What to connect to the aux connector of the car radio. What is aux in a car radio and how to make (connect) aux on a cassette or standard CD player. Connection via USB input

Today we will talk about ways to connect a mobile phone, iPhone and other devices to a car radio. Such popular methods as USB, Bluetooth, AUX and others will be considered.

Music in the car interior is one of the most common means of increasing comfort. Nowadays, you probably won’t see a car that doesn’t even have a couple of speakers.

All car manufacturers currently equip their models with standard audio systems, or at least provide audio preparation, giving the car owner the choice of installing a radio. And it seems that everything is simple - you installed the necessary equipment on the car, if it did not come with the car, and you enjoy the music.

But this hides one problem - technology is constantly improving, music carriers are changing. For example, just 15 years ago, radio tape recorders that read CDs were the most modern, but now they are hopelessly outdated and have given way to devices capable of reading music files from various types of memory cards and other media, one of which is a mobile phone or smartphone.

And if the car radio was purchased separately and installed independently, then you can periodically change it to a more modern model that can read music from different media, but this will not work with standard audio systems.

But you always have the opportunity to connect the same smartphone or another media file carrier and enjoy your favorite music. We'll talk about this next.

Nowadays, many ways have been invented to connect a mobile phone to a car radio. In this case, the latter acts only as a sound amplifier.

In general, this connection is very convenient and allows you to listen to your favorite music, which every music lover has on their smartphone, even on an old car cassette recorder, without making any design changes to the radio.

Below we will look at the most popular methods used to connect a mobile phone or MP-3 player to an audio system. They are all different and depend mainly on the design features of the radios themselves.

We connect via USB.

So, one of the most common methods is to use a USB connector. Not a single modern radio is produced without a standard USB output on the panel.

This output allows you to use a regular computer flash card as a music storage medium. But you can easily connect your mobile phone to it via a computer connection cord.

This cord has a standard USB plug at one end, and an output for connecting to a smartphone at the other.

Simple radio tape recorders are not able to integrate with the phone, and in this case the latter acts only as a storage medium, that is, as a regular flash drive.

To play music, just connect the cord to the smartphone and to the output of the radio, and then in the phone settings in the “USB connection” item, select “Data transfer”, after which the radio will be able to read all music files. In this case, music files will be managed only from the radio.

More modern radios integrate with your phone, allowing you to control music from both devices. In this case, it is possible to launch applications on a smartphone, for example, some special player, and in this case it will act as a regular amplifier.

Connecting via a USB cable is quite convenient; it allows you to manage files directly from the radio; in addition, many smartphones are recharged with this connection, although not as quickly as from a conventional charger. And yet there is a double benefit - the music plays, and at least the phone doesn’t run out of charge.

The disadvantage of this connection is the presence of the cord itself, which will have to be pulled to the location of the phone. Moreover, if the cord is short, you will have to disconnect the cord every time you make a call.

Via AUX.

The second method of connecting a smartphone to a car stereo is through the AUX output.

This is perhaps one of the very first ways to connect a radio with third-party media. Such outputs were also available on car cassette players, allowing other devices to be connected to them.

This output on the radio panel is nothing more than a regular 3.5 mm round jack, which is used on phones to connect headphones. So, on sale you can freely buy a cord with 3.5 mm plugs installed at the ends.

And connecting such a cord is quite simple - we insert the plugs into the smartphone and radio, and you can listen to music. But with this connection you will have to use your phone’s player and control your music through it too.

In this case, the radio tape recorder acts only as an amplifier, and it can only be used to adjust the volume level.

This is perhaps the easiest way to connect two devices. Its disadvantages are the same presence of a cord, inconvenience of control, since you have to reach for the phone to change the track, as well as the inevitable battery drain.

Via Bluetooth.

One of the latest methods of connecting a radio and a smartphone is using Bluetooth wireless technology.

It is worth noting that not all car players support this method; for the most part, it is available only for multimedia systems with a touch screen.

