Originally Posted by ecrase2500

For Christmas, my lovely wife got me the iPod I've been hinting at all year. Now I'm looking for the best way to hook it up to my 2005 X-Trail.

I've got a Canadian-spec SE AWD 5-spd with the in-dash 6-CD changer. I'm reluctant to get an FM-transmitter that has to compete with the dozens of stations we have in Toronto. I've also read the frequency response is quite narrow with these (e.g. PodFreq, iTrip).

Does anyone know if Nissan in their infinite wisdom hid an auxiliary input in the CD-changer deck? I'd love to just wire a cable into it and run it into the driver's side storage compartment so I could stash the iPod in there.

Failing this, I'll have to look into an FM-modulator that intercepts the antenna cable going into the deck. It's not as good as a direct link, but it beats the feeble transmitters available. Has anyone taken their deck out yet to see if it uses a standard antenna connector?

In anticipation of the responses saying "why don't you just ditch the factory deck," I'll say this: aftermarket decks nowadays suck.

Firstly, I find the sound of the factory unit acceptable, and I don't plan on doing any big upgrades to speakers or amps, etc. I built some kickin' systems in my twenties, but those money-burning days are behind me.

Secondly, I prefer the look of factory head units, and their relative lack of appeal to thieves.

Most importantly, the ergonomics of the big double-DIN factory deck are vastly superior to those of the single-DIN aftermarket decks. With their giant useless displays, flip-down faces and microscopic buttons you need to operate with tweezers, the aftermarket ones are, in my opinion, unsafe for use while driving. (I should say, to be fair, that the Japanese domestic market has some beautiful aftermarket double-DIN units, but their radio frequencies don't match ours.)

Anyway, thanks for reading this far. Any info would be appreciated.

Cheers!