Analog To Digital Converter? Help, Please?

[Gary Lewis]

I'd like to clean up the connections to the Sony stereo in Big Blue and need some help. The issue is the analog audio output from the Garmin GPS unit to the Sony. Currently I have the audio plugged into the 3.5 mm Aux in jack on the front of the Sony, but would like to plug it into the USB cable that comes off the back of the Sony in order to get away from the cable dangling from the front of the radio. (See pic below.)

But I realize that the Garmin is providing an analog output and, by definition, the USB expects a digital signal. So I'm looking for an analog-to-digital converter that has a male 3.5 mm plug on one end and a male USB-A connector on the other.

I called Crutchfield and Ryan pointed me to their Crux CS-USB3.5 Auxiliary Input Adapter, but at $100 he and I agreed it was 'spensive. So he then suggested the Audio-Technica ATR2x-USB 3.5mm to USB Audio Adapter, which is only $25, but will require a 3.5 mm male/male cable.

So I'm asking if any of you know of a better fit? Any suggestions?

Shown in the pic below are:

• Garmin GPS: Yellow circle

• Garmin analog out: Red circle shows the female 3.5 mm jack that is the end of the Garmin output cable.

• Analog cable: The red arrow points to the male 3.5 mm plug that is one end of a cable that goes up and plugs into the Sony at the blue circle.

• USB input to Sony: The green circle shows a female USB-A connector that goes into the back of the Sony as USB 2.

[ratdude747]

May not be doable. Most head units like that (at least that I've seen and worked with) use USB for phone/MP3/ipod and USB flash drive use. Not as a "digital" line in (meaning it's looking to read files, not accept a data stream).

Most of my analog line-in audio issues I've had were corrected with good cables and good grounding. While somewhat overpriced, the only line-in cables I've had good luck with (no crackle when rotating plug, etc.) are Monster and Monoprice (the former the only ones that work with Otterbox and Poetic cases without unscrewing part of the connector).

Grounding: in my Bullnose's case, I only had luck once I moved all audio to dedicated power/ground wire straight to the battery (this includes the lighter plug for charging my phone). Radio/CB on/off controlled by a relay.

[Gary Lewis]

May not be doable. Most head units like that (at least that I've seen and worked with) use USB for phone/MP3/ipod and USB flash drive use. Not as a "digital" line in (meaning it's looking to read files, not accept a data stream).

Most of my analog line-in audio issues I've had were corrected with good cables and good grounding. While somewhat overpriced, the only line-in cables I've had good luck with (no crackle when rotating plug, etc.) are Monster and Monoprice (the former the only ones that work with Otterbox and Poetic cases without unscrewing part of the connector).

Grounding: in my Bullnose's case, I only had luck once I moved all audio to dedicated power/ground wire straight to the battery (this includes the lighter plug for charging my phone). Radio/CB on/off controlled by a relay.

Larry - That's not the answer I was looking for! (But thanks.)

I'm sure you are right. The format is something I didn't think of, so it would need to be in a format that the Sony can accept. (See below.)

I called audio-technica and left a message asking what format their ATR2x-USB puts out on the USB side. (I'm assuming it is adhering to the USB protocol standards.)

Looking at the Sony's USB spec's it says:

Corresponding codec:

MP3 (.mp3)

Bit rate: 8 kbps – 320 kbps (Supports VBR (Variable Bit Rate))

Sampling rate: 16 kHz – 48 kHz

WMA (.wma)

Bit rate: 32 kbps – 192 kbps (Supports VBR (Variable Bit Rate))

Sampling rate: 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz

AAC (.m4a, .mp4)

Bit rate: 8 kbps – 320 kbps

Sampling rate: 11.025 kHz – 48 kHz

WAV (.wav)

Bit depth: 16 bit

Sampling rate: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz

FLAC (.flac)

Bit depth: 16 bit, 24 bit

Sampling rate: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz

Supported file system: FAT16, FAT32

[Gary Lewis]

Larry - That's not the answer I was looking for! (But thanks.)

I'm sure you are right. The format is something I didn't think of, so it would need to be in a format that the Sony can accept. (See below.)

I called audio-technica and left a message asking what format their ATR2x-USB puts out on the USB side. (I'm assuming it is adhering to the USB protocol standards.)

Looking at the Sony's USB spec's it says:

Corresponding codec:

MP3 (.mp3)

Bit rate: 8 kbps – 320 kbps (Supports VBR (Variable Bit Rate))

Sampling rate: 16 kHz – 48 kHz

WMA (.wma)

Bit rate: 32 kbps – 192 kbps (Supports VBR (Variable Bit Rate))

Sampling rate: 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz

AAC (.m4a, .mp4)

Bit rate: 8 kbps – 320 kbps

Sampling rate: 11.025 kHz – 48 kHz

WAV (.wav)

Bit depth: 16 bit

Sampling rate: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz

FLAC (.flac)

Bit depth: 16 bit, 24 bit

Sampling rate: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz

Supported file system: FAT16, FAT32

And I forgot to address your other comments. I'm not having noise problems. The output of the Garmin comes through nicely with no noise.