Since the connection is wireless, no cords are needed. It is enough to turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone and multimedia system, and then pair them.

In this case, complete integration between devices occurs, after which the smartphone can be put down and not touched again. File management will be carried out by the radio.

Bluetooth is one of the most convenient ways to connect your phone to a car player. In this case, the radio will be capable of not only reading music, but also video files.

Many models are also capable of acting as an intercom - when making a phone call, you can accept the call and conduct negotiations through the radio, while the driver does not need to reach for the phone and hold it near his ear.

The disadvantage of Bluetooth is that not all radios support this connection, and car devices may not connect to some phone models.

When playing large files, freezing may occur, but this all depends on the Bluetooth modules in the devices. And, naturally, such a connection will also consume the phone’s charge.

Transmitters

The last method is the use of all kinds of transmitters, or, simply put, transmitters. There are a large number of their types and below we will consider only a couple of them.

FM transmitter for mobile phones.

An interesting representative of such devices is the FM transmitter. The essence of its work is very simple - it receives data from the phone, converts it into FM waves, and the car radio receives it.

In reality, everything looks like this: a transmitter is a small device that plugs into the 3.5 mm jack of a phone.

The player on the smartphone is turned on, and a wave is installed on the transmitter for data transmission.

All that remains is to turn on the radio on the car player and find the selected FM wave so that music from the phone can be heard from the car speakers.

An interesting fact is that some mobile phone models were equipped with built-in FM transmitters, but they are few.

This connection is convenient because no special wires are needed, except for the cord for recharging the transmitter. It can work with any radio without any additional outputs (USB, AUX), the main thing is that it is equipped with a radio receiver.

The disadvantages of the transmitter include poor sound quality (radio interference can be heard), especially if the device is cheap. In this case, music control is carried out only from the smartphone.

There are also regular FM transmitters (modulators) with which you can directly listen to music on a USB storage device.

They are often confused with the devices described above.

Bluetooth transmitter.

Another type of such device is a Bluetooth transmitter.

To connect it, you will need an AUX output on the radio, since the transmitter is connected to it. And then everything is simple, the player is turned on on the smartphone and the music is transferred to the Bluetooth headset, which is the transmitter.

Some models of such devices even allow negotiations; for this purpose, they are equipped with microphones. But since their reception quality is usually poor, it is not recommended to use transmitters for conversations.

Bluetooth devices have higher sound transmission than FM transmitters, but they also drain your phone's battery faster. In addition, music can be controlled only from the phone, and the radio must be equipped with an AUX output.

To prevent your phone from running out of charge, you can purchase a special tee for the cigarette lighter with a connector for recharging the phone.

Emulators

Finally, let's look at another type of device that can be used with car radios - emulators.

It is worth noting here that the emulator is designed for using removable media on standard audio systems.

To make it clearer, many cars, for example, the Toyota Corolla of the early 2000s, were equipped with systems that read music only from CDs, while they did not have other outputs (AUX, USB).

In this case, all that remains is to either use an FM transmitter, or install an emulator, which will become a universal tool.

The fact is that this device usually has USB and AUX outputs, allowing you to listen to music both from flash drives and connect a smartphone or MP-3 player to it.

Now directly on connecting the emulator to the car's standard radio. For example, let's take the already mentioned Toyota Corolla.

There are no outputs on the front panel of the player, but on the back there is an Iso output for connecting an external changer, which will be used.

The emulator comes with a cord, at one end of which there is an Iso plug, and at the other end for connecting the emulator.

Therefore, to make the connection, you will have to remove the radio and connect the cord to it. After this, all that remains is to bring the other end of the wire to a convenient place and connect it to the emulator.

If a computer flash drive is used, the music will be controlled from the radio. If you connect your phone via a USB cable, you can also switch music files from the player, since the smartphone will work in the “Data Transfer” mode. But when using the AUX output, you will have to do everything from your phone.
In general, there are a large number of ways to connect a phone to a car radio. But it is better to choose one that will distract the driver from the road situation to a lesser extent.

