Aux input on the radio. How to make an AUX output in a standard radio

Among large quantity Among the connectors supplied with music equipment, the AUX connector can be called one of the most universal, at least until digital multimedia devices begin to take the lead. The AUX marking is found on almost all types of devices that reproduce sound: televisions, stereo systems, CD/DVD players, car radios. On equipment of previous generations you can also find the CD-IN marking, which is an outdated name for the connector. of this type. But among experts it is often called “linear input”.

Let's look at the features of this type of connector as applied to car audio equipment.

What is AUX output

The name of the connector itself is an abbreviation for Auxiliary port, which translates as “additional socket, port.” They are equipped with musical equipment to connect additional sound sources. The main requirement is that the connected devices must operate with a voltage of 0.5-1V: it is this range that supports most sound-reproducing equipment equipped with a linear input. The signal supplied to the connector must have the same value.

The Auxiliary port is usually directly connected to, so its main use is to amplify the power of audio devices with relatively weak speakers. An example is MP3 players, many of which do not have a sound reproduction device at all and work exclusively with headphones.

Modern mobile gadgets also cannot boast of high-quality sound reproduction, so it is better to connect digital media files directly to the car stereo system.

The only “but” is that all these devices (smartphones, iPads, tablets, players) are not equipped with similar sockets (AUX output) or cables that allow such a connection. This means that to use AUX on the radio, you will need to stock up on special adapters, since they can be purchased at any radio parts store.

In order for the car radio to recognize the connected digital device, you need to use either the menu or a standard switch. Setting the sound level involves setting the signal power level to the minimum value before connecting an additional device.

To connect old analog equipment (the most obvious example is a cassette recorder), you don’t need to perform any manipulations at all, just have a suitable cable.

Thus, answering the question, what is an AUX output in a car, we can say that this is one of the most common ways of integrating sound-generating devices, which is the built-in car radio or multimedia center.

Using this connector, you can listen in excellent quality to both your favorite music collections and any other audio files (for example, study courses foreign language, lectures, audiobooks).

The presence of an “AUX” input in a car radio has long been a de facto standard, which both eminent companies and non-name manufacturers try to adhere to.

We have already noted that to connect an additional device to the amplifier and speakers of a standard car radio via the line-in connector, you need an adapter, which is a cable with a standard 3.5 mm Minijack plug on one side and a pair of tulip-type connectors on the other.

However, this is not the only way to connect: there is a Bluetooth adapter on sale, through which you can connect gadgets that operate via Bluetooth to the car multimedia system.

Finally, you can make an adapter yourself, but this is an option suitable for those who are familiar with a soldering iron. To do this, you need to find two plugs and a cord (the latter, like the mini-jack plug, can be taken from non-working headphones).

Each of the plugs has three wires, red and Green colour go to the sound channels (right and left), the third is the base. We solder the base to the metal base of the tulip, and the wires responsible for transmitting the audio signal to the connector pins. All that remains is to insulate the connections and check the functionality by first ringing all the contacts.

And although the AUX-Bluetooth adapter requires that the connected device be able to work with this wireless protocol, it is certainly more preferable than wired connection. This small device, comparable in size to a regular flash drive, is inserted into the 3.5 mm AUX jack on the car multimedia system. Advantages of using this option:

• absence of unnecessary wires, allowing you to use gadgets on back seat, and even outside the car;
• initiation additional devices carried out by pressing one key: no settings, the adapter takes care of everything;
• Another big plus is why you need an AUX input in the car that works via a wireless protocol - the ability to simultaneously connect several devices (for example, a smartphone and a navigator);
• the adapter is already equipped with a good codec that can improve the quality of the reproduced sound;
• You can control the device using buttons, voice or remote control.

The only drawback of the adapter is the need to recharge it, since the AUX plug, unlike USB, is not suitable for this purpose.

Advantages and disadvantages of having an AUX connector

In its configuration, this socket is absolutely no different from the TRS/TRRS connector used to connect headphones. But in in this case the signal does not arrive at the connected device, but in the opposite direction -

So the presence of this input on your car radio (usually it is located on the main panel) allows you to use the amplifier and speakers of the multimedia system to play sound from low-power gadgets whose speakers do not differ in either power or sound quality.

