Guys, I got a problem with the AUX input on Columbus Navi. When I set the highest AUX sensitivity in SETUP menu and then set max volume on iPhone, the audio comming from sound system is incredibly poor.. All basses only “rattle", vibrate. It is simply unlistenable. It is interesting that when I lower the AUX sensitivity in SETUP, or just a little lower the volume on iPhone, the audio seems to be OK. I do not understand why this is so. Do you think it is something wrong with my Columbus? Interestingly, it only occurs when I set AUX sensitivity to maximum and volume on the iPhone to maximum as well (but the volume on Columbus` amplifier can be set only to 1/4). Somebody told me, that it is normal thanks to distortion levels and that I have to set the volume on iPhone to the lowest possible level and then adjust the volume on Columbus (when I am using the highest sensitivity settings of AUX). But do you think this is true? Have you ever experienced the same behavior? thank you

It will be down to attenuation of the signal. You're over amplifying or saturating the signal. Lower the input amplification and lower the iPhones amplification level. You may want to check your EQ and the EQ set on the iPhone to ensure you're not just saturating the bass frequencies.

Perfectly normal for an iphone / ipod to distort on full volume when supplying an aux input on anything else really. Keep the iphone level at around 75% max. The input side of the amplifier on the columbus is being over driven, you need to use the power stage of the amplifier in the columbus to give the correct listening volume i.e. the volume knob on the columbus.

 

The iphone is expecting to drive the load of a pair of headphones, not a high impedance aux in. Aux in expects a line level source and not a low impedance headphone output, they are subtly different, and mismatched, but it works fine if the volume is adjusted carefully on the source. 

Thank you guys for you explanations! I have changed the settings of AUX sensitivity to "low" and now I adjust the volume only on Columbus. Then everything works just fine:) Have you ever experienced this on your Columbuses?

I have yes. Useful explanation this thanks. And I think I recall similar problems with bluetooth streaming on my older bluetooth module.

Ok:) do wait you have the same experience with AUX on Columbus or only with bluetooth module?

Yes the problem was mainly with the aux from my kids' iPhones to the Columbus. My newer BT module seems to have cured the issue for BT and so now I tend to use streaming (or the MDI) for their music and only use aux for my mini DAB radio when I need cricket commentary on 5 Live Sports Extra now.

Adam

Oh I see:) hmm probably you had the maximum AUX sensitivity chosen in SETUP menu, didn't u? Because when I use the low sensitivity settings, I do not have this issue even when the iPhone is at max volume. Do you have iPhone as well? I am asking because you wrote "kids' iPhone" and I am just wondering whether mainly iPhones suffer from this or also any other smartphones...

I have an S3.

However, all my music (which I can only listen to when I'm on my own...) is on the hard drive. I have none on my Samsung phone to test it but I imagine it would affect it too. I do now use the lower setting and the distortion with my kids' iPhones is gone. As you suggest I had the problems when on maximum sensitivity.

Okay:) great to hear that! I wish you only the best experience with your car (for the future)!

Edited 19 April, 201412 yr by iphonik4

Cheers

Guys, I got a problem with the AUX input on Columbus Navi. When I set the highest AUX sensitivity in SETUP menu and then set max volume on iPhone, the audio comming from sound system is incredibly poor.. All basses only “rattle", vibrate. It is simply unlistenable. It is interesting that when I lower the AUX sensitivity in SETUP, or just a little lower the volume on iPhone, the audio seems to be OK. I do not understand why this is so. Do you think it is something wrong with my Columbus? Interestingly, it only occurs when I set AUX sensitivity to maximum and volume on the iPhone to maximum as well (but the volume on Columbus` amplifier can be set only to 1/4). Somebody told me, that it is normal thanks to distortion levels and that I have to set the volume on iPhone to the lowest possible level and then adjust the volume on Columbus (when I am using the highest sensitivity settings of AUX). But do you think this is true? Have you ever experienced the same behavior? thank you

 

Hi iPhonik4,

 

I had exactly the same issue when I fitted a newly acquired Columbus to my Fabia a few days ago! I got some (very bad) advice to fiddle with the pins on the cambus connection - before going through the menu and figuring out the Aux Sensitivity issue myself! I set mine to 'medium' and the issue was resolved. I also tried the 'low' setting but the bass was lacking when on that - so settled for the medium setting.

 

One interesting point mentioned in this thread though is about the volume level of the source - which I didn't actually check. I have an old 60GB iPod connected via the mdi port, so that will just sit under the glove box forever! But I never checked the volume and EQ this was set to before plugging it in - so thanks for that!

Hi richiecee, that´s great! However, I thought that this issue is connected only with AUX input. Not MDI:O so the issue your describe was only with the MDI? (Because MDI is a source of file that is played by Columbus (iPod behaves the same way as HDD of flash drive when connect to MDI) but AUX is only a source of audio "created" by the device - iPhone,...) that's why this behaviour should be present only in the case of AUX. Also the sentivity settings are only for AUX. There are no sensitivity settings for MDI.

Edited 22 April, 201412 yr by iphonik4

Hi richiecee, that´s great! However, I thought that this issue is connected only with AUX input. Not MDI:O so the issue your describe was only with the MDI? (Because MDI is a source of file that is played by Columbus (iPod behaves the same way as HDD of flash drive when connect to MDI) but AUX is only a source of audio "created" by the device - iPhone,...) that's why this behaviour should be present only in the case of AUX. Also the sentivity settings are only for AUX. There are no sensitivity settings for MDI.

 

That's interesting; because I definitely had the major distortion/very poor sound quality that you described earlier - from my iPod connected to the mdi port. Radio or CD player was absolutely fine - but the iPod was terrible. But adjusting the AUX sensitivity solved the issue.

 

Which makes sense, as AUX would be 'anything' externally plugged into the unit - be it via the MDI port or the 3.5' headphone jack.

If you have both, the aux and mdi use the same audio input pins at the back of the stereo. Aux is only an option when the MDI is not connected.

Adam

Hmmm, that's interesting.. But I am curious about the fact that MDI is (according what you wrote) only an audio input. Then why i am able to play music from my flash drive connected to Columbus? (Because flash drive cannot play the audio iself, it is only the source of a file that is played by columbus).

Sorry

I didn't mean MDI is just an audio input. There are CANBUS and voltage supply pins to it from the HU and some kind of interface too, but the sound signal from the MDI is passed back to the headunit via the same pins that the aux-in uses. If you also have aux-in, there is a pass through the MDI unit so the same pins get used for aux-in if the MDI is not connected.

Adam