How to turn on and listen to music in the car via USB around the clock

If you still don’t know how to play music in your car via USB, then you haven’t tried it. After all, all connection activities here come down to the banal connection of the media to the car radio. No settings, drivers (pah-pah), or other long and incomprehensible actions.

Almost all modern radios are equipped with a USB connector on the panel. It is through it that you can play music from a flash drive or phone, which, in this case, plays the role of a carrier. In this article, we will explain how to listen to music in the car on a radio via USB, and also introduce all the possible problems that can happen on the road.

How to make a USB input on a music center?

To convert an old music center to USB, you don't have to put in a lot of effort. You just need to order a special module for audio transcoding and install it in an old player. For a very low cost, you will get a device that can play music from a flash drive.

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Why connect USB

A flash drive is a reliable storage medium with greater capacity compared to cassettes and CDs. Another advantage is fast access and high speed reading and writing of multimedia.

Understanding how to connect USB to the radio is necessary in order to read and listen to files recorded on a flash drive or mobile phone. For ease of use, the socket can be placed in the glove compartment or ashtray in the car, if the adapter connected to the radio without USB is located separately from it.

Connection methods

I want to immediately note that there are many ways. At the same time, sometimes several connection options can be used on one radio. If one method does not see, use another. Or choose the one that you consider the most practical and convenient.

It doesn't matter what kind of car you have. This could be Renault Duster, domestic Lada Vesta or Lada Granta. Some have a radio tape recorder purchased separately, others make do with the standard system.

There is even a variety of radio tape recorders themselves. There are several most common brands:

• JVC;
• Samsung;
• Coonwood;
• Pioneer;
• Prology;
• Sony;
• Alpine;
• Terra;
• Sho Me, etc.

There are different versions, models and generations. Even with a Chinese radio of unknown origin purchased for Chery Tiggo, sometimes you can connect your Android smartphone in a couple of minutes. Brands and models do not play a key role here. The task is always the same. You need to somehow connect your phone to the system.

Conventionally, all methods can be divided into wired and wireless.

Today we will look at the following connection methods:

• Using a USB cable. Relevant, in demand, not very difficult. Although with its drawbacks;
• Via AUX. Also a common option with its own characteristics;
• Via radio. Yes, you can even connect like this. You will soon find out what we are talking about;
• Using the bluetooth system. Wireless connection category;
• Through the tulips. Not the most popular method, but it cannot be ignored.

Now let's try to briefly but clearly consider each option separately. And then everyone will be able to draw their own conclusions and make a final decision.

Objectively one of the most relevant connection methods. A standard USB cable allows you to connect a phone or just a computer flash drive.

There is a special cord, one end of which looks like a USB connector, and the other is designed to connect to a phone. Please note that old radios cannot synchronize with smartphones, so they treat the phone purely as a storage device, that is, a memory card.

After connecting the devices with a cable, in the settings of your gadget, look for the section with a USB connection. Next, the data transfer menu starts. This will allow the audio system to accept and play audio files available on your phone. But control is only available through the radio on older systems. If it is more modern, you can synchronize and use the device somewhat more efficiently. This allows access to control simultaneously from two devices. Another plus is that while playing, the phone will be charged in parallel. It may be slow, but at least the smartphone will not lose its charge.

There is only one minus. This is a dependence on the cable, which can get in the way. If the cord is short, when a call comes in you will have to turn off the mobile phone, and then reconnect everything and start the music.

If you have USB, it is better to take a fully-fledged flash drive, record your favorite music on it, and leave your smartphone at hand for other purposes.

This is a special connector available on car radios. Almost the first functionality that allows you to connect a phone and an audio system in a car. If there is no AUX on your car, this is somewhat strange, since such connectors have been used since the days of cassette tape recorders.

It is actually a round shaped plug measuring 3.5mm. This is the one you use when connecting headphones. It is not difficult to find the appropriate cable in stores. And the connection is incredibly simple. Take a cord, one end goes to the phone, and the other to the radio. That's it, you're ready to listen. The only control element here is the smartphone itself. You will have to switch tracks through the built-in player or application. That is, the audio system itself acts as a speaker with an amplifier, where you can adjust the volume.

