I was psyched when I saw that the stock CD player had auxiliary inputs.  I was not psyched to find out that those inputs could only be enabled by buying some ridiculous BUS CONTROLLER or whatever for $200.  If I need a bus controller I’ll rent Speed.

Anyway, to fix this nonsense, I bought a PAC Sony Unilink Adapter from amazon.  It’s an overpriced ($30!) dongle that fakes the head unit into thinking it has a bus controller on, and that CD2 is enabled.  Here’s sortof what it looks like installed:

If you install this, make sure it’s facing up.  I couldn’t get it to connect facing down, though the space is a little tight, so maybe it would’ve worked.  

To actually activate it, hit SOURCE to get to CD, and then hit MODE to get to CD2.  That’s your auxiliary in.  (Make sure you connect to the proper set of inputs, one is actually a preamp out..)

Here it is in action:

There is no good way to run a Y cable out of the cabinet and actually put the cover back on without some cutting or drilling.  Don’t try to pinch a cable – it’s really tight and will cut the cable.  Some minor dremeling should take care of this in the cabinet, but there’s now way to run the cable down to the couch or anything.  I don’t imagine this is a big deal for most people – the cable can just dangle if you’re listening to iTunes at the couch, or just stick the laptop/ipod in the cabinet.  (Screen saver might make for an interesting nighttime effect behind the smoked plastic..)

Posted in: Airstream