This is the main advantage of the AUX socket. By purchasing just one cable from your nearest audio equipment store, you will be able to connect a wide range of portable devices via AUX in your car.

The need to purchase an adapter can be called the main disadvantage of this input, but you get the opportunity to amplify the sound many times over. As for the quality, it is obviously higher than in standard headphones (we are not talking about professional models - they are very expensive and are not suitable for household purposes). But here we need to make a small reservation. The fact is that most mobile gadgets, including iPhone, iPad, smartphones and tablets, are initially designed to work with headphones - in this case, the sound signal enters the playback device in the same form in which it is stored on a digital medium, that is, without distortions. The linear input is an intermediate link, so here and further along the circuit minor distortions typical of analog devices may occur. But, we repeat, compared to the sound quality in headphones, this is heaven and earth, and besides, all passengers in the car will be able to enjoy high-quality music.

Features of using the AUX input in a car

As a rule, manufacturers place this socket either on the car radio itself (on the front panel of the device), or in a niche located nearby and designed to accommodate a number of connectors for connecting external devices.

On some cars, the socket is closed with a rubber cap to prevent contamination and moisture from getting on the plug contacts, but you can find the AUX input by the corresponding inscription above the connector.

If the car radio does not have an aux, you can connect it to the car yourself - there is nothing difficult about it, but only if you have good skills in handling a soldering iron and can read radio circuits at least at an elementary level. If you are far from this, but really want to modify the music center, it is better to contact specialists.

Before starting work, you need to find it on the Internet electrical diagram your car radio - this is usually the main pitfall, since this information often cannot be found in the public domain. In this case, you need to ask around on specialized forums, they will not refuse you, although they may ask for a nominal fee for help. Let us note that without such a scheme it is pointless to get to work.

To equip the radio with an AUX input as convenient as possible, it is better to do this at home, at your desk, for which you need to remove it - this is done by pressing one button (some models may have two latches located with different sides devices).

You will need the following list of tools:

• screwdrivers (flat-head and Phillips-head);
• pliers;
• insulating tape;
• soldering iron with accessories (acid, solder)
• a sufficiently long speaker wire;
• heat-shrink tubing;
• universal audio jack of the “tulip” type (so that you can connect a telephone or other sound-reproducing device to the radio via AUX).

To gain access to the radio circuit, you will have to disassemble the car radio - remove the housing cover, and, if necessary, remove the cassette or disc player.

The work itself is carried out in the following order:

• We are looking for pins on the radio board that are responsible for grounding and input channels. Usually audio channels are marked with the first letter of their name (right - R, left, respectively - L). The standard designation for the ground pin is GND;
• We carefully examine the location of the contacts on the radio module board (we are interested in the inscriptions LCH and RCH), at the same time we make sure that printed circuit board no charred traces or swollen capacitors;
• We test the cable used with a multimeter to determine its integrity. Perfect option– use of coaxial wire taken from a standard jack – it is equipped with three shielded wires. It will be better if these wires are multi-colored - it will be much easier for you to navigate when connecting them. We will need a cable about 40 centimeters long;
• We begin to solder the cable to the contact connectors located on the board. Use a small soldering iron low power with a thin and sharp sting. To provide highest accuracy soldering, it is advisable to use a special soldering loupe. Insulating tape dark color needed for the substrate (as a contrast);
• Having soldered the right/left channels, we move on to the grounding wire - it can be connected either to the GND contact, or soldered directly to the radio module body;
• all soldered wires should be insulated using heat shrink tube. The wires themselves must be brought out of the car radio by finding a hole of the appropriate diameter. If it is not there, you will need to drill the car radio housing;
• Some older models of car radios with cassette players are equipped with reverse side volume control with special connectors (usually three-pin) designed for connection to an CD changer device. If they are free, then you can connect a linear (AUX) input to these connectors. This method is also convenient because when an external signal arrives through this connector, the cassette recorder, if it was turned on, will automatically turn off.

