superslimer

That's good to know. When you updated the latest 2011 CNSD-210FM how did you get past the password part? I'm trying to do the same right now.

 

Thanks!

Chris... The media serial number is provided together with the package. Here are the steps to update:

Step 1: Get the device number from your Avic unit.

Step 2. https://www.pioneernavigationupdate.com/navigationupdate and enter your device number and media number and this will generate a password.

Step 3: Update your Avic with the SD cards that you ordered and enter the password that was generated for you.

I'm guessing you might have hit the "restore factory settings" at some point. To get it back go to Setting > System Settings > Regional Settings > Voice Language > US English (TTS). That should bring Text-to-Speech back.

For all those who are having Pandora issues after the software upgrade:

Scenario: So I upgraded my x920bt with the latest 2011 CNSD-210FM software. Everything went smoothly, all the new features are in, but Pandora Link didn't work. So I decided to call Pioneer to see if they can help me troubleshoot the issue. According to the operator it is a known issue with the new software. You must have at least one song stored in the iPhone because for some reason the AVIC searches and indexes the iPod library first before switching to Pandora or Aha Radio app mode. If the iPod library is empty it'll get stuck at the indexing stage and won't move on to Pandora or Aha Radio app mode. Sounded like total BULLSHIT but I decided to believe the guy anyway in the spur of that moment, because my iPhone was indeed empty.

So I actually took the guy's advice and decided to load a song and then see if it works. And it still didn't work. After 15 minutes of fiddling with it I got fed up and decided to give up. But before I totally gave up and got out of the car, I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't a network or a Pandora connectivity issue. So I started the native Pandora app just to test the network. Surprisingly AVIC automatically switched the source to Pandora mode and Pandora is now working fine. Just to make sure that it has nothing to do with the indexing of the iPod library, I even deleted the one song that I loaded earlier and tried again and it still worked.

Lesson Learned: If you upgraded the software on the x920bt/z120bt or if you have the x930bt/z130bt, you DO NOT need the Pandora Link app anymore. Pandora mode works with the native iPhone Pandora app. It will also automatically switch the source to Pandora if the Pandora app is running on your iPhone. It has nothing to do with having an empty iPod library on your iPhone.

For all those who are having Pandora issues after the software upgrade:

Scenario: So I upgraded my x920bt with the latest 2011 CNSD-210FM software. Everything went smoothly, all the new features are in, but Pandora Link didn't work. So I decided to call Pioneer to see if they can help me troubleshoot the issue. According to the operator it is a known issue with the new software. You must have at least one song stored in the iPhone because for some reason the AVIC searches and indexes the iPod library first before switching to Pandora or Aha Radio app mode. If the iPod library is empty it'll get stuck at the indexing stage and won't move on to Pandora or Aha Radio app mode. Sounded like total BULLSHIT but I decided to believe the guy anyway in the spur of that moment, because my iPhone was indeed empty.

So I actually took the guy's advice and decided to load a song and then see if it works. And it still didn't work. After 15 minutes of fiddling with it I got fed up and decided to give up. But before I totally gave up and got out of the car, I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't a network or a Pandora connectivity issue. So I started the native Pandora app just to test the network. Surprisingly AVIC automatically switched the source to Pandora mode and Pandora is now working fine. Just to make sure that it has nothing to do with the indexing of the iPod library, I even deleted the one song that I loaded earlier and tried again and it still worked.

Lesson Learned: If you upgraded the software on the x920bt/z120bt or if you have the x930bt/z130bt, you DO NOT need the Pandora Link app anymore. Pandora mode works with the native iPhone Pandora app. It will also automatically switch the source to Pandora if the Pandora app is running on your iPhone. It has nothing to do with having an empty iPod library on your iPhone.

I'm trying to tune my AVIC Z120BT for the best sound. I don't listen real loud, but I like to hear everything very clearly. I have component speakers and a factory sub.

 

My settings are

HPF = 50hz.

Sub = 63hz.

I have the EQ set custom the far left is at zero, and each setting to the right of that goes up one level. I notice vocals are still a little.... muddy. For deeper vocals like Jimmy Buffett it is decent, but for something higher like Howard Jones it isn't good enough. I had to raise up the 800hz and 2k hz up to the 5kh mark.

