Attn: Car Stereo Gurus! Need help with Ipod Line noise!
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Long Beach, CA
Soo.... anyone else have an idea? I'm going to probably run to my local stereo shop and grab a line filter tomorrow when i have time. Or see what they say first.
Btw... this is what i did today!
Well... today was a fun day tearing apart my 1 month old beloved Evo IX. I recently installed a Clarion Pro Audio DXZ655MP and hard wired it up to my I-Pod as well as into the Infiniti amplifier. Today i was a little more ambitious and installed my SoundStream Reference 500s amplifier running at 1ohm to power my two 12" Boston Acoustics Pro Series subwoofers. Since the car was new, i took my sweet time... mainly because i had not taken apart an EVO before. It was much easier than I thought. Well... except for getting the 4ga power cable routed properly from the battery, across the sway bar, through a gromet which leads into the fender well and about 2" later, back into the car through another gromet... then along the right side of the car where it then popped out of the carpet to plug into the amp which i mounted under the front passengers seat. The remote wire runs down the left side of the center console and the RCA's run down the right side of it.
The subs are only sitting on my back seat for the night since i need to pickup some longer speaker wire for them since the length i had was for my Audi which had the amp mounted to the back of the rear seats. I found the way i mounted it much easier and adjustments are very easy to get to.
Yeah... its plain and simple.... but thats the way i like it. I'm planning on making a quick disconnect system for the subs so i can take them out for the track. Havent figured that out yet.
Its now raining out so i still have to clean everything up, move the box to the trunk, re-install a few things like the front passenger seat and center console... and the cubby below the climate controls. The sound is simply amazing though. The deck has so many custom settings i can program in to change with the push of a button according to what music i'm listening to or if i want to just annoy the neighbors.
Everything went very well. I didn't manage to shock myself this time like i've done on a few of my dozens of installs i've done over the years.
Well... enough of my talk. Here are a few photos of my afternoon.
Btw... this is what i did today!
Well... today was a fun day tearing apart my 1 month old beloved Evo IX. I recently installed a Clarion Pro Audio DXZ655MP and hard wired it up to my I-Pod as well as into the Infiniti amplifier. Today i was a little more ambitious and installed my SoundStream Reference 500s amplifier running at 1ohm to power my two 12" Boston Acoustics Pro Series subwoofers. Since the car was new, i took my sweet time... mainly because i had not taken apart an EVO before. It was much easier than I thought. Well... except for getting the 4ga power cable routed properly from the battery, across the sway bar, through a gromet which leads into the fender well and about 2" later, back into the car through another gromet... then along the right side of the car where it then popped out of the carpet to plug into the amp which i mounted under the front passengers seat. The remote wire runs down the left side of the center console and the RCA's run down the right side of it.
The subs are only sitting on my back seat for the night since i need to pickup some longer speaker wire for them since the length i had was for my Audi which had the amp mounted to the back of the rear seats. I found the way i mounted it much easier and adjustments are very easy to get to.
Yeah... its plain and simple.... but thats the way i like it. I'm planning on making a quick disconnect system for the subs so i can take them out for the track. Havent figured that out yet.
Its now raining out so i still have to clean everything up, move the box to the trunk, re-install a few things like the front passenger seat and center console... and the cubby below the climate controls. The sound is simply amazing though. The deck has so many custom settings i can program in to change with the push of a button according to what music i'm listening to or if i want to just annoy the neighbors.
Everything went very well. I didn't manage to shock myself this time like i've done on a few of my dozens of installs i've done over the years.
Well... enough of my talk. Here are a few photos of my afternoon.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Long Beach, CA
Heh... this car is so easy to tear apart. About 100x easier than my Audi A4. At least the clips in this car don't break every single time you pop off a panel.
But.... Audi had much nicer fit and finish.
But.... Audi had much nicer fit and finish.
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From: Yonkers
Originally Posted by Andrew LB
Ok fellas. As i posted a while back, i had a great idea of mounting my Ipod dock connector inside my cars ashtray, which only fit properly after removing lots of material from the tray itself and then securing the dock using a little bead of the wonderful and almost indestructable JB-Weld.
http://www.kalionzes.com/evomods/_MG_8172.JPG
http://www.kalionzes.com/evomods/_MG_8173.JPG
http://www.kalionzes.com/evomods/_MG_8174.JPG
My problem is line noise.
