Database Info

My solution to the lack of aux jack on the car dock.

I agree that having an aux jack on the Nexus One car dock would be pretty sweet, but it is what it is, and I wanted to move on... Here is what I did:
Nexus One (duh)
Nexus One car dock (...)
Kensington LiquidAuxbluetooth car kit: us.kensington.com/html/14484.html
Micro USB cable
Plug the Kensington L.A. into the accessory outlet, and connect the audio output plug to your AUX on your stereo. The L.A. provides a USB port to use for the Micro USB cable. (for charging)
Plug the micro USB cable in this port and route to your car dock.
Once you pair your phone with the L.A. place it in the car dock and setup the audio to be whatever combination you would like. I personally use the dock for calls (because the mic is better) and the L.A. for audio.
One accessory outlet, (no splitters) one wire coming from it to the dock, audio routed through the AUX in your stereo, and (IMO) really great call audio thanks to the dock and noise canceling, which still works with the phone in the dock...
Just sharing my experience, YMMV, IANAL, OMG, WTF, BBQ...
Pics - Add http to them to view (I can't post links yet apparently...)
yfrog.com/2r20100415073238j -LiquidAUX Device
yfrog.com/1420100415073316j - Plugged into AUX and has Micro USB connected.
yfrog.com/2m20100415073324j - Cable Routing 1
yfrog.com/j120100415073338j - Cable Routing 2
yfrog.com/4720100415073414j - Wheel wireless remote, media functions work, I couldn't get phone button to do anything, but that may be a settings thing.
yfrog.com/0b20100415073331j - Dock on the windscreen, the stock MicroUSB cable that comes with the phone is pretty 'stiff' and stays in place very well.

Pics please...

Awesome Find.
30 bucks with free shipping on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-LiquidAUX-Bluetooth-Remote-Phones/dp/B0011UIX2K
I'm about to order mine

+ 1. That looks like a really good solution. Another benefit you did not mention is that by powering the Car Dock with the Micro USB cable, you do away with the spiral lead that is on the Car Dock power supply. So easier to route and hide.
Any issues with charging the phone and powering the car dock? Isn't the car doc charger higher output than regular chargers and perhaps the one on the LiquidAux?

how's the music sound quality?
Sent from my Nexus One using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

logger said:
+ 1. That looks like a really good solution. Another benefit you did not mention is that by powering the Car Dock with the Micro USB cable, you do away with the spiral lead that is on the Car Dock power supply. So easier to route and hide.
Any issues with charging the phone and powering the car dock? Isn't the car doc charger higher output than regular chargers and perhaps the one on the LiquidAux?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No issues I have noticed so far, there is no additional <warmth> on the LiquidAux I have been able to detect, and the phone charges just as quickly as it would when plugged in using OEM adapter. And yes, losing the spiral lead is a nice bonus...

yellowy0y0 said:
how's the music sound quality?
Sent from my Nexus One using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sound quality for me is great, there is no interruptions, etc I have noticed. But I suspect that this would be a YMMV kind of thing based on the car stereo used and the distance / path (if that even matters with the relatively short distance) between the LiquidAux device and the phone...

uansari1 said:
Pics please...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I added some pics above (imageshack) but couldn't post links (yet) so just add the http part and you can see them...

um, do you realize you can still use the headphone jack when the phone is plugged into the dock?
http://www.google.com/support/android/bin/answer.py?answer=178184

MonkySlap said:
um, do you realize you can still use the headphone jack when the phone is plugged into the dock?
http://www.google.com/support/android/bin/answer.py?answer=178184
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why yes, but some people in this particular forum were voicing their displeasure of having a mass of wires dangling all over their car / phone etc...
I was offering an alternative, and it worked well for me, nobody said or implied that you need to do it too...
<Sheesh/>

How long is that cable(the 3.5mm one from the liquid aux). Looks pretty short..

tokyomonster said:
How long is that cable(the 3.5mm one from the liquid aux). Looks pretty short..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is in fact short (4") while this works fine for my use, YMMV...

