Ipod sound quality.

Mrabyss · 07-10-2009, 09:30 AM

I a no expert but I think the shop that did my stereo is trying to feed me a line of crap. I got a Pioneer AVIC-F90BT and it is great, or at least it was until about a week ago. As of a week ago the unit had been in the car about 45 days. All of a sudden the passenger side door speaker and tweeter are really quiet and somewhat staticy. So I take it to the shop and he determines that it is the "sound quality" of the Ipod. The driver side sounds fine but the passenger is hosed? So he changes sources to the radio and Cd and low and behold the speakers are just fine on both sides. O and this speaker problem is intermittant with the Ipod, yesterday I was taking the car to the shop and decided to look at the cable under the shifter as that's where it is routed and low and behold the stereo sounds fine so I left. Now this morning turn it on and the passenger side is back to the same crap. Anyone else getting this issue?

additionally, I have checked the Ipods(Nano and Iphone) on other players and left and right sound just fine.

bigaudiofanat · 07-10-2009, 09:50 AM

If you are using the headphone jack this could be a problem of a cheap cable being used I have seen it many of times. If you are using the bottom jack I doubt that it is the iPod. Are you using the aux port of your head unit or is it a actually ipod hookup?

Mrabyss · 07-10-2009, 04:37 PM

Here is the tech specs on that head unit.

General
Chassis Size Code DD
CEA-2006 Compliant Yes
RMS Power Output 14 watts
Peak Power Output 50 watts
RMS Power Bandwidth 20-20kHz
Preamp Outputs 6-channel
Sub Preamp Outputs Yes
Preamp Voltage 4 volts
Display Color Color LCD
Key Button Color 32,767 custom colors
EQ Bands 3
Sound Shaping Type Easy EQ
Wireless Remote No
Steering Wheel Control Compatible Yes
Security Security code

Flip-Down Face No
Parts Warranty 2 Years
Labor Warranty 2 Years
Expandability
iPod Connection/Control Optional audio/video
Auxiliary Input Front AV
USB Input Rear
Memory Card Slot SD/USB
A/V Inputs 2
Bluetooth Compatible Built-in
Satellite Radio Ready Both
HD Radio Optional
Video Control Yes
Changer Control No
Tuner
Tuner Type Supertuner IIID
FM Sensitivity 8 dBf
FM Presets 18
AM Presets 6
European Tuning No
Seek/Scan Seek
Radio Data System (RDS) No
CD
CD Frequency Response 10-20kHz
CD Signal-to-Noise 96 dB
Anti-shock Memory None
CD-R Playback Yes
CD-RW Playback Yes
MP3 Playback Yes
WMA Playback Yes
DVD Playback Yes

FricFrac · 07-10-2009, 06:56 PM

Sounds like a bad connection with your IPoop.... what connection are you using?

bigaudiofanat · 07-10-2009, 09:52 PM

X2 I agree I think that you are using the headphone jack and the wire is bad "not the ipod"

Lost · 07-10-2009, 11:13 PM

Considering he has the USB connection bolded, I'm betting he isn't using the headphone jack...

Mrabyss · 07-15-2009, 09:23 AM

Correct it is the USB connection that is being used. I took it to the shop on saturday and they supposedly took everything apart and put it back together. I left and it sounded fine. Low and behold this morning it again sounds like crap. I am about to give up and call Pioneer and complain that I spent $1,000 on a piece of crap. I should have purchased the Kenwood. They either replace it or I won't ever buy another piece of Pioneer equipment at all, so much for the "Premier" label.....it's still a piece of junk.

bigaudiofanat · 07-15-2009, 09:31 AM

Ya I never cared for pioneer, I have always had bad luck with them. If you are looking for the best integrations for your ipod try alpine I swear by them.

Mrabyss · 07-15-2009, 09:40 AM

The Ipod controls work great and all its just the sound quality coming from the passenger side. It sounds like total ***. Problem is it is only with the Ipod, when I switch sources to the radio or CD the stereo sounds great. The whole putting music on an Ipod is not lostless is such ********, the sound does not degrade on 1 channel and not the other and doesn't do it some of the time. If it did degrade teh sound quality it would be the entire range and not intermittent. The same song doesn't play fine on monday and then sound like crap on tuesday. I mean seriously Pioneer WTF.

bigaudiofanat · 07-15-2009, 09:43 AM

I have had 4 head units from them, First system with one cd stopped ejecting, second one wining noise that I could never get rid of even after grounding the rcas, third one the face plate went, 4th one the internal amp went. My friend had 2 of them cd went and ipod controller stopped responding. They are in no way what they use to be.

