Questions About Volumes And iPod Help

[chartman18 10+ year member]

I got a iPod Shuffle 1GB lately, and I hooked it up to my head unit through an AUX input, and now I dont know where the volume should be set at, bc the iPod has its own volume too, but it doesnt tell me how loud it is (no displays). So I have my head unit where I always played it (35/47) and I just dont know where max I should set the iPod or vice-versa. Should I play the iPod on max, and adjust with volume indicator on head unit?

This is troublesome for me, because I dont know how to set my gain with the iPod added in. Any suggestions/help?

Thanks guys.

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[chartman18 10+ year member]

Bump.

Anybody?

 

[Freestyler717 10+ year member]

Well, most people set the mp3 player to around 75 - 80 %, Turn yours all the way up and then lower it a few clicks. The volume of the mp3 player doesnt matter, It won't damge anything most people dont have it higher that 80% just because at higher levels you might hear some distortion.

Hope that helps.... Ipod a few clicks down from Max, head unit to where it sounds to your likings, you can tweak a little but there ya go.

 

[chartman18 10+ year member]

It helped a little, but Im thinking my Type-R subwoofer blew because I had the iPod at max and the head unit at 3/4, and it was probably causing clipping and I didnt know of it. Im going to try to listen and compare with and without the iPod and try to set the volume close as possible with the iPod on with the head unit.

Hmm..

 

[spoonraker 10+ year member]

How could an iPod cause clipping? Isn't the signal still processed and sent out through your head unit when you're using the AUX input?

 

[chartman18 10+ year member]

Its not the iPod that would cause clipping. If the volume is too high, the speakers or subwoofer can cause clipping.

Correct me if Im wrong, but Im sure thats right.

Head units or iPods dont cause any distorted signals or clipping, only a subwoofer/speakers can with improper settings on an amplifier I believe.

As for my topic, does anyone else have any input on how I should have the volumes set and amplifier and such with an iPod hookup?

Thanks.

 

[expo5.0 10+ year member]

it's as simple as this-

if it doesn't sound bad, you're fine!

 

[chartman18 10+ year member]

Im not sure its that simple. Clipping/distortion isnt always easy to hear, if not at all. I more than likely blew my Type-R subwoofer ever since adding on the iPod and playing it max on it and at 35/47 on the head unit daily, so it could have caused some problems. If not that, it could have been the gain, but I dont know how to set gains if theres an iPod involved in the whole equation.

 

[expo5.0 10+ year member]

ok, if you want to get all serious about it

click wheel it up to whatever volume level results in the same output voltage from the hu as it has during cd playback.

you can use a dmm to test this

remember where that is, set the ipod there (or close) when in the car, and set you don't even have to change your gains...

what hu are you running? do you have input gain adjustment for your aux in?

 

[expo5.0 10+ year member]

btw- you blew your type R because you were listening to it when it sounded bad and with it powered by a pos amp

 

[chartman18 10+ year member]

The head unit is a Dual XDMR7700, as it is in my signature. The output is 2 volts.

But, you dont have to diss about the sub being blown or my 'pos' amplifier. Its not a 'pos' for your information. Its a simple problem of having the volume up too much on the iPod and level/gain setting. If you must know, the amplifier is a Hifonics BXi 1606D, I wouldnt call that a 'pos'.

 

[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

I wouldn't go over 70% on the ipod. Dont know how ur gonna find it tho since ur is a shuffle

 

[expo5.0 10+ year member]

i just read the stuff in your signature

not going to argue about the merits of hifonics (we can do that elsewhere)

my advice about setting it up comes from experience/knowledge/whatever

 

[chartman18 10+ year member]

Its all good expo. I understand what you meant though.

phyphoestilic - That sounds alot about what I think happened, going over the volume on the iPod is my #1 reason (I think) that my sub blew quicker within the month I had it. Its going to be hard to figure out where to set it. But yeah, thanks.