I have a Logitech Squeezebox controlling music from my computer. Then I feed that to my PS Audio PerfectWave DAC. You might even try something like an Audioquest Dragonfly to directly read music files and feed that analog into your system. I'm really not sure if you are pulling a digital feed from the iPod.

 

Maybe. Its true that there is a configuration option to let you ALWAYS show the AUX input as you cycle through the DISC sources, but even with that always-on turned off, it should show AUX if there is an audio source playing on the AUX input when you select with the DISC button. I think the systems are designed to sense if there is a signal on the line (not silence) and then offer it up. But as you said, the best option, the one I use too, is to just set it to always show AUX. That way you can select that source before you plug anything into the port.


It is analog out of the headphone port of the player - so the volume on that needs to be set to a reasonable level (to keep the signal/noise ratio down). Then I think there is an AUX volume control that may also need to be set to control the relative volume there. But in the end, from what others have reported over years, the quality of the analog path from that AUX port to the PCM analog input is likely not shielded and routed parallel to other wires, so that AUX analog path picks up signal from surrounding stuff.

Well of course. Why would you think otherwise? AUX is just a way to plug the headphone OUT of a device into an analog IN of the PCM - the lowest form of universal audio adapter. You can plug your walkman in via that path if you want to play cassettes. Its just left and right analog. Of course there is no control signal.


Well duh. Whatever "hi rez" is (are you talking about the high bitrate audio players now coming out in larger supply?).. even CD quality is overkill for these cars. There is so much engine, wind, and road/tire noise, and the environment is so un-insulated to sounds and not set up for audio imaging, that using any mid to high end audio source isn't going to give you good sound.

I'd go so far as to say high bitrate audio is not discernible on most car audio systems, compared to a descent quality MP3 compression, for most peoples ears.

 

I take issue with this. First, I am know you are correct about "discernible", but not your implication that higher rez is therefore not worth it. I believe that our ear/brain system will appreciate the higher rez / higher fidelity system and you will enjoy music more with it. You will also be able to discern more detail at lower listening levels.... or said another way, you will not have to turn the volume up just to hear talk radio. Even though you will not recognize why.

It is subtle but relates to enjoyment and ease of listening. I don't have the science to back this up, but I believe that as long as you enjoy music, or listening to talk radio, you will enjoy it more with higher fidelity even more so in noisy environments. Even if you don't recognize that you are hearing higher fidelity. Otherwise we are all deluded.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

 

Ah well, I know I was a bit optimistic in hopes of decent quality out of the headphone output jack. And I pretty much figured I would need to control it from the unit, don't know why I would have thought otherwise.

I would disagree on mid to high end source giving you good sound. Of course it depends if that would be appreciated. I'm particularly surprised by XM radio. I know a lot of people find it to be acceptable, but I've found the sound quality horrible. I guess if you find it decent, obviously there is no point in going for a better source. Personally, I find it is noticeably worse than FM.

My point in using a hi rez player is that I commute a fair amount and appreciate better sound using Shure SE530 IEM's. If the unit would produce decent sound in the car too, then it is versatile enough for both. The degradation in the car is too great though, so I went back and got the latest gen iPod Classic.

 

I agree 100%. SAT radio, because they have to compress the bajeezus out of it to be able to get all those channels in, sounds like ***. Its MP3 on the lowers bitrate settings imaginably. FM sounds 10x better.

That folks put up with that quality amazes me. I tried the XM system for about 2 years, but my geography is such that the signal is constantly dropping out around bends with trees or hills as I"m way north. That and that hyper-compressed resulting artifacted audio stream had me just unsubscribe.

I do like the access to targeted audio channels so I hear stuff I'd never hear on FM and discovered or rediscovered old tunes from old artists.

The XMSirius guys need to either trim down the channels or put more satellites up to give some wider bandwidth to the channels. But they are also driven by making money - so they turn the compressing settings just low enough that it doesn't drive the bulk of the customers away, and shoehorn channels you won't listen to in there, because some new segment of the population will listen to it, and everyone pays the same price.

 

I'll also add that at this point memory is nearly free. Too bad if you downloaded compressed because uncompressed does sound better. Even Apple will offer higher bit rate downloads soon. I concede that the differences in a car are hard to discern.

 

I have XM for years, and yes the audio quality is pretty darn bad. But... I still like it and listen. While I care deeply about getting the highest fidelity possible from any listening environment, I still like XM. Why? Because radio just is not good any more and I do like the randomness of variety radio. We deregulated the radio system and here comes Clearchannel and the others putting formula into an art medium.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

 

Probably won't work well through a phone in a car, but at home try streaming Pandora. MUCH better fidelity.

 

Talking about quality:

1. I really like HD FM. I once owned a Clarion receiver and FM is almost CD-quality and AM is almost FM-quality. Too bad it drops reception as soon as I get too far away from the city.
2. I have not used ITunes like forever. I use MOG at $9.9x/mo. MOG HQ download is much much better. Looks like it got sold to Beats which in turn will be (or already sold) to another company. MOG is supposed to die this month.

 

Interestingly enough, I set the eq appropriately for the aux input and streamed some Pandora from my phone with pretty good results. Sounds about as good as fm. Nothing like the iPod input, but not bad.