Ipod sound quality on non-Logic7 stereo?

bkM3 · 04-30-2010, 07:37 PM

i noticed that the sound quality of my ipod is alot worse thn the sound quality i get from traditional radio and Sirius in my car! i dont have Logic7 so i wasnt expecting anything crazy but its so bad i cant even listen to the ipod anymore. what settings do you guys use on the EQ? iv played around with it alot but still cant get it to sound half decent. is there anything i can do or am i screwed?

TIA

Verbiage · 04-30-2010, 07:39 PM

You using an aux cable? I leave mine on Treble booster, all the way turned up on the iPod.

bkM3 · 04-30-2010, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bavarian III

You using an aux cable? I leave mine on Treble booster, all the way turned up on the iPod.

im using the provided ipod cable

Verbiage · 04-30-2010, 08:08 PM

Maybe its a cable issue? Can't be the ipod if it sounds normal in headphones. Has it always done that?

hubble bubble · 04-30-2010, 08:37 PM

The usb connector iPod cable that plugs in under the armrest? I play my iPod in my 2008 335 all the time and it sounds just fine. +1 for the cabel issue.

konradsa · 04-30-2010, 08:40 PM

My sound is pretty good. Make your you crank up the iPod volume and the aux volume on the radio all the way. When in doubt, consult the manual.

jopa489 · 04-30-2010, 09:13 PM

Poor quality MP3s might be your problem too. I use no EQ on the iPhone/iPod side, volume at about 90% (any more seems to cause distortion). Then tweak the L7 to your own liking - mine's at +8 bass and +3 treble, but adjust it to what sounds best to you. Also make sure both ends of the cable are in tightly (if you're using the AUX connection).

bkM3 · 04-30-2010, 10:02 PM

iv used this ipod in my previous audi S5 with no issues whatsoever. the MP3 quality of my songs are pretty good for the most part. im starting to think its a cable issue a well. keep the insight comin guys....

fdriller9 · 05-01-2010, 11:06 AM

I would try to stay away from using the EQ on the iPod itself. Also keep the volume on the iPod about 2/3 of the way up...turning it up all the way will create distortion very easily. Also make sure your AUX cable is of good quality and well shielded. My AUX port has a very annoying grounding loop that, while the music is on you cannot hear, but when there is no music playing and the volume is turned up, you can hear a very annoying buzz....came like this from the factory. I don't know if it's normal but it's not enough for me to complain to the dealer about. You might want to try putting this in the Audio/Electronics section.

ctuna · 05-01-2010, 11:57 AM

2010 base model stereo sucks to start with.

Verbiage · 05-01-2010, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *********

I would try to stay away from using the EQ on the iPod itself. Also keep the volume on the iPod about 2/3 of the way up...turning it up all the way will create distortion very easily. Also make sure your AUX cable is of good quality and well shielded. My AUX port has a very annoying grounding loop that, while the music is on you cannot hear, but when there is no music playing and the volume is turned up, you can hear a very annoying buzz....came like this from the factory. I don't know if it's normal but it's not enough for me to complain to the dealer about. You might want to try putting this in the Audio/Electronics section.

Not the case. If this is happening, then it is probably an issue cause by the cable during sound processing, as mine is always turned up to the maximum (with the volume limit also set at the maximum). I do have Logic7 though, even though I'm pretty sure that doesn't make a difference.

midshrink · 05-03-2010, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkM3

i noticed that the sound quality of my ipod is alot worse thn the sound quality i get from traditional radio and Sirius in my car! i dont have Logic7 so i wasnt expecting anything crazy but its so bad i cant even listen to the ipod anymore. what settings do you guys use on the EQ? iv played around with it alot but still cant get it to sound half decent. is there anything i can do or am i screwed?