To check the functionality of the connected socket, simply turn on the car radio in any mode provided (listening to a CD, cassette or even radio), and then plug a 3.5 mm plug into the socket, coming from the turned on external device. In this case, if everything was done correctly, the sound source will change.

To make working with mobile gadgets as convenient as possible, you can mount the device for a tablet or portable player, since the niche on the center console is often filled with other small items. In shops consumer electronics you can find special metal or plastic brackets(specialized, designed for a specific phone model, or universal), which can be attached directly near the radio by screwing or gluing them to the dashboard.

Let's consider the features of connecting various sound-reproducing gadgets to the car radio, characterized by the presence of other types of connectors. Usually in these cases an adapter is used that allows you to connect most of the modern ones to the standard car radio. mobile devices using the USB connector.

In particular, for many fans high-quality sound will interesting information, how to connect a flash drive to the AUX socket in the car. Note that many other gadgets are equipped with USB outputs, which may not allow for the use of headphones. Therefore, such smartphones are connected to the radio via aux in exactly the same way as a flash drive - using an adapter.

However, experts do not recommend using direct Chinese adapters, which are sold in any computer accessories store. The fact is that these two connectors use a different principle of sound formation and transmission, and so that the quality of the digital audio signal does not deteriorate when passing through the AUX connector, an additional converter is usually included in the adapters. Cheap Chinese adapters either do not have this converter at all, or it is assembled from low-quality components.

So it’s better to spend money on a branded device and be able to listen to any MP3 player that uses external media flash drive.

More the best solution If you purchase a universal adapter equipped with both types of connectors - jack and USB. Sometimes such cables are even included in the delivery of some smartphone models, but it will not be difficult to find such an accessory in any store specializing in the sale of household audio equipment.

By connecting your phone to the AUX jack in your car, if you have access to the World Wide Web, you will be able to play any music files in excellent quality, significantly expanding the functionality of your standard car radio or multimedia center. From now on, listening to radio stations can only be used as a way to listen to news, however, here too you will have alternative solution– a smartphone with its voice news channels broadcast within social networks.

So the presence of an AUX connector is an absolute benefit. But we don’t recommend getting carried away with searching for music while the car is moving - it’s dangerous, and in many countries, using a mobile gadget while driving is completely illegal. In Russia, such a violation also provides for a considerable fine - 1,500 rubles. So the best option– use a flash drive with your own collection of music tracks.

The best prices and conditions for the purchase of new cars

Modern audio systems are multifunctional devices that are used not only for playing tracks, but also for playing video and many other functions. Radio tape recorders allow you to play data from different media - CDs, USB drives, as well as mobile devices. From this material you will learn what an AUX output is, how to connect an AUX cable for a car radio, and how to make such a connector yourself.

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What is the AUX output on the radio?

What is AUX in an audio system, does it make sense to make such a connector yourself and how. The purpose of this input is to connect a signal source, for example, a mobile device or MP3 player using the appropriate wire. When connecting any of the above devices to an audio system, the latter will be used as an amplifier.

This connector will receive a signal with an amplitude in the range from 0.5 to 1 V; such a pulse can be supplied by any device for playing tracks. Recently, tuners or transmitters that connect through the cigarette lighter are gaining popularity among our compatriots. In reviews on the Internet, our compatriots note that such a device can be a good alternative to an AUX output. But we hasten to disappoint you - the difference between such devices in terms of the quality of track playback is significant, so the transmitter is a bad option if you want to achieve high-quality sound (the author of the video is the SoftMan channel).

Self Installation Guide

Basic materials and components that will be needed to install and connect the device:

1. Plug with wire. You can buy these elements at any radio electronics store.
2. Soldering iron with tin and rosin.
3. Multimeter for continuity testing of electrical circuits.

