Signal Booster for MP3 Aux Adapter

[calinMD]

Hi All
New owner of a 2007 Matrix, with the base 1 CD player radio unit. I have a USA Spec Aux Adaptwer on order (model DF-TOY) that will solve the problem of pluggin on my MP3 player, etc. My question is this:

I've heard folks mention (in this forum and others) that after you install the adapter, the out put of the iPod or MP3 player is somewhat low, and you need to crank the radio up....and that there are Line signal boosters out there that can help equalize this...

I've searched for this item, but can't seem to locate one. Does anyone know where I can get one?

Thanks!

[jlambeth1]

No, but I would try it out before you purchase a signal booster. I use the exact same part in my 2007 Matrix and I have an IAudio X5 MP3 player and I don't have any issues with the sound being low. Everything works great.

[calinMD]

That's great to hear! You're right, of course--I should wait and see. I got the adapter today, so I'll know more by the weekend...I was just looking ahead. Be really nice if it worked like yours does!

Thanks for the reply--

[jlambeth1]

I forgot to mention that I turn the volume up on my MP3 player to about 2/3rds of maximum and it works out fine. When I put it on maximum, it gets somewhat distorted. I would try putting your MP3 player on different levels to see what works best for you. If you want, I can post some pics on how I ran mine if you want. I just went under the carpet, pulled out the center console, drilled a small hole in it and put my cable in the compartment where everything remains out of sight. Good luck!

[calinMD]

Thanks! Some pictures of how you routed it would be great...I actually took a few minutes before work yesaterday (while the servers were down here at the forum) to look at how I was going to do it. I wasn't sure whether I could hook it up without taking off the bezel and removing the radio, and I was really freaked out by the thought of taking the bezel off and damaging the finish somehow (never did that sort of thing)

So I was sitting there, messing with the bezel, and saw that it would pop right off; then I took the rado out, anfd plugged the adapter into the empty connector, and ran it into the glove box. Took maybe 30 minutes, totoal; I was shocked!

My MP3 player works fine with it (I have a Creative MuVo N200). I put the MP3 player's volume as high as possible (no distortion with mine) and crank the radio up, and it sounds great. So now the question is where to put the thing more permanently...

I'd love to find a way to install it in that little cubby behind the shifter (I find no other use for that space) but I may end up with it in the center console somewhere.

So if you have some pics, that would be great. Thanks so much for your help!

[jlambeth1]

I took three pictures with my phone so they are not the best but they will give you an idea. My auxillary input is in the little dead space behind the cubby. If memory serves me correctly, after taking out my center console (which was very painless since there are only a few screws) I just fished my cable under the carpet and it popped out where the center console is located. I then drilled a hole just big enough to get the cable through and put everything back together again. The whole process took about 45 minutes.

If you want PM me your email address and I will send you the pictures as I can't find an easy way to attach them to this post.

[calinMD]

Thanks!
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