Jtimmins · 07-16-2009, 04:11 PM

Do you take the IPOD on and off of the IPOD adapter in your glove box...It could possibly be that you have damaged the actual IPOD Adapter and it is only making an intermittent connection on certain pins...I have this same setup and I have never had one problem with my IPOD sound quality??? I would have them replace the IPOD adapter and see if that fixes it?

speedfreak28 · 07-16-2009, 04:47 PM

This is a very common problem with the pioneer ipod cables. they are crap. if you search on car audio forums its the same case over and over. what i reccommend and have had no problems with is using the apple brand cable that is the same thing as the pioneer cablebut alot better quality. its 35 bucks at best buy or 50 at the apple store. heres a link. hope this helps.
Apple Composite AV Cable - Apple Store (U.S.)
heres a link to the crappy pioneer cable, you can see the difference.
iPOD PIONEER AUDIO & VIDEO CABLE CD-IU230V CDIU230 NEW - eBay (item 250465770195 end time Aug-14-09 22:24:38 PDT)

speedfreak28 · 07-16-2009, 04:49 PM

there is nothing wrong with your headunit, any shop worth your time is awrare of the ipod cable issues. its old news and to most installers common knowledge. I guruntell if your shop swaps that ipod cable, problem solved.

Mrabyss · 07-22-2009, 08:54 AM

Thanks a ton man. I never really thought it was the HU and I did think it was the cable.

Mrabyss · 09-08-2009, 10:45 AM

Finally got them to warranty the cable and replace it about a week ago and sounds perfect now. Now I can enjoy it and stop getting pissed off about it

07-10-2009, 09:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mrabyss Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: OH Posts: 55 Drives: Pearl 370z Sport Rep Power: 16	Ipod sound quality. I a no expert but I think the shop that did my stereo is trying to feed me a line of crap. I got a Pioneer AVIC-F90BT and it is great, or at least it was until about a week ago. As of a week ago the unit had been in the car about 45 days. All of a sudden the passenger side door speaker and tweeter are really quiet and somewhat staticy. So I take it to the shop and he determines that it is the "sound quality" of the Ipod. The driver side sounds fine but the passenger is hosed? So he changes sources to the radio and Cd and low and behold the speakers are just fine on both sides. O and this speaker problem is intermittant with the Ipod, yesterday I was taking the car to the shop and decided to look at the cable under the shifter as that's where it is routed and low and behold the stereo sounds fine so I left. Now this morning turn it on and the passenger side is back to the same crap. Anyone else getting this issue? additionally, I have checked the Ipods(Nano and Iphone) on other players and left and right sound just fine.

07-10-2009, 09:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 853	If you are using the headphone jack this could be a problem of a cheap cable being used I have seen it many of times. If you are using the bottom jack I doubt that it is the iPod. Are you using the aux port of your head unit or is it a actually ipod hookup? __________________ 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/

07-10-2009, 06:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
FricFrac A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 1,481 Drives: 370Z 300ZX 280ZX 240 Rep Power: 228	Sounds like a bad connection with your IPoop.... what connection are you using? __________________ '09 370Z - '93 300ZX Vert - '83 280ZX - '83 280ZXT -'81 280ZXT stroker - '72 240Z - Stillen CBE, HFC, G3, Grounding Kit, Sways // Swift Spring // H&R 15mm // 5% Tint // Clear Bra //

07-10-2009, 09:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 853	X2 I agree I think that you are using the headphone jack and the wire is bad "not the ipod" __________________ 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/

07-15-2009, 09:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 853	Ya I never cared for pioneer, I have always had bad luck with them. If you are looking for the best integrations for your ipod try alpine I swear by them. __________________ 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/

07-10-2009, 04:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mrabyss Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: OH Posts: 55 Drives: Pearl 370z Sport Rep Power: 16	Here is the tech specs on that head unit. General Chassis Size Code DD CEA-2006 Compliant Yes RMS Power Output 14 watts Peak Power Output 50 watts RMS Power Bandwidth 20-20kHz Preamp Outputs 6-channel Sub Preamp Outputs Yes Preamp Voltage 4 volts Display Color Color LCD Key Button Color 32,767 custom colors EQ Bands 3 Sound Shaping Type Easy EQ Wireless Remote No Steering Wheel Control Compatible Yes Security Security code Flip-Down Face No Parts Warranty 2 Years Labor Warranty 2 Years Expandability iPod Connection/Control Optional audio/video Auxiliary Input Front AV USB Input Rear Memory Card Slot SD/USB A/V Inputs 2 Bluetooth Compatible Built-in Satellite Radio Ready Both HD Radio Optional Video Control Yes Changer Control No Tuner Tuner Type Supertuner IIID FM Sensitivity 8 dBf FM Presets 18 AM Presets 6 European Tuning No Seek/Scan Seek Radio Data System (RDS) No CD CD Frequency Response 10-20kHz CD Signal-to-Noise 96 dB Anti-shock Memory None CD-R Playback Yes CD-RW Playback Yes MP3 Playback Yes WMA Playback Yes DVD Playback Yes