Photo gallery “Everything you need”

Stages

So, how to make an AUX input for a car:

1. First you need to turn off the ignition and remove all media from the audio system - disks or flash drives. Having done this, the standard audio system is pulled out of seat, depending on the design features car, the dismantling procedure may vary. In some cars, to remove the radio, you need to remove part of the center console.
2. When the head unit is removed, you will need to unscrew several bolts that are located on the ventilation panel. Part of this panel then needs to be lifted, this will allow you to get rid of possible interference in the future. Depending on the car, this panel may not be present.
3. After this, you will need to disassemble the audio system housing; to do this, unscrew all the bolts that secure it. After completing these steps, you will need to connect all the wires prepared earlier along with the connector to the PCA output on the device, in particular, we're talking about about "tulip".
4. For proper soldering of wires, the order of work must be followed. The common wire will need to be soldered to the steel base of the plug. You will use conductors as channels; they are soldered to the middle contacts.
5. Next, when all the elements are soldered to the contacts, you will need to ring the resulting circuits. A multimeter is used to test the functionality of the circuit.
6. After you can verify the functionality of the soldered components, all wires with a connector will need to be brought out. That is, you need to make sure that the connector is in the cabin. It can be brought to the torpedo, but for this you will have to make a corresponding hole in it. At this stage, you should think about how connecting the media does not cause problems.
   Some car enthusiasts put the connector into the ashtray; of course, this is possible if it is not used for its intended purpose. You should also think in advance that the wire must be long so that the data carrier can be placed on the seat or placed on the dashboard.
7. When all elements are connected and output, you should check the functionality of the audio system. First, try connecting your mobile gadget and completely lowering the volume on the car radio and listen to how it works. This is done in order to make sure that there is no noise - as practice shows, often after connecting third-party media, noise begins to be heard from the speakers of the car radio. Connect the gadget to the AUX input and play a track on the media.

Many modern manufacturers of musical equipment place inputs labeled “AUX” on it. This input is found on TVs, radios, and stereo systems. Car receivers and media systems are increasingly receiving an “AUX IN” input. This input has a more scientific name - “line input”. Old markings– “CD-IN”.

Some technical details

The linear input receives a signal with an amplitude of 0.5 - 1.8 V. This signal magnitude is supported by sound-reproducing devices with a linear output. The socket is marked “AUX OUT” or “CD OUT”. The signal supplied to the headphones has the same magnitude. Therefore, the headphone output of the headphones connects perfectly to the AUX IN input.

The design of all of the above sound-reproducing devices includes a sound amplifier. It is to this that the signal from the linear input is directly supplied. Using this algorithm, the signal generated by the MP3 player and iPod is amplified. The amplified signal is then played back through loudspeakers.

Using this method, you can listen to music collections collected on a player, tablet or phone through the car speakers. We connect the car receiver or radio via “AUX IN” to the playback device.

The connection of digital devices is controlled through the menu; analog devices have a standard switch. Because the First level It is difficult to control the volume; it is recommended to set it to the minimum level before connecting.

The presence of an “AUX” connector will give a second wind to outdated analog equipment. For example, a cassette recorder can be connected to a modern music center or player.

"AUX" in the car

IN modern world saturated with portable communication devices, the owner of a smartphone cannot imagine life without his buzzing friend. To meet market demands, automakers are increasingly focusing on integrating phones and the car. A huge number of phone functions are enhanced and supported by powerful information system modern car.

The very first and most popular supported function was the playback of audio information. The presence of an “AUX” input in a car, in addition to the above-mentioned ability to play your favorite collections of music and other audio files (educational audio courses, audio books, etc.) on the road, has other advantages.

Relative, but the advantages of having an “AUX” input in the car.

1. No need to spend money on mp-3 discs.

2. The player, if necessary, can fully replace a flash drive.

There are three options for connecting an external device to the AUX input. Two of them involve a waste of money: purchasing a standard adapter with a 3.5 mm mini jack contact or a Bluetooth audio adapter. The third way for enthusiastic car radio enthusiasts: you can solder the adapter yourself. You will need two plugs, a wire from headphones, a soldering iron and a little patience.

After freeing from external insulation we will see three wires. The same color, closer to the plastic base in the plugs is the base. The other two (green and red) are to the right and left channels. We solder them to the “tulip”, the common one to the metal bases, and from the channels to the connector pins. After the connection is completed, we call and isolate.

The second option seems the most attractive. “AUX”-bluetooth adapter is a hardware dongle that connects to any 3.5 mm jack, including. "AUX" stereo system. With its help it is carried out wireless transmission sound stream.

