Base(ic) Question

OldGuy · 02-21-2010, 07:59 PM

Pardon the pun. My music sounds so much richer when played from the CD in my base Z, rather than from my iPod, through the iPod jack on the head unit. Why is this? Is there anything I can do to make the iPod recordings of those cd's sound stronger short of a new sound system. The system seems OK when used with original cd's. Hate to replace it if the iPod sound is still going to be inferior to the cd's. I just don't want to have to carry my cd's around all the time.

kenchan · 02-21-2010, 08:14 PM

is that the 3.5mm cord u are using? if so, try a different cord. some cords just loose so much fidelity.

you should also consider getting a new aftermarket headunit...

OldGuy · 02-21-2010, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

is that the 3.5mm cord u are using? if so, try a different cord. some cords just loose so much fidelity.

you should also consider getting a new aftermarket headunit...

I'm not sure its just a basic Radio Shack cheapee. I check upgrading the cable. Could be an improvement at small cost. Thanks.

jikhead · 02-21-2010, 08:52 PM

All your tunes if bought from iTunes is only at 128kbps. Not sure what it is if you rip your own CD's to iTunes; but this is why I don't like iPods/iTunes. A standard CD is like around 1411kbps. Your CD player will always sound better & louder than your media player; even if the CD contains MP3's or whatever. I only purchase 320kbps MP3, as this is the highest MP3 format there is next to CD quality.

bigaudiofanat · 02-21-2010, 09:08 PM

For a more detailed description read this.

First post
Car Audio 101

OldGuy · 02-21-2010, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jikhead

All your tunes if bought from iTunes is only at 128kbps. Not sure what it is if you rip your own CD's to iTunes; but this is why I don't like iPods/iTunes. A standard CD is like around 1411kbps. Your CD player will always sound better & louder than your media player; even if the CD contains MP3's or whatever. I only purchase 320kbps MP3, as this is the highest MP3 format there is next to CD quality.

So if I burn the favorite songs in my computer (iPod) onto homemade cd's, they will be superior to hearing them through the car's sound system when sent into the system from the iPod. I got it. Tha's a shame. I'm disappointed as I was hoping/expecting that the iPod jack would replace the need to carry around all my cd's. I guess it does, provided I'm willing to accept the degraded sound quality. Is the Music Box on the high tech package just as good as the cd sound or is it also compromised?

bigaudiofanat · 02-21-2010, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldGuy

So if I burn the favorite songs in my computer (iPod) onto homemade cd's, they will be superior to hearing them through the car's sound system when sent into the system from the iPod. I got it. Tha's a shame. I'm disappointed as I was hoping/expecting that the iPod jack would replace the need to carry around all my cd's. I guess it does, provided I'm willing to accept the degraded sound quality. Is the Music Box on the high tech package just as good as the cd sound or is it also compromised?

No that will not help, the music is still going to be compressed. Please read over the above article and you should get a clear understanding. The music box I am not sure I believe even that compresses the music to some extent but I would not know. Another way to get better sound is to upgrade your head unit to one that has a ipod connector cable not just a 3.5mm plug.This way your bypassing the internal dac or digital to analog converter.

OldGuy · 02-21-2010, 09:12 PM

Thank you. Very informative.

White 370Z · 02-22-2010, 02:45 AM

Hey Bro,
If you get a Ipod Dock connector to 3.5mm, you will have CD quality audio from you AXU input. It will give you a line level output. Itunes is fine.

Amazon.com: Cables To Go 35508 4ft iPod-Compatible 3.5mm to Dock Connector Audio Cable: Electronics

Hope that helps.

2fast4thelaw · 02-23-2010, 09:40 AM

It's actually becasue the iPod is using the digital/analog converters built into the ipod and then the signal is porting directly into the stock stereo and amplified.

Lets say you get an aftermarked headunit like the Alpine IVA series with IPod functionality. The difference is the digital/analog converters inside the Ipod are bypassed and the much higher quality ones in the head unit are used instead.

This makes a HUGE difference in sound quality.

kenchan · 02-23-2010, 09:33 PM

^^ that is quite possible. i agree.

Slynky · 02-24-2010, 10:27 AM

Interesting.

Though, at my age, it's probably not much of a concern. Add in road noise in the Z and there goes some more "interference". And don't even talk to me about the windows down

Noisiest open windows I've ever heard in a car.

Slynky · 02-24-2010, 10:28 AM

And besides, what's all this talk of 3.5 connector? My Z just has the usual jacks and the USB connector. The USB connector is what I hook the iPod up to (but to segue to another thread, it doesn't work as advertised most of the time).

