Almost There on CD Player (Need Advice)

[NSXaholic]

Hey Fellas,

Hope everybody had a Happy Thanksgiving. Needed some advice:

When I bought my car it didn't come with a CD player. I was fortunate to have somebody who was stripping their car for track purposes give me their CD player (EDIT: Just to clarify, this is a '91-'94 style OEM player). They sent me everything including bracket, screws, changer, etc.

The only thing that was not sent was the DIN cable wire, which is an extension wire of sorts, that connects the stereo cables that emerge on the left side of the trunk, and allow you to extend them to the right side of the car which is where the CD Changer bracket is typically mounted.

To clarify what I am talking about, the following is a picture of the DIN cable:

Lets assume that I can't get the DIN cable from the individual that originally sent me the stuff. I also called up a couple of Acura dealerships, and they all indicated that I would have to buy the whole stereo kit again, since they don't just sell the DIN cable.

Wanted to get your opinion therefore as to what is the best way for me to proceed. Can I buy the DIN cable (or something close to it) from a radio/stereo store? Should I pony up and buy the kit again (it seems silly to do so for just one wire)? Shoud I try mounting the stereo on the left side of the trunk?

Any advice would be much appreciated. I am anxious to get the CD player installed, and start listening to my grooves.

Regards.

[This message has been edited by NSXaholic (edited 29 November 2002).]

 

[RL in Florida]

Originally posted by NSXaholic:
Hey Fellas,

Hope everybody had a Happy Thanksgiving. Needed some advice:

When I bought my car it didn't come with a CD player. I was fortunate to have somebody who was stripping their car for track purposes give me their CD player (EDIT: Just to clarify, this is a '91-'94 style OEM player). They sent me everything including bracket, screws, changer, etc.

The only thing that was not sent was the DIN cable wire, which is an extension wire of sorts, that connects the stereo cables that emerge on the left side of the trunk, and allow you to extend them to the right side of the car which is where the CD Changer bracket is typically mounted.

To clarify what I am talking about, the following is a picture of the DIN cable:

Lets assume that I can't get the DIN cable from the individual that originally sent me the stuff. I also called up a couple of Acura dealerships, and they all indicated that I would have to buy the whole stereo kit again, since they don't just sell the DIN cable.

Wanted to get your opinion therefore as to what is the best way for me to proceed. Can I buy the DIN cable (or something close to it) from a radio/stereo store? Should I pony up and buy the kit again (it seems silly to do so for just one wire)? Shoud I try mounting the stereo on the left side of the trunk?

Any advice would be much appreciated. I am anxious to get the CD player installed, and start listening to my grooves.

Regards.

[This message has been edited by NSXaholic (edited 29 November 2002).]

The cable is just a standard cable available at Radio Shack, Best Buy, or Circuit City. You will not need the HONDA/ACU/ALP P.I.E. Adapter since your CD player is OEM.

Regards.
Rick

 

[NSXaholic]

Thanks Rick. Do you know what the name is -- ie, is it known as a "DIN cable??"

Regards.

 

[D'Ecosse]

I originally posted here 10-15 mins ago but info I just posted was incorrect!!

What you need is an 8-pin DIN cable of the length you need - probably 3' or 6' depending on your cable routing/changer location. Cables typically come plug - plug, so you will also need a gender changer i.e male/female adapter.

I doubt if you can find these located in the stores mentioned in the post above - all I could find at Radio shack is 5 pin din cable & adapter (hence my original erroneous post!)

I will look for these on-line for you - if you're in no hurry, you can order, or at least see what you're looking at.

Best bet I would recommend go to any local auto stereo store/installation shop & they will certainly have what you're looking for.
(just remember its 8-pin, but be careful - there is a computer cable that is called 8-pin miniDIN - the pins are arranged differently; so don't go to a computer store, use an audio store)

Ideally, this is what you're looking for - this is a 5' male/female extension 8-pin din

item 3491 @ http://www.wpiinc.com/WPI_Web/Lab/Cables_connectors.html


[This message has been edited by D'Ecosse (edited 29 November 2002).]

 

[NSXaholic]

D'Ecosse,

Thanks so much for your reply, and for taking the time out to research this stuff for me. It's been very helpful. I didn't get a chance to see what you posted earlier.

Couple of clarifying questions I had based on your post:

(1) Are you sure the cable is an 8-pin? I was speaking with the parts guy at an Acura dealership who claimed it was a 6-pin head. He also noted that the later models had a different head, so am wondering if you might be referring to the pin-head of later OEM changers (I have a 91-94 changer)?

(2) I referenced the website that you linked, and it seemed the 8-pin had male/female endings. If it is the 8pin DIN that we want, I assume that the part you referenced will be suitable "as is." (ie, no special adapters needed).

(3) Just FYI, this afternoon I checked in with some custom audio-installation shops, and they all indicated they didn't carry a compatible DIN cable, which I find interesting, given that I thought it would be a fairly standard part as the OEM changer is an Alpine unit. I will advance my search to speak with cable companies, as you note. Any thoughts on why this may be so difficult to find??

Do let me know your thoughts on the points I raise.

Regards,
Vik.

 

[NSXaholic]

D'Ecosse,

A couple of other interesting points: I just did a search on the Web, and found a couple of the 8-pin DIN's available. Are these what we are looking for (they are actually slightly different to the picture that you posted):

and

Note that they have male/female endings, which is nice.

I also didn't find any 6-pin adapters, so I'm thinking that maybe the Acura parts guy was off in his diagnosis.

I guess one way to check it is to check the car. But it is buried deep in the garage, and I also don't want to pull away the trunk lining for this.

