Speaking of the Allman Brothers, their latest live CD "One Way Out" has been living in my car CD changer ever since it came out. This thing is great, showcasing not only Warren Haynes but also Derek Trucks, who is also an amazing guitar player in his own right, and who also fronts his own The Derek Trucks Band.
- Today I picked up the new Velvet Revolver CD called "Contraband," their first. These guys do not disappoint. If you like Stone Temple Pilots or Guns N' Roses, you will like this too. Go buy it.
R.I.P. Ray Charles, none of this music would even exist if not for you.
Comments (7)
Do you have a 3G iPod with a docking station connector? If so, my understanding is that it makes a huge difference whether you use the headphone jack or connect to the line-out ...
Posted by Stefan Tilkov | June 12, 2004 3:39 AM
Posted on June 12, 2004 03:39
Hi Stefan, no, I have one of the older 5GB iPod models, so my only choice is the headphone output. I would assume that the line out on the newer models would be preferable to the headphone jack for hooking to external amplifiers and speakers, since that's what it's explicitly designed for. Either way, it's better than one of those flaky FM transmitters, and better than a cassette adapter too, especially seeing as how my car has no cassette player! ;-)
Posted by Steve Vinoski | June 12, 2004 10:50 AM
Posted on June 12, 2004 10:50
That's too bad ... you don't happen to have a European model, do you? IIRC, the volume is explicitly limited for the European market (because of regulations in France), but it's possible to apply a firmware update to turn off the limit.
I have similar problems - I just bought a new iPod and would like to connect it to my car, but unfortunately the only line-in option is in the trunk :-(
Posted by Stefan Tilkov | June 12, 2004 11:39 AM
Posted on June 12, 2004 11:39
No, I don't have a European iPod model. I would think, though, that the combination of a line driver and the auxiliary adapter like I use would work for you too (and with your line out from the iPod, you might not even need the line driver, just the auxiliary adapter). You'd have to have a cable that adapts from the iPod line out to stereo RCA connectors, and then run that to the RCA inputs on the line driver, then the output of that to the auxiliary adapter input, both of which would presumably be in the trunk along with your CD changer. Unless you have some kind of enormously long vehicle, the length of the run from your iPod to the line driver will be no greater than line lengths commonly found in inter-component runs of home audio systems using similar cables -- I have several 4 meter and 6 meter runs in my home theater system, for example. You could run Monster cable or something like that if you're concerned about maximal signal transfer and minimal noise pickup. You might consider visiting your friendly neighborhood mobile automobile electronics installer, as they would know exactly what to do, and have probably done many similar installations.
Posted by Steve Vinoski | June 12, 2004 12:44 PM
Posted on June 12, 2004 12:44
Yeah, I'll probably have to do that ... it's just that I'm a bit reluctant to mess with the car's interior like that, when in fact the only reason is that the manufacturer can't provide a line-in jack somewhere in the front. Anyway, thanks for the advice :-)
Posted by Stefan Tilkov | June 12, 2004 4:57 PM
Posted on June 12, 2004 16:57
Stevo,
The Velvet Revolver CD rocks. Slash sounds better than ever and as long as Weiland stays off the juice they might last. Check out the web site http://www.velvetrevolver.com/
Be well.
Eddie
Posted by Ed Gaudet | June 29, 2004 1:48 PM
Posted on June 29, 2004 13:48
every time i hear velvet revolver on the radio, i think its econoline crush getting a weird bout of air-time. which is just really weird, especially when i realize its really velvet revolver.
Posted by Myren | July 14, 2004 12:11 AM
Posted on July 14, 2004 00:11