Omega Owners Forum

Newbie Area => Test Zone => Topic started by: tunnie on 27 September 2017, 14:27:58

Title: Guide: Adding AUX input to NCDC 2013/5
Post by: tunnie on 27 September 2017, 14:27:58
This is a guide for adding an AUX input for the NCDC 2013/15 units, as time has marched on the lasers in these units have really begun to die off. Add to the fact the CD changer (CDC) units easily get stuck, an AUX input is really useful.

In my case, the CDC unit broke some time ago and would not eject. Having used modern cars with bluetooth music streaming, I found it really useful. This guide allows you to add an aux input, to then use with a bluetooth adaptor.

**Note** That my guide here does not make the CDC switchable, this will make it only AUX input and render the CDC useless. You could wire a switch in if you want instead.

Tools needed:

Torx T9 & T7
8mm spanner/socket
Soldering Iron + Solder
Wire strippers
RCA Component Cable

I started off with a standard NCDC 2013 unit:

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7950.jpg)

Use an 8mm socket to remove the bracket at the rear of the H/U.


(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7953.jpg)

You need to remove this, which helps grip to the side of the cage. You need a T9 for the larger black screw, do this on both sides of the H/U.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7954.jpg)

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7955.jpg)

A T7 torx is required to remove the 4 screws holding the CDC to the front of the H/U. Remove these (2x each side)


(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7969.jpg)

This will allow the CDC unit to lift up, giving access to the ribbon from the main radio to the CDC, this will just pull down and off. (red plug)


(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7970.jpg)

The CDC is now free...

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7971.jpg)

Remove the 2x T7 Torx on the back of the CDC, to allow the top plate to come off, this allows more room to feed cables through later.


(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7972.jpg)

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7973.jpg)

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7974.jpg)


Here is my standard RCA cable:

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7975.jpg)

I stripped off the video (yellow) cable, cut off the L/R and stripped them. I had around 0.5m of cable, incase I messed up the connections, to give me spare cable to cut and start again.


(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7975.jpg)

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7976.jpg)

Next you need to splice into the ribbon, you need a sharp stanley knife for this. You need to expose (going fromt the left) 1,4,8

1 = Audio L
4 = Audio R
8 = Earth


(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7977.jpg)


(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7979.jpg)


(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7980.jpg)

I then attached 1,4 to L & R audio feeds. You can see here the shielding of the cable, which acts as the earth. I twisted these together to give one connection point. (It's a long time since I did any soldering)


(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7983.jpg)

Next up is the earth, for this my method was to use the bracket I took off earlier, I slid this underneath to protect the main ribbon. I then used the soldering iron to burn through the plastic, to expose the core wire, so I could attach the earth.


(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7984.jpg)


(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7985.jpg)

Everything attached


(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/IMG-7988.jpg)


I then tapped it all up, as I don't have any heat shrink, take note to also tape off un used ribbon connectors.  I then put this togther, feeind the cables through into the CDC unit and out the front flap of the H/U.

It's then a case of putting it all back together, you then have assembled unit with RCA ouputs.


(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/NCDC%20Guide/final.jpg)



You can then use this how you wish, for my needs I bought a £10 cordless bluetooth adpator. So that I could pair my phone to it, for bluetooth audio via Spotify. Press the CDC button to swtich to this audio feed and press play on your device.
Title: Re: Guide: Adding AUX input to NCDC 2013/5
Post by: TheBoy on 27 September 2017, 18:11:06
No need to remove black screws or the side metal places. Just the 2 silvers ones each side (and bolt on back) to separate CDC.
Title: Re: Guide: Adding AUX input to NCDC 2013/5
Post by: tunnie on 13 October 2017, 13:09:59
Will this guide be moved and images hosted on OOF image server? Currently the below is sitting on my photobucket account, they appear to have forgotten about my account needing the extra charge for 3rd party use.

Suggest these taken onto our server before they rumble my account.
Title: Re: Guide: Adding AUX input to NCDC 2013/5
Post by: Jimbob on 13 October 2017, 13:47:34
yes....but slipped my mind being in here not test....Ill chuck it there and move over the weekend, ive grabbed the pics.
Title: Re: Guide: Adding AUX input to NCDC 2013/5
Post by: tunnie on 13 October 2017, 13:57:18
Cheers  :y
Title: Re: Guide: Adding AUX input to NCDC 2013/5
Post by: tunnie on 16 October 2017, 09:30:21
Traffic Announcements also continue to work with this modification, if CDC is selected you get the aux output and traffic announcements will still override it if enabled.



*answering a question I received on this.
Title: Re: Guide: Adding AUX input to NCDC 2013/5
Post by: zirk on 16 October 2017, 16:15:05
probably worth mentioning that as youve now disabled the lower CD player function should someone find the need to play a CD, Passenger etc, you can still play a Music CD on the Top Sat Nav player, ie switching CD/CDC. But test it on your one first Mark as I modded mine slightly different.
Title: Re: Guide: Adding AUX input to NCDC 2013/5
Post by: TheBoy on 16 October 2017, 19:49:27
probably worth mentioning that as youve now disabled the lower CD player function should someone find the need to play a CD, Passenger etc, you can still play a Music CD on the Top Sat Nav player, ie switching CD/CDC. But test it on your one first Mark as I modded mine slightly different.
Yes, all other functions work exactly as expected.

