Using Phatbox with non-OEM headunits

Wardy · 01-03-2006, 21:50

Anyone doing this? Just wondering if I can keep using it if I were to move to a Sony/Pioneer/Alpine headunit etc.

Had a quick check on eBay for cables, but only saw Phatbox cables for VW and Audis.

Or is it more to do with the compatibility of the Phatboxes, ie would I be OK just picking up a standard Sony CD changer cable, or is this a bit of a risk....

Steve

helpmedisappear · 02-03-2006, 07:48

Sorry i cant help you with this, but i would really love to know the answer too!

Wardy · 02-03-2006, 13:51

Well, I now see that the Phatnoise Knowledge Base refers to you being able to use it with Sony headunits, so that might make it 1 out of 3

I've emailed them as well, so if I get a meaningful response, I'll post that up...

Steve

helpmedisappear · 02-03-2006, 14:24

Thanks

roo · 03-03-2006, 18:38

IIRC the Phatbox sold for VAG has different connections than the general phatbox that you can buy. If so than it will not work. Something to ask them directly I think.

Wardy · 03-03-2006, 20:58

I got this response last night:

Hello Steve,

Thank you for using the PhatNoise Car Audio System! Unfortunately, the VW and
Audi Edition PhatBoxes may only be transferred to other compatible VW and Audi
vehicles. Alpine and Pioneer head units are not supported. You may purchase a
Sony Edition PhatBox to work with a compatible Sony stereo. Note that the Sony edition
does not feature SSA.
Please let us know if we may assist you further.

Best regards,

PhatNoise Customer Support

Just wondering if it's worth trying a Sony CD changer cable with it. I can't imagine them actually altering the internals of the box, just for different vehicles?

Steve

helpmedisappear · 04-03-2006, 08:35

Ahhh thats a shame

Ive seen a few pics of the plug on the phatbox and it looks nothing like a sony cd changer cable plug...it looks like we may be beaten.

I have however found an alternative -

http://www.dension.com/dmp3_info.htm

Check this ebay auction out -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DENSION-DMP3-H...QQcmdZViewItem

vindaloo · 05-03-2006, 11:10

<cough>

http://www.meatpimp.com/phatnoise

Basically it's a phatbox mod and see if you can get (or make) a cable.

Unofficial Phatbox forums... Not regularly used. You'll need to display 'all' items in each forum.

http://www.myphatbox.com/index.php?

HTH

J.

Wardy · 05-03-2006, 12:55

Cheers for the links - quite an extreme solution though

Might be more tempted if the cable was available, or there were instructions there for making them up.

Also surprised to see how little is in the box, when it's opened up!

Steve

Wardy · 05-03-2006, 19:40

Found some quite interesting info on this page regarding cables and pinouts.

Here's the Phatbox-Sony diagram from that page, does this make sense to anyone and could a cable be made up so that a Phatbox originally bought for VW/Audi use could be used with a Sony stereo?

Steve

01-03-2006, 21:50	#1
Wardy 200/370 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Around Manchester & Cheshire Posts: 11,019 Thanks: 402 Thanked 298 Times in 286 Posts	Using Phatbox with non-OEM headunits Anyone doing this? Just wondering if I can keep using it if I were to move to a Sony/Pioneer/Alpine headunit etc. Had a quick check on eBay for cables, but only saw Phatbox cables for VW and Audis. Or is it more to do with the compatibility of the Phatboxes, ie would I be OK just picking up a standard Sony CD changer cable, or is this a bit of a risk.... Steve __________________ Wardy's Fabia vRS xenons : sunroof : cruise : OEM+ "Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting." - Steve McQueen "If in doubt, flat out." - Colin McRae

02-03-2006, 07:48	#2
helpmedisappear Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Bolton Posts: 1,762 Thanks: 36 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Using Phatbox with non-OEM headunits Sorry i cant help you with this, but i would really love to know the answer too! __________________ Martin Black Magic Fabia vRSv

