Playing music from phone without using cigarette lighter port

Technical Area Electrics & ICE
1

I’m looking for some help regarding aftermarket music systems, as I can currently only use the radio or CDs. My cigarette lighter is already in use, and I’m a university student, so cash is not abundant.

All I want to be able to do is play music from Spotify on my phone, and a lot of those Bluetooth adapters that go in the cigarette lighter lose a lot of the audio quality.

I realize there’s a lot on this site regarding such stuff but I’m a bit confused about it all, so I thought I’d just ask for myself. I don’t know if I have bose speakers or not though, so if I need to check I will find out how.

Thanks for any help.

  1. My model of MX-5 is: NC1 2006
2

Does your phone still have a 3.5mm headphone jack ?
If yes - you could use one of these

3

Yeah I probably should have mentioned it doesn’t, it’s a Pixel 7A so just a USBC port and nothing else. I bet there’s an adapter somewhere though.

4

Perhaps this type of adaptor

5

If the NC1 has a 3.5mm AUX-in port, then you could use a suitable USB-C to 3.5mm adapter cable for your Pixel.

A few options, one with adapter & cable integrated:

Or an adapter to use an existing cable:

6

That seems like it would work, how would I install that then? By the looks of it it plugs in somewhere behind the current CD head unit

7

Yes - it plugs in to the back of the head unit.
The head unit is quite easy to remove - two trim pieces - two philips screws and sometimes one small bolt.
Can be done in about 10 mins.
Lots of videos online showing how.

Once installed - you use the aux button to listen to that source.

8

No 3.5 jack as std on the NC1

1 Like
9

If you’re simply looking to create another USB socket, since your ‘ cigarette lighter’ socket is occupied …….

I use my phone for navigation, it’s in a holder stuck to the windscreen , and is connected to power via this new port, in the grille in the centre of the dash- using a short cable saves all the hassle of trailing cables everywhere.

Good luck, DC

10

Are you sure that isn’t for NB? Seems odd that it says 2006 up to only, the units in NC were the same until it was facelifted.

11

NC1 never had a 3.5 aux connector but the aux leads available used the external cd changer port to take signal from usb or 3.5 jack.

NC2 onwards had a 3.5 aux connector already plugged in to the head units.

Most of the aftermarket 3.5/usb adaptors don’t work with NC2/3 head units

12

So I bought the adapter and got to the back of the radio, as mentioned. I plugged it in to the only slot at the back without anything plugged in (next to the antenatal), as it seemed to fit perfectly. The light came on when I plugged my phone via usbc, but I can’t seem to get the music to play. I tried pressing the media button at the top and yet still nothing. Did I plug it in wrong? Or is it the adapters fault. (I did make sure it was the right type of usb)

13

If it lit up it should be working.
Are there any set up instructions ?
Any extra power wires that need connecting ?