When I have the ipod connected to my Clarion Pro Audio Deck using the Auxilary imputs on it... i get hissing ONLY when i have the power connector plugged into the dock or the ipod itself. This happens both when the ipod is muted or playing.
My first power source was hard wired into a constant 12v... and now that i've heard the noise.... i bought another car charger plug and plugged that into the cigarette lighter. The noise was the same both ways. I also tried it without the dock and got the same results. Car power + ipod = noise.
Now... if i unplug the ipod from power... i get ZERO noise regardless of the decks volume and it plays perfectly.
So i tested a few things. I changed RCA to 1/8" cables out. No luck.
I ran the ipod off AC power from the wall socket in my garage using the firewire/AC adapter and an extension cord, keeping the pod plugged into the dock as well as trying it with the dock. NO NOISE!!!
Running the Ipod off batteries while plugged into the deck also gave me NO NOISE!
So.... i took the ipod inside and plugged it into the AC outlet using the firewire adapter and plugged in my Sennheiser HD580 Audiophile grade headphones. NO NOISE! What was interesting though was when i plugged the ipod into both 12v sources i have (cig and hard wired) and I used my Sennheiser headphones, i got NO NOISE.
So.... i'm going nuts here. I've done TONS of car audio installations over the years and have never had an issue like this. Engine noise is usually the cause of a bad ground or running your RCA's next to your amplifiers power wire... but i grounded the radio inside the dash where i unscrewed a bolt a little and put the forked connector beneath it. I'm wondering if somehow the stereo decks ground is somehow interfering with things... but i don't see why considering i don't get noise using external power while plugged into the deck or when i use batteries.... or headphones.
Does anyone here have a suggestion to help me fix this problem?
I'd pull my hair out right now but i've got a buzz... anyone got some tweezers?? LoL!!
Thanks in advance everyone!
-Andrew
edit: Btw... having the engine on or off doesn't change things. The hard wired 12v is running off constant power. The Cig lighter is Aux 12v.
http://www.kalionzes.com/evomods/_MG_8172.JPG
http://www.kalionzes.com/evomods/_MG_8173.JPG
http://www.kalionzes.com/evomods/_MG_8174.JPG
My problem is line noise.
When I have the ipod connected to my Clarion Pro Audio Deck using the Auxilary imputs on it... i get hissing ONLY when i have the power connector plugged into the dock or the ipod itself. This happens both when the ipod is muted or playing.
My first power source was hard wired into a constant 12v... and now that i've heard the noise.... i bought another car charger plug and plugged that into the cigarette lighter. The noise was the same both ways. I also tried it without the dock and got the same results. Car power + ipod = noise.
Now... if i unplug the ipod from power... i get ZERO noise regardless of the decks volume and it plays perfectly.
So i tested a few things. I changed RCA to 1/8" cables out. No luck.
I ran the ipod off AC power from the wall socket in my garage using the firewire/AC adapter and an extension cord, keeping the pod plugged into the dock as well as trying it with the dock. NO NOISE!!!
Running the Ipod off batteries while plugged into the deck also gave me NO NOISE!
So.... i took the ipod inside and plugged it into the AC outlet using the firewire adapter and plugged in my Sennheiser HD580 Audiophile grade headphones. NO NOISE! What was interesting though was when i plugged the ipod into both 12v sources i have (cig and hard wired) and I used my Sennheiser headphones, i got NO NOISE.
So.... i'm going nuts here. I've done TONS of car audio installations over the years and have never had an issue like this. Engine noise is usually the cause of a bad ground or running your RCA's next to your amplifiers power wire... but i grounded the radio inside the dash where i unscrewed a bolt a little and put the forked connector beneath it. I'm wondering if somehow the stereo decks ground is somehow interfering with things... but i don't see why considering i don't get noise using external power while plugged into the deck or when i use batteries.... or headphones.
Does anyone here have a suggestion to help me fix this problem?
I'd pull my hair out right now but i've got a buzz... anyone got some tweezers?? LoL!!
Thanks in advance everyone!
