I just installed my newministuff.com aftermarket nav audio interface - it works, but the level of the nav audio is VERY low compared to whatever is playing on the HK, so low I can't hear what it's saying when it cuts in (and the nav is set to max volume). I'm using a Garmin Nuvi 350 - and the output from it is fine if I connect to Aux. Anybody else who has this interface seen this problem? I'm sure this works usually, don't know if I have a bad unit, or something's adjusted wrong, or ??? I emailed Mikey but am trying to resolve ASAP before I have to leave town on Sunday...

Thanks for any help.

 

Hi Paul,

Got your PM, but it's probably better if I try and answer you here instead.

I did indeed install Mike's nav audio interface kit in one of my MINIs and it works just great. See the following write-up for all the information:

Aftermarket Nav Integration

The trick (and in your case, the problem) is that my particular installation contained a self-amplified external speaker that I was able to tap in to. The amplified speaker output provided the boosted sound level that the system required (as the nav interface kit is set up to work with an already amplified speaker output and not a pre-amplified audio level input signal - if that makes any sense).

A while ago, I switched over to using a nuvi 360, and just like you, I found that the audio level was way too low. It turns out that the signal coming from the audio output jack on the nuvi wasn't amplified like my other setup was (hence the low volume). I ended up writing Mikey over at newministuff.com and he told me that a tiny headphone amplifier is required in order to boost the signal output from the audio jack so that it will work with the nav interface kit.

Unfortunately, I never followed up with him about what type of headphone amplifier he uses because I ended up selling my nuvi. Thus, I'm afraid that I can't offer you any more info other than the fact that you need a headphone amplifier in order to increase the output signal from the headphone jack.

Mikey's always more than willing to help, and so I'm sure that he'll get back with you ASAP.

I hope this helps some and please do pass along any info you find out from Mikey, etc.

-- MIKE

 

There are numerous portable, battery powered headphone amplifiers on the market that are meant to be used with iPod and MP3 players. Here is one example: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...805845-5030413

 

Thanks for the info - I had already considered that a headphone amp might be a workaround - in my case I specifically ordered the device from newministuff for use with the Nuvi headphone jack (vs the one with the speaker interface that was described in your writeup - mine had a 1/8" stereo plug installed)- so I would expect that it would work without additional hardware, or at least a disclaimer that I'd need something else to make it work... I used to have a boostaroo, don't know what ever happened to it... time to go hunting, I guess...

But I'm still hopeful that Mikey will have a better solution (else I'll have to rig a 12 volt hardwired conversion for the boostaroo....)

 

Yes, I completely agree in that a 12 volt solution really needs to be used as it would stink having to change the batteries in a Boostaroo unit all of the time. I do hope Mikey has a better solution.

BTW, I've actually yanked my nav interface kit out of the car due to the same problem we're talking about here. Thus, if a good solution can be found, I'll probably end up putting it back in as it's really nice hearing the guidance directions from a portable nav device over the MINI's factory radio. Using the Aux input isn't near as nice of a soultion since it only allows you to hear the voice commands when you are in Aux mode and not when listening to the AM/FM radio, satellite radio, a CD, etc.

-- MIKE

 

Yep. Right now I have three cables magically appearing out of the crack around the access door under the toggles: power for Nuvi, nav audio interface cable, aux cable. My hope is I can get this fixed and just switch between aux and nav interface cables on the nuvi depending on whether I'm using it for MP3's or not. Someday might get ambitious and setup a single cable with an inline switch to toggle between aux & nav interface. Though with separate cables I could plug the aux into the ipod and still use the nav interface as designed... everything's always a trade-off...