TIA

The base stereo in the 2010 is different than in previous models, and many threads here have described it to be of much lower quality than earlier models, when the standard stereo included an amplifier and more speakers. 2010s with iDrive have a stereo with a bit more power than those without, so if you have a 2010 without iDrive and without L7 then it may be the low power output of your stereo that is to blame. I have the iDrive in my 2010 (but not L7) and I think the output with my iPod sounds OK--good volume with no distortion.

der_kommissar · 05-03-2010, 02:23 PM

I had a '10 335xi loaner w/o nav or Logic 7 and found the sound quality from the standard setup to be much worse than the standard radio/amp in my '07 328i. Even the voice for voice commands sounded horrible. What is the point of HD radio when the speaker set up is so bad?

midshrink · 05-03-2010, 02:33 PM

Good question.

bkM3 · 05-03-2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by der_kommissar

I had a '10 335xi loaner w/o nav or Logic 7 and found the sound quality from the standard setup to be much worse than the standard radio/amp in my '07 328i. Even the voice for voice commands sounded horrible. What is the point of HD radio when the speaker set up is so bad?

im not even sure i have HD radio. i think it only comes with idrive. (somebody correct me if im wrong). i have to say im extremely disappointed with the stereo. its so bad i cant even listen t my ipod at all. i find myself listening to satellite radio bc the quality is so much better than the ipod!

Chriztofor · 05-03-2010, 03:23 PM

+ 10 on the cable. Try the Griffin aux cable. About $10 at walmart and works great. http://www.google.com/products/catal...wAg#ps-sellers

Verbiage · 05-03-2010, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chriztofor

+ 10 on the cable. Try the Griffin aux cable. About $10 at walmart and works great. http://www.google.com/products/catal...wAg#ps-sellers

Did someone say Wal-Mart?

05-03-2010, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkM3

im not even sure i have HD radio. i think it only comes with idrive. (somebody correct me if im wrong). i have to say im extremely disappointed with the stereo. its so bad i cant even listen t my ipod at all. i find myself listening to satellite radio bc the quality is so much better than the ipod!

For MY09+, the you get HD radio when you order iDrive. For MY10+, HD radio is standard regardless of whether you have iDrive or not.

Chriztofor · 05-03-2010, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bavarian III

Did someone say Wal-Mart?

LOL I remember reading about someone on here, was it you, that was too good for walmart. lol

oilfighter · 07-21-2010, 05:04 PM

Found this thread because i'm having the same issue. I got an 09 335d with ipod interface, Sat radio, and HD radio

If I play the ipod (nano) using the USB interface, the sound is horrible, but if I plug into the AUX port and use the ipod's headphone jack, the sound quality is normal. If I burn the same exact files as an MP3 CD, and play it using the car's cd player, the sound is normal, so it's gota be the USB interface that's causing the issue, and not my file's sound quality.

Anyone know where I can get another ipod interface cable? That way I can eliminate that as the cause as well.

