My iPod sounds funny

[lpj]

Evening folks,

Having had my D4 (MY12 SDV6 3.0l) for a week and a half, I must say I'm enjoying driving it around, and I'm gradually learning all of its features.

However, when I play music from the iPhone through the "iPod" connection in the center console, it sounds weird. Its sounds as though it briefly slows down and then back to normal speed, and there is the odd popping noise. When I use just Blue tooth, it’s absolutely fine. I tested it back to back on the same song to ensure I wasn’t going mad, but there’s definitely something not right. I changed the cable and even tried another iPhone but got the same effect each time.

I prefer to use the connected method as you get better menu and browse functionality than with Bluetooth, but now that I can hear it, it’s very off putting (First World problem, I know!)

I have the Harmon Kardon system without Sat Nav. It’s going to MLR this Thursday for its very first service (15,000 k’s), so I’ll bring it up.

I’d love to know prior if anyone has experienced something similar?
LPJ

[dunnymel]

Not heard of that one LPJ and I have the same system.
I got sick of messing about either plugging iphone in to access music collection via hard wire (kept leaving phone in the car) or via bluetooth (drains phone battery).
I settled on transferring whole collection from itunes to a mini 16G USB stick and leaving that in the cars USB port 100% of the time.
You could try that and see if it sounds different? May help the techs narrow the problem down at the very least.
Andrew

[Merv]

This may or may not help but is similar to an issue I had once before.

Check the volume level on your iPod. If it turned up to, or near, max volume, turn it down to about 3/4 volume.

[lpj]

Thanks guys. Actually they are both great suggestions.

Leaving phone in car- yes done that 3 or 4 times this week. I have an old iPhone that I can use that would get around that issue and I also like the idea of the USB permanently located.

Ill try turning it down as well.

[lpj]

Well- turning the volume down doesn't change things.

I'll load some music to a USB and see how that goes.

[dunnymel]

You can get ridiculously small USB sticks that you can barely see and are very low profile, avoiding bumping/ dislodging when using the armrest storage bin. I got a 16GB one from Dick Smiths. They were a bit more expensive but do that job perfectly.
Andrew

[JamesH]

I've had no trouble with my iPod going through the wire to the sound system (same system). It sounds (no pun intended) like something you should raise with the dealer.

[lpj]

I've had no trouble with my iPod going through the wire to the sound system (same system). It sounds (no pun intended) like something you should raise with the dealer.

:) Thanks James. I will be raising it.
I double checked by using the USB option and then switched to the same track via wired iPhone. It's definitely dodgy.

[SBD4]

Have you tried a different apple device to see if it is specific to your iPhone?

[lpj]

Have you tried a different apple device to see if it is specific to your iPhone?

I have. My iPhone is a few years old so I tried my wife's which is 2 months old-same issue. I also swapped out the iPhone cable, thinking that might be the case. Even if I plug the iPhone cable into the USB slot, I get the same problem. It seems to be the way the wired system is processing the iPhone signal. Bluetooth is fine.

It's a strange one.

[JamesH]

Hope it turns out okay for you. It sounds lame but having fully functioning connectivity to the sound system for my iPod was a real deal breaker for me in getting the car.

It might be a long haul but imagine this for an outcome, they pull the lot out and replace it with the MY2013 system with the improved processing speed. :-)

[lpj]

Hope it turns out okay for you. It sounds lame but having fully functioning connectivity to the sound system for my iPod was a real deal breaker for me in getting the car.

It might be a long haul but imagine this for an outcome, they pull the lot out and replace it with the MY2013 system with the improved processing speed. :-)

Thanks and yes- that would be nice!

As I said previously in this post, definitely a "first world" problem. My last new car was a 2004 Subaru Liberty GT. I missed out on iPod connectivity by about 6 months and its bothered me ever since, so as shallow as it sounds, this was something I really really wanted.

I'm sure I'll get it sorted eventually.

[Markyp]

Evening folks,

Having had my D4 (MY12 SDV6 3.0l) for a week and a half, I must say I'm enjoying driving it around, and I'm gradually learning all of its features.

However, when I play music from the iPhone through the "iPod" connection in the center console, it sounds weird. Its sounds as though it briefly slows down and then back to normal speed, and there is the odd popping noise. When I use just Blue tooth, it’s absolutely fine. I tested it back to back on the same song to ensure I wasn’t going mad, but there’s definitely something not right. I changed the cable and even tried another iPhone but got the same effect each time.

I prefer to use the connected method as you get better menu and browse functionality than with Bluetooth, but now that I can hear it, it’s very off putting (First World problem, I know!)

I have the Harmon Kardon system without Sat Nav. It’s going to MLR this Thursday for its very first service (15,000 k’s), so I’ll bring it up.

I’d love to know prior if anyone has experienced something similar?
LPJ

I have just picked up my new D4 HSE and I am having very similar issues. It sounds like the music is skipping as if the CD was scratched when i down loaded the music. I have tried both my phone and my wife's and get the same issue.

Did you manage to get this problem resolved? IS it a cable issue using a lightning cable vs the old 30 pin analogue cable?

[giskard]

This has occurred intermittently for me. Disconnect and reboot of the iPod seems to do the trick.

[lpj]

I had it to the dealers twice. On the second visit, they ended up replacing the whole unit and it has fixed the issue permanently.

[Markyp]

Had Audio control module replaced and this has resolved the issue. very happy camper.

[nat_89]

Had Audio control module replaced and this has resolved the issue. very happy camper.

Thats good to hear northing worse than not having high quality audio through the awesome sound system!! I must say i haven't experienced the issue in my MY13 HSE but if i do i now know it can be fixed. Cheers

[lpj]

I must admit that I thought i was going a bit mad when i first noticed the issue. I had one of my mates sit with me and he also could hear that the sound was not right.

I ended up doing a straight up comparison at the dealers by playing the same song via USB, Bluetooth and then iPod. The guy could clearly hear the difference then. It pays to be persistent though.

[stray dingo]

I've never had it work longer than 30 seconds - starts fine, then just silence, until I rebooted the phone again. I always just put it down to newer tech on the iphone than the head unit and incompatibility.....

[Markyp]

According to the service department at Alto Land Rover Sydney there are half a dozen different components to the audio system that can cause the fault. Each part needs to be inspected and tested until the correct faulty component is found.

There is another issue with audio connection concerning the quality of aftermarket and official apple cables so before heading off to your service centre make sure to try at least 3 different official Apple cables. if the issue continues then it is a fault with the audio system itself.