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      04-01-2008, 05:31 AM   #1
pumaknight
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oh dear, how embarrassing!!

for those of you who read that I was having issues with my stereo and wondered what the outcome was - well I hang my head in shame and report that it was totally my fault and no fault of the car. But there are some learning lessons here for all, I hoe:

1. amplification comes from the ipod if you have it connected, not the head unit, so overlal sound quality will be lower than that from the head sources (CD / Radio etc)
2. bad quality recordings from itunes will not use the DSP system to its best - you need HQ recordings or original cds to hear the best (yep, that is the embarrassing bit for me).
3. Select music in the head unit Eq section as that gives the best across range tonal quality for the installed speakers.

Hope this helps - did me and now I have my lovely car with great music from the engine and the stereo :-))

oh and thanks to Specialist Cars in Stevenage - they were great and very helpful.
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      04-01-2008, 07:05 AM   #2
atr_hugo
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Phewww - they didn't have to rip the IP apart to fix it. Good news.
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      04-01-2008, 08:08 AM   #3
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Thanks for the information!

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      04-01-2008, 10:12 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pumaknight View Post
1. amplification comes from the ipod if you have it connected, not the head unit, so overlal sound quality will be lower than that from the head sources (CD / Radio etc)
2. bad quality recordings from itunes will not use the DSP system to its best - you need HQ recordings or original cds to hear the best (yep, that is the embarrassing bit for me).
3. Select music in the head unit Eq section as that gives the best across range tonal quality for the installed speakers.
Amplification is still done in the head unit, but the audio is decoded (and converted to analog) in the ipod instead of the head unit. Depending on the ipod, this is either a good or a bad thing. But sound quality will not be significantly lower and might even be higher if you use the right ipod.

If you use losslesly encoded alc or 256kbps vbr aac encoded files you should get exactly or about the same quality (respectively) as a cd.
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      04-01-2008, 10:40 AM   #5
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Same thing happened to me. I called dealer to make appointment and then I later figured it out!
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      04-01-2008, 10:52 AM   #6
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you COULD disconnect the BMW iPod cable, and connect with regualr iPod cable. That way the iPod would be read as a hard drive.

If you only have MP3s, this would be the best solution, as it is a digital transfer to the head unit. The only downside of this process is that you will not be able to play songs purchased from iTunes as your ipod will not allow it.
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      04-01-2008, 10:59 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by john970 View Post
Amplification is still done in the head unit, but the audio is decoded (and converted to analog) in the ipod instead of the head unit. Depending on the ipod, this is either a good or a bad thing. But sound quality will not be significantly lower and might even be higher if you use the right ipod.

If you use losslesly encoded alc or 256kbps vbr aac encoded files you should get exactly or about the same quality (respectively) as a cd.
thanks for this - I have alot to learn about ipods and burning of CDs from itunes.

On the quality of songs on an ipod, I thought they were only at 128kbps?? My ipod is fairly old, so that might be the issue.
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      04-01-2008, 11:00 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottyGams View Post
you COULD disconnect the BMW iPod cable, and connect with regualr iPod cable. That way the iPod would be read as a hard drive.

If you only have MP3s, this would be the best solution, as it is a digital transfer to the head unit. The only downside of this process is that you will not be able to play songs purchased from iTunes as your ipod will not allow it.
I don't think that will work.
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      04-01-2008, 11:06 AM   #9
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another tip to increase sound quality when using the ipod. You can adjust the line in input level. It starts to get destorted if turned up too high, I have mine set at 4.

I think the setting is to the right in the ipod menu on the head unit
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      04-01-2008, 11:07 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pumaknight View Post
thanks for this - I have alot to learn about ipods and burning of CDs from itunes.

On the quality of songs on an ipod, I thought they were only at 128kbps?? My ipod is fairly old, so that might be the issue.
Any iPod (even the original) can play a multitude of file formats and bitrates. Songs you buy from the iTunes music store are either 128kpbs or 256kpbs (the 256kbps songs are called "iTunes Plus" songs and have a little "+" icon next to them).

You can encode your CD's at whatever bitrate you would like, I suggest 256kpbs aac. The default is 128, you can change this in the preferences. The especially anal (er, discriminating...) audio listeners use lossless, which you can also select in the preferences (Apple Lossless Codec) and usually ends up about 900kps.
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      04-01-2008, 12:33 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pumaknight View Post
thanks for this - I have alot to learn about ipods and burning of CDs from itunes.

On the quality of songs on an ipod, I thought they were only at 128kbps?? My ipod is fairly old, so that might be the issue.

Just don't use iTunes peroid!

Use Windows Media Center for ripping your MP3's and use 320kbps or lossless, that will give you the second best sound quality for mobile songs. The best being an actual .wav format.
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      04-01-2008, 01:24 PM   #12
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Regarding the level, each source on the radio has a separate, adjustable input level. I noticed I had to raise it up for the iPod on my 335 in order to match the sound level of the radio or CD player.
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      04-01-2008, 01:39 PM   #13
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Dumb question: are you using the aux input or the optional iPod upgrade? I only ask because since you can control the iPod using the factory controls with the upgrade, you would be able to control the colume as well.
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      04-01-2008, 02:26 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by adc View Post
Regarding the level, each source on the radio has a separate, adjustable input level. I noticed I had to raise it up for the iPod on my 335 in order to match the sound level of the radio or CD player.
Is there info on the manual on this? I wonder what it does... Some sources like the ipod don't output 1V as they should on the line out. Sounds like BMW or whoever builds their audio system is accounting for this, it might just reset the volume knob for the source so it starts out at a different level.
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