Aux in for A3 already equipped with Symphony 6CD head unit

[rapid_donkey]

My car has a double din head unit, I think it is called symphony, that has a 6CD changer built into it. I also have Bose.

I would like an aux in to listen to my iPod and handheld DAB radio, however, cant see how it is possible.

The only way I have seen is wiring up an aux in and confusing the head unit into believing that it is a disc changer. Obviously if you already have a disc changer, it wont work.

Are there any other ways around this? I just want an aux in lead to come up through between the front seats. I dont really want a wireless transmitter, too messy and power / battery consuming.

Thanks in advance.

[alankru]

My experience comes from fitting the Connects2 USB adapter (which is a CD changer emulator) and the equivalent xcarlink model as well as the Dension Gateway Lite which is what I have now settled with. I have the single DIN Symphony II head unit in my '55 A3 which has the mini-iso connections on it (not the quadlock connection which is newer). I had speaker and sound quality issues with the Connects2 and equivalent xcarlink units which was due to the electronics of the unit and not my car wiring (the quality was fine via the device's 3.5mm input, but not over USB/SD) which is why I got the more expensive Dension unit (the quality is perfect). I found the Dension unit easier to fit because it is "modular" in that the cables disconnect from the main unit itself so that they can be threaded through with less mess/hassle. The Dension Gateway Lite does work out more expensive and it comes with USB and iPod/iPhone connections - although you have to purchase these cables separately.

With the connects2/xcarlink units, they will take the place of the cd changer. With the Dension gateway 100 and 300, there is the option of a CD Changer retention kit, however, their website states that it is not compatible with text capable cars (which I believe are cars with DIS - don't quote me though) and the kit states that it is only compatible with the non-text versions Dension gateway 100 & 300. I don't know if you would be able to use a non-text version of the Dension gateway 100/300 and therefore retain the CD changer with the use of the kit? I would suggest that you contact http://shark-performance.co.uk (one of the forum sponsors) because they are able to advise you of the correct options applicable to your car in the Dension range. They are very helpful.

The xcarlink units are available here: http://xcarlink.co.uk/
and I sourced the connects2 unit from dynamic sound's amazon store (because it was cheaper then their website): http://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/
As I say, I had issues with the sound on these units, which I believe is due to the electronics that had been used to decode the MP3s from USB/SD, as the issue didn't occur with the device's 3.5mm input from an mp3 player like my iphone. However, they are very popular units and suppliers/installers speak well of them (but they speak higher of the Dension units).