Best Ipod Integration for F-350 Diesel, loud?

[mingcha]

Currently I'm using a cassette adapter with my Ipod, upgraded from a 100% crap FM Transmitter, man those things are bad.

However, I would like to get some better sound quality. Here are my current problems.

1) Via cassette adapter, the sound is pretty loud and hearable driving around town. However, at 75 on the Highway and the Diesel...read (very loud/deafening) really starts going. All volume is increased, and the low level sounds and music are tough to pick up. Since the music on my ipod doesn't seem to be all at the same volume level, I'm constantly fooling with the volume knob on my stereo, some songs being WAY more enjoyable than others due to the inert volume of some tracks....I guess the whole normalization process for my .mp3's question belongs in a computer audio forum...just a side note.

However, it seems that CD never fails me, yet I don't want to burn 100 cd's.

I guess thats is my main problem.

The system in the car is standard car audio. I don't really know what comes with a stock Ford F-350 Super Duty 1999, but that is what is in there. No aux port to be found. The stereo is also the size of two regular stereos since it has a cassette slot.

What steps should I take to make listening to music more comparable to listening to my headphones, or at least more like CDs. Especially while on the highway with rather high background noise.

The volume levels are what really throw me off. The low level diesel noise seems to drone out all the fine/low level sounds that can add so much to certain songs. I sometimes struggle hearing lyrics.

If I were to get a new Stereo, what would you recommend. I don't even know where to start in terms of price, features, or power to speakers. Anybody have suggestions? Other possible routes besides a new stereo?

Thx in advance.

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[azbass 5,000+ posts]

id still go with an aftermarket radio.

and sence you use your ipod, i highly recomend alpine, they have a iopd direct cable, that controls the ipod right on the radio, the sound is clean and loud.

 

[mingcha]

Would aux in be just as good. I don't mind controlling via the ipod.

Something around 75$-100$ that would still power my stock ford speakers.

The Alpine you are talking about is 250$, I'm pretty sure. Kinda pricey for me.

 

[monkeyboy 10+ year member]

Stock Ford speakers are higher impedance than your usual 4 ohm. Makes for a tough time powering them.

You may wanna try making the truck quieter too. Some Dynamat really helped keep the turbo whistle down in my 04.

 

[bri487 5,000+ posts]

peripheral is the shit.

 

[Cmonster 10+ year member]

Alpine and Clarion both have 2 din units that will fit right in your truck. Both have super fast ipod connections. I really like the Clarion interface. A PIE adapter is a cheap and easy way to have a direct hook-up to the stock system. Less than $100.

Check out this site: http://www.thedieselstop.com

You will find tons of help and info. There are lots of tricks to quiet the cab. Look for info about door seals and 3/8 latex tubing. Check my posts and QtrHorse's.

Jim

 

[PESteele 10+ year member]

clean the head of your cassette deck cause i have an e-350 that the diesel is loud as shit and i was using an ipod off of a cassette deck and it drowned it out easily.

Or you could get a hu that has a aux input and convert that to rca's and then to 3.5mm