Cmd4 - Ipod

[Andyg]

Does anyone have the CMD4 Clarion stereo in their boat? I see you can get a connection for the IPOD for this stereo. The reason I ask is I just finished redoing my stereo system and have my IPOD connected to my XMD1 deck and I am not impressed with the sound quality. I was thinking about upgrading to the CMD4 and using the IPOD connector.

[erkoehler]

I have the IPOD connection and it sounds great on my speakers!

[jpattigr]

How did you connect your Ipod to the XMD 1? I have used the Itrip FM unit but I think will hard wire it in as per 13 din plug.

Thanks

[Andyg]

I used the 13 pin din connector. I used the instructions on the planet nautique site for wiring the 13 pin connector. The problem that I have noticed with connecting the ipod using the headphone jack is the signal strength is pretty low. To compensate you need to turn the stereo up twice as loud to here it. I will probably try my FM modulator, but I don't expect that to work very well either.

The thing that is nice about using a connection system available for the CMD4 for the ipod that you are not connecting through the headphone jack. The CMD4 deck reads the IPOD and plays the music directly off of it with the converter box.

[erkoehler]

The headphone jack does lack power, but connect it the other way, and you should get the sound you are looking for.

[Andyg]

I just tried my iTrip FM modulator and it actually sounds better than my hard wire using the 13 pin din. I guess it is time to add to my stereo system upgrade and get teh CMD4. Does anyone know if the XMD1 Remote will work with a CMD4?

[wiltok]

I "heard" on another board that the XMD1 remote is not compatitable - and the CMD4 remote is really hard to find.

[DanC]

Odd, the headphone jack should have the most power, it is an amplified signal. Do you have the volume turned up on the I-Pod?
The unamplified signal out the I-Pod's bottom connector should have better sound quality but lower power.
A CMD4 vs XMD-1 vs XMD-3 will NOT help your sound quality with an Aux/MP3 input.
Here is the I-Pod connector I hooked up to my Clarion.

[DanC]

Here is the busy end of the I-Pod cable I used.
btw, do not expect great sound quality out of your MP3s, especially if you sample below 192. Even my old ears can tell the difference at higher volumes.

[Andyg]

I have tried multiple volume outputs out the iPod without any major improvement. The higher the volume is on the iPod the more distortion is in the signal that is sent to the head unit. When I burn CDs from my MP3s and play them in the XMD-1 the sound quality is significantly improved over that of the iPod direct connection. The CMD4 I think will actually help the sound quality. The reason being is that if you buy the iPod controller (EA1251B) the stereo downloads the music directly into the head unit and then plays it. I would think it would result in better sound quality. I also believe you can use the iPod controller on the XMD-3.

[DanC]

I am confused. The XMD1-RET doesn't play MP3 disks. Do you mean analog CDs burned from MP3s?

I couldn't find much info on the iPod controller (EA1251B). Where did you hear that it downloads the MP3 file to the head unit? Sounds cool.

[DanC]

Here is an informative thread that may help you.
1) Aux sensitivity setting (maybe not adjustable on the XMD1)
2) I-pod equalizer on or off
http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/3183/222936.html?1114450624

[Andyg]

Here is an informative thread that may help you.
1) Aux sensitivity setting (maybe not adjustable on the XMD1)
2) I-pod equalizer on or off
http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/3183/222936.html?1114450624


Unfortunately I can't try any of these things this week on the boat. I just dropped the boat off at the dealership for some warranty work (stereo manual is in the glove box). Once I get it back I will definetly try it though. I doubt the XMD1 has an aux sensitivity since it really only has a CD change input that I am using to hook my iPod to. I will try it on my Harley though since I notice the same thing on that.

[aprgriggs]

Can you show me how to wire the 7 pin adapter? I currently have the RCA pluged in the headphone jack and the quality is sometimes bad because of the connection.

Help or even pictures...

Thanks

[Andyg]

I am confused. The XMD1-RET doesn't play MP3 disks. Do you mean analog CDs burned from MP3s?

I couldn't find much info on the iPod controller (EA1251B). Where did you hear that it downloads the MP3 file to the head unit? Sounds cool.


Ya I meant that I burned CDs from my mp3 files. I beleive the software I use automatically converts to the approriate format.