07-10-2009, 11:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
Lost Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hawaii Posts: 36 Drives: '09 Black Z 6MT Rep Power: 16	Considering he has the USB connection bolded, I'm betting he isn't using the headphone jack...

07-15-2009, 09:23 AM	#7 (permalink)
Mrabyss Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: OH Posts: 55 Drives: Pearl 370z Sport Rep Power: 16	Correct it is the USB connection that is being used. I took it to the shop on saturday and they supposedly took everything apart and put it back together. I left and it sounded fine. Low and behold this morning it again sounds like crap. I am about to give up and call Pioneer and complain that I spent $1,000 on a piece of crap. I should have purchased the Kenwood. They either replace it or I won't ever buy another piece of Pioneer equipment at all, so much for the "Premier" label.....it's still a piece of junk.

07-15-2009, 09:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
Mrabyss Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: OH Posts: 55 Drives: Pearl 370z Sport Rep Power: 16	The Ipod controls work great and all its just the sound quality coming from the passenger side. It sounds like total *. Problem is it is only with the Ipod, when I switch sources to the radio or CD the stereo sounds great. The whole putting music on an Ipod is not lostless is such ******, the sound does not degrade on 1 channel and not the other and doesn't do it some of the time. If it did degrade teh sound quality it would be the entire range and not intermittent. The same song doesn't play fine on monday and then sound like crap on tuesday. I mean seriously Pioneer WTF.

07-15-2009, 09:43 AM	#10 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 853	I have had 4 head units from them, First system with one cd stopped ejecting, second one wining noise that I could never get rid of even after grounding the rcas, third one the face plate went, 4th one the internal amp went. My friend had 2 of them cd went and ipod controller stopped responding. They are in no way what they use to be. __________________ 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/

07-16-2009, 04:11 PM	#11 (permalink)
Jtimmins Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Adairsville, GA Posts: 2 Drives: Nissan 2009 370Z Rep Power: 16	Have them replace your IPOD Adapter Do you take the IPOD on and off of the IPOD adapter in your glove box...It could possibly be that you have damaged the actual IPOD Adapter and it is only making an intermittent connection on certain pins...I have this same setup and I have never had one problem with my IPOD sound quality??? I would have them replace the IPOD adapter and see if that fixes it?

07-16-2009, 04:47 PM	#12 (permalink)
speedfreak28 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: south jersey Posts: 247 Drives: 05 ram, 79 z28 Rep Power: 16	This is a very common problem with the pioneer ipod cables. they are crap. if you search on car audio forums its the same case over and over. what i reccommend and have had no problems with is using the apple brand cable that is the same thing as the pioneer cablebut alot better quality. its 35 bucks at best buy or 50 at the apple store. heres a link. hope this helps. Apple Composite AV Cable - Apple Store (U.S.) heres a link to the crappy pioneer cable, you can see the difference. iPOD PIONEER AUDIO & VIDEO CABLE CD-IU230V CDIU230 NEW - eBay (item 250465770195 end time Aug-14-09 22:24:38 PDT)

07-16-2009, 04:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
speedfreak28 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: south jersey Posts: 247 Drives: 05 ram, 79 z28 Rep Power: 16	there is nothing wrong with your headunit, any shop worth your time is awrare of the ipod cable issues. its old news and to most installers common knowledge. I guruntell if your shop swaps that ipod cable, problem solved.

07-22-2009, 08:54 AM	#14 (permalink)
Mrabyss Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: OH Posts: 55 Drives: Pearl 370z Sport Rep Power: 16	Thanks a ton man. I never really thought it was the HU and I did think it was the cable.

09-08-2009, 10:45 AM	#15 (permalink)
Mrabyss Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: OH Posts: 55 Drives: Pearl 370z Sport Rep Power: 16	Finally got them to warranty the cable and replace it about a week ago and sounds perfect now. Now I can enjoy it and stop getting pissed off about it

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