I'm getting a buzzing/humming whenever I have my ipod classic 80GB plugged in (6th Gen - correcting my earlier post in another thread), but if I plug in the iphone I get no such buzzing. I searched but haven't found much yet other than one mention of a faulty XCarLink and someone else mentioning using a Ground Loop Isolator.

 

Okay, the rpm store is telling me to RMA the unit. Bugger. I have to stick my hands back behind that Mazda torture device, I mean Head Unit.

Kudos to therpmstore for responding swiftly (they always have in my experience with them) but I've asked if we can work out some kind of cross shipping, I don't want to have to close the dash up and then open it again when the replacement unit arrives. In fact I hope I never have to stick my fingers underneath, in-between, pulling up on while shoving in, pressing on clips, wiggling and contorting in my dash ever again. I seriously can't feel my finger tips right now.

 

Rma?

 

Return Merchandise Authorization

Basically, they are saying to return it for a replacement.

 

Interesting. Mine has hummed since I got it. I figured I needed to reroute the wires to decrease whatever interfering signal was present.

 

Well, I thought about that but honestly, where would that be? The cable is running from the back of the head unit to the ash tray area and then to the ipod. The dash is still all open and I was just testing. There isn't too many other routing options, even if I routed it to the glove compartment it wouldn't be that different. Anyway, according to therpmstore, I just need a new one. They are overnighting it to me and I get it tomorrow (I paid for the shipping) so I'll let you know if it fixes the problem.

 

Cool, thanks.

 

Nope, connected the new one and I still get the buzzing sound. Same symptoms as before, if I connect my 80GB iPod classic I get a buzzing sound, if I connect an iPhone there is a small buzz, it's a slightly different sound. If I stream audio via bluetooth it's fine. I'm going to try moving the cables around, etc. to see if it's some kind of interference. Otherwise, not sure what I'll do. I've contacted therpmstore so I'll see what they suggest.

 

Sadly, therpmstore is just offering another replacement unit. I even tried the old Audiolink version I bought 3 years ago which I never got around to installing (and I'm returning to therpmstore for a $30 credit in the near future) but that didn't work at all. I've unplugged and plugged back in the two new versions of the XCarLink that I have and both exhibit the same problems. All the connections seem sound, I currently have the wiring just running straight over the top of the headunit (which is hanging half out of the dash) so the cables are as far away from the various dashboard components as possible. I've tried moving the cable around, but no change. The aux-in just using the head phone jack still emits a sort of buzz, same sound I get when connecting the iPhone instead of the iPod.

I should say that therpmstore have been excellent throughout all of this, very helpful and willing to help.

I might have to give up on this, it's a shame because other than the buzz, it's excellent. I really like the bluetooth functionality.

Edit: I've tried being open minded about it, maybe the buzz is not that bad, you can't really hear it when music is playing, however, in quiet times during a song or between tracks or even if I just pause the iPod I get the buzzing. I won't be happy with it the way it is. Admittedly, I haven't tried another IPod, just an iPhone so I suppose it could be the IPod. Not sure if I can find another one to test with.

How many others have a buzzing sound from their Audiolink/XCarLink when an IPod is connected?

 

FWIW, I've never tried my iPod, only my Iphone, and I get the intermittent buzz. It seems to get worse the longer I've been in the car. Like you, it only bothers me, when it's quiet. On the highway, I never notice it.

 

Well, therpmstore is suggesting I try another IPod classic, so I'm trying to track one down. Strangely I don't seem to know anyone who has one. They agreed that I would hang onto it for a number of weeks to try to resolve the problem by trying another IPod, searching for other solutions, perhaps a car audio shop will have some ideas etc. If by late-Jan I can't resolve the buzz I can still return it for a full refund.

+1 to therpmstore - Really great customer service.

 

Quick question. How much power does the IPhone draw? How about your Ipod. Perhaps the power wire is too close to the input wires causing a "disturbance in the force". The greater the current the greater the interference the greater the buzz.

Just a thought.

Could be a grounding issue too.

 

Strong in the force is the IPOD... That's a good point, I don't know, I will research that. The IPod has a hard drive, and the IPhone is flash, but it also has numerous radios (cellular, bluetooth, wifi) and a bigger screen, so I would think the IPhone would draw more power. I will find out.

As for the grounding idea, I started another thread about that:

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/grounding-question-208615/

Feel free to add some thoughts there, so far no one has had anything to offer.