How To: Auxiliary input for the Craig

[todd1561]

I'm answering the question that no one is asking with this How-To. Basically, how to modify the Craig to accept sound input from devices such as MP3 players without losing any functionality and without using FM transmitters or tape deck adapters. I put the directions (mainly just pictures) up on my little website that until last night hasn't changed in well over 2 years. So I won't repeat it all here.

http://1561project.com/?page=ipod-craig

Maybe this will help someone one day, I don't think anyone has bothered to do this before. On another note, anyone have any inexpensive suggestions for stock speaker replacements? In case it wasn't obvious, I'm not much of an audiophile, so I'm just looking for something that's a good match with the Craig and isn't 30 years old and disintegrated.

Later,
Todd

[TTait]

I've been recommending some Infinity units that are rather reasonable (check Amazon) that a number of other owners are now enjoying as well...

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?572-Choices-of-speakers

[sdg3205]

A good FM transmitter is worlds better than even the best FM radio signal from a big station.

Radio stations use compressors and limiters to make their stations sound louder then their competitors, the idea being that the listener is more likely to stay on a louder station. This is why you've probably noticed parts that are normally quiet on a song you know are louder on the radio, but when the rest of the song kicks back in, it "seems" to get quieter as opposed to louder. That's compression, and a kind of a lousy tactic sonically since mixing and mastering music already adds compression and limiting.

Your FM transmitter won't do this, so there isn't nearly the same degradation as normal FM radio.

[todd1561]

A good FM transmitter is worlds better than even the best FM radio signal from a big station.

Radio stations use compressors and limiters to make their stations sound louder then their competitors, the idea being that the listener is more likely to stay on a louder station. This is why you've probably noticed parts that are normally quiet on a song you know are louder on the radio, but when the rest of the song kicks back in, it "seems" to get quieter as opposed to louder. That's compression, and a kind of a lousy tactic sonically since mixing and mastering music already adds compression and limiting.

Your FM transmitter won't do this, so there isn't nearly the same degradation as normal FM radio.

I'm a little confused, are you under the impression I made an FM transmitter? Interesting information nonetheless.

Todd

[sdg3205]

I'm a little confused, are you under the impression I made an FM transmitter? Interesting information nonetheless.

Todd

No. I'm under the impression you'd own or buy one.

[Mark D]

Todd, thanks for the info! I have been wondering if there was a way to tap into the Craig like this since I first got my car. I'm planning to hardwire in an aux input connector for my ipod in the ash tray/coin try area.

FM transmitters are OK for the most part, but I have never been happy with the amount of static and crosstalk I get from other radio stations when I'm driving long distance. Inevitably I drive through an area where my transmitted frequency the same as a local radio station. I hate having to adjust frequencies and scan for one that is open.

[todd1561]

No. I'm under the impression you'd own or buy one.

The point of the "How-To" was to illustrate how you could directly wire an auxiliary input right into the amp, thus making a device such as an FM transmitter or tape deck adapter unnecessary. I guess maybe I didn't make that clear?

Todd

[mluder]

That's an great idea...

Do you have a step-by-step for those of us not versed in reading wiring schematics. I might like to do this but would need more info as to wear things are tied in and how. MOre pictures would be great if you took them.

Thanks,
Steve


I'm answering the question that no one is asking with this How-To. Basically, how to modify the Craig to accept sound input from devices such as MP3 players without losing any functionality and without using FM transmitters or tape deck adapters. I put the directions (mainly just pictures) up on my little website that until last night hasn't changed in well over 2 years. So I won't repeat it all here.

http://1561project.com/?page=ipod-craig

Maybe this will help someone one day, I don't think anyone has bothered to do this before. On another note, anyone have any inexpensive suggestions for stock speaker replacements? In case it wasn't obvious, I'm not much of an audiophile, so I'm just looking for something that's a good match with the Craig and isn't 30 years old and disintegrated.

Later,
Todd

[sdg3205]

EDIT - I misread your post. I see you've got it all worked out. Tight.

[todd1561]

Todd, thanks for the info! I have been wondering if there was a way to tap into the Craig like this since I first got my car. I'm planning to hardwire in an aux input connector for my ipod in the ash tray/coin try area.

FM transmitters are OK for the most part, but I have never been happy with the amount of static and crosstalk I get from other radio stations when I'm driving long distance. Inevitably I drive through an area where my transmitted frequency the same as a local radio station. I hate having to adjust frequencies and scan for one that is open.

Glad to see there's some interest in this. Those were my gripes with the FM transmitter as well. If you're OK with a soldering iron (I'm pretty terrible) you should be able to make this work easily enough.


