iPhone sound only right channel

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by **caveman666** on Tue Aug 11, 2009 2:47 am

Hi all. I have an f90bt. Was working perfectly since xmas. Recently did the 3.01 update. Sound has been lower on all functions(Read that others noticed lower volume since update too). 30 used to be loud, now more like 40. Then today I realized when listening to music from my iPhone it was playing through only the right channel. Anyone have any insight into this problem?

by **GeezMo76** on Tue Aug 11, 2009 1:18 pm

Are you using the pioneer cable? If so get rid of it that is your problem. Switch over to the Apple or Monster cable which I'm using. Should solve your problem.

by **caveman666** on Tue Aug 11, 2009 3:44 pm

Why would that work though. It worked perfectly till the updates were done. What is the diference in the cables? It sucks to have to buy a new cable when I already have one that worked.

by **caveman666** on Tue Aug 11, 2009 8:41 pm

Hmmm. Now today it is working again so far.....

by **WilliamG** on Tue Aug 11, 2009 10:06 pm

This is starting to become a more prevalent issue. It's SOMETHING to do with the connectors SOMEWHER to the iPod/iPhone, as you'll find when it does it that your other sound inputs work fine, i.e. radio/cd player etc will play properly through all the speakers. Nobody knows for sure what the issue is, yet. There's just speculation it's the white/red RCAs, but there's been no definitive proof of this.

by **caveman666** on Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:22 am

Thanks for the informative post. I will keep an eye on it and if I figure anything out post my findings.

by **dianebrat** on Wed Aug 12, 2009 3:02 am

WilliamG wrote:This is starting to become a more prevalent issue. It's SOMETHING to do with the connectors SOMEWHER to the iPod/iPhone, as you'll find when it does it that your other sound inputs work fine, i.e. radio/cd player etc will play properly through all the speakers. Nobody knows for sure what the issue is, yet. There's just speculation it's the white/red RCAs, but there's been no definitive proof of this.

This isn't rocket science guys, troubleshooting will help someone figure out which if the many reasons that could cause it to happen are the issue in their individual case. All the other listed sources are internal, they don't use any of the path listed below.

Since we know that the analog in is where the audio comes in, one can choose to remove the dock and dock connector from the equation by using a simple 3.5mm to RCA cable out of an audio device into the AVIC RCA's if it still happens then it's either the RCA itself, or as some have found, the header in the AVIC that the RCAs plug into.

The AVIC does nothing digital with the ipod audio, it simply feeds in analog, and that's easy to trace and troubleshoot. People keep trying to make this into a more complicated issue, it's simple analog signal tracing and troubleshooting. Too many people are looking to "prove how bad the AVIC is" by damning this, but it's one of the most brilliantly simple things Pioneer did.

Your choices of there the audio issue is coming from isn't a tough one, it uses the following analog path:
ipod side of the dock connector/analog
cable side of the dock connector/analog
RCA cable out of the dock connector
RCA cable into the AVIC
header pins in the harness from the RCA jacks
internal header jack of the AVIC
and last and least likely, internal signal paths in the AVIC

by **foggy** on Sat Aug 15, 2009 8:55 am

I had this, with out a doubt the cable was at fault. It was fine for a good 7-8 months then it start dropping the sound level on the left side, changed the cable all good again for now.

by **Nevadadrifter** on Sun Aug 16, 2009 2:03 am

What cable did you change to?

by **venusfan** on Sun Aug 30, 2009 5:03 pm

I just realized my iphone was only playing sound from he left sides last night. The left front and back speakers were working but nothing on the right. I would have to have to pull out the radio and change the cable as it was such an hard time run that cable under the dash. It was working before I did the 3.0 update though but as mention it maybe the cable to I may try and change the cable.

by **free_refil** on Sun Oct 04, 2009 3:07 am

It has nothing to do with firmware/software.

It is a hardware issue, one Pioneer is aware of. The plug that the white harness plugs into that connects all the RCA cables to the unit has a weak solder joint and causes the iPod RCA inputs from the iPod cable to short out either left or right or both, sometimes fade in and out (loosing connection). Pioneer will fix it for you so send it in for repairs..

by **ms3Brendan** on Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:56 pm

Yeah, I've been having the same issue too and sometimes if I'd turn hard the speakers would kick back in. I found that if you just simply unplug it and plug it back it, it generally fixes it.

Are you saying to just use the USB cable for the iPhone/iPod straight into the USB cable on the unit's end and that'll prevent this issue?

by **free_refil** on Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:44 pm

The USB Interface is for controlling the songs and pulling your library to the unit, the sound still has to go through the RCA connections, so using just an iPhone/iPod USB cable won't work as you won't have any sound. Chances are, if you've got the sound cutting in and out, and you've checked the dock connector and RCA connections, you need to send it in for repair.

by **bigPHIL18** on Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:58 pm

I had a similar problem I believe. The sound was quieter out of that right channel too. The problem happened rarely and then became more and more prevalent. I then could not stop it from happening. I obviously had checked all connections and put it down to something to with the Pioneer iPod cable. RCA plugged in, differnt iPod same result.

In the end made the jump to the Apple one, still working now.

by **venusfan** on Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:30 pm

Just want to say I as having the same problem.. the ipod classic, touch and iphone no sound from right speakers. I gave up an got the apple $50 cable and itstalled and everything is working perfectly right now so it was indeed the pioneer cable.