-Andrew
edit: Btw... having the engine on or off doesn't change things. The hard wired 12v is running off constant power. The Cig lighter is Aux 12v.
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Long Beach, CA
Well.. why don't i get line noise when i plug the ipod directly into the wall using the AC adapter running an extension cord so i can plug the pod itself into my car? No issues there!
Odd..... it used to work just dine when i used it in my Audi A4 but i used this adapter and the line out built into the cigarette plug itself.
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...duct_Id=149006
http://images.belkin.com/F8V7058-APL...8V7058-APL.jpg
Here.... i'll try plugging it into my friends car and see what happens.
That.... and i'll be making a journey to competition soundworks tomorrow to talk with some pros.
Odd..... it used to work just dine when i used it in my Audi A4 but i used this adapter and the line out built into the cigarette plug itself.
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...duct_Id=149006
http://images.belkin.com/F8V7058-APL...8V7058-APL.jpg
Here.... i'll try plugging it into my friends car and see what happens.
That.... and i'll be making a journey to competition soundworks tomorrow to talk with some pros.
did you try a inline noisefilter? Hm only thing left I could think of is maybe you messed something up inside of the docking station itself while installing it. And now its getting into the audio out?
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From: Long Beach, CA
I ran by Competition Soundworks here in Carson, CA and they were baffled at the situation as well. Their head installer said a line noise filter probably wouldn't do the job but i may try one anyways.
I get noise both with and without the dock. As long as its plugged into the cars 12v either hard wired or via a cig lighter adapter, the noise is there.
I didn't get much time to work on it today, so i ran it off its built in batteries which sounds perfect. I may just go this route if a line filter wont work or perhaps one of these Clarion CeNET controllers. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-SxUpdU1...020EA1251B#Tab
But i was reading the reviews and it seems 4 out of 5 people said you lose complete control of the ipod and can only use 6 playlists. If thats the case, then it sucks considering i've got probably 50 playlists in my ipod and 20gb of music. No way can all that be organized into 5 folders...
Hm only thing left I could think of is maybe you messed something up inside of the docking station itself while installing it. And now its getting into the audio out?
I didn't get much time to work on it today, so i ran it off its built in batteries which sounds perfect. I may just go this route if a line filter wont work or perhaps one of these Clarion CeNET controllers. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-SxUpdU1...020EA1251B#Tab
But i was reading the reviews and it seems 4 out of 5 people said you lose complete control of the ipod and can only use 6 playlists. If thats the case, then it sucks considering i've got probably 50 playlists in my ipod and 20gb of music. No way can all that be organized into 5 folders...
Originally Posted by Andrew LB
Yep. And i get line noise with or without the dock. As long as the cars 12v is powering the pod via the cig lighter or the other hard wired connector.... noise occurs. Its really weird. I'm going to start with re-grounding the deck tomorrow. Since the 12v from the cig lighter only works when the key is in the ignition (AUX power) and the hard wired connector is constant 12v.
I'm sure its something really stupid... like a bad ground.
I'm sure its something really stupid... like a bad ground.
OK, sorry if you already know this:
When the iPod is setup in the car with the 12v's either hardwired or charger, do you get noise when the engine is not running? If no, then you are picking up EMF from the engine and the line filter discussed should cure that problem. If you are still getting noise, then I believe you have different ground points between your iPod and your deck and your amp (if you have one) and that is causing the problem.
Hope this helps.
Chris
Hmmm.. I never noticedany noise with my setup. Maybe I'll take a careful listen and determine if I have the same condition. I have a Belkin adapter that gets the power from the cig lighter socket. It also has a mini jack in the plug to get the line out to my Alpine HU. I've not noticed the noise either with or without the external power connection or using the iPod connection or the headphone output for the line source to the HU..... Maybe I just have noise all the time 
I have the same problem with both my BMW and my Evo. The problem is the charging circuit in the IPOD. I also have the same problem running my IPOD through my company's sound system. Do not charge it works great. Charge you get noise!
i think its just the evo. i run just a MONSTER fm transmitter for my Zen and the engine noise is rediculous, its not half as bad in anything else ive put it in.
also, ive noticed its about 25% worse with the AC on.
btw, is your car brand spankin new? if not, it sure looks it.
also, ive noticed its about 25% worse with the AC on.
btw, is your car brand spankin new? if not, it sure looks it.