I've been recommending some Infinity units that are rather reasonable (check Amazon) that a number of other owners are now enjoying as well...

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?572-Choices-of-speakers

Thanks I'll check them out.


That's an great idea...

Do you have a step-by-step for those of us not versed in reading wiring schematics. I might like to do this but would need more info as to wear things are tied in and how. MOre pictures would be great if you took them.

Thanks,
Steve

You really don't need to worry about the wiring schematics, I just put them up there in case anyone was interested. That and it took some time to track them all down so I didn't want to lose them. All you really need to do is pop off the bottom cover of the unit and you'll easily be able to match up my pictures with your unit. Then just solder some long pieces of wire to the points I specified and just terminate those leads on the other end to just a 3.5mm headphone jack or some other connector of your choosing. The second part is just putting the switch in the radio power circuit so it doesn't interfere with your new AUX device. That step is the last picture. Just run your new wires out the back of the unit using the holes the antenna wire goes through.

I kinda wish I had taken more pictures, I wasn't really expecting much interest, I figured most people who want to integreate 21st century media players into 30 year old stereos would just buy a new stereo. :) But glad to see there are some tinkerers out there.

Todd

[r00b]

awesome, just what I needed.

[todd1561]

Woops, just realized there was a bug with the webpage where you couldn't see all 3 of the pictures in Firefox, just fixed that.

Todd

[mluder]

Cool... thanks for the explanation.

Now I have to decide if I want to modify my stock radio... The cassette deck is shot anyway so maybe...

Steve


Glad to see there's some interest in this. Those were my gripes with the FM transmitter as well. If you're OK with a soldering iron (I'm pretty terrible) you should be able to make this work easily enough.



Thanks I'll check them out.



You really don't need to worry about the wiring schematics, I just put them up there in case anyone was interested. That and it took some time to track them all down so I didn't want to lose them. All you really need to do is pop off the bottom cover of the unit and you'll easily be able to match up my pictures with your unit. Then just solder some long pieces of wire to the points I specified and just terminate those leads on the other end to just a 3.5mm headphone jack or some other connector of your choosing. The second part is just putting the switch in the radio power circuit so it doesn't interfere with your new AUX device. That step is the last picture. Just run your new wires out the back of the unit using the holes the antenna wire goes through.

I kinda wish I had taken more pictures, I wasn't really expecting much interest, I figured most people who want to integreate 21st century media players into 30 year old stereos would just buy a new stereo. :) But glad to see there are some tinkerers out there.

Todd

[hippieman9]

I'm answering the question that no one is asking with this How-To. Basically, how to modify the Craig to accept sound input from devices such as MP3 players without losing any functionality and without using FM transmitters or tape deck adapters. I put the directions (mainly just pictures) up on my little website that until last night hasn't changed in well over 2 years. So I won't repeat it all here.

http://1561project.com/?page=ipod-craig

Maybe this will help someone one day, I don't think anyone has bothered to do this before. On another note, anyone have any inexpensive suggestions for stock speaker replacements? In case it wasn't obvious, I'm not much of an audiophile, so I'm just looking for something that's a good match with the Craig and isn't 30 years old and disintegrated.

Later,
Todd
What AUX jack did you use?

[todd1561]

It was just a standard panel mount 1/8” headphone jack. But you could use whatever you like.

Here’s an example: https://www.amazon.com/3-5mm-Stereo-Panel-Mount-Jack/dp/B000ML4A2Q

[CFI]

This is interesting, but I don’t understand what you did in that last picture. You spliced a switch into that red wire? Do you have a picture of the switch or where you mounted it?

[todd1561]

The switch is to cut power to the radio circuit. By doing this you eliminate any radio interference to allow just your aux music to play unencumbered. You can mount the switch anywhere you want, I have mine under the drivers right knee pad along with the 1/8" headphone input jack.

[DMC-81]

This is interesting, but I don’t understand what you did in that last picture. You spliced a switch into that red wire? Do you have a picture of the switch or where you mounted it?

I used Todd's great how-to and ideas shared in this thread to do this a few years ago. Here are 2 pictures if they help:

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=43763&d=1466288194

It shows the added iPod wire harness completed. I routed it under the console. I used one of a pair of DMC on/off switches (K111639) to switch between the radio and AUX.

I installed the 1/8" MP3 jack in the ashtray as mentioned above as there is already a 3/16" hole in the back bottom of the tray.

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=44042&d=1466986778

The location of the switch and the jack makes the modification invisible.

