Decided to try the AUX input on the Universal Audio Interface. Seems like a standard 3.5 mm mini plug. Well, it didn't work! It LOOKS like it will go in, but a standard mini plug doesn't go in all the way. I look and Porsche sells a $5 cable for $30, which just looks like a mini plug to mini plug cable. Does anyone have the cable or can try a standard mini plug in their UAI and tell me if mine is broken or something? Really bizarre. Thanks

 

Works on mine. I grabbed a standard min plug from my computer speakers and it works although the sound quality isn't as good as the iPod connection.

Anyone know where to get a longer iPod cord? The one from Porsche is way to short.

 

Thanks. Can't understand what's wrong with mine. I don't want to force it and it doesn't go in all the way. Got a new hi rez player, but it would be a real bummer if it doesn't work in the car.

 

Can you see directly down the hole? I think you might be able to pop the UAI out fairly easily and might be easier to look at.

Can you give me details on the high rez player?

 

No, you really can't look into it, that's the problem. Yes, it SHOULD come out fairly easily, but I have no idea how it is attached. Don't want to force it until I know how it clips in. Will try to find a mirror in the meantime I guess. Thanks for the help. I figured for sure it takes a 3.5 mm mini plug, although when I saw the $40 Porsche cable I started thinking it is a slightly different connector.

Sure, the new Fiio X5 hi rez player. Much cheaper than an Astrel and Kern, yet seems very good. Initial impressions are very good, it really blows away an iPod. Anxious to see if the results from the headphone out into the car are encouraging. I spend some time commuting and using it as a personal player, so I want something for good double duty.

Oh, from my audio thread, go to Parts Express. You can get iPod and every other connector in any configuration you would want.

 

Could be a problem with the 3.5mm socket on the UAI - I'd take it by the dealer.. either there is debris in the socket or the contacts inside may be bent.

 

Thanks for the input. Well, the contacts were a bit tight, presume it was never used. Just a bit more pressure and the plug snapped in. However, much to my disappointment, it didn't work. Tried multiple inputs. Scheduled a trip to the dealer. I'll be curious to hear if a hi rez input through the AUX channel is better or worse than the line in from an iPod with a lower quality DAC.

 

Does the AUX present itself on the PCM screen? You can deactivate it as I did mine since I am not using it. Does it appear in the selector menu when you press the disc button?

Peace
Bruce in Philly

 

Should it not appear when you press the "Source" button?

 

I'm curious as well. As I mentionne above, the sound from the iPod connections sounds better than the AUX and I even bumped my bit rate to 256kbs as per your recommendation. Many are saying the USB is the way to go...

 

Based on my experience, nothing beats the Ipod connections -- even the aux.

 

Excellent! That bit rate is really the minimum you want to use. I think it is the standard rate on iTunes now.

Keep in mind that the iPod interface is only taking a line level signal from an ipod after processing through the iPod DAC.

The problem with using the aux input is the source has also gone through the players amp before it goes in. This could add to more degradation. Don't know until I try it.

The USB connection for audio would be great, but the USB connection is only a charging port.

 

Not at all... I have a 64g usb stick in there right now filled up with 360 MP3 music. The interface is clunky and it takes some time to "read" the directory etc... but it works well. You may try using it.

It absolutely won't read lossless or high-rez files. Just won't. I did a ton of research and listening tests and I found 360 fixed bit rate MP3s ripped with a LAME encoder sounds best. I was shocked that it really is acceptable.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

 

Interesting. I tried an ipod through the USB connection and if didn't read it. Did not work with my hi rez player either.

Playing uncompressed files through the line level output on ipod produces very good sound. At this point, the cost of memory is so low, I would not recommend anyone store music at any resolution less than a lossless compressed format like FLAC or ALAC.

 

My car came with a special iPod cable... I never used it, but it is a special iPod cable..... I think it has its own socket next to the USB socket... IIRC

Peace
Bruce in Philly