02-03-2006, 13:51	#3
Wardy 200/370 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Around Manchester & Cheshire Posts: 11,019 Thanks: 402 Thanked 298 Times in 286 Posts	Re: Using Phatbox with non-OEM headunits Well, I now see that the Phatnoise Knowledge Base refers to you being able to use it with Sony headunits, so that might make it 1 out of 3 I've emailed them as well, so if I get a meaningful response, I'll post that up... Steve __________________ Wardy's Fabia vRS xenons : sunroof : cruise : OEM+ "Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting." - Steve McQueen "If in doubt, flat out." - Colin McRae

02-03-2006, 14:24	#4
helpmedisappear Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Bolton Posts: 1,762 Thanks: 36 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Using Phatbox with non-OEM headunits Thanks __________________ Martin Black Magic Fabia vRSv

03-03-2006, 20:58	#6
Wardy 200/370 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Around Manchester & Cheshire Posts: 11,019 Thanks: 402 Thanked 298 Times in 286 Posts	Re: Using Phatbox with non-OEM headunits I got this response last night: Hello Steve, Thank you for using the PhatNoise Car Audio System! Unfortunately, the VW and Audi Edition PhatBoxes may only be transferred to other compatible VW and Audi vehicles. Alpine and Pioneer head units are not supported. You may purchase a Sony Edition PhatBox to work with a compatible Sony stereo. Note that the Sony edition does not feature SSA. Please let us know if we may assist you further. Best regards, PhatNoise Customer Support Just wondering if it's worth trying a Sony CD changer cable with it. I can't imagine them actually altering the internals of the box, just for different vehicles? Steve __________________ Wardy's Fabia vRS xenons : sunroof : cruise : OEM+ "Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting." - Steve McQueen "If in doubt, flat out." - Colin McRae

04-03-2006, 08:35	#7
helpmedisappear Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Bolton Posts: 1,762 Thanks: 36 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Using Phatbox with non-OEM headunits Ahhh thats a shame Ive seen a few pics of the plug on the phatbox and it looks nothing like a sony cd changer cable plug...it looks like we may be beaten. I have however found an alternative - http://www.dension.com/dmp3_info.htm Check this ebay auction out - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DENSION-DMP3-H...QQcmdZViewItem __________________ Martin Black Magic Fabia vRSv Last edited by helpmedisappear; 04-03-2006 at 08:37.

05-03-2006, 11:10	#8
vindaloo Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: South Bucks Posts: 1,144 Thanks: 15 Thanked 16 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Using Phatbox with non-OEM headunits <cough> http://www.meatpimp.com/phatnoise Basically it's a phatbox mod and see if you can get (or make) a cable. Unofficial Phatbox forums... Not regularly used. You'll need to display 'all' items in each forum. http://www.myphatbox.com/index.php? HTH J. __________________ Slowly turning the planet sooty.

05-03-2006, 12:55	#9
Wardy 200/370 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Around Manchester & Cheshire Posts: 11,019 Thanks: 402 Thanked 298 Times in 286 Posts	Re: Using Phatbox with non-OEM headunits Cheers for the links - quite an extreme solution though Might be more tempted if the cable was available, or there were instructions there for making them up. Also surprised to see how little is in the box, when it's opened up! Steve __________________ Wardy's Fabia vRS xenons : sunroof : cruise : OEM+ "Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting." - Steve McQueen "If in doubt, flat out." - Colin McRae

05-03-2006, 19:40	#10
Wardy 200/370 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Around Manchester & Cheshire Posts: 11,019 Thanks: 402 Thanked 298 Times in 286 Posts	Re: Using Phatbox with non-OEM headunits Found some quite interesting info on this page regarding cables and pinouts. Here's the Phatbox-Sony diagram from that page, does this make sense to anyone and could a cable be made up so that a Phatbox originally bought for VW/Audi use could be used with a Sony stereo? Steve __________________ Wardy's Fabia vRS xenons : sunroof : cruise : OEM+ "Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting." - Steve McQueen "If in doubt, flat out." - Colin McRae

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