370Zsteve · 02-24-2010, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldGuy

Pardon the pun. My music sounds so much richer when played from the CD in my base Z, rather than from my iPod, through the iPod jack on the head unit. Why is this? Is there anything I can do to make the iPod recordings of those cd's sound stronger short of a new sound system. The system seems OK when used with original cd's. Hate to replace it if the iPod sound is still going to be inferior to the cd's. I just don't want to have to carry my cd's around all the time.

The quality of a prerecorded CD is far superior to a compressed MP3 file.

370Zsteve · 02-24-2010, 10:39 AM

iPod Bluetooth adapters are available, no? O wait, base stereo has no Bluetooth, right?

02-21-2010, 07:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
OldGuy Base Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Greensburg PA Posts: 899 Drives: '09370Z Red Base A7 Rep Power: 17	Base(ic) Question Pardon the pun. My music sounds so much richer when played from the CD in my base Z, rather than from my iPod, through the iPod jack on the head unit. Why is this? Is there anything I can do to make the iPod recordings of those cd's sound stronger short of a new sound system. The system seems OK when used with original cd's. Hate to replace it if the iPod sound is still going to be inferior to the cd's. I just don't want to have to carry my cd's around all the time.

02-21-2010, 09:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 853	For a more detailed description read this. First post Car Audio 101 __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

02-23-2010, 09:40 AM	#10 (permalink)
2fast4thelaw Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Denver Co Age: 50 Posts: 403 Drives: 09 370Z Sport/MT6 Rep Power: 16	It's actually becasue the iPod is using the digital/analog converters built into the ipod and then the signal is porting directly into the stock stereo and amplified. Lets say you get an aftermarked headunit like the Alpine IVA series with IPod functionality. The difference is the digital/analog converters inside the Ipod are bypassed and the much higher quality ones in the head unit are used instead. This makes a HUGE difference in sound quality. __________________ To the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, the glass is half empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

02-24-2010, 10:27 AM	#12 (permalink)
Slynky Track Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: McDonough, GA Posts: 595 Drives: 2010 Red 370Z T/S/N Rep Power: 17	Interesting. Though, at my age, it's probably not much of a concern. Add in road noise in the Z and there goes some more "interference". And don't even talk to me about the windows down Noisiest open windows I've ever heard in a car. __________________ A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life."

02-24-2010, 10:28 AM	#13 (permalink)
Slynky Track Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: McDonough, GA Posts: 595 Drives: 2010 Red 370Z T/S/N Rep Power: 17	And besides, what's all this talk of 3.5 connector? My Z just has the usual jacks and the USB connector. The USB connector is what I hook the iPod up to (but to segue to another thread, it doesn't work as advertised most of the time). __________________ A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life."

02-21-2010, 08:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	is that the 3.5mm cord u are using? if so, try a different cord. some cords just loose so much fidelity. you should also consider getting a new aftermarket headunit...

02-21-2010, 08:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
jikhead Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 425 Drives: 09 370Z Blue 6spd Rep Power: 184	All your tunes if bought from iTunes is only at 128kbps. Not sure what it is if you rip your own CD's to iTunes; but this is why I don't like iPods/iTunes. A standard CD is like around 1411kbps. Your CD player will always sound better & louder than your media player; even if the CD contains MP3's or whatever. I only purchase 320kbps MP3, as this is the highest MP3 format there is next to CD quality.

02-21-2010, 09:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
OldGuy Base Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Greensburg PA Posts: 899 Drives: '09370Z Red Base A7 Rep Power: 17	Thank you. Very informative.

02-22-2010, 02:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
White 370Z Base Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Sherman Oaks, CA. Posts: 20 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z 7A Rep Power: 16	Hey Bro, If you get a Ipod Dock connector to 3.5mm, you will have CD quality audio from you AXU input. It will give you a line level output. Itunes is fine. Amazon.com: Cables To Go 35508 4ft iPod-Compatible 3.5mm to Dock Connector Audio Cable: Electronics Hope that helps.

02-23-2010, 09:33 PM	#11 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	^^ that is quite possible. i agree.

02-24-2010, 10:39 AM	#15 (permalink)
370Zsteve A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Gold Coast CT Posts: 10,599 Drives: 2019 Corvette G.S. Rep Power: 43	iPod Bluetooth adapters are available, no? O wait, base stereo has no Bluetooth, right? __________________ SOLD MY Z MARCH 2018 - another Core OG moves on - new ride 2019 Z Corvette Grand Sport - no mods necessary but already have eyes on HFC and intakes LOL IT NEVER ENDS.

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