Interesting solution, I like it
Here are clickable links for the lazy
http://yfrog.com/2r20100415073238j -LiquidAUX Device
http://yfrog.com/1420100415073316j - Plugged into AUX and has Micro USB connected.
http://yfrog.com/2m20100415073324j - Cable Routing 1
http://yfrog.com/j120100415073338j - Cable Routing 2
http://yfrog.com/4720100415073414j - Wheel wireless remote, media functions work, I couldn't get phone button to do anything, but that may be a settings thing.
http://yfrog.com/0b20100415073331j - Dock on the windscreen, the stock MicroUSB cable that comes with the phone is pretty 'stiff' and stays in place very well.

furbyslayer said:
It is in fact short (4") while this works fine for my use, YMMV...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm. I guess, worst case scenario, I can just buy a short extender.

Another question for you... Does the remote work with the phone? I'm waiting for mine to get here but I had read from many reviews that the control did not work properly with the iphone, just wondering if the nexus one had the same problem.
Sent from my Nexus One using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

awesome writeup... Even if this thing doesn't work to pickup calls I don't care, I always have a bluetooth headset for the car anyhow. I think I'll get an extra socket and mount it all under the dash out of sight.
Even thought you can plug in a wire to the headphone jack I want a solution where I can stick the phone in the holder when I get in, and pull it right out without messing with cables every fricken time... Most the time I don't plug my phone in right now just because of that very reason.
With a nice setup like this I'd plug my phone in every time I get in the car... awesome, Thanks!
Just ordered mine off amazon.. seems like a great price for the product.

Nevermind, reread your first post, missed the info I wanted the first read through. Well, since I'm stuck with this post existing, may as well clarify, you said you can choose to have the phone calls go through the dock with this, right?

furbyslayer said:
It is in fact short (4") while this works fine for my use, YMMV...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4 inches, is that all you've got? - that is short
I think perhaps you meant 4' or four feet.

yellowy0y0 said:
Another question for you... Does the remote work with the phone? I'm waiting for mine to get here but I had read from many reviews that the control did not work properly with the iphone, just wondering if the nexus one had the same problem.
Sent from my Nexus One using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The media functions work fantastic with the Nexus, the iPhone does not support track skip, where the Nexus does. I have not been able to get the phone button to start voice dialing like the iPhone does. I have not actually had a call while driving to pickup yet, so I can't say for certain whether that (pickup incoming) works or not...

kitsunisan said:
Nevermind, reread your first post, missed the info I wanted the first read through. Well, since I'm stuck with this post existing, may as well clarify, you said you can choose to have the phone calls go through the dock with this, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have call audio go through the dock, yes. The LiquidAux has a microphone, but it is quite far away from the the speaker's mouth IMO. Additionally, the dock still uses the extra Michael for active noise cancelling and is quite crisp and clear for calls. (I have so far made several outbound calls with great results.) The music pauses, audio routes up to the dock for the duration of the call, then the music resumed on the car speakers automatically...

TRRS Pinouts for Desire-like proper headphones without issues of direct plugging in

Sup all would anyone have the actual TRRS pinouts for the audio jack for the desire I would like to make a up a lead that will allow me to plug an ordinary pair of headphones in using a proper TRRS jack instead of a TRS jack. thanks. There are definately issues plugging in a headphone directly or maybe it is my unit faulty?
Edited, this topic will show you the best way to connect your headphones to your desire as some people will experiance problems with pluggin in normal 3.5 jack plug headphones, this is due to the desire using a trrs socket for the microphone instead of a trs socket that normal headphones use.

pretty sure it is:
tip - left audio
ring 1 (closest to tip) - right audio
ring 2 - data of some kind
shield - ground
Hope this helps

cheers for that, im having some peeps tell me that i can just plug in an ordinary pair of headphones into the phone without any ill effects, i am concerned that i will have a problem because headphones are trs jacks and the desire has the trrs 3.5 jack. can anyone confirm any details on this for me please

nah you can use a normal TRS 3.5mm jack with no problems. I guess that when you use a normal TRS jack then shield and ring 2 on the connector are both connected to shield on the jack so it adjusts the software accordingly. But yea, no problems.

cheers for that
edited, we have since discovered that this is not the case, please read the entire topic for the correct way to connect headphones to the desire.

standard 3,5 mm (TRS) headphones DO CAUSE ISSUES
Was about to resend my HTC Desire, because it randomly called, skipped music stopped the music, FM-radio freeze etc. from the moment I connected my high-end 3,5mm headphone (TRS type: 3 contacts).
No issues with the standard headset delivered with the HTC Desire (TRRS type: 3,5mm 4 contacts).
So, you might need a TRS -> TRRS adapter.
Anyone with other experiences???