04-30-2010, 07:37 PM	#1
bkM3 Captain 44 Rep 646 Posts Drives: 06 M3 Vert 6MT Carbon/Black Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Brooklyn iTrader: (1)	Ipod sound quality on non-Logic7 stereo? i noticed that the sound quality of my ipod is alot worse thn the sound quality i get from traditional radio and Sirius in my car! i dont have Logic7 so i wasnt expecting anything crazy but its so bad i cant even listen to the ipod anymore. what settings do you guys use on the EQ? iv played around with it alot but still cant get it to sound half decent. is there anything i can do or am i screwed? TIA
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04-30-2010, 07:39 PM	#2
Verbiage Dismembered Member 3609 Rep 9,213 Posts Drives: F80 ZCP 6MT, R55 Clubman S 6MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: DMV iTrader: (6)	You using an aux cable? I leave mine on Treble booster, all the way turned up on the iPod. __________________ My delivery experience and beach photoshoot here.
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04-30-2010, 08:08 PM	#4
Verbiage Dismembered Member 3609 Rep 9,213 Posts Drives: F80 ZCP 6MT, R55 Clubman S 6MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: DMV iTrader: (6)	Maybe its a cable issue? Can't be the ipod if it sounds normal in headphones. Has it always done that? __________________ My delivery experience and beach photoshoot here.
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04-30-2010, 08:37 PM	#5
hubble bubble Captain 17 Rep 680 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Calgary, AB, Canada iTrader: (0)	The usb connector iPod cable that plugs in under the armrest? I play my iPod in my 2008 335 all the time and it sounds just fine. +1 for the cabel issue.
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04-30-2010, 08:40 PM	#6
konradsa Private First Class 19 Rep 113 Posts Drives: 2008 328i E90 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	My sound is pretty good. Make your you crank up the iPod volume and the aux volume on the radio all the way. When in doubt, consult the manual.
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04-30-2010, 09:13 PM	#7
jopa489 Major General 122 Rep 6,594 Posts Drives: Anything with Wheels Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA iTrader: (9)	Poor quality MP3s might be your problem too. I use no EQ on the iPhone/iPod side, volume at about 90% (any more seems to cause distortion). Then tweak the L7 to your own liking - mine's at +8 bass and +3 treble, but adjust it to what sounds best to you. Also make sure both ends of the cable are in tightly (if you're using the AUX connection). __________________ X7 LCI // Incoming C7 ZR1 ZTK // Sebring + TRX // Hydro + Raptor Gen1 Roush // Tuxedo
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04-30-2010, 10:02 PM	#8
bkM3 Captain 44 Rep 646 Posts Drives: 06 M3 Vert 6MT Carbon/Black Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Brooklyn iTrader: (1)	iv used this ipod in my previous audi S5 with no issues whatsoever. the MP3 quality of my songs are pretty good for the most part. im starting to think its a cable issue a well. keep the insight comin guys....
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05-01-2010, 11:06 AM	#9
fdriller9 Banned 253 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	I would try to stay away from using the EQ on the iPod itself. Also keep the volume on the iPod about 2/3 of the way up...turning it up all the way will create distortion very easily. Also make sure your AUX cable is of good quality and well shielded. My AUX port has a very annoying grounding loop that, while the music is on you cannot hear, but when there is no music playing and the volume is turned up, you can hear a very annoying buzz....came like this from the factory. I don't know if it's normal but it's not enough for me to complain to the dealer about. You might want to try putting this in the Audio/Electronics section.
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05-01-2010, 11:57 AM	#10
ctuna Lieutenant General 1918 Rep 13,117 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	2010 base model stereo sucks to start with. 2010 base model stereo sucks to start with.
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05-03-2010, 02:23 PM	#13
der_kommissar Private First Class 16 Rep 194 Posts Drives: 2015 Midnight Blue X1 xDrive28 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 328i [0.00]	I had a '10 335xi loaner w/o nav or Logic 7 and found the sound quality from the standard setup to be much worse than the standard radio/amp in my '07 328i. Even the voice for voice commands sounded horrible. What is the point of HD radio when the speaker set up is so bad?
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05-03-2010, 02:33 PM	#14
midshrink Bimmer Newbie 0 Rep 41 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 328i Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 328i [0.00]	Good question.
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05-03-2010, 03:23 PM	#16
Chriztofor Colonel 103 Rep 2,783 Posts Drives: '06 325i and '13 X5 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Chicago Burbs iTrader: (1)	+ 10 on the cable. Try the Griffin aux cable. About $10 at walmart and works great. http://www.google.com/products/catal...wAg#ps-sellers
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07-21-2010, 05:04 PM	#20
oilfighter Private First Class 2 Rep 135 Posts Drives: 335D Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: TX iTrader: (0)	Found this thread because i'm having the same issue. I got an 09 335d with ipod interface, Sat radio, and HD radio If I play the ipod (nano) using the USB interface, the sound is horrible, but if I plug into the AUX port and use the ipod's headphone jack, the sound quality is normal. If I burn the same exact files as an MP3 CD, and play it using the car's cd player, the sound is normal, so it's gota be the USB interface that's causing the issue, and not my file's sound quality. Anyone know where I can get another ipod interface cable? That way I can eliminate that as the cause as well.
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