Eclipse Install Troubleshooting - Volume, iPod and Antenna

[eric-johnson]

This weekend I completed a full strereo upgrade install, see my signature for the details.

Here are the few problems I am trying to solve that don't seem to be addressed specifically anywhere else in this forum yet:

1. Volume level seems quiet. I turn this deck up to 40 (halfway point) and it is fairly quiet, very easy to talk on the phone or have conversations with passengers. I can turn it all the way up to 80 (max) and it is very powerful and sounds great but it is certainly not deafening. Question: Is this normal for Eclipse Head Units? (I am running a 50 x 4, 300 x 1 Eclipse amplifier)

2. I connected my 80 gB iPod to the unit and it works just fine. The problem is that when I tell the unit to search the artists, albums or genres it doesn't work. I can search the songs and the playlists. Anyone else have this problem. I have74 gb of music so I am thinking that the amount of data is giving it problems but I have no idea.

3. The Radio reception is WAY worse than the stock JBL system. I understand that I just need to connect the antenna amplifier cable from the stock harness to the power antenna connection on the Eclipse HU harness. Is this correct? Does it really help?

 

[Spider5]

1. I typically run mine between 35-45 so this seems correct.

2. I don't have this issue but I only have the 8g nano.

3. Hooking up the power on the antenna works like night and day on reception making it even better than the stock radio.

 

[eric-johnson]

Thanks for the reply.

After some trial and error I have found that the ipod control starts having issues around 45-50 gb. I have started talking to Eclipse and they are looking into it.

I am getting used to the volume level, thanks for the input, glad to know it is pretty standard.

Very happy to hear about the antenna amp, I will be hooking it up this weekend so hopefully all goes well. I wil try to get pictures of the whole install this weekend as well.

 

[nserpa9248]

Seeing those ipod adapters myself, they are all pretty slow...whether its pioneer, alpine, eclipse, etc etc...they are still a little delayed, and sometimes non-functional...

Best bet would be to keep the music on the ipod to a reasonable amount of space, and make sure your ipod's software is up to date...


You should be able to adjust the EQ out of the radio, with that kind of deck you preout volatge is +5v or more correct?

It should be plenty loud, OR your amplifiers gains are a little low..

Antenna problems been explained, try that out...


Goodluck man!

 

[eric-johnson]

OK, the CD7100 has 8volt preouts (the cd7000 only had 5v). I think that contribute to the fact that I can put the gain all the way up on my amps with no issues (the gain goes up to 8volts).

Because of the high output I decided to upgrade from the XA5000 to an XA4000 (4 x 125) and an X1000 (480 x 1 @ 2ohm). I absolutely love it. Sounds awesome and clean. I can still get it up to 80 but it is a whole different level of sound.

The antenna amplifier is a MAJOR improvement, I can't believe this isn't covered in most discussions about HU replacement. It isn't in Crutchfield's Mastersheet either.

One other intersting discovery this weekend: According to JL Audio the 4Runner stealthbox is equipped with a Dual Voice Coil (2ohm+2ohm) 10" Woofer-10W3v2-D2 wired in series for 4 ohm load and 300 Watt power handling. However, when I pulled the sub out it was in fact a 10w3v2-D4 which is (4ohm+4ohm DVC) wired in parallel for a 2ohm load. That's important information!! So I am now running a 300Watt sub at 480 Watts. Hopefully I am not flirting with disaster...Oh well, it sounds amazing. Sorry no pics. I will try to get some soon.

 

[nserpa9248]

I would mayb send your gain down a little on your sub amp, as you mayb be clipping the sub without knowing it..

Best bet, take it to a car-audio shop, and charge them the 20 or so dollars to tune your system, it will sound great no matter what kind of music you are listening to.