Sound level with auxiliary

[JFGraySi07]

Did anyone else experience a significant sound level drop when using an MP3 player with the auxiliary jack? I pretty much have to turn the radio sound level up to 20 before I start to hear anything. It obviously helps if I crank the MP3 player volume all the way to the max, but then the baterry life gets very short. I'm using a 6ft cable (good quality). Could that be the culprit?

[spocheld]

You have to turn up the volume all the way on your MP3 player. I notice a sound level INCREASE when I connect my iPod as opposed to listening to XM radio (also through the AUX jack) or standard radio.

[BlairSpeed]

If your using an Ipod, I've found that when your uploading your songs from Itunes, try moving the track volume up a bit before you upload them. That will help some. Good luck

[tegrady]

I noticed too. Just jack the volume on your MP3 player up.

[MetalTark]

Mine is also quiet on a Zen Vision W. You pretty much have to max out the volume on the player, and still have the volume at 20+.

[CUPRA]

I have a iPod Video and have the vol at about 10, bass +2, Sub +2, Treble (between 0 and +1 depending on music) and the iPod volume at about 3/4 vol.

Sounds awesome...

[Swank]

If you have any audio editing programs (like Sound Forge) make sure your track volumes are normalized at approx -8 dB. Cranking your MP3 player to max should not be required, and might result is distortion which will be passed along to the head unit and then further amplified. 50-75% MP3 player volume should suffice. At this point you should be able to bump along quite nicely at head unit volume 10-15.

[thatsnotstock]

Originally Posted by spocheld

You have to turn up the volume all the way on your MP3 player. I notice a sound level INCREASE when I connect my iPod as opposed to listening to XM radio (also through the AUX jack) or standard radio.

turning the volume "all the way up" makes the system sound like crap. and it can't possibly be good for your speakers...notice how they sound like shit when you have the bass all the way up on the system with sound all the way up on the mp3? thats your speakers suffering.

[masrik]

I have the same problem on my 08 LX.
My iPod is connected and is at pretty much full volume and i have turn the head volume up to almost 15 to hear anything and 20 to get any decent sound.

The iPod connecting to my computer, docking station or anything else i have plugged it into doesn't have this problem at all !

Maybe an issue with Honda's Aux port ?

[PhoR11]

I haven't had any issues, but then again, I'm using a dock connector to 1/8" cable.

Posted on Acurazine forums about the same issue:
"If you are super concerned about sound quality, get a cable that goes from the iPod's dock connector to a 1/8" headphone connector. The dock connector contains a clean line-level audio out that should match the line-in level of the RDX stereo.

If you go from the iPod's headphone jack, you are dealing with a signal that has gone through an amplifier and you will need to crank the volume up to get to an appropriate line level matching the radio. And it's possible to go too high on the volume and add more distortion. If adjusted correctly, it will sound OK, but not as clean/loud as the line level output from the dock connector."





I'm assuming you're just using a 1/8" headphone cable to connect to the aux from your mp3 player's headphone jack?
If so, that suggestion to use a dock to aux cable should help you get much better sound to your stereo. (assuming you're using an ipod)
Here's a link to the type of cable that you want:
Cables Unlimited ZIP-AUDIO-IP1 Ziplinq Stereo 3.5mm Retractable iPod Digital Audio Cable
There are even some dock cables available that will plug into your cigarette lighter and charge your ipod as well as plugging into your aux jack.


I'm 99.9% sure that this isn't an issue with honda's aux input or stereo for most people, but with their MP3 player setup.

[GeezerSi]

Originally Posted by PhoR11

Here's a link to the type of cable that you want:
Cables Unlimited ZIP-AUDIO-IP1 Ziplinq Stereo 3.5mm Retractable iPod Digital Audio Cable

This cable will block the power to my iPod.

It would have been nice if Honda had a USB jack instead/additionally.

[20strong]

My sound quality seems to be much better with my Zune on about 18.

[RJJensen]

lol...damn 20 is loud? thats normal for me...i have to keep it that loud so that i dont hear all the rattles my mp3 player is at 20-22 out of 25 and the car about 20...sound is awesome!! what diff does it make what the number is as long as the quality is good...for me increasing the vol does not make the sound worse...i also have a 6 foot cable so its not the length...have u tried it on another system?

[PhoR11]

Originally Posted by GeezerSi

This cable will block the power to my iPod.

It would have been nice if Honda had a USB jack instead/additionally.

There are several cables out there that do both (charge ipod and provide line out audio).
They're just more expensive so I linked the cheap one.

Examples:
Amazon.com: SiK imp for iPod (car charger with line-out audio): Electronics
Amazon.com: Belkin F8V7058-APB Auto Kit for Black iPod with Dock Connector: Electronics
and I'm sure there are many more out there.

[GeezerSi]

Thanks Bradley.

[Yankees2519]

if you read the owners manual im pretty sure it says to turn the volume all the way up on the mp3 player and control volume with the cars radio- sounds great, better than cd quality with a cheap $10 cable from wal-mart and ipod nano

[7002iSciviC]

Originally Posted by JFGraySi07

Did anyone else experience a significant sound level drop when using an MP3 player with the auxiliary jack? I pretty much have to turn the radio sound level up to 20 before I start to hear anything. It obviously helps if I crank the MP3 player volume all the way to the max, but then the baterry life gets very short. I'm using a 6ft cable (good quality). Could that be the culprit?

dude whats wrong with you mine is the OPPOSITE i have to turn the volume up to 20 before i can consider my radio volume is loud. on the other hand my ipod nano it only needs to be at 10 make sure you turn your mp3 vol to the max

[fl07si]

i have an 07 si-dan and dont have this problem at all. i got the cable at radio shack like 10 bucks. i have my voluem on my ipod all the way up and at like 10 or 11 is the perfect sound. sounds great

[Jardiniboy]

I put mines around 25 then I adjust the volume on my ipod.

[JohnnyRules]

I just set my ipod volume to about 80% and play with the steering wheel audio controls. I think the audio has less distortion if the ipod volume is not 100%. I also rip cds to my computer at 320 kbps, not the standard 128kbps (don't know if this matters, but I do know it contains more of the actual audio file, so it should sound better). I bought a good quality cable from best buy for $25. Only thing I wish my si had was real ipod intergration, so I could use the wheel to change songs...