Among the advantages of this option:

No wires in the cabin.

A good codec supplied in the kit can improve the quality of the played songs.

Pairing devices is done by pressing one button, then the adapter itself will do everything.

You can connect several external devices at the same time.

Among the disadvantages:

You still need to buy an adapter.

It requires recharging.

Thus, through the “AUX” input to the standard media system of your car, you can connect portable devices(phones, laptops, etc.).

Many sound-reproducing devices (for example, radios, music centers, CD/MP3 players, televisions) have a connector designed to supply external signals- AUX input. In this article we will look at practical use of this nest.

AUX line input

The amplitude of the signal supplied to the linear input varies in the range from 0.5 to 1 V. This signal level is produced by any music playback devices that have a connector. It is usually labeled as AUX OUT. The same signal level is supplied to the headphones. Therefore, the headphone output can be connected to the AUX input.

Line input connection

The scope of application of the mentioned connector is quite wide. So, for example, if you want to listen to music from an MP3 player or smartphone (tablet) through powerful speakers rather than headphones, you can connect your device to the AUX input of a music center or other similar device. To connect you will need an adapter cord. On one side of the cable there should be a 3.5mm jack connector (headphone plug), and on the other side there should be a pair of tulip connectors. The cord itself must be a four-core acoustic cord with an outer copper braid. You can buy such a cable in a store or make it yourself. The jack connector can be cut off from non-working headphones or purchased at a radio store. When purchasing connectors, you can choose their shape and design - from the cheapest (plastic) to the most expensive (gold-plated metal). Once you have found all the plugs and wire, you can begin assembly. We strip the insulation at the ends of the wire and solder the connectors to them. The “Jake” has central contacts that are signal, and the outer one is a common wire. With the “tulip” everything is exactly the same. Some devices have a headphone output using the minijack standard; in this case, you need to solder the corresponding connector. The wiring remains the same. After this, be sure to check the cable with a multimeter in “test” mode to ensure that there is no incorrect connection.

Setting up AUX input

So the cord is ready, you can connect our player to the music center. We connect the cable to AUX and turn on the AUX IN mode on the device being played. For digital devices this is done through the menu, and for analog devices - using a switch. It should be remembered that before you turn on playback on the player, you must reduce the volume level on the music center or other device being played. This is done so that the device does not “scream” at full blast if a powerful signal is applied to the output channel.

Conclusion

According to this principle, you can connect various devices(laptops, netbooks, iPods, tablets, etc.) to devices that contain frequencies - stereo systems, televisions, home theaters, cassette recorders, etc. A good connection is obtained by connecting CD/MP3 players and cassette recorders. The latter are used extremely rarely in the era of digital music, although they sometimes have much more best characteristics. So such a connection gives new life analog technology.

The traditional aux audio port is familiar to audio engineers who work with amplification equipment and speaker cables. Along with the USB computer input, this type of input connection remains the most common way to connect to a car head unit. speaker system external music sources. The question of what aux is in a car radio is relevant for car owners whose cars are equipped with cassette car radios that do not have external inputs at all.

Most modern media systems and car radios use both inputs, aux and usb, as external ports. Owners of old cars who do not want to spend money on buying and installing a new head unit can independently make an aux input to the car radio, having the skills of electrical installation and reading radio circuits. This improvement is actively supported by car music lovers, who believe that old Blaupunkt-type car radios are superior to new digital models in the quality of music transmission and the “warmth” of sound.

Design of aux port and connecting cable plug

Via linear aux input(the name of the port has become an abbreviation for the English radio technical term Auxilary, translated as “secondary”) you can connect any electronic music and communication devices equipped with a headphone output to the car radio. These include laptops, Cell phones, mp3 players, phones, iPads, smartphones, tablets.

Once connected, you can listen to music, audiobooks, voice recordings voice recorder, radio channels from the Internet, any audio information. It is more convenient to listen to music and audio books through car speakers, since the signal from a mobile gadget, after passing through the car radio amplifier, sounds much louder.

Externally, the aux input plug (“jack”) looks like a shaped metal rod mounted in a rubber or plastic base.