I'm just trying to clean up the "look", not the sound. I don't like the audio cable dangling from the front panel of the Sony and am hoping to connect up through the back panel USB connector.

[Gary Lewis]

And I forgot to address your other comments. I'm not having noise problems. The output of the Garmin comes through nicely with no noise.

I'm just trying to clean up the "look", not the sound. I don't like the audio cable dangling from the front panel of the Sony and am hoping to connect up through the back panel USB connector.

Tony from audio-technica called. He doesn't know if it'll work and doesn't have specs on the output, but the device is just digitizing the analog voltage from the mike input and sending it out via USB.

However, he said it might work and recommended that I buy one and give it a try since Amazon will surely take it back.

Thoughts?

[Rembrant]

I know this isn't the answer you're looking for, but I'd still use the front jack, but get a low profile right angle plug on one end, and tuck the wire in neatly behind the radio and run it through the dash down to the floor. You might have to cut a little nick into the radio bezel (not the truck bezel) for the wire to to fit, but it would be neater than a straight plug and wire hanging out front in the open. My 2 cents worth;). I'd prefer Bluetooth if it was an option...it sure makes communication easier.

https://www.amazon.ca/UGREEN-Auxiliary-Smartphones-Tablets-Speakers/dp/B00LM0U8I6/ref=asc_df_B00LM0U8I6/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=292968454485&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15187493089899618845&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000096&hvtargid=pla-351821156057&th=1

[Gary Lewis]

I know this isn't the answer you're looking for, but I'd still use the front jack, but get a low profile right angle plug on one end, and tuck the wire in neatly behind the radio and run it through the dash down to the floor. You might have to cut a little nick into the radio bezel (not the truck bezel) for the wire to to fit, but it would be neater than a straight plug and wire hanging out front in the open. My 2 cents worth;). I'd prefer Bluetooth if it was an option...it sure makes communication easier.

https://www.amazon.ca/UGREEN-Auxiliary-Smartphones-Tablets-Speakers/dp/B00LM0U8I6/ref=asc_df_B00LM0U8I6/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=292968454485&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15187493089899618845&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000096&hvtargid=pla-351821156057&th=1

Cory - I think that is the best solution, and one I hadn't really thought enough about. I'll bet I can get it through the dash there somewhere and then come down to meet the one from the Garmin.

I say that because I just got off the phone with Sony and they said that the USB input will work with Apple and Android devices, but not an analog/digital converter.

As for Bluetooth, I wish. Garmin decided to use the headphones BT profile but Sony picked a different one and the two don't work well together. Apparently Sony expects there to be a wakeup handshake at the start of each exchange but Garmin doesn't send one, so you get something like "1/4 mile" instead of "Turn right in 1/4 mile". IOW, there's always something left off the front of each instruction, and it is frequently critical.

So, I just ordered that cable you linked to, Cory. But I ordered the 3' one instead of the 1.5' one. Thanks!

[ckuske]

Tony from audio-technica called. He doesn't know if it'll work and doesn't have specs on the output, but the device is just digitizing the analog voltage from the mike input and sending it out via USB.

However, he said it might work and recommended that I buy one and give it a try since Amazon will surely take it back.

Thoughts?

This will be interesting.

There are different classes of USB devices. The USB sticks everyone uses belong to the Mass Storage Class, they are basically block storage devices, just like a hard drive.

I have a feeling the adapter being mentioned is a Audio device class, and that the head unit expects a Mass Storage Device. Not to be a stick in the mud, but unless your head unit can handle more than a Mass Storage USB, it's probably going to be a no-go.

https://www.usb.org/defined-class-codes

Thank being said, I'd love to be wrong (as happens more often than I'd like to admit!)

[Gary Lewis]

This will be interesting.

There are different classes of USB devices. The USB sticks everyone uses belong to the Mass Storage Class, they are basically block storage devices, just like a hard drive.

I have a feeling the adapter being mentioned is a Audio device class, and that the head unit expects a Mass Storage Device. Not to be a stick in the mud, but unless your head unit can handle more than a Mass Storage USB, it's probably going to be a no-go.

https://www.usb.org/defined-class-codes

Thank being said, I'd love to be wrong (as happens more often than I'd like to admit!)

Thanks, Chris. It sounds like USB is more complicated than Blue Tooth, and as I've previously said Garmin and Sony chose two different BT profiles. So it isn't surprising that Sony picked a different class of USB than did the manufacturers of the audio devices, which means they won't communicate with each other.

I'm glad I gave up and ordered the cable. At least I know that will work.

[BigBrother-84]

Gary, can't something like this do the job?

Amazon sells couple of different models. I would be surprised that a USB plug located behind your Sony is in order to plug Mass Storage or any USB stick... No very useful.

I also have this in a drawer, I used it to plug an analog amplifier in one USB port of my computer, when transferring old audio tapes to mp3 files: