_HighVoltage_ Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 I got an AUX cable to plug my iPod into my aftermarket Alpine head unit. I got the right cable - one side is Alpine's Ai-NET connector, the other is 3.5mm jack. There is a problem though - it's awfully quiet. The iPod is in a plastic protective case. As soon as I touch the metal parts of the iPod - it gets loud. I tried it with a Creative Zen - still really quite, plus a nasty buzzing noise. Obviously, something needs to be grounded. What is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdimag Posted February 12, 2010 Report Share Posted February 12, 2010 could try a ground loop isolator for the noise.... for the quiteness... does it get anything happen if you jiggle the plug around in the ipod? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRACStar Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 for the quiteness... does it get anything happen if you jiggle the plug around in the ipod? +1 Maybe the case is not letting the plug fully seat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beadgc23 Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 +1 Maybe the case is not letting the plug fully seat? +1 on that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_HighVoltage_ Posted February 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 I'll take a look. But the plug seemed to fit really well. I'm thinking I need to ground the headunit. It is not grounded as far as I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRACStar Posted February 17, 2010 Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 The HU should be grounded through the harness. It sounds like a bad/weak connection. So one side is like a headphone jack, the other side plugs into the back of the HU? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_HighVoltage_ Posted February 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 This is the exact cable. Sorry for the small pic: Bad connection...then why does it work when I touch the metal body (I'm not touching the cable at all). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRACStar Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 maybe the plug in the back of the radio got hit when reinstalling the HU. It does seem like a grounding issue but I'd check the cable side. If there was a problem with the HU ground i'm sure you would have noticed it before trying the new cable. it is always a possibility that the cable is bad. Just cause its new don't mean its good. If you know anyone with an alpine HU maybe try it in their car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_HighVoltage_ Posted February 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 Okay I think I found the problem... Cheap ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD chinese cable is not grounded! I got a wire and simply touched the iPod case to the HU metal parts and Voila! perfect sound. The question now becomes...do I modify the cable and lead an additional wire for ground (that will look stuff!) or try and find a better cable. The problem with the second option is that most cables come from China anyways...the new cable will probably be just the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRACStar Posted February 20, 2010 Report Share Posted February 20, 2010 Okay I think I found the problem... Cheap ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD chinese cable is not grounded! I got a wire and simply touched the iPod case to the HU metal parts and Voila! perfect sound. The question now becomes...do I modify the cable and lead an additional wire for ground (that will look stuff!) or try and find a better cable. The problem with the second option is that most cables come from China anyways...the new cable will probably be just the same. I would just pony up for the alpine cable. Or at least a brand name from a store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_HighVoltage_ Posted February 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2010 Yeah, I'll have to get a new cable. Thanks for the advice guys! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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