Hi, I've just received my new Rio Car 20Gb Version!!! Was extremely happy until the stage in the installation when i realized that my head unit (Sony cdx-c7850) does not want to let me listen to the AUX input from the Rio Car.. i've got the Bus cable (rc-61) which is connected to the back of the sony unit, but it is NOT connected anywhere on the Rio, since the Rio does not have a plug for it... How do i go about making the head unit realize that there is sound coming in through the AUX input? do i need any extra hardware? or some innovative way of fooling the sony deck into realizing that there is something connected? Please help!!
Thanks a lot,
Chris.

You need to get a sony XA-300. Its the only way I've seen to do it. I had to buy one as well. $99 was the cheapest I found it: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-9Adfi8AUbJv/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=158XA300&s=0.

-Greg

I've also seen posts about an XA-107, but haven't been able to find a store selling it. Also, crutchfield lists the part as not in stock..

They have to be cutom ordered. I bought mine at ultimate electronics for the same price, they have to order it. Call up CrutchField and they can probobly order it for you.

-Greg

Damn, another 100$ gone i suppose..
do other car audio manufacturers also use this bus link stuff or are they easier to work with? 'cause i really thought that rca jacks in would be enough for the system to know that there is an input into the AUX...

Buy a good head unit instead of a Sony. No offense to anyone, but something like the empeg deserves better than a Sony.

Anyway, there are plenty of heads with line-level aux inputs. You should be able to sell your Sony and buy another head without losing the $100+ you'd have to spend on the adapter. Of course if you've got some attachment to the Sony or some other hardware that needs it.... Then you're stuck with the adapter.

Also, I'm pretty sure you won't be able to find the 107 part. There are plenty of threads on the net from people looking but never finding one.

Bruno

do other car audio manufacturers also use this bus link stuff or are they easier to work with?

You have to understand that "this bus link stuff" is for CD-changers only. It's not meant for Aux-in. There is a such thing as car stereos with Aux-in, but that's a different feature than a CD-changer input.

They do that on purpose. It's not like the audio inputs on the CD changer connection are any different than an Aux-in would be, it's just that they want to make you buy their brand of CD changer, so they use a proprietary connection.

Yes i am considering that.. i am kinda pissed off at sony for making me stick with their priopetary technology... and no.. no emotional attachemnt to the sony deck.. was thinking of replaying it for an in-dash cd/mp3 player anyhow... this gives me added incentive to look for one..

there are some nice cd/mp3 in-dash units.. just can't decide on one.... i am looking for a nice clean look, like the jensen in-dash cd/mp3 receiver... or blaupunkt? eh.. too much choice.. any suggestions?

or should i just forget the in-dash cd receiver and just have the rio? i would appreciate input from an old empeg/rio user to let me know how much use does the cd player actually get? and also regarding the rio radio module.. do they still sell them? 'cause its not listed on their site...

or should i just forget the in-dash cd receiver and just have the rio?

That's what I've done. I prefer it that way. The whole point of the player was to get rid of CDs.

i would appreciate input from an old empeg/rio user to let me know how much use does the cd player actually get?

Everyone says that the CD player gets used rarely. If listening to the occasional CD is important to you, get a cheap portable to stick in the glove box and run it into the Rio Car's aux-ins.

This is all in the FAQ, by the way.

Now, as far as tuner modules are concerned, that is definitely a sticking point. They are sold out. There is talk of MAYBE another production run sponsored by a third party investor. Or you could buy one on ebay.

Hi,

I have had my empeg since sept 00, and I don't miss my old headunit at all. It was a nice Eclipse headunit too. I bought the tuner when it first became available, but I rarely use it. I might tune in to hear cartalk or traffic updates every once in a while. Thats it. I went for a year with no tuner at all and it didn't bother me. I don't miss fiddling with putting cds in while im driving either. Not having a cd player in car is not a problem for me. Please use the empeg for a few weeks first. Then make a decision regarding the cd player.


Sean

I kinda have to make a decison right now, i don't have a separate amp for my speakers, so without a head unit i can not use my Rio, so my choices are either getting that xa-300 or xa-107 part for aux in, getting a new head unit, or getting a an amp....

I am kind of leaning towards getting another head unit due to the fact that i have a sub and an amp and the rio does not have a direct connection for it so i would need to install an active crossover for that purpose in addition to a new 4 channel amp...

I am trying to make this as easy as can be to change, i don't feel like re-wireing the car again...

So i think the simplest solution would be to change my head unit to a new cd/mp3 receiver deck which has a normal aux in, and sub outputs, which would allow me to run the Rio sound through it...

Kenwood sells a $20 adapter that connects to the right lines to tell the head unit that an aux source is connected. To hook up a changer as well, you have to buy a box that switches between them via a wired remote..

Do you have the rio car yet?

Yes i do, right now it's sitting in my bedroom hooked up eo the stereo because i can't make it work in the car

OK, now I understand why you want to get it installed real bad. I ended up getting rid of the headunit and installing a 5 channel amp. It only requires the 2 sets of inputs - no crossover.

good luck!

i have a sub and an amp and the rio does not have a direct connection for it so i would need to install an active crossover for that purpose in addition to a new 4 channel amp...

You don't necessarily need an active crossover simply because the Rio doesn't have a sub output. Most amplifiers have crossovers built-in, in which case it's merely a question of how you want to route the audio wiring. Details here.

Pioneer P-Bus systems use a $20 adapter that turns the P-Bus plug into an RCA Aux in. No extra boxes required. You just plug it in an hook the RCA's up.

I've almost completely decided to go with the Jensen MP5010K cd/mp3/radio head unit to replace my sony for 3 reasons: it has a "normal" aux input, it has sub pre-amp outputs, and it will play mp3 cd-r's and regular cd's in case i will ever need to play them... an added bonus is that i've found it here locally for 350$ CAD (~200USD) which is quite a good deal considering that the xa-300 would cost me 200$ CAD, and they don't even have it in stock.. so hopefully tomorrow i will have a completely working setup...
Anyone wants to buy my sony cd head unit? didn't think so.. e-bay it is

I'll recommend two more: 1) JVC LX-300, I think they call it "El Kameleon" , and 2) Sony ES CDX-770. Both have flat faces on them, and "looks-wise" are very clean looking next to the RioCar. Neither plays MP3 discs, but I tell ya, after a few days with the new Rio you won't care. The CD player will simply perform tuner and amplifier duties for you. You won't bother making MP3 discs because you'll just load them to your Rio instead.

Also, you might consider looking at some receivers based on their display colors, and how they match the Rio. I never thought I would care, but now I am actually considering changing the light bulbs in my dashboard to match mine. I have the Sony 770, and wish it had the same color display.

Lastly, as was mentioned above, you might want to take that difference in price (new deck - what a used Sony will fetch) and just go ahead and do it right - put it into a good 4 channel amplifier, many can be had in the $200 range.

Today I went to a local Car Audio Shop that did some work on my previous stereo with an idea of buying the Jansen receiver i wrote about before, but once i saw the Pioneer DEH-P740MP, i couldn't resist... it cost 550$ CAD for the recever (vs. 350$ CAD for the Jansen) + 50$ CAD for the Aux cable... plus taxes and 2 hours of work of the guy there installing both the new Pioneer and the Rio and making a custom wire harness cost total of 780$ CAD.. i can't be happier though... it's a top of the line deck with mp3/cd and a kick ass display that matches the Rio's.. and a colour/lights theme that is extermely nice alongside the Rio... I've been driving with both of them all day today and i am extremely happy with both.. well a "little" happier with the Rio
It cost more than i wanted, but as a gadget person i couldn't have picked a cooler deck..