Has anyone had any issues with the (lack of) volume level using the SNHOND3 aux input?

So far, I have connected my iPAQ and Sony XM Radio to it, and I had to max the line out levels on both of them then crank my volume almost to max on the car audio system just to get a marginally loud sound.

Has anyone else had this trouble? I am trying to find an RCA-based amplifier, but I'm not sure what quality I would see/hear.

 

I haven't had any big problems with sound levels, but it is probably about 5 'clicks' lower than the built-in CD player volume is.

 

Wow, mine is significantly lower than that. I would say to achieve a CD volume of 25 using the SNHOND3, I would have to crank it up to 39-40 (40 is the max). It is completely distortion free, but not nearly loud enough. Soundgate recommended that I purchase their line level attentuator (AVM2):

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/sounsnavm2.html

which I am considering.

 

You might try the Boostaroo in line amp. It runs off a AA battery and provides three headphone jacks for output. Used with a single output it can do a good job of boosting headphone-level outputs.
Its about $30.
Radio Shack carries it, among other places.
They also carry a $25 phone-pre-amp that uses RCA jacks; I haven't tried it with anything but a turntable but it should do the job for you. It runs off a 9V battery.

And, yes, the volume through the aux line-in is a bit lower than the built-in CD player but, remember, you're feeding the line-in a signal meant for headphones.

Me, I have no real problem; my digital jukebox fills the car at a level of 25-30 with the player set to the same level I normally listen to on the headphones; about 80% of MAX.

As always, your milleage may vary... :-)

 

Logjam either does not understand your problem or does not care. Their attenuator will not fix your problem. An attenuator can only reduce volume, not boost it. It would take a device like the one fjtorres mentioned or one of the line drivers from www.davidnavone.com

This should be exactly what you want: http://www.davidnavone.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=N-64

 

I decided to try BOOSTAROO product so I could increase my volume output with SNH3. I don't particularly like messing around with factory wires so this is the next best thing.

It was $22 and I guess it does an okay job. You can hear little bit of distortion on a slow-classical songs at high volume, but otherwise it's pretty good. I would recommend using rechargeable batteries with it though...

- Before Boostaroo: car volume had to be around 25-30 with windows-down.
- After Boostaroo: car volume is around 10-20 with windows-down. (switching from radio to CDC is much more accommodating at this volume level

 

I would try a Phoenix Gold PLD 22.

 

Second that.

 

Are you sure your not using the headphone-out jack instead of a true "line-out"? This will result in much lower volume which is controled by the volumes on both your mp3 player and the car stereo.

 

Correction: It's actually the Phoenix Gold TLD22 not PLD.

 

Unlike most CD based MP3 players that has seperate "Line-Out", Creative Labs ZenXtra MP3 player that I have only has "Headphone-Out". If I understand your comment correctly.

Yes, I think true "Line-Out" would have better amplified sound as compared to "Headphone-Out".

 

do they make a SNHOND3 for output?