Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Digital Media Radio woes (Any suggestions)
| Digital Media Radio woes [message #299490] |
Fri, 22 April 2016 13:49  |
77Royale
Messages: 461
Registered: June 2014
Location: Mid Michigan
Karma: 6
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So I installed a new Pioneer Digital media player (MODEL mvh-x380bt)in the Royale. I also installed 4 new 6.5 inch speakers in the location the PO had cut outs for. Moving right from 1980s technology into 2016.
So I can pick up and play radio stations just fine, Clear as a bell, loud as I want it to go. Sounds fine for the money I invested as the old radio shack stuff was blown out. All 4 speakers work and sound great provided its on Radio.
The problem is any music I play from a digital source is highly distorted, popping, crackling and sounds like garbage. I have tried Bluetooth, Plugging the Iphone and Ipod into the USB port directly, plugging in the same two devices to the little aux jack. Makes no difference. I have both downloaded music and music direct from Itunes. Again makes no difference. The owners manual confirms compatibility with both the Iphone and Ipod and the operating systems.
If the same terrible sound came from all sources of audio including radio stations, I would think the speakers were bad or a bad head unit. However, Why is it that the radio stations sound great and nothing else does? Since the radio plays fine, I cannot think its a bad ground, or a bad connection somewhere.
I have messed with and adjusted every setting and compression rate the head unit has. Nothing makes a difference.
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan
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| Re: Digital Media Radio woes [message #299495 is a reply to message #299490] |
Fri, 22 April 2016 14:39  |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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has to be something with the radio. somehow it is taking or decoding that digital media and sending it out.
can't imagine anything else other then a problem with the radio on that source.
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
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| Re: Digital Media Radio woes [message #299497 is a reply to message #299495] |
Fri, 22 April 2016 14:43 |
Justin Brady
Messages: 769
Registered: April 2015
Location: Bell Buckle, TN
Karma: 11
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Lower the volume on your device and try again.
You usually get the cleanest sound with your device set to about 1/2 volume, then adjust volume from the head unit.
When you're at full volume the internal DAC in the phone is doing all the work, and it's a POS.
Justin Brady
http://www.thegmcrv.com/
1976 Palm Beach 455
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| Re: Digital Media Radio woes [message #299499 is a reply to message #299490] |
Fri, 22 April 2016 15:24 |
77Royale
Messages: 461
Registered: June 2014
Location: Mid Michigan
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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Thanks for the replies, I have turned the Ipod and Iphone down to just above mute and everywhere in between. Still have tons of distortion, and really no appreciable volume. Volume Max on this head unit is to number 62. The frustrating thing is local FM stations come in fine, its super loud and crystal clear, at like Volume 40 its as loud as I really want to go.
I have spent some time reading up on all the trouble shooting guides. but will continue the hunt. I like the unit itself and the features. Half the size of a CD or Tape deck, Remote control. Paired with the Iphone without issue.... But the main function is giving me fits.
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan
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| Re: Digital Media Radio woes [message #299505 is a reply to message #299490] |
Fri, 22 April 2016 15:54 |
77Royale
Messages: 461
Registered: June 2014
Location: Mid Michigan
Karma: 6
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I would imagine its still under warranty, Its 4 days out of the box from Amazon. Ill follow up with them asap. or try Pioneer directly. For what its worth it was sold by Amazon, not some other off name reseller, but not direct from Pioneer, so hopefully they wont give me the run around. Obviously, I have stripped some wires off the back and bent up the installation sleeve installing it. So its used at this point.
Stay tuned I suppose.