Also, there are more pictures of this mod and repair of the Craig in the interior restoration album on my profile if you are interested in more detail.

[CFI]

Awesome, thank you.

[Malevy]

I'm answering the question that no one is asking with this How-To. Basically, how to modify the Craig to accept sound input from devices such as MP3 players without losing any functionality and without using FM transmitters or tape deck adapters. I put the directions (mainly just pictures) up on my little website that until last night hasn't changed in well over 2 years. So I won't repeat it all here.

http://1561project.com/?page=ipod-craig

Maybe this will help someone one day, I don't think anyone has bothered to do this before. On another note, anyone have any inexpensive suggestions for stock speaker replacements? In case it wasn't obvious, I'm not much of an audiophile, so I'm just looking for something that's a good match with the Craig and isn't 30 years old and disintegrated.

Later,
Todd

Sorry to nit-pick, but the volume control is downstream of the tone controls as well as the loudness circuitry. Hooking up the AUX input at the volume control renders all of that useless.

You can also use a connector with a built in switch to cut off the radio audio.

Here is one I fixed up a few weeks back.

https://streamable.com/umx2dv

Got a few more Craig's on the shelf.. Just not sure there is any interest in them!

[todd1561]

Very cool, thanks for the feedback, I'm definitely no electronics guy or audiophile so I appreciate it. Where did you wind up hooking into the circuitry for the audio input? I considered a connector with a built in switch but I think at the time (this was almost 10 years ago) I wanted to keep my iPod connected all the time and be able to cutover the sound with a simple switch. I think I had plans of placing a small switch on the face plate of the radio for a more polished look but opted not to modify the aesthetics of the unit.

To be honest I never used this system much, I was never enough of a music buff to bother so I just wind up flipping on the radio :)

Todd

[Malevy]

Best place (IMHO) to do it is at the base of Q131/231... However, too many parts would need to be removed from the board to do it correctly. It is a very dense area of the board to work on too.

I did mine at R134/234, which worked fine, but as you can hear from the video the volume on the AUX is not as loud as the radio or tape (because I skipped the 1st stage of the amplifier - which you did too). Probably something most people can live with, just got to remember to turn the volume down before pulling the AUX plug if you happen to be blasting it.

Not sure where others who do this mod "tap in". I'd be interested to know if the tone controls work on radios that have been modified by some of the others who do this.

I have to admit, I underestimated the total amount of work it was to properly fix/restore the Craig W460. I had changed belts before, and done the flex-circuit on the display before.. This particular unit needed more work.

[Rhye]

Todd's solution worked perfectly well with both of my projects:

(http://http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?18557)http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?16338

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?18557

The only correction I had to make was to the RH channel connection:

65183

This is because the pots are axisymmetrical, not plane-symmetrical. All of the functions (vol/bass/treble/loudness/balance) work just fine.

[Malevy]

So, the schematics are wrong??

The tone controls are clearly upstream of the volume control.

There is a pre-amp (Q131/231), then the tone controls (IC331) then the loudness (Q133/233), then the volume/balance, then the final power amp (IC151/251), then the fader.

Possible you tapped in to the tone control in the stack of pots, and not the volume control? The tone controls are fed from R134/234, so it would probably work (I guess it did).. But, there are some other components at that node. Which side of R136/236 you are on would change the behavior a bit, but would still work. Either way, this is not "at the volume control" as previously indicated.

Fader control is at the output of the final amplifier, so it will always work.

[Rhye]

Possible you tapped in to the tone control in the stack of pots, and not the volume control?

That's right - the connection points on Todd's pictures are not the volume but bass/treble pots. Here's exactly where it hooks up:

65184

Sound level seems just fine to me, despite bypassing the first two transistor stages. I guess it's the IC331 that does all the preamp job here.

[Rhye]

Sound level seems just fine to me, despite bypassing the first two transistor stages.

OK, one stage actually 'cause the second one is obviously a muting function. Anyway, I once tried to inject the signal to the base of Q131/231 but with no success (AFAIR, the aux sound level was very low) - so I just went Todd's way.

[DMC-81]

I hooked my AUX following Todd's directions and they worked fine for me as well.

Also, if the tone controls are upstream of the volume controls, doesn't that mean that you can adjust them before the sound signal is sent to out the AUX wire.. or am I missing something?

[Malevy]

That's right - the connection points on Todd's pictures are not the volume but bass/treble pots. Here's exactly where it hooks up:



As I said previously, that explains why I thought there would be a problem. Instructions say "volume control", but it is actually the tone control- which should work fine.