View Full Version : Belkin Auto Kit and Sound Distortion
blaksmooth
11-22-2003, 11:54 AM
I am experiencing sound distortion on my 15GB 3rd Gen IPod, all of a sudden since I have reset all of my settings. I was not experiencing this distortion BEFORE I did this, but I am unsure what to "put back" in the settings, so to speak.
Has anyone else had this happen and what did you do to get rid of the distortion in your car? The distortion, by the way, sounds like the speakers are about to blow from too much noise. (note: the distortion is NOT through listening through headphones or speakers....just the car.) I recently purchased a new Sony Cassette adapter and it all worked fine before I reset everything.
Please help!!
Delroy666
11-23-2003, 12:10 PM
My guess is that when you reset your iPod, it turned off the "Sound Check" feature in the Settings menu. This adjusts the volume of your songs so that they sound roughly the same level. Without it turned on, the output of some 'loud' songs could clip and cause distortion. Make sure the iPod's EQ is turned off too. After this, you could also try adjusting the gain on the Belkin so that the iPod matches the volume of your AM/FM output. This will ensure that the Belkin's amp is not overdriving the tape adapter and causing the distortion.
Delroy
mjoshi
11-23-2003, 06:36 PM
I'm using Belkin auto kit since last two days in my Honda Odyssey and I've not seen any distortion in my van. I've restored my iPod yesterday and it is not making any hissing noise or any kind of distortion. My setup is Belkin autokit + Monster iCable + iPod and it works great. I now need to find a good docking solution.
blaksmooth
11-24-2003, 10:08 AM
Originally posted by mjoshi
I'm using Belkin auto kit since last two days in my Honda Odyssey and I've not seen any distortion in my van. I've restored my iPod yesterday and it is not making any hissing noise or any kind of distortion. My setup is Belkin autokit + Monster iCable + iPod and it works great. I now need to find a good docking solution.
Please tell me how you have it hooked up. I don't follow how you have the car kit to the Monster cable to the Ipod. If you could just briefly describe the hook up, it would help me.
It seems as though the tape itself might be the cause. I just got a new tape and when it plays in one direction, the sound is fine, but then the tape switches to the other side and there is distortion. Unfortunately, it stays on that distorted side of the tapte and I cannot make the clear side of the tape stay in position in the tape player. I hope that makes sense.
Please let me know.
blaksmooth
11-24-2003, 10:11 AM
Originally posted by Delroy666
My guess is that when you reset your iPod, it turned off the "Sound Check" feature in the Settings menu. This adjusts the volume of your songs so that they sound roughly the same level. Without it turned on, the output of some 'loud' songs could clip and cause distortion. Make sure the iPod's EQ is turned off too. After this, you could also try adjusting the gain on the Belkin so that the iPod matches the volume of your AM/FM output. This will ensure that the Belkin's amp is not overdriving the tape adapter and causing the distortion.
Delroy
Del,
I did this and still nothing. It is really annoying in the car to listen to, especially since it was working so perfectly before. I did reset everything the way it was, and still, nothing.
jmahone
11-24-2003, 12:36 PM
I had my Belkin/Monster Cable/CD Changer adapter rig working very well for 3 weeks or so, then one day, magically, it was giving me a weird cosmic sound with the vocals way down in the mix. Someone else here reported a similar problem. I asked Belkin, and the sent me a new one, which hasn't yet arrived.
So, it may be the Belkin died on you, even though your symptoms are different.
Good luck,
Jerry
mjoshi
11-24-2003, 05:12 PM
blacksmooth,
I'm using auxillary input instead of going thru tape adapter. And I've not seen any issue with by Honda Odyssey or Nissan Altima. Search for Honda Odyssesy, I've posted just last week related to my install.
blaksmooth
11-28-2003, 07:10 PM
Originally posted by Delroy666
My guess is that when you reset your iPod, it turned off the "Sound Check" feature in the Settings menu. This adjusts the volume of your songs so that they sound roughly the same level. Without it turned on, the output of some 'loud' songs could clip and cause distortion. Make sure the iPod's EQ is turned off too. After this, you could also try adjusting the gain on the Belkin so that the iPod matches the volume of your AM/FM output. This will ensure that the Belkin's amp is not overdriving the tape adapter and causing the distortion.
Delroy
Delroy!
Thanks a million for the audio settings help! That's what it was. The Belkin amp was overriding the tape adapter like you said and after I played around with the volumes, voila!
Thanks again, man!
--Blak--
On the SoundCheck front, I'm pretty sure that SoundCheck is not used when using the dock Line Out option - as the Belkin Auto Adaptor does. Neither is the iPod's own volume control. That's actually one of my few frustrations from using line out - sound is much better, but some of my songs are so darn quiet I have to turn up the volume on the radio and sometimes forget to turn it back down!
Aym
kam1013
12-01-2003, 08:36 PM
when i first plugged in the belkin auto kit i had the volume button on the charger cranked all the way up and it distorted the sound pretty bad coming from the speakers. i turned the volume way down and turned the volume on my radio up and it helped, allowing the radio to amplify the sounds instead of the charger. i don't know if that was the problem you were having but if it was check the level. good luck!
Delroy666
12-01-2003, 10:05 PM
On the SoundCheck front, I'm pretty sure that SoundCheck is not used when using the dock Line Out option - as the Belkin Auto Adaptor does. Neither is the iPod's own volume control. That's actually one of my few frustrations from using line out - sound is much better, but some of my songs are so darn quiet I have to turn up the volume on the radio and sometimes forget to turn it back down!
Aym, you're right.. Sound Check doesn't affect the line out. I forgot about that. This is one of the reasons I don't use Sound Check and instead use MP3Gain or iVolume to adjust my songs to the same volume level; since I use the Line Out a lot. Anyways Blaksmooth, I'm glad you got it working.
Delroy