iPod classic Replacement

[mathman]

I've had an iPod classic in my car since forever.  I bought the 80gb classic in 2009 and used it till this year.  The harddrive finally died and I bought a kit to install an SD card instead but I messed up and broke the battery connector.  I don't have the right soldering iron to repair myself.  There is a place somewhat near in Tampa that supposedly might be able to fix.  Have to call back Monday to find out. 

"long info below or go to bottom to see the questions"

As a fall back I am looking for a replacement to use in my 07 zed 4.

The car has an input for the player.   There are some after market devices designed for the z4 but would require taking out the original stereo to install into the back of the stereo.  That may be the best solution but I want to check out other options first.

I know I could buy another iPod classic through ebay or some other place but I not sure about that yet.  Prices are pretty high.  Still looking though.

I have an iphone 5s I am using now but I don't like using the touch screen in the car.  The best thing about the ipod was the click wheel that doesn't require "Looking" at the device in order to find the button to skip songs.  Also had a great shuffle mode.  I was using a bluetooth cig plug adapter that controls the iphone and that worked but over time it got noisier and noisier with hum.

So one option is to buy a better version of the bluetooth controller.  Any one have a bluetooth controller that particularly like?

Or buy an different brand music player.

such as agptek H3 HIFI Bluetooth Digital MP3 Player with 32GB

01: FiiO X5  or X3 or other variant.

• 04: Cowon iAudio X9 32GB Memory MP3 Music Player - (Recommended!) 
• 05: AGPTek Wireless Bluetooth MP3 Music Player FM - (Recommended!) 
• 06: Cowon Z2 AMOLED Touch Screen MP3 Player HD (Very Good!)
• 07: SanDisk Sansa Clip+ Digital FM Receiver MP3 Player
• 08: Kubik Evo LCD Display MP3 Player FM 30 Preset Channels
• 09: Philips Mp3 Mp4 Music And Video Player USB LCD - (Recommended!) 
• 10: HccToo MP3 MP4 Player 8GB Flash Memory FM - (Recommended!) 

Some of these are no longer available.

 

So,  All questions.

Has anyone replaced an iPod classic with a different device that uses a click-wheel or similar to control they really liked?  no touch screens.

Has anyone used a bluetooth cig lighter adapter that sounds good and provides controls to change songs they could recommend?

 

Thanks 

Kirk

[scottcald]

The Cowon ones look to be touchscreen, and typically the other ones, even though they look like it, won't be the scroll wheel as the iPod was.  It'll just be simple up, down, left and right.  The SanDisk one looks to be the closest to the old iPod classic interface to me.  Haven't used a bluetooth car adapter, so can't really comment there, but wire cutter rates some here: https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-bluetooth-kits-for-every-car-stereo/     The first one looks cool because you can mount the transport control in a convenient spot. 

 

[Thundersteel]

I've got an 80 GB iPod classic I haven't used in years. The battery is shot, but should still work if a replacement battery is installed. I'll make you a good deal on it if you want it.

[mathman]

@Thundersteel

plug itin and if still works let’s talk.  I am interested.

 

[Dave Scepter]

1 hour ago, Thundersteel said:

I've got an 80 GB iPod classic I haven't used in years. The battery is shot, but should still work if a replacement battery is installed. I'll make you a good deal on it if you want it.

12v or USB power cable will work... then headphone/aux out to head unit... MUCH  better than Bluetooth... I do it all the time

[mathman]

34 minutes ago, Dave Scepter said:

12v or USB power cable will work... then headphone/aux out to head unit... MUCH  better than Bluetooth... I do it all the time

Yes, that is how I used my previous iPod and what I want back again.

[Thundersteel]

5 hours ago, mathman said:

@Thundersteel

plug itin and if still works let’s talk.  I am interested.

 

It's alive!  PM sent.

[EricS]

I have the Fiio X3 ii and absolutely love it. Dedicated line out jack, as well as headphone jack, so it puts out a nice beefy signal of fantastic sound, stored on SD. 

[mathman]

5 hours ago, EricS said:

I have the Fiio X3 ii and absolutely love it. Dedicated line out jack, as well as headphone jack, so it puts out a nice beefy signal of fantastic sound, stored on SD. 

Thanks for that info.  That was one at the top of my list if the iPod couldn’t be resurrected.

[tbonesullivan]

I am STILL pissed that Apple doesn't see the need for a standalone music player. They want everyone to switch to their "Apple Music" streaming service now, which honestly is just not something I want to do.

Thankfully, I still have a 120GB that is hanging on, and I have a friend who turned my 160GB with a dead battery and HD into a 256GB monster.

[mathman]

42 minutes ago, tbonesullivan said:

I am STILL pissed that Apple doesn't see the need for a standalone music player. They want everyone to switch to their "Apple Music" streaming service now, which honestly is just not something I want to do.

Thankfully, I still have a 120GB that is hanging on, and I have a friend who turned my 160GB with a dead battery and HD into a 256GB monster.

I bought this to fix my old one:https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Tarkan/SOLOUSD/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_campaign=googlebase&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpaT408aG3wIVq_7jBx1_2gvOEAQYASABEgK9ZfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

It lets  you replace the spinning hard drive with an sd card but I broke the battery connector taking it apart.  iPods are put together like a tank.

I will keep for when the one I bought from Eric/Thundersteel hard drive eventually breaks.  I may pay to have it done although I think with the practice I could do it the next time.

I like the click wheel and  most everything else about the iPod.  The newer iPod touches don't work unless you look at them and find the button.  The click wheel is tactile so you can change songs without having to look. Important in a car.  All apple had to do when they couldn't get hard drives is to switch to solid state storage like they started using in everything else.