[KCWolfPck]

I have an '09 328i e93 w/ iDrive Nav and the iPod/USB factory installed option. IPod sound terrific using the iPod connector.

I just bought one of those XM SkyDocks, which is basically an XM receiver that uses your iPhone/iPod screen as the controller. When I connect the SkyDock via the 3.5mm cable into the aux input, the audio quality is terrible. If I use the FM transmitter built into the SkyDock, the audio quality is much improved...excellent even. However, the aux input should be the superior connection.

Any ideas as to what might be causing this lack of quality using the aux input?

FYI - I messed with the volume settings in the device and the aux input setting. Nothing made it sound as good as FM transmitter. Confused?!?!?

[deletedelete]

Yeah, the aux in should sound much better. Maybe the 3.5mm cable is bad, or its a ground loop?

[EZ_TUR90]

AUX jack maybe defective. My AUX jack sounds great with the IPOD!

[KCWolfPck]

It probably doesn't matter, but I forgot to mention I also have the Logic7 upgraded audio.

Like I said, the audio when using the iPod dongle sounds great. I'll check into the possibility of a faulty 3.5mm cable.

[deletedelete]

If the cable isnt bad, go to radio shack and get a feedback loop isolator. I think thats what its called. It should clean up any interference. If its not either of those two things then I dont know whats wrong.

[KCWolfPck]

The lack of quality doesn't appear to be the result of any sort of interference. There is just a general lack of volume and lack of full frequency response and dynamics. The sound is just.....blah.

[fernande-bmw]

You said that the connecting the iPod directly sounds fine.

Could it be possible that the electronics of the XM SkyDocks are the ones messing up with the sound quality?

One test that comes to mind is to use an AUX cable through the line out dock connector of the iPod and check the sound quality. If that works, I think the problem is in the XM SkyDocks.

[cfabluenose]

I would bet on a faulty auxiliary cable. Happened to me and I got buzzing and limited volume. A better quality, new cable made all the difference.

[bhatheway50]

I am having the same issue with my SkyDock, it sounds good on FM, and only so-so when plugged into the Aux jack, lacking in volume & dynamic range. I also notice the music has a slight echo when plugged into the Aux jack, but none when connected through FM.
Have you been able to resolve this problem with a new patch cable?
I'm considering just getting the Sirius FM Direct box installed (only $20), and forgoing the Aux input altogether.
Otherwise the SkyDock works great, I purchased a 10' smb cable to plug into my shark fin antenna connector in the trunk and that works perfectly as well.

[iBeech]

Maybe they're trying to promote FM, so made the aux terrible for that reason?

[kirby135i]

has anyone had any luck with this? I have the phone/ipod interface but wanted XM and thought that was a good idea...from reading above sounds like the sound quality is bad?

[fdriller9]

Just an idea, I only skimmed through your thread. Maybe a power cable is interfering with the aux cable? I know (sometimes) when a cable is poorly insulated it will interfere with audio. Thus the reason audio and power cables are run on opposite sides of the car.

[arnewcomb]

Has anyone figured this out? I have a 128i and have the exact same problem with my Skydock and the aux cable. Thanks in advance.

[fdriller9]

Thinking about it again...the headphone jack is lower quality signal than the dock connector. The dock connector is a line out signal which is much better and I'm guessing the skydock uses the line out through the dock connector. If you get a BlackBerry Stereo Gateway, you can stream the music over Bluetooth to your aux port. Will sound much better.

[VP Electricity]

I don't understand why you need the SkyDock... just get a charger and an AUX cable.

Different problem - but the SkyDock should be irrelevant.

[fdriller9]

I think the OP wants sat radio which is what the sky dock provides.

[CIGARGUY]

There should be an output setting withing the satelite receiver. Make sure the output isn't turned way down. The first time I installed one in my car (2005) I ran into this same problem.

[VP Electricity]

Originally Posted by *********

I think the OP wants sat radio which is what the sky dock provides.

Uh, but there is a free XM/Sirius streaming app for the iPhone.

So if you use the headphone output (or a DICE cradle and a DICE AUX) why do you need the Skydock again?

I thought that all the Skydock got you was FMM and charging...

[kaigoss69]

Originally Posted by VP Electricity

Uh, but there is a free XM/Sirius streaming app for the iPhone.

But streaming Radio on the iPhone will no longer be viable for most users since AT&T will end the unlimited data plan option later this month...grrrrr.

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by kaigoss69

But streaming Radio on the iPhone will no longer be viable for most users since AT&T will end the unlimited data plan option later this month...grrrrr.

Yea that sucks. But the price for a 2GB plan is about the same price and AT&T claims the following:

DataPlus. Provides 200 megabytes (MB) of data – for example, enough to send/receive 1,000 emails (no attachments), plus send/receive 150 emails with attachments, plus view 400 Web pages, plus post 50 photos on social media sites, plus watch 20 minutes of streaming video – for just $15 per month.** This plan, which can save customers up to 50 percent off their wireless data charges, is designed for people who primarily like to surf the web, send email and use social networking apps. If customers exceed 200 MB in a monthly billing cycle, they will receive an additional 200 MB of data usage for $15 for use in the cycle. Currently, 65 percent of AT&T smartphone customers use less than 200 MB of data per month on average.

DataPro. Provides 2 gigabytes (GB) of data – for example, enough to send/receive 10,000 emails (no attachments), plus send/receive 1,500 emails with attachments, plus view 4,000 Web pages, plus post 500 photos to social media sites, plus watch 200 minutes of streaming video – for $25 per month.** Should a customer exceed 2 GB during a billing cycle, they will receive an additional 1 GB of data for $10 for use in the cycle. Currently, 98 percent of AT&T smartphone customers use less than 2 GB of data a month on average.

Tethering. Smartphone customers – including iPhone customers – who choose the DataPro plan have the option to add tethering for an additional $20 per month. Tethering lets customers use their smartphones as a modem to provide a broadband connection for laptop computers, netbooks or other computing devices. Tethering for iPhones will be available when Apple releases iPhone OS 4 this summer.

Not bad.

[kaigoss69]

Do you work for AT&T, LOL. How many hours of streaming audio are allowed??? I use iHeartradio and Pandora, for example, 2-4 hours a day. I searched like crazy but I can't figure out for the life of me how many friggin megabites those apps consume per hour... but I bet I would be way over 2 gig, especially with emails, web pages, and data usage from other iPhone apps I use every day.

[wareagle900]

back to op,

It sound like the skydock is the issue here. you may be out of luck with the skydock.If multiple people are having problems with them,

How does the aux sound when it is connected to ipod 3.5mm and nothing else?