It's all expensive, and almost none of it works well.

FM Modulators suck, IMO. Even if you get the hardwired solution, you're still tuning your radio to some channel, you'll still have possible interference, and the quality is relatively poor (decent, but not good).

Another poster here suggested getting an equalizer with a line-in jack (cheapish - a little more than the FM Modulator),and putting it between radio and speakers, letting you pipe the MP3 player in there. You'd be using the MP3 player to drive your car speakers, and I don't know how that would sound.

When faced with this dillema myself, I got frustrated with the complete lack of options and went aftermarket with a new head unit that has real aux inputs. Very happy with the head unit, but man has Saab made it difficult to stick a DIN sized head unit in the dash board... But the sound quality and ease of connecting my iPod is great.

As for who to hire to install stuff, I highly recommend the DIY approach - I'm no good at anything really, but I love tinkering with it - I installed my navigation system and head unit, mostly because I don't trust other people - too many stories of crossed wires, ripped carpet, and just lousy and ugly installs. If you go with something like an FM modulator, it's extremely easy to do on a 9-3 - you pull out a few screws on the passenger side kick-panels, and you can plop the FM modulator right behind the radio there.

posted by 66.92.168...

• Audio System: MP3 solution for new 9-3 owner in LA, Amanda, Wed, 13 Aug 2003 22:50:06
  • Unfortunately, Sieglo, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 09:59:57
    • There are third parties, phred, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 12:12:02
    • hear, hear!, jpr, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 11:31:40
      • Re: hear, hear!, 940 Chap, Fri, 15 Aug 2003 08:06:09
      • high-quality sound options, MO, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 12:00:22
      • Re: hear, hear!, Sieglo, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 11:59:28
  • Re: Audio System: MP3 solution for new 9-3 owner in LA, Serendipity, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 05:40:45 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Serendipity, can we see pics of the NAV system? n/m, Ali, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 15:16:47
      • Re: Serendipity, can we see pics of the NAV system? n/m, Serendipity, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 18:33:35
    • Serendipity -- A few follow up Q's, Amanda, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 11:05:10
      • Just go with a new head unit, Nervousaaber, Thu, 14 Aug 2003 14:38:48
      • Re: Serendipity -- A few follow up Q's, JimBlake , Thu, 14 Aug 2003 12:36:11

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