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan
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| Re: Digital Media Radio woes [message #299514 is a reply to message #299490] |
Fri, 22 April 2016 18:57 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Before you send it back, RTM. You're describing playing a line level device into a microphone level input. If you can't find the input level sets (They often aren't intuitive) call the 800 help number and ask the gerbil how to correct the problem. Sending it back is a last resort, because >if< something is simply set wrong, the replacement will do the same thing. It IS frustrating.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: Digital Media Radio woes [message #299517 is a reply to message #299490] |
Fri, 22 April 2016 19:29 |
nchapekis
Messages: 165
Registered: February 2004
Location: Ypsilanti, MI
Karma: 0
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Are you playing the music through a media player on your device, or is the head unit playing the music files directly? My guess is the former. Certain media players have audio controls which can sometimes distort the output. Not sure about the stock iPhone player since I use Android. Anyway, if you can, try turning off the equalizer, direct volume control, and other audio control items within the player. Mine also has a limit control, which I activate to prevent clipping.
Nick Chapekis
Ypsilanti, MI
former owner - 78 Kingsley
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| Re: Digital Media Radio woes [message #299521 is a reply to message #299490] |
Fri, 22 April 2016 21:02 |
77Royale
Messages: 461
Registered: June 2014
Location: Mid Michigan
Karma: 6
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Ive turned off all of the device level equalizers. Still sounds like S*&^ with the volume on the head unit 1/4 of the way up. Read the manual front to back multiple times, Reviewed the manual on pioneers website and watched all the tutorials. No troubleshooting on any of them for this issue.
Tried on an Iphone 5S. An Iphone 6 with amazon music, and and Ipod, used programs including Musify, Spotify and Itunes. All of it sounds like crap. Bluetooth, wired through the Mini Jack, wired through the USB. Volume up, volume mid way, volume one click over mute on all the devices. Really makes no difference. Went through all the tutorials on Pioneers website, you tubed the model and reviewed other videos, Adjusted and messed with each setting. Subwoofers on / off. None, No difference. For the multiple hours I have spent now on this, I'm passed unimpressed. If everything including the radio sounded bad, I would think I had a batch of 4 new out of the box bad speakers, But thats not the case..... I cant really test it with the old speakers as they were all blown out.
Ill call Pioneer on Monday. If I can't get it resolved, Its going back in a garbage bag, whether the 70 bucks is refunded at this point I really dont care. I bought this based partly on over 100 reviews which are all pretty decent. Understandably this is not a several hundred dollar hi option unit. But for the love of all humanity, Id swap having crappy radio and decent tunes from the other sources. Quite simply its a head unit wired in with 4 speakers. No amps, no RCA outputs, nothing fancy. Id add that the engine is not running with any of these tests so there is no bad ground whine or other interference. Its 50 degrees in the coach so its not overheating.
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan
[Updated on: Fri, 22 April 2016 21:05] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Digital Media Radio woes [message #299529 is a reply to message #299490] |
Sat, 23 April 2016 09:06 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Hard to diagnose from a distance.. but just for S n G, if you have some sort of a microphone - not powered - plug it into the same jack you're plugging the player in, and see if it exhibits the same problem. If it does, return the box. If not, then that's a mic level input. The problem is, a lot of mic inputs have some amplification before the volume control. If you overdrive them, you can't recover with the control.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: Digital Media Radio woes [message #299531 is a reply to message #299490] |
Sat, 23 April 2016 09:15 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Is the analogue cable you are using 1/8 TRS to 1/8 TRS? If it is TS it shorts one side of the iPhone to ground and may distort the remaining channel. Also contrary to what has been said, most Apple devices can remain clean at full volume, especially driving the higher impedance of the radio compared to buds or phones.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: [GMCnet] Digital Media Radio woes [message #299555 is a reply to message #299531] |
Sat, 23 April 2016 14:29 |
Steve Jess
Messages: 169
Registered: April 2012
Karma: 0
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No, Johnny, car stereos do not have microphone level inputs. Period. They have line level inputs, which typically expect to see 1v peak to peak.
Besides, he said the problem also happens when using Bluetooth, which is a wireless connection.
The most likely problem is a bad DAC or some other digital circuit in the unit. The clue is that the analog FM radio works perfectly.
> Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2016 08:15:29 -0600
> To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
> From: gransport7087@gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Digital Media Radio woes
>
> Is the analogue cable you are using 1/8 TRS to 1/8 TRS? If it is TS it shorts one side of the iPhone to ground and may distort the remaining channel.