Modulator: how to connect and use

FM modulator and remote control for it

An FM modulator is a device that can transmit a signal from a flash drive (as well as a memory card) over a radio channel. In general, it is plugged into the cigarette lighter socket and tuned to a certain frequency. The same frequency is adjusted on the radio receiver. You (and your neighbor nearby) can listen to music from a flash drive. But for a large city, where the radio range is jam-packed, you can do it differently: install the modulator directly into the tape recorder. How to do it?

To work you will need:

• soldering iron;
• a set of shielded wires (you can take regular ones, but shielded ones will give better quality (a sufficient amount of wire will be in the original radio);
• Modulator (you can use any MP3 player). The advantage of the modulator is the presence of a remote control, as well as a built-in power converter;
• the radio itself;
• voltage converter 12 - 5 V.

Nutrition

1. After disassembling the radio, disconnect the tape drive or disc player.

Disassemble your car radio

Remove the circuit from the case

Connect power to the radio power contacts

Use an extension cord to bring the contact closer

The power converter in the modulator is different, in the player it depends on its brand.

Audio

A shielded wire connects the audio output of the modulator and the input of the radio.

There is no such input on ancient cassette players. In this case, the signal will have to be fed directly to the input of the preamplifier. It’s easy to find - it’s where the shielded wire from the head goes.

The wiring diagram for the amplifier chip can be found on the Internet.

For example, this is what the circuit of an amplifier based on TDA2005 looks like.

Assembly

Since in the new version only the radio receiver unit remains, the modulator can be located in the housing. If all contacts are connected correctly, then the activation of “AUX” or “Tape” is redirected to the modulator.

Basic DIY connection methods

The easiest way is to use an FM transmitter with a player. Using this device, you can listen to music from a flash drive or memory card on a cassette or disk radio, even in the absence of an AUX connector. It is necessary that the tuner can receive a signal in the range 87.5 - 108 MHz.

Another way is to install USB in the standard radio. In this case, rework will be required. As a reading device, you can use a portable MP3 player or a special set-top box with a player and tuner, which has all the control buttons. These audio devices are connected via AUX.

How to solder USB

The car radio is removed from the dashboard, the wires are disconnected from the car, and the cover is removed. Then the CD drive or tape drive is removed. To make the rework easier, you should mark the wires to which sound from the USB should be supplied, as well as the power output.

To solder USB into the car radio, the negative wire of the set-top box is connected to the case. The wires that were unsoldered from the switch on the LPM should be soldered to each other. The positive wire of the USB chip should be soldered to the resulting connection. A shielded cable is used to output sound to the radio. One end is connected to the turntable circuit, and the other to the playback head pins or the volume control input pins.

The attachment is fixed in place of the slot for the cassette. If there is a radio receiver in this device, the standard radio tuner is dismantled. The corresponding wire of the USB circuit is connected to the antenna socket. The set-top box is controlled by built-in buttons or a remote control. Before turning on, the volume control of the radio should be set to the minimum position to avoid a sharp jump in volume.

Now you need to figure out what to do to connect USB instead of CD. To do this, contacts are closed that block mode switching after inserting a disk. The analog audio input and power output are also found. All wires from the USB player are soldered to the corresponding points on the car radio board.

To solder an mp3 player to a standard tape recorder, you will need to build in a voltage converter, since such a gadget is designed for a voltage of less than 12 V.

For ease of control, the button pins are soldered to unused buttons on the radio panel. To do this, you need to unsolder the resistors that stand between the controller.

The signal is taken from the player's headphone output. Playback is controlled by buttons on the radio. When fixing the player, the slot for a flash drive or memory card should be directed toward the CD slot. The radio will play the role of an amplifier with acoustics.

Installing a USB adapter

This device is connected instead of a CD changer, for which a compatible plug is provided. This method is suitable for car radios equipped with an appropriate interface. To install, remove the device from the car dashboard and determine the optimal location for installing the adapter.

After this, the cable is fed from the back of the panel and inserted into the radio, which is installed in place. With this method, music listening is controlled from the head unit turned on in CD changer mode. The information displayed varies depending on the adapter.

