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View Full Version : How to convert a cassette player into an MP3 player


Ian T
25-04-2009, 02:27 PM
Well, not literally of course.

I wanted to use the standard head unit in my car again, no RDS, no multiplay CD player, no remote control... The thing is though, that I did still want to play my own music without resorting to digging out my cassette collection from the loft / bin.

These instructions apply to the early 90s Philips radios fitted to Vauxhalls, but it's worth saying that the procedure will work for any similar radio that has a cassette player, although you'll have to do some homework of your own first.

Haynes would give this a two spanner rating (doing the same radio I did) or a 4 spanner rating to do a different one.

Anyway, I'll post the guide on here sometime soon, in the mean time, it's over on one of my own websites, here:

http://www.gte24v.co.uk/wordpress/how-to-guides/add-mp3-input-to-standard-radio/

If you like the guide, click an advert... ;)

Ian.
tcscotland
25-04-2009, 04:15 PM
thats well cool :)
Chikin
25-04-2009, 06:18 PM
or you could just buy one of these

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Qkqwep8hL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

from the pound shop lol
IainL
25-04-2009, 06:21 PM
Can you get one of those thingies for a CD player too Claire?

Might get one for the Vecs cassette player.
Ian T
25-04-2009, 06:48 PM
The cassette adaptors are OK, but you still get quite a bit of noise (hiss) from the tape deck that goes missing with the direct cable connection, plus you have a cable coming out of the front of the head unit, which I wanted to avoid.

True though, for anyone that can't or doesn't want to solder, an adapter will do fine.

Ian.
Chikin
25-04-2009, 07:16 PM
Can you get one of those thingies for a CD player too Claire?

Might get one for the Vecs cassette player.

We have one you can have Iain. I got alan one for the corsa but he doesnt need it anymore :)
tcscotland
25-04-2009, 07:49 PM
its the whole doing it "on-board" bit that i like :)
IainL
25-04-2009, 09:30 PM
We have one you can have Iain. I got alan one for the corsa but he doesnt need it anymore :)


Excellent - thanks Claire:D

Beer/Malibu in return@ PV:)
Chikin
25-04-2009, 09:37 PM
lol its only worth £1
OCDave
25-04-2009, 10:40 PM
very good mate thats somthing that id consider doing if i go concours in the future
Ian T
25-04-2009, 11:17 PM
Yes, it'd be good for a concours car, I hadn't thought of that.

Mine's far far far away from that standard of course, for me it was a case of doing it (a) to see if it was easy to do and (b) because I liked the idea of a permanent cable connection for the ipod.

Ian.