Basically what I have found is that many of the normal headphones are not working correctly because it is a trrs socket that is used. To me this would mean that normal headphones shouldnt be used, I have tried various headphones but there are definately issues with them,
The main issue I was having was as you have said above and also the base wasnt right with them
I have since bought this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130384433476&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
which arrive today and when I am using this in conjunction with my headphones I now have the proper base to the set and NONE of the problems I was having when i was plugging them into the phone directly......... they just didnt sound right, now using griffin smarttalk this i can definately tell the difference now especially in the base, also this unit will lower the volume and allow you to make a call automatically with built in mike, clicking it twice doesnt skip the track suggested instead it will ring the last number dialled in the phone so a bonus actually to me
the straight adapters ie trrs to trs are very nearly the same price as this if not more expensive so i would recommend this all day long to you. At £9.75 delivered bargain m8, bought late evening on the 20th arrived this morning what more can i say, but if you are having issues it is definately in my eyes because of the difference in the trrs socket to the trs socket,
the base is fantastic on this phone now, before it was terrible, now i just need an equaliser to remove some of it

When you speak of "normal headphones", are you referring to simple 3.5 TRS headphones, or headphones with a mic ?
Cause if the majority of the headphones (without mic I mean) won't properly work with the Desire, it's a major flaw according to me.

I confirm: TRS (3 contacts, without mic) do not work...
...I tried 4 different 3,5mm stereo headsets (TRS type, 3 pole, without mic). NONE of them worked correctly (phenomenons as described above).
When you plug a 3 pole TRS headphone in the Desire 4 pole TRRS headphone output, a short circuit is generated between the first 2 internal contacts (seen from connector input: ground + control line).
I suspect that the Desire firmware cannot detect/handle this situation, and so it causes random actions (prev, next, call numbers, stop, play, ....)
I suspect that this issue could be solved with a firmware upgrade....

there is no way they would release hardware with a 3.5mm socket that you cant plug a 3.5mm jack into right? the firmware does detect when you use a TRS instead of a TRRS. You get a different icon on your notification bar for each of them. As ive said before my AKG's have worked perfectly so far and have shown none of the problems listed above.

This afternoon I quickly tested my Seinheiser PX100 headphones with a friend's desire and the Htc music player.
It worked flawlessly. Volume was good and it didn't play/pause/skipped tracks.
As I said it was a really quick test so I can't say for sure that everything's was okay.
Nonetheless apparently a lot of people experienced problems with numerous headphones. To me it's really a shame you can't even plug ANY 3.5mm jack headphones with the desire ...
I hope a software update could fix this.

I also had this problem when connecting my Desire to my car radio using an standard 3.5mm AUX cable. Will this cable solve my problem or will my car radio not be able to recognize a 4 pole cable?
http://cgi.ebay.nl/3-5mm-Male-TRRS-...erAccess_RL&hash=item5d28c530c1#ht_1252wt_939

I think this might be an issue of certain cables not making a full connection due to the shape of the case surrounding the socket. I had no problems with my headphones, sound was good and loud enough although I could see how it might not be loud enough for some.
I did start having issues when I plugged the aux lead in my car into the phone. The lead has a large shroud that obstructed the plug from being plugged all the way in. This gave the same problems as described in other posts, skipping tracks and also crashing the music software at one point.
I replaced the lead with another that had a better fit and the problems went away but I did notice when I leaned against the lead while it was playing music in my car it started skipping track again.
I wonder what HTC have to say about this....

