DIY iPod shuffle tape deck, yeehaa ...

[megaclaw]

Re: DIY iPod shuffle tape deck, yeehaa ...

hi all, just to share with you an adapter I created for the iPod shuffle (2 hours job). Since the cassette tape deck was doing nothing, I thought of an adapter for the iPod shuffle that has no cable clutter and yet flexible enough for both the iPod shuffle and tape adapter to be removed.

Equipment:
1x iPod shuffle 1GB
1x Cassette tape adapter Sony CPA-9C (sounds better than the Belkin one)
1x iPod shuffle armband
2x "L" shape brackets
4x short screws

The results speaks for itself in the attached photos. The iPod shuffle can be detach from the dock as normal without ejecting the cassette tape adapter. Next, I'm planning to shorten the audio cable so that I don't have to coil the cable between the dock and the cassette tape deck further reducing the cable clutter and move the iPod nearer to the HU.

As with all tape adapters, sounds a bit "tin-can" like and lack in Bass compared to CD. The solution is to increase the bass setting and reduce the treble to provide decent audio. In addition, the iPod shuffle's volume need to be set to maximum to be level with other sources such as CD and radio.

End of the day, very satisfied with the result!!! Life is random

Hi there,

I bought the Belkin cassette adaptor and got only 10% sound from the left speakers. Did you get this problem with the sony cassette? Wondering what is wrong?

 

[NightHawk]

Re: DIY iPod shuffle tape deck, yeehaa ...

Perhaps the adapter is not sitting very well in your Head Unit. Try pushing or touching it after you have loaded it in.

I have the problem sometimes but its just a minor issue.

Also, are you using a protective skin over your Ipod? The RCA phone jack of the Belkin adapter is quite fat & it may prevent the jack from fully being inserted with some skin designs. Workaround - cut the skin where the jack is.

 

[mobilefriend]

Re: DIY iPod shuffle tape deck, yeehaa ...

Hi Megaclaw (don't claw me...), like walkman in the old days, the better tape heads provides the best sound. I had a Belkin tape adapter once, but the audio quality was really bad and the adapter make funny noises while turning ... I swap it for a Sony one and it sounds great! I do encounter softer/louder audio while shifting the adapter left and right, but not to the extend you mentioned, more like 80-100%. But like Nighthawk correctly pointed out, you could shift it a bit to try out. Cheers!

 

[megaclaw]

Re: DIY iPod shuffle tape deck, yeehaa ...

Hi Megaclaw (don't claw me...), like walkman in the old days, the better tape heads provides the best sound. I had a Belkin tape adapter once, but the audio quality was really bad and the adapter make funny noises while turning ... I swap it for a Sony one and it sounds great! I do encounter softer/louder audio while shifting the adapter left and right, but not to the extend you mentioned, more like 80-100%. But like Nighthawk correctly pointed out, you could shift it a bit to try out. Cheers!

Thanks for yr suggestions!!!!

Did the shifting and the sound does output differently...now at most I get about 40% from left and 60% from right speakers.
Confirmed that the the tape head was not sitting properly.

Will try to find a Sony adaptor instead. I tried sourcing in Sim Lim but no luck. Probably need to go to a Sony store.

Cheers!!!