MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Audio / Security / Electrical => Topic started by: inigopete on October 2, 2023, 12:34

Title: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: inigopete on October 2, 2023, 12:34
Hi, I've had a search on here and haven't been able to find what I was looking for.

I've got a 2001 PFL with the stock Sony head unit. By the sound of it, although there's an aux in socket, it's designed to work only with a compatible Sony CD multichanger.

Is there a cable or adaptor available to fool the unit into thinking a CD changer is attached, so I can just run a line in from a jack connection (iPod headphone out, for example) and hear it through the speakers?

It sounds like the Sony XA-300 "aux selector" is one option for this, although there aren't any currently on eBay and they seem to be like hens' teeth to find. Or one of those old-school cassette-with-a-cable adaptors, but I think it would look neater with a cable going into the back of the unit.

I'd appreciate any advice you could offer.
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: inigopete on October 2, 2023, 14:01
May have found the answer to my own question: a Sony Unilink adapter, to make the head unit think a CD changer is attached.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0B27YNP2D

Also about to order a RCA stereo to 3.5mm jack cable, which should allow me to plug into the iPod. :)
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: barchetta_ms on October 2, 2023, 14:17
I believe that head unit is compatible with Sony Unilink - this cable looks like it may well work:



https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394698445260?hash=item5be5dc51cc:g:KBIAAOSwoftkljOX&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAABIOiaA6aIGaDboeI7SK2ZlYK9sXh%2FG9L1fSKXiHorq3GDmdYIzeVU8asADZN2RC4VYAEx2O4qyHt1u70EYZ1ALthBS8xMKkugIfmXYMZIqXfvMICS6ngvy%2BndQzsKW3dWwCF4bGgyqUZ6dtdb%2BAPqdCUlLnVoj%2BY5AZ7KGQEcrC%2BibDMfR2UOUfHUeoeODkHGsTmx2AKVwgLf8VyHGTpJ6K8oquEtNYOsYwYwoKcecTvl0rWLrXCvinNibvInIc5E6fAIJCP3AVYmyPYq8%2B8F4YRylbGftUWVW7C5Cmru4UOYYgOfRtOMA%2FzQCrrypwKOtOrNalPAAKihP2oauONXJr%2BtwAGhSPEbfIbgJJsS2X5EvhpgdKuIPT8uXiGUOQ6XTA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8DltIfeYg
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: Topdownman on October 2, 2023, 20:45
Could you not just get a modern aftermarket head unit? Presumably better sound quality and features and not that much more than the leads you would need to use the old h/u?
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: inigopete on October 4, 2023, 10:50
Thanks @barchetta_ms that looks like the one I've ordered! :)

@Topdownman that's another option but the sound on the original Sony unit is actually pretty good - I'm quite keen to keep the car as stock as possible so I'm making do without DAB for now and there's enough power in the stock headunit and speakers for my needs. My phone seems to be held quite nicely by the dashboard top compartment door when it's resting on top of it, so that's navigation sorted, and it's powered by a USB charger plugged into the cigarette lighter. :)
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: fawtytoo on October 8, 2023, 20:05
I have a Stock Toyota unit from a Land Cruiser. The mounting points and rear connectors all fit. 6 CD changer with aux input and the fascia trim fits too. You might struggle finding one though.

Point is, that if you research, they were many stock Toyota head units across many models that are mostly interchangeable.
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: Ardent on October 8, 2023, 22:01
Any pics or part numbers for that unit?
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: Ardent on October 8, 2023, 22:02
Quote from: inigopete on October  4, 2023, 10:50Thanks @barchetta_ms that looks like the one I've ordered! :)

@Topdownman that's another option but the sound on the original Sony unit is actually pretty good
The Sony unit is, sadly the fisher price unit that followed............
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: fawtytoo on October 9, 2023, 18:57
Quote from: Ardent on October  8, 2023, 22:01Any pics or part numbers for that unit?
This is one I have for sale, but the CD player is faulty. However it gives an idea of what's possible with stock units.