A car radio in a modern car has long ceased to be a luxury. The monitors of modern devices display speed, air conditioning readings, external head lights, and this list is constantly growing. But the developers usually do not provide for connecting something of their own, such as an mp3 player. But if you want, you can make the AUX connector available!

What is AUX input and where is it used?

Line input, or as it is now called “AUX,” has long appeared in household audio equipment. A home amplifier, depending on the model, has from one to several of these.

4 line inputs (AUX) are clearly visible in the lower left corner

Home audio equipment is still used according to the same principle, connecting it to a computer. To use this feature in your car, you will have to slightly modify the standard radio.

Connecting a smartphone to the radio can lead to an accident if someone suddenly calls it.

How to connect an aux to a radio with your own hands

Materials

• flat screwdriver (for removing the radio);
• soldering iron with accompanying materials;
• wire with 3.5 jack (can be used from old non-working headphones). ;
• multimeter (for checking).

Set of tools for work

Preparing the car radio

Soldering input

The input must be connected to the preamplifier chip.

To be able to control the sound using the radio, the signal must be fed to the inputs of the amplifier. If you want to control only from your phone, you can use the outputs. In the instructions for the radio (or on the network), find its wiring and solder the wires.

• red - right channel;
• green left;
• the remaining common wire and braid, if there is one, are soldered to the board body.

If there is no diagram, inspect the board. Sometimes it may have designations like “L-CH” - left channel, “R-CH” - right channel.

This is what a typical amplifier circuit looks like. The required contacts are highlighted in yellow. 1,2 - inputs, 18–21 - outputs, 15 pin (below 18) - ground. Thus, by sending a signal to pins 1–2, using an amplifier, you can distribute the sound to four speakers. He also deals with bass settings, adding frequencies, etc.

Several photos of how wiring is done in a standard jack (3.5)

If you took the wire and plug separately, a regular 3.5 jack is assembled at the free end. Red is right, green is left, and connect the remaining ones to the plug body.

Examination

The assembled circuit needs to be checked.

1. To do this, reduce the volume on the radio as much as possible (external sources tend to “roar”).
2. Then plug the plug into the smartphone or player.
3. Select any audio recording on it.

A correctly connected input will output sound from your device to the car speakers.

Assembly

• Place the cassette player in place and assemble the radio.
• The wire is brought out to a convenient place on the dashboard (an ashtray is often used if there are no smokers).

By assembling this option, they also solve the problem of the connecting wire, which arises when you want to use the “AUX” built into the radio.

Video

The video shows the installation of the “AUX” jack in a Ssang Yong car.

Using external adapters and cables

The review would be incomplete without adding that in today’s market a driver can find many devices whose functionality is capable of not only providing a linear input. There are models with support for USB AUX and Bluetooth. Installing such a model is no more difficult than described above. In the video below, the owner connects such a device without disabling support for factory devices.

If your radio does not support connecting external sound sources, every car enthusiast can add this option.

(audio cable) - a cable with two linear connectors (usually mini-jack type). With its help, you can connect an MP3 player, smartphone or other audio file carrier that has the required input to the car radio. If buying an AUX cable seems too simple a solution and you want to stretch your hands, you can make such an accessory yourself.

You will need:

• two pairs of headphones (it is important that these headphones have no creases at the plug),
• soldering iron,
• rosin,
• insulating tape.

1. Cut off the part of the wire with the plug from the headphones. Choose a comfortable length, because a cable that is too short is inconvenient to use.

2. Strip the wires at the cut ends a couple of centimeters.

3. Twist wires of the same color together. In this case, we will have three bundles: red+red, blue+blue and all copper. In some headphone models, the wire may not be in a blue sheath, but in a green sheath.

4. The connected wires must be soldered and dipped in rosin for reliability. After this, each wire must be secured with electrical tape and then the entire junction area must be wrapped with electrical tape.

If it doesn’t turn out as neatly as you would like, and you have a speaker housing from some old headset at hand, put it to work. Such a housing will cover the winding area well.