There are mono and stereo inputs, which are easily recognized by the number of circular stripes (contact separators). On the metal of the stereo input jack you will see two separate contacts, otherwise the plugs are identical. Two pins are needed to transmit the signal to the left and right speaker or earphone, creating a stereo effect.

In a car audio system, the input jack looks like a round hole surrounded by a metal frame. It can be located on the body of the car radio or in a special niche for connectors (usually next to the cigarette lighter).

In expensive imported cars, the aux input socket can be covered with a cover that protects the contacts from dust and moisture.

For radios without an aux input, you can make and connect the connection to mobile gadgets yourself.

How to make an aux input on a radio - independent connection

Behind independent work You should take it on if you have skills in soldering, reading radio circuits, or disassembling a car radio. Beginners who love sound tuning, in order not to spoil the car radio, are better off turning to specialists.

Before you get to work, you need to find a diagram of your car radio model in the library or the Internet. There is no point in starting work without a detailed radio circuit. For comfortable work, you need to remove the car radio from the car and bring it home.

For disassembly and installation you will need:

• screwdrivers, pliers;
• soldering iron and soldering supplies (solder, acid, soldering loupe);
• pieces of acoustic wire, electrical tape;
• output universal tulip-type connector.

Before starting installation, you need to completely disassemble the car radio, remove the cables, cassette recorder or CD player, and find the radio circuit.

For practical installation additional connection needed:

1. On the radio circuit, find the channel input and ground pins. By default, the left channel is designated by the letter “L”, the right channel by the letter “R”, and the ground is marked as “GND”.
2. Calculate the location of the contacts on the radio module diagram. The contact points on the board can be marked with printed inscriptions RCH, LCH. Along the way, you can inspect the entire printed circuit, clean it, identify charred traces, and check the fuses.
3. Check the connected cable. The internal integrity of the wires is tested with a multimeter. The wires going to the soldering points can be taken from a standard jack, a coaxial cable with three shielded cores. Colored wires that are easy to mark by channel are preferred. A length of 30–40 centimeters will be sufficient for connection.
4. Solder the wires to the contact points. For soldering, it is better to use a low-power soldering iron with a sharp tip. Soldering accuracy will be ensured by a soldering loupe and dark electrical tape.
5. The ground wire is soldered to the GND point or to the radio module body.
6. The soldered wires are additionally insulated with heat shrink and are routed outside the car radio casing. If there are no suitable holes, they can be drilled.
7. Solder the marked wires to the contacts of the tulip-type output socket, find a place for it on the dashboard or center console, and secure the output.

Some cassette car radios have special three-pin connectors behind the volume control for connecting an CD changer, to which you can connect a line input. Connecting to such circuits is even more convenient, since when you turn on the aux input, automatic shutdown cassette recorder.

To test a new device, you need to turn on the car radio in listening mode to the radio, cassette or CD. When the aux jack is plugged into the input jack, the sound fades out and the head unit switches to playing a recording from an external source.

The last stage of the work is a mounting device for external audio storage media, since holding a smartphone, tablet, mp3 player on the passenger seat (in a niche in the center console) is not always convenient. For most mobile devices, plastic or metal brackets are sold that can be glued or screwed to the dashboard next to the car radio.

You can see in detail how to make an aux input on a car radio in the video:

Connection via the aux input of mobile devices, smartphones, storage media with other types of connectors and flash drives.

In principle, installing an aux input is sufficient to connect all types of mobile devices. In order not to equip a separate USB input, you can use adapters.

For owners computer devices The actual problem is how to connect a flash drive to a radio without USB via aux. Only USB output Many models of tablets and laptops are equipped that do not require the use of headphones.

Experienced radio amateurs are skeptical about direct adapters made in China, which can be found in the sale of computer accessories.

Connectors are built on different principles signal transmission, for high-quality sound reproduction you need an additional converter. In this capacity, you can use any MP3 player into which the flash drive is connected via a USB connector, and the aux jack for headphones is used for output.

Guaranteed high quality playback will be provided by modern adapters equipped with two types of connectors, which are included with smartphones or sold as accessories for them.