So if you (or anybody else) could confirm that its an 8-pin for sure -- ie for an early year OEM changer -- than we are in business. I'll also try checking with a couple of other dealerships.

Regards.

[This message has been edited by NSXaholic (edited 29 November 2002).]

 

[D'Ecosse]

Easiest thing is to check on your car connector & that on the changer & see if they are the appropriate # of pins
It should definitely be 8 pins - picture courtesy of Bryan Zublin & Dali Racing from Smartenna installation guide.
Reading some of the info from the FAQ, you might be able to get this cable from Cct City; make sure its an extender & not a bus adapter.

[This message has been edited by D'Ecosse (edited 29 November 2002).]

 

[nsxxtreme]

Its an Alpine deck and an Alpine cd changer. So any of the older Alpine din cables will work. You still may need the ACUALP adapter to make the Alpine cable work with an OEM CD changer. Why don't you have this cable? It comes with all NSX's even if you didn't have a CD changer.

[This message has been edited by nsxxtreme (edited 29 November 2002).]

 

[nsxxtreme]

oops
mutiple post sorry.


[This message has been edited by nsxxtreme (edited 29 November 2002).]

 

[D'Ecosse]

I was thinking the same thing - did you look to see if it is already in there? pull back the lining at the back of the trunk from the left corner & see if its there

 

[D'Ecosse]

Originally posted by nsxxtreme:
Its an Alpine deck and an Alpine cd changer. So any of the older Alpine din cables will work. You still may need the ACUALP adapter to make the Alpine cable work with an OEM CD changer. Why don't you have this cable? It comes with all NSX's even if you didn't have a CD changer.

[This message has been edited by nsxxtreme (edited 29 November 2002).]

From what I read in the FAQ, you only need this adapter (ACUALP) if you want to mate it to a regular store-bought changer, not for the original equipment NSX Alpine model, which I think is what NSXaholic appears to have.

 

[NSXaholic]

Hmmm, let me check the trunk to see if the cable is there. It does seem from the post that D'Ecosse put up that it is an 8-pin and not a 6-pin like I was informed by an Acura parts person.

Assuming that I have to buy an Alpine DIN cable (ie, if I don't have an OEM DIN cable in the trunk), how will I know if I need an ACUALP adapter. In reading the FAQ it seems that the ends will fit together (its just that the pins are switched, right), so is the only way to determine to crank up the bass, and see if there is distortion?

Regards.

 

[NSXaholic]

Originally posted by D'Ecosse:
From what I read in the FAQ, you only need this adapter (ACUALP) if you want to mate it to a regular store-bought changer, not for the original equipment NSX Alpine model, which I think is what NSXaholic appears to have.

Good point D'Ecosse (I think we posted at the same time). Let me check the trunk and I will get back to you guys.

Actually one last thing: if I do have to buy a 8-pin DIN cable, would the ones like I posted pictures of above be the right ones (in terms of male/female heads, etc.)? I only ask because they seem slightly different to the original picture that D'Ecosse posted.

Thanks.

 

[nsxxtreme]

I don't know where they switch the wires. At the deck or in the cable. If its at the deck then you shouldn't need an ACUALP adapter, just an Alpine din cable. If it's in the cable then the Alpine cable will not have these wire switched and you will need an ACUALP to put the sound back in phase. Yes, you can just plug it in to see if it works, there shouldn't be any distortion if it's out of phase you will have a lack of bass. More than likely you have the cable already installed unless someone removed it.

 

[NSXaholic]

Just checked the trunk. It is indeed an 8-pin DIN connecter. But I don't have the DIN cable (don't know what the previous owner did with it). There seem to be a couple of 8-pin DIN cables available on the net, though, per my earlier post, and they seem to have the requisite male/female heads. Let me get them, and hopeful my troubles will be solved. Will keep you posted. Please let me know if you guys have add'l thoughts.

Regards.

 

[NSXaholic]

God I love the net!! Checked with five Chicago-land car dealers/audio sources and none of them had the 8-pin DIN cables. Then went on the web to search and found two almost immediately.

Hopefully my problems will be solved with a sub-$10 fix. As nsxxtreme indicated, hopefully there isn't a pin-switch issue, but I'll keep you guys posted.

Regards.

[This message has been edited by NSXaholic (edited 30 November 2002).]

 

[D'Ecosse]

Originally posted by NSXaholic:
.... Then went on the web to search and found two almost immediately....

What search engine did you use & what did you put in the search string - I spent forever (too much time on my hands & became obsessed with this yesterday!) with different inputs on Google & was really surprised at how hard it was to locate. I was really shocked this would be so difficult to find at a mobile Stereo supplier/installer.
I think I may have found the original part in the parts identifier, but its difficult to get an accurate assesment from the graphic/description. http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Reference/1991-1992_parts_catalog/1-h7.jpg
Item #23?
The price for adapters (which are essentially the same) at ~ $30 are a real rip-off! $10 from an electronic supply is reasonable.
The pics you show look good - the one I found was male/male.
Try to get one that you can remove the cover on the plug - that way you can swap wires if you need to rather than buy another adapter.

 

[NSXaholic]

Originally posted by D'Ecosse:
What search engine did you use & what did you put in the search string...

Ahhh...the power of eBay my friend (search under "DIN cable").

Originally posted by D'Ecosse:
The price for adapters (which are essentially the same) at ~ $30 are a real rip-off! $10 from an electronic supply is reasonable.

I agreee with you here. The $10 price I was referring to, however, was for the price of the DIN cable -- imagine that!!

Will keep you posted. And thanks for all your help again D'Ecosse.

Regards.