The only downside of this mod is the impedence mismatch, which for those of us not tone deaf, and know streamed music is unacceptable, means firstly having to tone down the treble a bit, and also might need the volume increasing a fair whack.
Title: Re: Guide: Adding AUX input to NCDC 2013/5
Post by: VXL V6 on 16 October 2017, 20:35:41
probably worth mentioning that as youve now disabled the lower CD player function should someone find the need to play a CD, Passenger etc, you can still play a Music CD on the Top Sat Nav player, ie switching CD/CDC. But test it on your one first Mark as I modded mine slightly different.

Personally I like to keep the option of using the CDC useable so just wired the input / output via a DPDT switch.
Title: Re: Guide: Adding AUX input to NCDC 2013/5
Post by: zirk on 17 October 2017, 10:35:46
probably worth mentioning that as youve now disabled the lower CD player function should someone find the need to play a CD, Passenger etc, you can still play a Music CD on the Top Sat Nav player, ie switching CD/CDC. But test it on your one first Mark as I modded mine slightly different.
Yes, all other functions work exactly as expected.

The only downside of this mod is the impedence mismatch, which for those of us not tone deaf, and know streamed music is unacceptable, means firstly having to tone down the treble a bit, and also might need the volume increasing a fair whack.

Hmm, I did kinda ask that question in the other thread, but...

Nice work, how did you manage to match the HU left and right high input impedance with the lower BT output impedance, are you using pads or preset Potentiometers for the preamp audio voltage input levels  ;)

Probably worth noting that if people are going to be using different external audio source equipment, modules, MP3, Phone devices etc, that will, giving any impedance miss matching, give some unwanted changes to frequency response and or response curves, as you say, plus any audio level miss match can also expect undesirable change to headroom / dynamic range, and signal to noise ratio etc, not an easy fix as it will be a different effect dependent on what audio source or equipment is used.  :-\
Title: Re: Guide: Adding AUX input to NCDC 2013/5
Post by: tunnie on 17 October 2017, 12:23:28
I've not had any issues with adjusting the treble, Spotify is set to 320kb/s streams. (the highest setting)

I was expecting the volume to be higher and therefore be stupidly loud when switching back to radio, but it's all fine. I'm very, very happy with this mod.

Surprisingly just a small mod like this can really change feeling on a car, really enjoying the 3.2 of late. Perhaps also my time in FWD diesel, has also made me appreieate V6 RWD more.
Title: Re: Guide: Adding AUX input to NCDC 2013/5
Post by: zirk on 17 October 2017, 13:01:54
I've not had any issues with adjusting the treble, Spotify is set to 320kb/s streams. (the highest setting)

I was expecting the volume to be higher and therefore be stupidly loud when switching back to radio, but it's all fine. I'm very, very happy with this mod.

Surprisingly just a small mod like this can really change feeling on a car, really enjoying the 3.2 of late. Perhaps also my time in FWD diesel, has also made me appreieate V6 RWD more.
Sounds like youve got it all balanced about right then :y or lucky  ;D  ;). glad to hear its working for you, funny how small things or changes like that can make you feel different about something, or in the case of the Omega, life in the old dog yet.  :y
Title: Re: Guide: Adding AUX input to NCDC 2013/5
Post by: cam.in.head on 17 October 2017, 14:17:54
probably worth mentioning that as youve now disabled the lower CD player function should someone find the need to play a CD, Passenger etc, you can still play a Music CD on the Top Sat Nav player, ie switching CD/CDC. But test it on your one first Mark as I modded mine slightly different.

Personally I like to keep the option of using the CDC useable so just wired the input / output via a DPDT switch.


or use a 3.5mm jack socket with switched contacts and some screened cable and everything is all working and unobtrusive !
Title: Re: Guide: Adding AUX input to NCDC 2013/5
Post by: tunnie on 17 October 2017, 14:24:33
Thing is even if CDC still works it won't have much life left in it, I've connected a bluetooth adaptor and this now sits inside the CDC so it's all hidden away and wireless streaming music  :y
Title: Re: Guide: Adding AUX input to NCDC 2013/5
Post by: tunnie on 17 October 2017, 14:49:10
Final setup all in the car, the RCA input is going into this bluetooth adaptor.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/tunnie_84/omega_stuff/Image%20uploaded%20from%20iOS.jpg)
Title: Re: Guide: Adding AUX input to NCDC 2013/5
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 17 October 2017, 18:59:54
Images from an alternative install using an up to date headunit with bluetooth phone control and bluetooth audio streaming along with ipod/usb input and cd changer control fed by three 10 boot mounted disc changers. Headunit is mounted in a telematics glove box and allows fine tuning of audio levels to suit both music type and format. Car shown also had Bose.

http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/05omegav6/library/NCDC%20Aux%20further%20pictures

Admins feel free to copy pics to guide as appropriate  :y