You can pick up a cassette tape to mp3 adapter just about anywhere for around $14 US, I use it in my XJS and X300 works great, discreet and plug and play in 1/2 second. I use mine with my iPod and iPhone.

 

cool thanks bud. I think i found one at JB

https://www.jbhifi.com.au/tv-home-en...reverse/13552/

 

Hot damn I want these plates!

 

Before you get your hands on Her, have you thought about changing the name of your Car to 'Sapphire' sounds a bit more 'Jaguesque' than 'Blue Goose'

Your Car, your Choice only a suggestion!

 

ha ha nah....the name has stuck now

 

Correct. The signal lead goes right into the head unit's aerial port on the back, then the car aerial plugs into it. When the iSimple unit is powered up, the car's aerial signal is interrupted and does not reach the radio. So your MP3 signal is clean.

You probably know this, but I'm pedantic so I have to say it: other FM Transmitters broadcast a weak radio wave signal that the car's aerial picks up. It therefore has to compete with any radio station in the vicinity that broadcasts on the same or near frequency. Your music will be muddied by competing signals from outside.

 

The iSimple Tranzit IS77 was right for my XJS because I consider it a special car and wanted to keep is original. But I'm taking a different approach with my 1986 XJ6 and installing an new head unit that doesn't play CDs: Alpine UTE-52BT Digital Media Receiver w/ Bluetooth & Aux

I have already put these in the doors: Alpine SPS-410 4" Type-S Coaxial Car Speakers - Sonic Electronix but there's no bass because they're only 4" dia.

Therefore next goes in the little under-seat sub: Kenwood KSC-SW11 Low-Profile Amplified Subwoofer + Enclosure 150W

Not an expensive system but with tons of functionaity (Bluetooth, Siri connection if you have an iPhone, front inputs for USB or 1/8" jacks...).

 

Mkii250 is onto something here. Unless you're doing concours, why not put in a modern system which will provide decent audio quality?

Those tape adapters always introduce hiss, and pick up various electrical whines from the vehicle.

The head unit he linked, if the illumination is switchable to green, would look right at home: not too flashy.

You can also check out Nakamichi and Blaupunkt for some (visually) restrained units.

 

cool thanks for the input guys. The general concensus is too, to install it your self as i could imagine paying someone to do it might hack it.

heh Greg did you need a seperate Amplifer to wire that unit into or is it built into the head?

 

Hmmm, mine sounds perfectly fine in both the XJS and X300 "always" is a broad brush, one that doesn't apply to my situation, no "hiss" or " whines" in either of my Jaguars or my old Explorer. I must have just gotten the one odd ball good one.

 

The Kenwood? It is in the smallish category of "powered subwoofers", so it has its own amp. You'll need a head unit that has a pre-amp sub-output (two RCA females), which most new ones have but which our old Jaguar/Alpine units do not.

Anyway you might get enough bass out of your rear speakers. They're bigger than the front's, bigger than in my XJ6.

Two things to watch:

1. if you want to replace your speakers and only your speakers and are pretty sure you will not change the original radio, get 8 ohm speakers like the OE ones. If you get 4 ohm (and I recently got the impression that 4 ohm is prevalent now, but I'm no expert) then you'll lose half the radio's volume.

2. no matter what, if you want bigger better bass, you have to change the head unit. The OE AJ8600 unit in my 1992 XJS only puts out down to 100 Hz, so there isn't much bass to amplify.

 

thanks Greg

Im not too picky really, so long as I have some tunes lol!

I'm going to give the adapator a go first and see how it goes. If its crappy ill upgrade to replacing the cassette deck itself.

Lol i remember paying $20 for a brand new album back in the day on Cassette. Just to think i dumped them all many years ago ha ha ha

 

Hi Paul

This is what I use. MP3 Player/Cassette Adapter/Charger in the Cigarette Lighter Socket.

I did buy a really nice Stereo but I couldn't find an adapter lead, so I put it in the Merc.

 

An advantage of this cassette adapter is that it doesn't rely on the car's aerial to get the music signal to the head unit. Therefore no interference from outside radio sources.

 

I know, eh. I have lots of 20-30 year old cassettes that won't play properly. They must have gotten sticky over the years?

I learned early on to buy albums on vinyl and transfer them to a good quality cassette--but only a couple of those are still working properly and I don't want to stress my cassette player so I have repurchased most on CD and turned them into MP3s.

 

You might be pleasantly surprised. I haven't even been tempted to change the speakers in my XJS--it sounds good as is to me. I only added the iSimple is77 so I could play and charge my iphone.

Though I really consider the aeriel-defeat switch that I added to be a huge bonus and have done it in both cars.

 

Hi Paul

This looks a bit of a Bargain!

oneConcept MD-410 Car Radio USB SD MP3 at the Best Price!

 

thanks bud Ill check it out.

Heh so do you guys use seat covers? What do you reckon are the best? I live in a relatively hot climate so not sure wool is the best

 

No seat covers here - I love looking at the seats - I think they are a work of art.

 

No need to cover my seats, and they're black. I do appreciate the seat heaters in the fall though

THB I wouldn't cover them, I'd reupholster them, maybe with German-style perforated inserts and a lighter colour.