You don’t have the desire or time to “reinvent the wheel” - contact the Partner online store. Here you can find the most popular models, such as

AUX or Line In is a connector through which you can connect an external audio source to your car. Such an abbreviation can be found on the car radio or directly on the dashboard of the vehicle. This device allows you to quickly connect an MP-3 player, phone, laptop or any other portable device to the car’s speaker system. When connected, audio files from them will be directly broadcast to the car's built-in speakers.

The AUX connector is a small round hole with a diameter of 3.5 millimeters. A plug with a shaped metal rod configuration freely fits into it, as for conventional headphones.

In expensive cars, the AUX connector is mounted next to the cigarette lighter or radio, and is closed with an outer cover that prevents moisture and dust from entering the recess. The presence of an input relieves the car owner from the need to equip the interior with a multifunctional radio, and makes it possible to use not only the resources of a connected electronic media, but also play music from the Internet.

Why is this convenient?

• The technical functions of conventional radio tape recorders are significantly expanded.
• You can listen not only to your favorite music, but also broadcasts from virtual radio stations.
• Additional connection of absolutely any external devices is possible.
• No financial investment is required to update built-in car audio systems.
• Broadcasting sound through a phone connected to the AUX input will be no worse than the quality of played music from a flash drive or disk.

How to use the AUX input?

To connect to this type of linear input, you must have a special adapter. One of its ends should end with an extended plug.

The second side of the adapter must match the connector of your phone, smartphone, tablet or laptop. This small wire will allow you to connect your portable device to your car for seamless transfer of any audio files.

You can purchase an adapter as an additional accessory at an automotive or electronics store. It also often comes standard with some devices.

DIY AUX input

If your car and its built-in radio do not have an AUX connector, you can install it yourself if you wish. If you do not have technical skills, you should order the service from a specialist at a service station.

To install the AUX socket, you will need three small wires, forty or fifty centimeters long, with a small cross-section. They will need to be soldered to the stereo output channels from the player to the main device. After this, the wires are brought out and a socket for an audio connector with three contacts is attached to them. The AUX connector itself is fixed in a convenient place for use on the dashboard or directly on the radio.

Today, in various stores of electrical equipment and accessories for it you can find a huge variety of all sorts of things.

In particular, we are offered a wide selection of cables that allow you to connect various devices and systems to each other.

However, there are some solutions that are not so easy to find in an ordinary cable store. These include, for example, an Aux 3.5-3.5 cable, that is, a wire with a double input into a standard 3.5 jack for “household” headphones. Such solutions can, in principle, be made to order, but you can whip up something similar yourself, if you have a couple of “extra” headphone wires and a few simple tools on hand.

In this article we will tell you how you can solder Aux into a full-fledged Aux 3.5 – 3.5 Jack cable. Many people experience terrible inconvenience when they need to, say, listen to their favorite music from any player in the car, on its native speakers. For these purposes, we will use a pair or three of torn headphones, which will serve as “donors” of the main material for our cable.

Materials used:

— a pair of cords from old or new headphones;

- scissors;

- electrical tape;

- pliers.

Also, for those who have at least some minor skills in working with a soldering iron, they can add it to this list.

Stage 1

First we need to expose the wires and clear them of the braid. At the end of all procedures, you should receive three small wires with different colors at the output. The same procedure will need to be done with the second cord.

Stage 2

Next, you need to take two prepared wires and twist each element of the same color. After this, if you have the proper skills, it is advisable to solder them together. Now we will need to seal the connections with electrical tape. In this case, it is necessary to “dress” each twist with electrical tape - this is necessary so that the wires cannot contact each other. After separating each wire section from the three available, you need to assemble them all together and glue them together with electrical tape.

Stage 3

Basically everything. Now you can go to the car with peace of mind, taking your favorite audio player with music pre-recorded on it.

In this simple way, you can make from seemingly junk such a useful thing as an Aux 3.5-3.5 cable, which will become indispensable on any road trip.