I talked to a local Clarion rep about the iPod controller. He is looking into when it is going to become available. Alpine is currently doing that with their control box and deck combinations, so I would guess Clarion is just copying.

I just hope the ideas you found will work so I don't have to go through this.

[Andyg]

I found this little bit of information from an article online. Here is the link to the entire article if you want to read it. Clarion iPod (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1749982,00.asp) The section of the article that directly applies to the Clarions is below.


All of Clarion new 2005 head units with a CeNET Bus System will be 'Podifyable' once the iPod Interface (Model EA1251B) is released this summer. These units won't offer the sophisticated graphical interface of the VRX755VD, and, according to reps in the Clarion booth, will display minimal ID3 information for the tracks on your iPod. (The only demo unit using the new iPod Interface in the Clarion booth was not working during our visits.)Most of Clarion's head units also play WMA files, the VRX755VD being a notable exception.

[DanC]

I found this little bit of information from an article online. Here is the link to the entire article if you want to read it. Clarion iPod (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1749982,00.asp) The section of the article that directly applies to the Clarions is below.


All of Clarion new 2005 head units with a CeNET Bus System will be 'Podifyable' once the iPod Interface (Model EA1251B) is released this summer. These units won't offer the sophisticated graphical interface of the VRX755VD, and, according to reps in the Clarion booth, will display minimal ID3 information for the tracks on your iPod. (The only demo unit using the new iPod Interface in the Clarion booth was not working during our visits.)Most of Clarion's head units also play WMA files, the VRX755VD being a notable exception.


I also read that article.
I stand by my belief that the MP3 is not downloaded to the head unit for playing. The ID structure is downloaded in some adapters but not the MP3 itself.

[Andyg]

I don't know where that dealer got that information from. I contacted Clarion today to ask them some specific questions about these units and they had no information yet. In fact they don't even have a release date as of yet.

One piece of information that I did get that helps was around the remote. The XMD1 remote will kind of work on the XMD3 and CMD4. The buttons will work, but the display will not. The extension cable will work though with the new remote.

I just bought a car charger docking unit that has a built in amplifier with a 3.5mm output plug. I am going to try that also. Here is the link to it.

iPod Charger/Docking Station (http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=201526&pcount=&Product_Id=149006)

[Andyg]

I don't know where that dealer got that information from. I contacted Clarion today to ask them some specific questions about these units and they had no information yet. In fact they don't even have a release date as of yet.

One piece of information that I did get that helps was around the remote. The XMD1 remote will kind of work on the XMD3 and CMD4. The buttons will work, but the display will not. The extension cable will work though with the new remote.

I just bought a car charger docking unit that has a built in amplifier with a 3.5mm output plug. I am going to try that also. Here is the link to it.

iPod Charger/Docking Station (http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=201526&pcount=&Product_Id=149006)

I tried the Belkin iPod docking station on the boat with the 3.5 mm amplified output built into the charger. It made a marked improvement on the sound quality in the boat. I guess I won't have to go with the stereo system upgrade afterall. I would recommend this item over everything I have tried to date.

I tried 4 different configurations before settling on this one. First I connected via the headphone jack and that sounded pretty crappy. Then I tried the FM modulater and that was about the same. Then I installed the volume increasing software with the headphone jack connection. That helped a little but, but was still not impressed. Finally I tried the charger/amplifier/docking station listed above and that had by far the best sound. I swapped back and forth with the volume on the stereo set the same between the headphone jack and the docking station and noticed a marked difference. Hope this helps those that are looking to hook up their iPods.

Andyg

[Andyg]

Well the saga continues. The Belkin car docking/charger unit quit working yesterday. The stereo kept cutting out when I had the audio cord plug into the charger. There was some noticeable interference on it also. I believe the root cause is something with the docking unit due to the fact that when I plug the audio cable into the iPod headphone jack the problem goes away. I am going to return docking/charging unit it and try a new one. I can never be easy can it?

[PendO]

Well, this is sorta what the MP3 / Ipod input jack is like on my 06 ... this is not the exact brand / jack that comes on the mastercraft, but I found it poking around and thought a few of you might want to use it so that you can plug your Iod in easier with just using 3.5mm male to male extension cable

http://www.rocktheboataudio.com/html/32314.html

[PendO]

Here is another option if you want to use 3.5mm from the Ipod to the jack ... http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=duaip35wg