Installing a premium Bluetooth headset

The premium device differs from a standard headset by the presence of an audio output that allows you to output sound directly to the car radio. If there is no AUX input, you can make one yourself. To do this, a three-wire shielded cable is soldered to the headphone jack. Its other end is connected to the input of the car radio volume control. The headset is installed on the car dashboard in a convenient place. Playback is controlled from this device.

We are planning an operation

The quality of modern devices in the budget segment often raises questions. Installing a cheap Chinese radio in your car just for the sake of additional functionality, and then throwing it away six months later due to a breakdown, is a dubious pleasure. Therefore, some drivers prefer to remake a standard tape recorder, adding the function of playing music from a flash drive.

Before you start soldering USB into your car radio, think about the cost of the issue. If you are not a seasoned engineer, and at the same time are not interested in programming microcontrollers, then nothing will come of this. You'll just end up throwing away your radio, wasting time and money. A much more effective method is to use an FM modulator. It's much easier and faster.

Converting a car radio to USB using this device will take very little time. Today you can buy a variety of models, most of them are equipped with connectors for flash drives. Usually, by the way, in addition to USB, there are slots for microSD and SD, the modulator transmits a signal at the radio frequency of your choice to the radio. In this way, through a third-party device, you can listen to music from your storage device.

But this method may be too primitive for you. A third-party device dangling from the cigarette lighter looks bulky and inconvenient; For some this does not matter, but for you it may be critical. If you want to completely hide USB in the standard radio with your own hands, you can do some simple manipulations with a screwdriver and a soldering iron.

Advantages of USB connection in the car

If you have carefully read the previous sections, you will have noticed that playing music in the car via USB is extremely simple. This is the main advantage of such a connection. Also, wired transmission does not distort the quality of the audio track, unlike wireless Bluetooth, for example. Music lovers who have installed sophisticated speaker systems in their cars will certainly appreciate this advantage. Well, as a nice bonus, simultaneous charging of the mobile phone is here. Absolutely all other methods of connecting a phone to a car radio imply its rapid discharge. And here, in one action you will be able to turn on both music and battery power.

As for the disadvantages, we have already written above, of course - these are the inconveniences associated with manipulating the cord. If it is too short to answer the call, you will have to disconnect it. If it is very long, it will get tangled and interfere with the interior. Also, the USB connection does not transmit incoming calls and voice messages to the car's speakers (like Bluetooth). The driver is forced to take his attention from the road, which is unsafe.

How to reproduce?

We continue to look at how to connect music in the car via USB, the next step is how to turn it on and how to control it. Most often today, car owners use their phone, because it is always at hand.

Depending on how new your Android smartphone is, music playback in the car via USB will be controlled either from the radio or from the connected gadget.

• In the first case, the smartphone will play the role of a storage medium (flash drive), and nothing more. Sound processing and track switching will be carried out from the car radio;

• In the second, you can control playback from your phone. In this case, the radio will perform the functions of an amplifier, volume control, and in the smartphone player you can select tracks, adjust the volume, equalizer, etc.;
• Well, if you not only have the latest model phone, but also a not-so-old car radio, the devices will be able to synchronize, and in addition to all the listed features, you will have access to the full functionality of the smartphone. That is, you will be able to open other applications, access instant messengers, the phone book and other sections.

To start listening to music in the car through the radio via USB, you just need to turn on the media and connect it to the player in the specified way. The latter itself will recognize the new connection and start playback.

Preparing for work

Before you take action, you should consider how much it might cost you. If you are an amateur in this matter, you don’t even need to start, so as not to completely ruin the radio. The easiest way is to use an FM modulator. This device allows you to quickly upgrade your radio.

Nowadays it is possible to purchase any convenient model, since most of them are equipped with a connector for a flash drive. In addition to the USB connector, there are SD and microSD slots. So, through another device you can listen to music from your flash drive. Of course, this option is considered the most primitive and not very aesthetic, so we will consider another method. It involves the use of a soldering iron.

After installation

The steps described above help get rid of the annoying shortcomings of data transmission over a radio channel. Directly soldered wires will prevent interference, glitches and signal loss. On the one hand, it would be possible to go further and, having figured out the structure of the radio, connect the control buttons from the player with the buttons of the tape recorder with the same wires, so that you can switch tracks using the standard buttons. On the other hand, we leave such delights to the discretion of inquisitive drivers. Just remember about moderation and safety precautions.

