ipod - Sound quality

fmhanc · 08-15-2010, 07:55 AM

Just an FYI

I was very inhappy with my sound when playing my Ipod when connected to the headphone jack, even with settings on Ipod set to flat.

Very harsh in upper frequencies

I bought a Y connector which gets line level audio from bottom Ipod connector and also charges the Ipod unit. (less than $10 on ebay)

WHAT A DIFFERENCE!

Clean sound again. Highly recommended

BMW335iSilver · 08-15-2010, 08:46 AM

I had the same thing happen to me, but it was the other way around. I had a iPod charger, then upgraded to the iPod touch. The charger no longer worked, so I thought I would just use the 3.5mm jack. What a joke! The sound quality was horrible.

MaximusJ · 08-15-2010, 10:14 AM

You got a link so I can see what type of cable you are talking about?

I got a good idea, but I use Iphone and a Sansa clip mp3 that is constantly in the car. It use the same charger as my GPS so its pretty easy to switch but it sounds like a cheap OEM system.

ABishop · 08-15-2010, 10:17 AM

yea, link?

Duhst · 08-15-2010, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABishop

yea, link?

agreed! link please!

faz · 08-15-2010, 10:32 AM

Quick search on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/3-5mm-Audio-Line...DA_Accessories

Doctor T · 08-15-2010, 10:34 AM

I would have expected base connector to sound better as it likely uses a raw digital connection and processes the sound internally, while the headphone jack takes an analog signal processed by the ipod, which has a crappy audio decoder.

335iSSA · 08-15-2010, 10:46 AM

Was the volume cranked on the ipod? I find that the gain can't be to high and I have no issues.

2kaccordocoupe · 08-15-2010, 10:53 AM

Ipods will always sound like crap regardless as you are feeding an analog signal.
USB Stick for the win, pure digital un-compressed audio.

TheRox · 08-15-2010, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2kaccordocoupe

Ipods will always sound like crap regardless as you are feeding an analog signal.
USB Stick for the win, pure digital un-compressed audio.

Spoken like an engineer!

Ipod can handle uncompressed music too right?

But that base connector, isn't it digital? with the conversion done my BMW's DAC

bavarian19 · 08-15-2010, 11:26 AM

I have the ipod most connection that uses the base connection. Sound quality is great.

fmhanc · 08-15-2010, 07:41 PM

This is the one I got.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

The OEM one from BMW - very short cablles and about $90 - ridiculous.

The sound from headphone jack was improved by lowering volume to about 65% but still with distortion.

VP Electricity · 08-16-2010, 12:10 AM

The HP output is optimized for driving headphones.

The line out in the 30-pin is preamp level. Always sounds better.

iPods don't always sound like crap. However, I suspect the USB with a lossless file will sound even better. At that point, your playback system better be high resolution. No BMW Audio system is good enough to sweat it that much.

I just upgraded the car iPod from an 80G Video to a 160G Classic, and the SQ diff was most obvious on piano notes.

997turbo · 08-16-2010, 02:31 AM

aren't those wires only for people with the 6fl option?

i mean, there is no other option than the headphone jack input if that's all you have...?

08-15-2010, 07:55 AM	#1
fmhanc New Member 0 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 328i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Mississauga,Ont,Canada iTrader: (0)	ipod - Sound quality - base connector vs. headphone Just an FYI I was very inhappy with my sound when playing my Ipod when connected to the headphone jack, even with settings on Ipod set to flat. Very harsh in upper frequencies I bought a Y connector which gets line level audio from bottom Ipod connector and also charges the Ipod unit. (less than $10 on ebay) WHAT A DIFFERENCE! Clean sound again. Highly recommended
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08-15-2010, 08:46 AM	#2
BMW335iSilver New Member 0 Rep 14 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I had the same thing happen to me, but it was the other way around. I had a iPod charger, then upgraded to the iPod touch. The charger no longer worked, so I thought I would just use the 3.5mm jack. What a joke! The sound quality was horrible.
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08-15-2010, 10:14 AM	#3
MaximusJ Colonel 303 Rep 2,485 Posts Drives: 340Xi MG 2017 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Quebec, Canada iTrader: (21) Garage List 2017 BMW 340XI (F30) [9.00] 2006 BMW 325I (E90) [7.44]	You got a link so I can see what type of cable you are talking about? I got a good idea, but I use Iphone and a Sansa clip mp3 that is constantly in the car. It use the same charger as my GPS so its pretty easy to switch but it sounds like a cheap OEM system. __________________ Mineral Grey '17 F30 340XI [Garage] // [Build Journal] Jet Black '06 E90 325I [Garage]
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08-15-2010, 10:17 AM	#4
ABishop New Member 0 Rep 22 Posts Drives: 2007 328Xi & 1987 325is Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	yea, link?
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08-15-2010, 10:32 AM	#6
faz Second Lieutenant 21 Rep 287 Posts Drives: 2023 X5 x40i, 2018 330i F30 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay area, CA iTrader: (0)	Quick search on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/3-5mm-Audio-Line...DA_Accessories
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08-15-2010, 10:34 AM	#7
Doctor T Second Lieutenant 11 Rep 206 Posts Drives: EB 430i xDrive, AW E90 LCI M-S Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada iTrader: (0)	I would have expected base connector to sound better as it likely uses a raw digital connection and processes the sound internally, while the headphone jack takes an analog signal processed by the ipod, which has a crappy audio decoder.
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08-15-2010, 10:46 AM	#8
335iSSA Captain 15 Rep 603 Posts Drives: 07' E92 335i Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Frederick, MD iTrader: (10)	Was the volume cranked on the ipod? I find that the gain can't be to high and I have no issues.
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08-15-2010, 10:53 AM	#9
2kaccordocoupe Brigadier General 1274 Rep 4,703 Posts Drives: Former ///M Driver Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The 6ix iTrader: (2)	Ipods will always sound like crap regardless as you are feeding an analog signal. USB Stick for the win, pure digital un-compressed audio.
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08-15-2010, 11:26 AM	#11
bavarian19 General 517 Rep 18,858 Posts Drives: Car Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: VA iTrader: (23)	I have the ipod most connection that uses the base connection. Sound quality is great.
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08-15-2010, 07:41 PM	#12
fmhanc New Member 0 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 328i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Mississauga,Ont,Canada iTrader: (0)	This is the one I got. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT The OEM one from BMW - very short cablles and about $90 - ridiculous. The sound from headphone jack was improved by lowering volume to about 65% but still with distortion.
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08-16-2010, 12:10 AM	#13
VP Electricity Brigadier General 289 Rep 3,201 Posts Drives: F34 xDrive Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: portland oregon iTrader: (3)	The HP output is optimized for driving headphones. The line out in the 30-pin is preamp level. Always sounds better. iPods don't always sound like crap. However, I suspect the USB with a lossless file will sound even better. At that point, your playback system better be high resolution. No BMW Audio system is good enough to sweat it that much. I just upgraded the car iPod from an 80G Video to a 160G Classic, and the SQ diff was most obvious on piano notes.
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08-16-2010, 02:31 AM	#14
997turbo Private 3 Rep 74 Posts Drives: civic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: ca iTrader: (4)	aren't those wires only for people with the 6fl option? i mean, there is no other option than the headphone jack input if that's all you have...?
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