Line Out Issues

[arspar11]

Hi there,

I've got a 3g ipod, and a 1996 Ford Explorer with a stock stereo featuring a 6CD changer in the console.

This last weekend, based on this link (http://ipodincar.net/guideExplorer.php), I took a male RCA to male 3.5mm cord and patched the RCA into the correct wires coming out of the CD changer going into head unit. I'm no pro, but I think I did a fairly good job splicing them together cleanly and wrapped them up fine. I also bought (had to track down online) a Belkin autocharger that has a line-out on the cigar insert.

The whole setup works fairly as I wanted to, with the charger in the bottom and plugging the 3.5mm into my iPod headphone jack (obviously). The sound is clear and equally distributed, albeit a little lacking in treble. However, being as lazy as I am, I wanted to feed the audio through the bottom as well, so I have only one connection in the morning when I drive and when I park, and also to look nicer. The two ways that I know of are either the line-out on the Belkin (the reason I bought that specific kind), or a dock connector. I first tried plugging the audio into the Belkin. The sound that results is brighter and more accurate, but it only plays out of the right speaker. The volume is a perfect level, but no matter how I twist the jack in the Belkin it only comes out of the right speaker (ironically, I've always had this same problem with cassette adapters, which is what pushed me to hardwiring it). I thought this could either be a bum charger, or maybe there's something wrong with the audio out of the bottom of my iPod (it's been through much). So, failing there, I planned to bring my dock connector in and plug the belkin in to charge it and use the cord off the stereo in that line out, then just drop the iPod in. When I do that, though, the audio is completely muted and tinny, and at full volume on the stereo and iPod (not that it matters with line out, I think), it gets barely audible and muffled the whole time. Again, the audio works just fine (if a bit deep) out of the headphone jack on the iPod.

I don't know why that is, since if it were a problem with the bottom of my iPod, shouldn't the two situations mirror each other? Are the Belkin charger AND the dock connector busted? Does it have to do with different power levels coming off of the cord to my stereo? Is there anything for sale or that I could make that features a male and female iPod plug that has a lineout on it? I'm lost. I hope this wasn't too long and that someone will at least have read this far. Thanks a bunch, any help or input in solving my inessential problem of conveniene would be much appreciated.

[Pete_L_P]

Perhaps only the Belkin's busted.

The problem you're having with the other conection (Dock Connector + Line Out) could be because the volume level coming from its pure line out may not be high enough for your AUX IN set up. (A problem I've seen a number of times before) The Belkin handles any AUX IN volume requirement with its built in amp and volume control. Most other dock connector + line out devices just supply the iPod's pure line out volume, which can be mismatched in either direction.

You can eliminate the cable as a potential problem in the following way. Plug your headphones into the Belkin's line out, and just listen to the headphones. Adjusting the Belkin's volume, you should be able to get perfect headphone volume and sound. If you do, then the problem is probably your cable (which will be surprising given that cable works from the ipod's headphone out.) If you don't, then it's likely the belkin, but could still be the iPod's own dock connector, as you suggested. (That test won't work with the other dock connector because its line-out volume will be too low for most headphones.)

It would be nice if you could now borrow a friends iPod so you could rule out your iPod's dock connector as a problem. (i.e. if the Belkin doesn't work with the friend's ipod as well, then it's the Belkin at cause, given that you've already eliminated the cable with the headphone test). If it IS a belkin problem your reseller should replace it with a new working Belkin, and, assuming you've isolated this as per above, I'm quite certain that a working Belkin will solve your problem.

I have belkins in several cars and I really like them for all the reasons you mentioned plus the volume matching (you can match it perfectly to your aux in AND your car radio, and once you set it, its matched forever) and one more big Belkin plus. It automatically shuts off the iPod (via pause mode) when your turn off your car (ie, when the car cuts the power to the power outlet) Most chargers will leave the ipod playing when you power down, and you can come back to a dead ipod the next day (just when you were about to take the ipod to the beach)

BTW. Does your home made cable connect a STEREO 3.5 plug to TWO RCA males? If not there's some other possible issues there. If it's a cable problem consider buying one like this one (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000068O33/sr=1-1/qid=1155705778/ref=sr_1_1/002-9137531-4162435?ie=UTF8&s=electronics).

Pete

[arspar11]

Those are some excellent methods to test that I hadn't even thought of; well put.

I forgot to mention that I can in fact use the dock connector with headphones; like you say, it's quiet, but still adequate for listening. That further perplexed me, since I couldn't understand the difference between playing through headphones via 3.5mm and playing through car speakers via 3.5mm via head unit. However, like you say, perhaps the signal just diminished over the route enough that it's ruined at my speakers. I think with further messing around I'll be able to pinpoin the problem now (either the iPod or the Belkin, hopefully the latter).

Oh, and yes, the RCA is split to right and left, and I then split the two into four (R+/R- L+/L-; shielding and center wire) per the link I referenced. I'm fairly confident in the connections, if not the quality of craftsmanship. Much appreciated help, I'll post a follow up if I figure it out anytime soon.

One quick question about the Belkins: What kind of drain do they put on a battery if they're left plugged in? I had one a couple years ago with a different car and can't recall having any problems, but while looking into buying this one and setting this all up I saw quite a few warnings.

[Pete_L_P]

Arspar

I forgot to mention that I can in fact use the dock connector with headphones; like you say, it's quiet, but still adequate for listening. That further perplexed me, since I couldn't understand the difference between playing through headphones via 3.5mm and playing through car speakers via 3.5mm via head unit. However, like you say, perhaps the signal just diminished over the route enough that it's ruined at my speakers.
Another variable here is impedance requirements for these connections, which can vary greatly and give all kinds of surprising results, (such as louder volume for headphone A in one unit and louder volume for headphone B in the other unit). I do believe that impedance will not be a problem for the Belkin given the flexibility of the built in amp.

One quick question about the Belkins: What kind of drain do they put on a battery if they're left plugged in? I had one a couple years ago with a different car and can't recall having any problems, but while looking into buying this one and setting this all up I saw quite a few warnings.
I assume you're asking about possible drain on the CAR battery if the charger is left pugged in after the engine is turned off.

If your car supplies power to your charger outlet when the engine is off, it can definitely drain the battery. I killed my Escalade battery twice, by leaving the car sitting for a couple of weeks with my charger plugged in. (I finally figured out what what was going on.) This can be an issue with any charger. If you drive the car every day and only take out the charger when you're going to be away for a week, you'll probably be OK. But I wouldn't be surprised if doing that would still shorten the life of the car battery. You might want to consider rewiring your charger outlet and tapping into a switched power source from the fuse box.

If your car cuts off power to the outlet when the engine is shut off, then you have no problem at all.

Pete