Option with adapter

You can connect USB to the radio using a special adapter. Now there is a wide selection of such funds. The adapter is suitable not only for USB, but also for memory cards.

Most radio tape recorders have a suitable socket at the end. You need to do the following:

1. Pull out the radio.
2. Find the connection socket.
3. Disconnect the disc player connector.
4. Instead, install USB in the radio.

The radio will recognize this operation as a simple change of player. If it outputs MP3 format from disk media, then it can also output from a flash drive.

You can do it even simpler and insert a memory card from your smartphone into the adapter, if such a function is supported.

In addition to advantages, this solution also has disadvantages. When the owner decides to change the car, he will have to change the adapter, because each car has its own control protocol. But when buying a new car, this is not such an acute problem.

Another way to connect the phone to the radio is through the AUX connector. This method of connecting to an external device has existed for a very long time - since the days of cassette tape recorders. This is the very first way to connect the head unit to external media.

How to connect your phone to the radio via AUX

Connecting a smartphone to the car radio via the AUX output is very simple. You just need a cable with two Jacks (3.5mm) on both sides, one of which is connected to the specified output on the radio, the second is inserted into the headphone jack of the smartphone. That's it, now you can set the desired musical composition on your smartphone and enjoy.

The prerequisites for the success of this type of connection are the presence of a cable (it’s easy to buy and costs a penny), an AUX output on the radio (almost all radios have them, even not the most modern ones) and, most importantly, the presence of an appropriate headphone jack on the smartphone.

How to prepare a flash drive?

To listen to tracks non-stop, first find out which flash drive is best to buy for your car for music.

• Try not to choose a media that is too capacious, because the car radio may refuse to read it. Let the amount of memory be acceptable for audio tracks, not more. This type of media connects and works faster, and costs less, so you don’t mind losing it or using it only in the car. The optimal volume is 1-4 GB.
• By the way, yes! Try not to use the car flash drive for other needs. This will significantly extend its service life and protect it from viruses that are literally littered with modern computers. Well, or check it regularly with an antivirus program.
• Now about the media file system. The most common are Fat32 and NTFS. Find out in the radio manual what type of file system it reads and format the flash drive in the required format. You can do this on any computer by inserting a flash drive and right-clicking on it.

• The next nuance is the music recording format. Open the car radio's manual again and find out what formats it recognizes. Most often the most common ones are suitable: mp3, mp4, WAV or AVI. Accordingly, all audio tracks must be encoded in a supported format.

Let's sum it up! For a car, it is better to purchase a small flash card and use it only for listening to audio on the road. The media must be formatted in the desired file system, and tracks must be recorded in supported formats. Periodically, your device should be checked for viruses.

Modulator

Connecting USB to the standard radio can be entrusted to specialists, or you can save money and carry out the operation yourself. For those wishing to listen to their favorite music from a flash drive, a special modulator can come to the rescue. It is represented by a device that transmits information from a memory card or flash card over a radio channel.

The device needs to be plugged into the cigarette lighter and adjusted to the required frequency, which is also adjusted on the radio. After this, you can enjoy music files from the media. If the radio range is very clogged, it will be most effective to build a modulator into the tape recorder. To do this you will need:

• soldering iron;
• shielded wires;
• modulator, the advantage of which is the remote control;
• radio;
• voltage transformer.

First, disassemble the radio and disconnect the tape drive or disc player. Then the microcircuit is removed from the modulator. The plus of the FM modulator power supply must be soldered to the plus of the radio. When turned on, 12V should appear. Then you need to connect power to similar contacts on the radio. Moreover, the minus must be in contact with the minus. You will need an extension cord to bring the USB to the panel.

It is important to remember that the modulator has its own power converter, and the player has its own, and it depends on the brand.

The next step is to connect the audio output of the modulator and the input of the radio using a shielded wire. If the device is old and there is no input, the signal will have to be sent to the preamplifier directly. You need to look for it, guided by the shielded wire of the head. If everything is connected correctly, the modulator will work via AUX or Tare.