iPhone 5s All-in-One Charger & Auxillary Cable

[drewprops]

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Replacing hardware, cables and/or other support items for a device or system is an annoying but necessary part of staying current.

Now that I've moved from an iPhone 3Gs to an iPhone 5s I have to replace my 30-pin cables for the newer lightning cable.
In general this has been a breeze, aided by great options at Monoprice.com

I need some help with one item though.

For years now I've used Kensington's 2-in-1 Car Charger & AUX Audio Cable (http://www.kensington.com/kensington/us/us/p/1411/K39204US/2-in-1-car-charger-aux-audio-cable.aspx) with great success.

It's been terrific and easy to play music through the car, and the music is sent via the 30-pin connector straight to the head unit, not through the headphone jack, so it's "better" (I'm told).

Problem is, I can't seem to find a new 5s analogue to the 30-pin product.

The closest I can find looks ridiculous, relying on a kludge of a charging plate to jam a jack down the earphone jack to pull the audio. Take a look:

Lightning & 3.5mm Aux Connector Car Data / Audio Cable for iPhone 5 - Black (120cm) (http://dx.com/p/lightning-3-5mm-aux-connector-car-data-audio-cable-for-iphone-5-black-120cm-230850)


Do any of you have suggestions?

Again, these cables must simultaneously charge the phone AND pull music down (via the Lightning connection) and over to my car's auxiliary jack.


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[Kickaha]

Does the 30-pin <-> L'ning adapter not work in this case?

[drewprops]

It does, but I think you can appreciate how in the long run I'd like to have something that's absolutely dedicated, as there's less to go wrong.

#ConverterDonglesSuck


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[drewprops]

Ah, I found more information here (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1567243).


OK, I found the reason why (or maybe everyone else knew this, and I'm just the big dummy here)

The lightning interface only has digital audio output, whereas the old 30 pin interface has an analog output, which is why there is not an exact lightning port product like these for the old 30 pin output. So, you need an adapter that includes a digital to analog converter in addition to the type of adapter like post #5. The expensive Apple adapters have the D/A converter, many of the cheapy ones do not.

So the solutions are: use a lightening to 30 pin adapter (that has a D/A converter) with the older 30 pin charging/audio out combo cable, or use a USB lightening cable to charge and a separate audio cable plugged into the headphone out.

So a cable manufacturer could make one of these for the lighting, but it would also need a D/A converter in it as well.



So it's about the conversion.

The iPhone 5 has been around long enough you'd think someone would have stepped forward to make a dedicated unit.

Bugger.

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[chucker]

Wouldn't this (http://www.sw-box.com/1-2M-8-Pin-Lightning-Sync-Charger-Car-USB-With-3-5mm-AUX-Audio-Cable-For-iPhone-5-iPod-Touch-5.html?utm_source=stube20130823&utm_medium=Rpin8iphone5itouch5&utm_campaign=vm) work?

[drewprops]

Aw. That's The same inelegant kludge as the one that I linked to. I'm looking for something that plugs into the data port cleanly, for charging and for the communication of music data straight to the head unit of the radio. This thing takes sound out of the earphone jack, post-processed, and I suspect it adds distortion if you turn up the volume on the iPhone.

The solution I seek apparently requires that somebody build in an inline D/A converter.

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[drewprops]

Looks like the best solution I've found so far is this gizmo from Apple. (http://store.apple.com/us/product/MF030ZM/A/iphone-5s-dock)

It's a dock with a lightning input with a pure data connector to the phone, with a line out port for audio. So, it's not my ideal solution for a car-based experience, but the technical aspects are right.

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[drewprops]

This thing on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DVQD868) looks even better for an automotive use.

EDIT: wait, I may be wrong.

Yes, I'm wrong. This is like the thing you pointed to. Fail.


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[turtle]

Change out the head unit in your car and you can just use the Lighting adapter to connect up. Mine does just fine for it with iTune Radio even. As an example, this unit was on sale for about $100 when I got it and it controls my phone just fine with only Lighting adapter:
http://www.crutchfield.com.edgesuite.net/pix.crutchfield.com/ImageHandler/fixedscale/400/300/products/2011/1/105/x105KDA725-F.jpeg (http://www.crutchfield.com/p_105KDA725/JVC-Arsenal-KD-A725.html?tp=5684)

[drewprops]

I can't change out my head unit, it's part of the car. Plus, I suspect that with your setup you must decide between charging your device or playing music through it.

The solution I seek is simultaneous power and direct line-out of audio.

I went by the Apple Store yesterday and picked up the 30-pin to Lightning adapter to hook up to my Kensington unit, but with my awesome new Taktik case the Lightning plug is too stubby to reach up through the case to get to the port.

SO.... I now need a Lightning "extension cable" and I'm about to go to Google to see if that brings up anything...



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[turtle]

Actually I only connect with a single Lightning cable. It charges my phone and plays the music with playback controls. Everything is managed through the receiver.

You might be surprised about being able to change out the receiver. It's possible in most cars without losing the car's functionality. If you happen to have one of the cars that doesn't allow it to be changed out then you need this:
http://store.storeimages.cdn-apple.com/3614/as-images.apple.com/is/image/AppleInc/MD824?wid=400&hei=400&fmt=jpeg&qlt=95&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.5,0.5,0,0&iccEmbed=0&layer=comp&.v=1350947147637 (http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD824ZM/A/lightning-to-30-pin-adapter-02-m?fnode=45)

[drewprops]

Turtle, I want to shake you - but it's not your fault.

I thought that I'd searched the Apple Store for this precise product, but I never found it so I bought that stupid stubby version thing that I can't use.

Just called the store where I bought it and I can (and will) take it back, but they don't have the version you've linked to IN the store.

It's unfortunate they don't have more than a few inches off of this one, but something is better than nothing.




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[Dave]

Actually I only connect with a single Lightning cable. It charges my phone and plays the music with playback controls. Everything is managed through the receiver.

You might be surprised about being able to change out the receiver. It's possible in most cars without losing the car's functionality. If you happen to have one of the cars that doesn't allow it to be changed out then you need this:
<image> (http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD824ZM/A/lightning-to-30-pin-adapter-02-m?fnode=45)

My car's radio can't be upgraded (AFAIK... at least not without making the dashboard fugly) and doesn't even have an aux input, let alone a dock connector. I believe I can steal the nav system's input (I never use it anyway) and trick the head unit into thinking my iDevice is a trunk-mounted CD changer with one of these (http://www.imiv.ca/cms/products/), but I don't want to go that route unless I have to. I mean they work (a friend with the same car as me had one), but it's playlist-as-a-CD interface is kludgy at best.

[drewprops]

Dave, I found a kit for my early-90s Honda that allowed me to have stereo inputs for in-car devices, playing through its CD-C input. Far better than Bluetooth or (gulp) FM transmitter!

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[PB PM]

Been using an FM transmitter for many years, since my car (2004 Corolla) has no inputs for audio. I've been using an iTrip since 2003, and don't feel any need to upgrade. I'll likely just buy the lightning to 30pin adapter.

[Dave]

I tried an FM transmitter once... Even in a parking garage, I couldn't find a channel that didn't have static in it.

[drewprops]

Correction: my car is from early 2000s.

I'm of the opinion that a wired solution is always the best.

[turtle]

Glad to help you feel the urge to hurt someone Drew. :p

Sure there are cars that build in the radio more than others, that doesn't mean there aren't awesome shops out there that can integrate an aftermarket system that does everything you want and have it still look great too.

I do understand the feeling of screwing with the aesthetics though. My wife's van had a stereo that was designed for the dash. I have yet to replace it because it would effect the look of the dash. :\