How Do You Plug an MP3 Player Into Audio System?

cohenfive · 11-12-2010, 09:43 PM

dumb question i know, but i'm struggling to figure this one out. i have a zune mp3 player with a ton of subscription music on it, and i want to be able to play it through the car audio system. as far as i can tell the oem ipod/usb cable won't work, and i've tried to plug the zune in via the zune/usb cable. that doesn't work either. what i'm left with is buying a 3.5 to 3.5 cable to run from the headphone out on the player to the aux in on the car, or possibly a 3.5 to usb to do the same thing. will this work, and am i thinking of this the right way? i know apple owns the world but i would have preferred to get a set of cables that allows you to plug in any old mp3 player, not just an apple product. anyway, thanks!

kmarei · 11-12-2010, 10:26 PM

Only way is aux input Jack
Is there a line out on zune?
Or is it just headphone?

cohenfive · 11-12-2010, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmarei

Only way is aux input Jack
Is there a line out on zune?
Or is it just headphone?

zune only has the proprietary input (looks like the ipod connector but of course is not compatible) and the headphone out. so i'm thinking i need a headphone (3.5mm) to aux (also 3.5mm) cable. just out of curiousity are you saying i can't get a 3.5mm to usb cable instead? i buy all my cables at monoprice so they only cost a few bux each so no biggie if i have an extra..thanks.

Technic · 11-12-2010, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cohenfive

dumb question i know, but i'm struggling to figure this one out. i have a zune mp3 player with a ton of subscription music on it, and i want to be able to play it through the car audio system. as far as i can tell the oem ipod/usb cable won't work, and i've tried to plug the zune in via the zune/usb cable. that doesn't work either. what i'm left with is buying a 3.5 to 3.5 cable to run from the headphone out on the player to the aux in on the car, or possibly a 3.5 to usb to do the same thing. will this work, and am i thinking of this the right way? i know apple owns the world but i would have preferred to get a set of cables that allows you to plug in any old mp3 player, not just an apple product. anyway, thanks!

That should have work... try an USB stick to test that port.

kmarei · 11-13-2010, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cohenfive

zune only has the proprietary input (looks like the ipod connector but of course is not compatible) and the headphone out. so i'm thinking i need a headphone (3.5mm) to aux (also 3.5mm) cable. just out of curiousity are you saying i can't get a 3.5mm to usb cable instead? i buy all my cables at monoprice so they only cost a few bux each so no biggie if i have an extra..thanks.

is the usb cable doesn't work i'd get this
usually the quality of audio at the line out port is higher than the headphones as its not run through the internal amplifier

http://cgi.ebay.com/Zune-MP3-Player-...item3f04306f31

kmarei · 11-13-2010, 07:25 AM

or this so you can use a longer cable
http://cgi.ebay.com/Zune-MP3-Player-...item4153c06474

cohenfive · 11-13-2010, 08:14 AM

i'm wondering if the problem using the zune cable is that the music on the device is subscription, so the audio system might not play it. if i just use the 3.5mm headphone out, it should be able to just take the signal i would hope...thanks!

walsh · 11-13-2010, 09:13 AM

The only option you have is to use the headphone jack to the aux port.

11-12-2010, 09:43 PM	#1
cohenfive Lieutenant 108 Rep 480 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 m3 space grey dct Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: sf bay area iTrader: (0)	How Do You Plug an MP3 Player Into Audio System? dumb question i know, but i'm struggling to figure this one out. i have a zune mp3 player with a ton of subscription music on it, and i want to be able to play it through the car audio system. as far as i can tell the oem ipod/usb cable won't work, and i've tried to plug the zune in via the zune/usb cable. that doesn't work either. what i'm left with is buying a 3.5 to 3.5 cable to run from the headphone out on the player to the aux in on the car, or possibly a 3.5 to usb to do the same thing. will this work, and am i thinking of this the right way? i know apple owns the world but i would have preferred to get a set of cables that allows you to plug in any old mp3 player, not just an apple product. anyway, thanks!
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11-12-2010, 10:26 PM	#2
kmarei Major General 688 Rep 6,845 Posts Drives: 2018 Audi RS5 coupe Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Reston, VA iTrader: (34) Garage List 2018 Audi RS5 [0.00]	Only way is aux input Jack Is there a line out on zune? Or is it just headphone?
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11-13-2010, 07:25 AM	#6
kmarei Major General 688 Rep 6,845 Posts Drives: 2018 Audi RS5 coupe Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Reston, VA iTrader: (34) Garage List 2018 Audi RS5 [0.00]	or this so you can use a longer cable http://cgi.ebay.com/Zune-MP3-Player-...item4153c06474
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11-13-2010, 08:14 AM	#7
cohenfive Lieutenant 108 Rep 480 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 m3 space grey dct Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: sf bay area iTrader: (0)	i'm wondering if the problem using the zune cable is that the music on the device is subscription, so the audio system might not play it. if i just use the 3.5mm headphone out, it should be able to just take the signal i would hope...thanks!
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11-13-2010, 09:13 AM	#8
walsh First Lieutenant 33 Rep 321 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Denver iTrader: (2)	The only option you have is to use the headphone jack to the aux port.
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