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From: Down bai da Beach.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Long Beach, CA
Originally Posted by cij911
OK, sorry if you already know this:
When the iPod is setup in the car with the 12v's either hardwired or charger, do you get noise when the engine is not running? If no, then you are picking up EMF from the engine and the line filter discussed should cure that problem. If you are still getting noise, then I believe you have different ground points between your iPod and your deck and your amp (if you have one) and that is causing the problem.
Hope this helps.
Chris
When the iPod is setup in the car with the 12v's either hardwired or charger, do you get noise when the engine is not running? If no, then you are picking up EMF from the engine and the line filter discussed should cure that problem. If you are still getting noise, then I believe you have different ground points between your iPod and your deck and your amp (if you have one) and that is causing the problem.
Hope this helps.
Chris
Also, i've re-grounded my deck twice now. I also don't get any line noise when i'm playing a CD or Radio.
I've been racking my brain about this for two days now and i'm going to check one thing that i should have checked from the begining. My ipod itself. I'm going to try my friends ipod in my car to see if perhaps my pod didn't get damaged somehow over the past few months or in the car accident when my Audi got totaled this January. I pray its not my pod.... those damned things cost soooooo much.
Hmmm.. I never noticedany noise with my setup. Maybe I'll take a careful listen and determine if I have the same condition. I have a Belkin adapter that gets the power from the cig lighter socket. It also has a mini jack in the plug to get the line out to my Alpine HU. I've not noticed the noise either with or without the external power connection or using the iPod connection or the headphone output for the line source to the HU..... Maybe I just have noise all the time
Try this.... power up your pod... put it on mute... and turn the volume up on your head unit. See if you get noise. Mine gets REALLY loud when my pod is being powered. But when its running off batteries or AC power, at MAX volume you can only hear a very very tiny bit of noise. But that is expected when your radio is turned to the max. (keep the ipod muted when you try this of course)
I have the same problem with both my BMW and my Evo. The problem is the charging circuit in the IPOD. I also have the same problem running my IPOD through my company's sound system. Do not charge it works great. Charge you get noise!
So maybe i might be screwed if this is the case. I find all this so odd because i never got any line noise while charging in my Audi A4.
If my friends ipod gets noise also, i may just go with using the pods own batteries and charge the pod at home when i'm not driving. I found a few spots that sell upgraded life batteries for not too much money. I may grab one.
http://www.techrestore.com/xcart/pro...cat=259&page=1
btw, is your car brand spankin new? if not, it sure looks it.
Whats cool is how easy this car is to take apart. I have yet to break a single clip or had any other problems figuring how to take things apart. My Audi A4 was a B*TCH to dismantle. Broken clips, tons of screws/bolts, etc.
Awesome find!!! I'm off to radio shack! (cross your fingers for me!!)
since the problem is still there while the car is not running, I am afraid that the radio shack filter may not work.
It is still worth a try.
If you get desparate, you could try one of those $20 inverters from walmart that they sell for powering laptops and such. Hardwire the inverter to a switched source and then hide it up in the dash. Then use your A/C adapter for your Ipod.
It is still worth a try.
If you get desparate, you could try one of those $20 inverters from walmart that they sell for powering laptops and such. Hardwire the inverter to a switched source and then hide it up in the dash. Then use your A/C adapter for your Ipod.
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TRITECH!! YOU ARE THE MAN!!!
I just went to Radio Shack and grabbed that ground loop isolator and installed it while in the parking lot (my car is still torn apart) and i flipped on the power and BAM!!! NO NOISE!!!!! It works PERFECTLY!
Days of frustration finally resolved! Ahh... what a great feeling.
.... now i gotta put my cars interior back in. (passenger seat, center console, carpet, dash, glove box.... ugghh...
Thanks again for the help everyone!
I just went to Radio Shack and grabbed that ground loop isolator and installed it while in the parking lot (my car is still torn apart) and i flipped on the power and BAM!!! NO NOISE!!!!! It works PERFECTLY!
Days of frustration finally resolved! Ahh... what a great feeling.
.... now i gotta put my cars interior back in. (passenger seat, center console, carpet, dash, glove box.... ugghh...
Thanks again for the help everyone!