Low volume for MP3 to car aux in

[gonk]

Hi,
I have a Creative MuVo N200 and I'm trying to run it through the aux in of my car stereo (cheap but ok JVC CD receiver) via the headphone plug on the mp3 player. However, there is only low volume: both mp3 and stereo have to have volume cranked up before there's any real sound coming through. Is it usual/do I need some kind of amp between the two? Is my wiring wrong - I created a 3.5 stereo plug (headphone socket) to 3.5 stereo plug (aux in) cable for the connection?
Any help will be much appreciated
Thanks
Gary

[CrowdAds]

[Hillshum]

make sure your cable has three good connections. maybe buy one
Radioshack sells them for <USD$10

[derf]

The headphone output of mp3 players is lower than a true line out, so it is normal that it sounds quiet. Even the playes with the strongest amp (like the D2) sound quiet when plugged in a line in.

[gonk]

Thanks for the info.
Hillshun: I checked, it only had two! good onnections - works better with the earth connection too - I must buy a DMM.
derf: I found on the car audio unit an adjustment for aux in which is factory set to 0 but lets the owner increase the input level - I must read my manuals during installation.
Thanks again for your responses

[ZenChick]

As a general rule, the headphone amp built into most thumbdrive-type MP3 players, such as the Muvo-series, are only meant to drive low-impedance, high-sensitivity headphones. They are not suitable for line-level inputs unless a preamp is used.

[Ninety-9]

I have a question on this subject. I have a Zune80, running through the phone jack to RCA directly into a JL amp in my car. Would it sound any better if I wired up a dock connector to RCA instead? Would I still be able to control the volume directly from the Zune?

[ZenChick]

If your player has a line-level output, use it. You will not be able to control the volume with your Zune, but that's by design... and it will sound better.

[Ninety-9]

I might like to give that a try, however, no volume control is a problem. The only way I would be able to control the volume is through the level gain on the back of my amp.

[PeterP]

First make sure that you've done all the easy stuff. Cables are good. Check to see if your HU has a gain adjust for the AUX input. Your mp3 player doesn't have a max volume limit setting. Check the EQ on your player. If, after all that you still find you need more volume and want to use the AUX input, check out headphone/preamps. Lots of stuff out there Boostaroo, FiiO, Sound Shocker etc.
The good part about Sound Shocker is that there are no batteries, charger, or external power needed. Check out:
Sound Shocker
and what people have to say at:
Tacomaworld

Just to be clear, PHP Audio, LLC is me aka PeterP

[FreeZ5]

PeterP...

replying to a 4 year old thread really has little value to anybody. Except to those that will get fun talking about this Necro thread.

Steve

[PeterP]

Wow. My mind must be in left field this morning. But you took a look anyway and I hope the info is useful to someone.

Pete.

[gonk]

Yeah I think the info might be useful - if its likely to come up in a few pages of a google search then there is every likelihood someone may find it helpful. Regarding my very old issue - following Zen Chick's info I built a preamp (just a little kitset- good for experience too) that took the signal up to line level and that fixed the problem.

[saratoga]

Usually low volume on AUX means you've got a volume cap applied in software.