Aux in sounds horrible

I have a 2009 Tacoma Prerunner with stock audio and when I try to plug any audio device (iPod, Blackberry, and Droid) to the aux in, it sounds absolutely horrible. The sound is very low and cassette tape-esc quality. Is this normal?

I bought my truck about 2 hours away, so I don't want to make a trip for nothing.

Thanks

 

Mine doesn't sound worse than any other input method. You might want to check the connections/crimps and make sure everything is securely attached.

That said, the factory audio system isn't particularly good, and the JBL isn't very impressive either. Go aftermarket for everything (including amplification) if you want it to sound good.

 

I just think it's how the system is playing/executing the ACC (or whatever iPod uses) or MP3 formats. My wife's AUX in her Altima is terrible also. Tinty-sounding and EQ unbalanced.

 

Have you messed with your eq settings on your ipod? I found this works pretty well with my wife's car. (Toyota Highlander)

 

my aux input sounded exactly like the other input sounds. Make sure that the volume on the device that you're using is turned up high.

 

Ipods sound bad because their native digital-analog converter is TERRIBLE, and it becomes very apparent at high volumes.

 

Or if you want to poor-man's that cable, just put some magnets on each end.

 

My ipod sounds fine in My 09 i have the square nano whatever gen that is i can't keep up

 

My IPOD sounds perfect in my 09. Very pleased with the AUX plug-in

 

I bought a cmoy power amp from ebay. It's a home made amplifier packaged in an altoid tin.

This boosts the ipod input to a decent level without adding distortion.

A must buy in my opinion.

 

It sounds alright on mine, but I have to turn the iPhone volume all the way up, and the car volume up to about 50 to hear the music clearly.

 

My AUX blows!

 

Songs/books whatever copied from a cd onto an ipod sounds a whole lot better than something downloaded from something like napster or itunes, seeing as the file has the crap compressed out of it.

 

I have a 2009 Civic Si the AUX sounds OK unless you try to crank it up.

 

I have a 2010 Tacoma and have the same exact problem, volume too low. I also have a 2009 Camry SE, the Ipod works perfectly. There is definitely an issue with the head units used in the Tacoma. Go to the dealer and ask them to compare the sound quality in a camry and your Tacoma, you will be surprised by the difference!

 

I consider myself to have pretty discerning ears, I was a jazz performance major for over 15 years. I bought a cd of a recent album I had a copy of from iTunes on my iPod. I tried them side by side in my truck and to my shock- other than volume, the audio quality was damn near the same. I always have my iPod set on "Acoustic" setting, use a Monster brand aux cable, and have the iPod volume about 80%. Go figure, I couldn't believe it!

 

Using the "sound check" in itunes preferences and then updating the ipod as well as giving the volumes a little bost in the playback tab - I can now listen to ipod at volume 15-25 instead of 45 on my stock HU. This can be found in another thread as well. It is not the HU it is the output of the ipod and the various volumes on the songs.

Also the "rock" EQ on Ipod works well for my ears.

 

I am using my Motorola Droid with volume all the way... still crap.

 

My Droid sounds exactly like my CD player. I have the volume at max on Droid and radio at 40. Lets just be clear... the stock radio SUCKS. I am pulling everything and putting about $4K in gear in to replace everything.