Hello all. Just thought I would share my solution to the Harmon Kardon low volume problem. I have a 2005 MCS which is able to play MP3 CDs. What I do before I burn a disc is normalize the MP3s using a program called MP3Gain. Basicly it increases the overall volume of the song. Here are some basic instructions:

1. COPY all of the songs you want to burn to CD into a seperate folder because once you apply this change to the MP3 file it is permanent
2. Drag&drop the folder onto the MP3Gain window, you will see a list of songs appear
3. Set the "Target Normal Volume" to 98 (you can go higher but you may get noticable clipping / static in your music)
4. Hit the TRACK GAIN button and it will adjust the volume on all your MP3s in the list
5. Burn to CD and enjoy your louder songs!

This will also work for pre-2005 head units. Just run MP3Gain on your MP3s before you burn them as an audio CD.

And of course to get even more volume make sure you set the Treble and Bass to their default flat settings, and try the Electronic mode in the stereo. Hope this helps some of you out!

 

You can also go into the Audio setup of the Head unit and increase the amplifier boost. I just need to figure out how I did it the first time. Ill post it later.

G

 

MP3Gain does not modify the file itself, you do not need to make a backup. It changes the tag information, and tells the player to boost output. Some players do not support that tag information though (Like iPODS).


If you know how to boost the amp signal, please post it!

 

id like to know how to boost the signal too, is it in the "off on hold m for ten seconds" menu?

 

Is boosting HK amp volume via menus a myth or not?

 

sorry, can't seem to delete my post.

 

There is no way to boost the amp or CD or changer volume that I have ever seen. Only the AUX input level. Everytime I see this posted as an option, the poster comes back with 'oops I was wrong' or just disappears.

 

It most certainly does modify the file. You are confusing this with the ReplayGain standard which tags the file but does not make any modifications to the actual volume of the mp3. You can easily see this by viewing the original and MP3Gain'd files in a sound editor.

 

What kaeleria means is that MP3GAIN does not alter the MP3 music data; all it does it writes a +/-level code to a specific part of the file.
To do the same without this, the program would need to decode the MP3 data, scale up/down the sound level, then re-encode it - this would introduce distortion, and it does not do it that way.

 

Ok I'm not going to keep trying to explain this Make an MP3 or Audio CD with two of the same tracks. Run MP3Gain on one of the tracks and keep the other one original. When you listen to them in your MINI one of them will be louder than the other. No re-encoding necessary. MP3Gain = modifies (not re-encodes) values in the MP3 file to change the volume as well as writing a tag with undo information. Replaygain = writes a tag to tell programs that support it to adjust the volume when played. If you guys read the FAQ on the web site it will explain this exactly. Anyway, I've been enjoying increased volume from my HK for months and it is due to MP3Gain.

 

Don't have HK, but I have been using MP3Gain to equalize the volumns on MP3's garnered from many sources. Works great. Don't have to keep adjusting the volumn with each song that plays.

 

<pout> ...Sigh...

 

Ran48 - yes when you use a player that utilizes the tag feature (such as the H/K headuint with an MP3 burned CDR) it works great! Unfortunately, ipods do not use the tags going through the line-out, and there is no effect whatsoever playing though one. So for me, using an ipod through the factory interface, there is no effect.

 

GMFlash - you're right and wrong. Yes this is working for you - because you are playing the mp3's with your headunit, which supports tags. Both MP3gain and replaygain do the same thing, both alter the tags. You said the same thing two different ways as if they are different. If you were to use an ipod through it's line-out for exmaple, or any other player that does not support tags, you would see that neither tool has any effect.

I went through all this a couple months ago - believe me I researched everything possible to get my mp3's louder through the ipod. I have over 70GB of ripped CDs that I really enjoy listening too, but hate that I'm only getting about 80% of the line level to match the radio output.

I made my collection the best possible through Sound Forge, to actually re-encode my entire collection (took 4 1/2 days to process) to at least get them to their highest optimum levels. It made a good improvement, but I would still like more, I know it's possible as far as the amp is concerned.

 

The only tag that MP3Gain writes to the file is one that containes undo information. Every MP3 contains a value that tells the player "this is the base volume of the song" and that is what MP3Gain modifies. You could then convert that MP3 to any other file format or Audio CD and the volume level would always be the same. ReplayGain does this in the opposite way. Instead of modifying that "base volume" value directly in the file it writes a tag that tells supported players "override the base volume with this one instead" and if you want to undo it the tag is simply deleted. If you burned a ReplayGain'd MP3 as an Audio CD or converted it to a different file format then the ReplayGain tag will be lost and you will hear the song at its original volume unlike MP3Gain preserving the volume.