Car Stereos: Aftermarket Radio Advice, pioneer head units, pioneer head unit

Question
I have a 2004 Durango, with an OEM DVD player, which plays audio through the cars OEM radio.  There is a cd jammed in it, and it makes a terrible noise (just started making the noise recently despite the cd being in there for over a year).  I want to get an aftermarket radio, but need to be able to play the DVD audio thru it, so I need an aux input in the rear of the deck, but want a front aux for an ipod connection in the front.  Is this possible?

Are there any radios with rear aux inputs anymore?

Thanks for the help.

Answer
Hi Glen,

Many Pioneer head units will give you the front and rear auxiliary inputs you're seeking, if you use an adapter piece.  Most Pioneer decks include a front auxiliary input jack; and any Pioneer head unit with a "P" in the model number has the capacity to add a rear auxiliary input using a fairly inexpensive adapter.  In addition, you can find a front USB jack on many newer Pioneer decks, and the USB input is compatible with iPod.  

Keep in mind, though, that connecting the factory DVD player's output to the new head unit's rear auxiliary input might not be simple; and there's a possibility that the DVD player won't work without the stock head unit in place.  There certainly won't be standard AV output jacks on the back of the DVD player.  I've never tried to integrate a stock Chrysler DVD player with an after-market head unit, so I'm not sure what difficulties you'll run into; however, the trend in many newer Chryslers is to integrate the audio components through the vehicle's data bus system.  In this case, it's possible that a data command from the head unit is required to enable the DVD player.  Sorry, but I haven't had a chance to study this one yet.

Hope this helps!

Brian