> Also contrary to what has been said, most Apple devices can remain clean at full volume, especially driving the higher impedance of the radio compared
> to buds or phones.
> --
> John Lebetski
> Woodstock, IL
> 77 Eleganza II
> Source America First
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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| Re: [GMCnet] Digital Media Radio woes [message #299556 is a reply to message #299504] |
Sat, 23 April 2016 14:36 |
Steve Jess
Messages: 169
Registered: April 2012
Karma: 0
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Correction: a stereo might have a microphone input for the Bluetooth phone function. I assume he can tell the difference between the mic input and the aux Jack.
But the fact that the unit sounds bad when plugged into the phone by USB, and over Bluetooth, point to a bad unit, not operator error.
From: stevejess@msn.com
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: RE: [GMCnet] Digital Media Radio woes
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2016 12:29:25 -0700
No, Johnny, car stereos do not have microphone level inputs. Period. They have line level inputs, which typically expect to see 1v peak to peak.
Besides, he said the problem also happens when using Bluetooth, which is a wireless connection.
The most likely problem is a bad DAC or some other digital circuit in the unit. The clue is that the analog FM radio works perfectly.
> Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2016 08:15:29 -0600
> To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
> From: gransport7087@gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Digital Media Radio woes
>
> Is the analogue cable you are using 1/8 TRS to 1/8 TRS? If it is TS it shorts one side of the iPhone to ground and may distort the remaining channel.
> Also contrary to what has been said, most Apple devices can remain clean at full volume, especially driving the higher impedance of the radio compared
> to buds or phones.
> --
> John Lebetski
> Woodstock, IL
> 77 Eleganza II
> Source America First
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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| Re: Digital Media Radio woes [message #299565 is a reply to message #299490] |
Sat, 23 April 2016 16:35 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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As you wish. I'd still let the gerbil at the 800 service run through his decision tree to be sure. Plus when he tells you it's busted, it loads your gun when you take it back. "The factory guy said it's busted"
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: Digital Media Radio woes [message #299580 is a reply to message #299490] |
Sat, 23 April 2016 20:26 |
77Royale
Messages: 461
Registered: June 2014
Location: Mid Michigan
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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I appreciate all the suggestions guys, I did not mess with it today. It was too nice out and I was cleaning grease out of boat trailer bearings....
But from the last few replies, a thought crossed my mind. This static is present with the wireless connection through Bluetooth, But I also tried with the same results through the front USB, and the front Mini jack. But my thought and I will test it tomorrow. This unit came with an external speaker for bluetooth calls. It is plugged into the back of the unit, and they did idiot proof that as there is only one spot it will plug into. I will pull that out and see if its any better. I will also pull the Antenna out to see if that is maybe making a difference.
I will report back any findings.
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan
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| Re: Digital Media Radio woes [message #299620 is a reply to message #299490] |
Sun, 24 April 2016 16:38 |
77Royale
Messages: 461
Registered: June 2014
Location: Mid Michigan
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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Messed with it more today. Pulled the bluetooth phone mic out of the back and the antenna. No difference. As a last ditch effort I clipped one of the speaker connections in the back, and wired in a short run of brand new 18gauge speaker wire direct to one of the new speakers. No real difference there either (eliminating a bad set of wires to all the speakers. Plugged the antenna back in and FM stations sound fine, not even half way up on the volume its too loud for me, but also no distortion or crackling in the speakers.
Will call pioneer in the morning.
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan
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| Re: Digital Media Radio woes [message #299648 is a reply to message #299490] |
Mon, 25 April 2016 09:50 |
77Royale
Messages: 461
Registered: June 2014
Location: Mid Michigan
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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Called Pioneer, Didnt really get anywhere with it. Called Amazon, no haggles, no issues. Shipping label sent to me while on the phone, New one shipped and should be here before Friday. Advised I have installed the harness already and dont care to cut it all out to put another back in. No problem. Keep the harness, send back the head unit.
Will know more in a few days. Appreciate the customer service from Amazon.
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan
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