 

If you like your sound, how do you set yours?

In my honest opinion,

The purpose of the HPF (High Pass Filter) is to cut out the low frequencies from the speakers so the high and mid frequencies are projected clearly, and the purpose of the LPF (Low Pass Filter) is to cut out the high and mid frequencies so the low frequencies are projected clearly. The settings you stated above are doing exactly the opposite. Your HPF is set way too low and LPF is way too high. The gap in your HPF and LPF is duplicating the signal cutoff to your speakers and subs, which means you're sending some of the same signals to both the subs and speakers (in your case it's between 50Hz and 63Hz). Most common bass frequencies are between 45Hz to 100Hz and by setting your LPF to 63Hz you're losing almost half the bass notes your subs can or and should handle. The most common high/mid frequencies are between 120Hz - 20KHz and by setting your HPF to 50Hz you're giving your speakers more than it should handle. This is not only sounds bad but also decreases the life and the performance of your speakers.

My recommendation for the most optimum HPF and LPF cutoff is 100Hz. That way anything above 100Hz is filtered out from the subs and anything below is filtered out from the speakers. This eliminates the gap and you're not losing or duplicating signals by sending distinct signals to speakers that are meant to handle them. This also maintains the life of your speakers. Last thing you want is a blown out speaker.

As for the EQ, set it to flat and play with each freq by increasing or decreasing not more than 3 levels (db) above or below flat (0). By going way above or below flat you're creating a sound nuance and skewing the musical property intended by the track and/or artist. Also the intervals between frequencies should not be more than 1 level (db) above or below from the previous and next frequency. If your intervals are too high you're again skewing the musical property intended. My personal recommendation for optimal 7 band EQ setting is (1 2 1 0 1 2 3) where 0=flat.

By the way '1loudls' is absolutely right. Every car and speaker has a different acoustical property and every listener has their own taste on how they enjoy sound. So the ultimate best setting is based on the acoustical property of the car and speakers as well as the listeners taste. The recommendation I've stated above is based merely on the fact that all frequencies are meant not to be lost in translation to sound and to hear every single note and frequency by not skewing the musical property intended, and of course given the acoustical property is able to handle it.

So if my recommendation above doesn't suit your taste then just play with it and hopefully you'll eventually find the setting that you'll like.

Anybody who have issue have a 1 farad or higher cap installed ? If this is related to a power spike caused by the HIDs I wonder if a installing a cap may fix it.

I have a scion tC with aftermarket HID lighting. Kit is from DDM tuning. I ran a harness with a relay on the HID's (They are 55w version) and have not experienced any problems with the unit losing audio when turning them on or off. Everything is working fine.

Do you have both highs and lows? I have a scion tc with highs and lows HID's. For me the issue is with high beam. No problem with low beam.

Have you read the previous posts on this thread about how to fix it?

Did you do any of what was recommended in those previous posts?

 

This thread has solutions listed, if you have tried those solutions and they didn't work, you should say that.

The solution listed in this thread is to not use a relayed harness. My HID's (35W) are plugged directly into the factory harness without using any relays or relayed harness. The issue is still on for me.

Pioneer customer service has been non-responsive like they are not even aware of this problem.

The problem is the spike of ac power coming from the lights as they turn on creating noise that then messes with the unit. Working with an electrical engineer and veteran car audio installer today, we found a fix that doesn't involve altering or messing with the HIDs, the unit, or harness at all and takes about 60 seconds to do if you have the correct parts. We will be making a number of the fixes both for our audio shop and to sell online for $20.

How can we get this?

I have the same problem. Cant seem to find a solution anywhere on the web. Pioneer customer service didnt help at all.

This is incorrect. I am one of the Pioneer engineers and I can tell you the traffic works through an external add on which is compatible with model year 11 software. The traffic connector is a 6 pin harness that connects to the 6 pin plug to the left of the main power supply. After you update the unit and purchase the traffic receiver you will be able to receive traffic on model year 10 units. I have personally tested this on the Avic Z 120bt.

Is this also true for x920bt or will it only work on the z120bt?