(https://i.ibb.co/9bzbKRh/Fujitsu-Ten-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9bzbKRh)

(https://i.ibb.co/D4bGsm2/Fujitsu-Ten-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/D4bGsm2)

(https://i.ibb.co/zxLnKGf/Fujitsu-Ten-5.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zxLnKGf)
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: Alex Knight on October 10, 2023, 10:47
I've always thought that the GT86 headunit would be a nice OEM upgrade for the MR2:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225781745156?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338268676&toolid=10044&customid=Cj0KCQjw7JOpBhCfARIsAL3bobc40WgH_aQtg7yQ2AfVQJer9xeEqe3beLT6ovouz7kDEwd5El7Cu-oaAg6YEALw_wcB
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: fawtytoo on October 10, 2023, 20:34
You'd need an aerial lead adapter, but otherwise would be good.

EDIT: I checked the part number for that and it fits a RAV 4, which means it'll fit the MR2 and the fascia trim should fit too.
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: Ardent on October 10, 2023, 21:39
Maybe an idea for a compatible head unit thread.
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: fawtytoo on October 11, 2023, 18:42
Quote from: Ardent on October 10, 2023, 21:39Maybe an idea for a compatible head unit thread.
Done.
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: Joesson on October 11, 2023, 18:55
Quote from: fawtytoo on October 11, 2023, 18:42Done.

My car came to me fitted with an Alpine head unit. I have read mention of such on here, iirc. Was this unit a dealer option or an after market choice by a previous owner?
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: fawtytoo on October 11, 2023, 19:12
Quote from: Joesson on October 11, 2023, 18:55My car came to me fitted with an Alpine head unit. I have read mention of such on here, iirc. Was this unit a dealer option or an after market choice by a previous owner?
Do you still have it fitted?
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: Joesson on October 11, 2023, 19:20
Quote from: fawtytoo on October 11, 2023, 19:12Do you still have it fitted?

I do, the only "work" I have done in that area is to fit a switch to stop the aerial from yo yoing.
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: fawtytoo on October 11, 2023, 19:36
Quote from: Joesson on October 11, 2023, 19:20I do, the only "work" I have done in that area is to fit a switch to stop the aerial from yo yoing.
Would it be too much to see pix of it removed to show fittings, part numbers, etc? Or, at least, do you have a model number?
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: Joesson on October 11, 2023, 20:37
Quote from: fawtytoo on October 11, 2023, 19:36Would it be too much to see pix of it removed to show fittings, part numbers, etc? Or, at least, do you have a model number?

I'm pretty sure the instruction booklet is in the glove box. I'll have a look tomorrow, it is in a surround that seems to fit well and provides a small storage area below the unit, I can photo that as well.
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: J88TEO on October 12, 2023, 08:41
Same as mine...Alpine INA N333R
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: Joesson on October 12, 2023, 10:21
Quote from: fawtytoo on October 11, 2023, 19:36Would it be too much to see pix of it removed to show fittings, part numbers, etc? Or, at least, do you have a model number?

Alpine CD receiver  CDE9872R

(https://i.ibb.co/ChwyyTp/9388-B0-B9-A9-C6-45-B8-AD26-171471279-AB7.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ChwyyTp)

(https://i.ibb.co/FVp6xgv/D1-F92-D01-CB6-D-44-F9-BF64-AE4-C66151739.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FVp6xgv)

(https://i.ibb.co/pjkNNtr/59831-FE0-38-BF-4-DFE-8-ECD-6-EBCE8-FE0-F3-F.jpg) (https://ibb.co/pjkNNtr)

(https://i.ibb.co/HtrKT7W/5-C45840-D-836-D-45-A6-84-E2-F5-C7-A8-BC205-E.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HtrKT7W)

C/ w simple anti theft device!


Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: Joesson on October 12, 2023, 10:23
Quote from: J88TEO on October 12, 2023, 08:41Same as mine...Alpine INA N333R

Maybe not.
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: fawtytoo on October 12, 2023, 10:51
Quote from: Joesson on October 12, 2023, 10:21Alpine CD receiver  CDE9872R
According to some Alpine product information, that unit dates back to 2008. And the newest MR2 Roadster would be 2006.
Alpine product information (https://www.alpine-europe.com/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf_dachmarke/CD_Player%20CDE%20Serie_final_englisch.pdf)
Title: Re: Stock PFL Sony headunit: can I add an aux input?
Post by: inigopete on November 16, 2023, 18:24
Answer: yes I can add an audio input.

Details here (https://www.mr2roc.org/index.php?msg=897698). :)