DHel01 said:
I also had this problem when connecting my Desire to my car radio using an standard 3.5mm AUX cable. Will this cable solve my problem or will my car radio not be able to recognize a 4 pole cable?
http://cgi.ebay.nl/3-5mm-Male-TRRS-...erAccess_RL&hash=item5d28c530c1#ht_1252wt_939
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I solved those problems with this lead- i dont think the one your showing will work for you
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220593400305
they come from china etc however only 5 days to arrive from ordering.
and I now enjoy trouble free music. I also have ordered the Griffin Smart Talk so i can listen to my headphones and be able to answer the phone as well however I didnt want to use it for plugging into a car stereo etc etc so i wanted a straight lead conversion.
Just a quick warning the first lead i ordered from this person was faulty, however i had also ordered 3 other leads from the same person as an after thought which were all perfect.. as they are only pennies it is worth ordering one or two spare for redundancy purposes. I decided to order 3 as backups more in case i broke one and the person stopped selling them etc etc
These leads will allow you to connect the htc to any other source including external speakers which didnt work when putting them in normally but did work when i used this cable in conjunction with it.
this cable is a trrs to trs jack plug and is used to convert a 4 pin socket to a 3 pin socket jack plug.

I've been using a pair of JVC Gummy Air on my Desire since I got it, not a single problem.

Re: TRRS Pinouts for Desire
I've used some headphones, and 2 different aux connector for the cars and all 3 work absolutely perfectly. No issues at all.
Sent from my HTC Desire

I have been using my Yuin PK3 earbuds for music since I got my Desire and it has been working without any problems.

TheOriginalKi said:
I've been using a pair of JVC Gummy Air on my Desire since I got it, not a single problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh yeah and I've also hooked it into the tv via a standard audio cable!

Not sure what you guys are talking about but my AIAIAI headset works fine with the Desire
Mic working too!
aiaiai.dk/headsets/tracks-headsets/tracks-headset-black.html
^those

Sennheiser PXC 250 with NR, no problems

Car Charger - Interference with Audio?

I got one of these yesterday:
http://www.amazon.com/Google-Nexus-One-Retractable-Charger/dp/B002W52DVK/
I was playing some audio through the aux jack connected to my car's speakers. As soon as I plugged in the charger, the audio was distorted. It sounded very electronic/mechanical; hard to explain. As soon as I unplugged, the audio went back to normal.
Is this how all car chargers operate? Or is this one defective?
Does anyone know of a similarly priced car charger that doesn't have this issue?

your car audio system and charger are sharing ground. I don't recall the exact solution...so search forum... solution is on the forum.
EDIT: I just remembered... change the ground on your car stereo.... just attach it to some other metal piece.

arkavat said:
change the ground on your car stereo.... just attach it to some other metal piece.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, attach what?
Not too knowledgeable about car stuff.

Paul22000 said:
Sorry, attach what?
Not too knowledgeable about car stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
your car audio system should have bunch of wires in the back. Look in the user manual, one of them will be "ground wire". It is either attached to the "ground" wire coming from your car or just attached to nearest metal piece. usually a screw etc... in the vicinity of the audio system. Just remove the wire and attach it to some other metal.
If you don't want to mess with your car audio, do the same thing to charger outlet. try to locate the wires coming into the charger outlet. One of them is ground. change it's location.
If you are not too comfortable with this, just as your car mechanic to do it. it is fairly easy if you already know which wire is what... so it should be an easy task for him.

So all car chargers with the N1 will behave this way?

Paul22000 said:
So all car chargers with the N1 will behave this way?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lord I hope not, I was in the market for a good car charger too..

ChillRays said:
Lord I hope not, I was in the market for a good car charger too..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the problem is not with N1 but rather with the electrical arrangement in a particular car. I do not have this problem,but, unfortunately for paul, all chargers will cause this interference.

Isolate the Ground!!! It's not rocket science, and it sure as hell ain't the n1....

So there's definitely 0% chance that it's the charger and getting a different one wouldn't make a difference?
I tried just plugging in the power, without any audio playing, and the speakers play a lot of metallic interference garbage. Unplug/plug in, plays weird sounds every time.

Paul22000 said:
So there's definitely 0% chance that it's the charger and getting a different one wouldn't make a difference?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this to know for sure:
1) don't connect charger, and play music through car speakers
2) use charger and play music through battery powered speakers
Both should turn out ok.
For information about ground loops see this pdf:
www.ebtechaudio.com/findloop.pdf
I tried just plugging in the power, without any audio playing, and the speakers play a lot of metallic interference garbage. Unplug/plug in, plays weird sounds every time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A ground loop is simply an antenna formed by the cable from ground, to your phone (charger), to your radio, and back to ground. The noise you're hearing when you don't play music is random noise from any and all radio waves that might pass through this giant loop antenna.
Think of all the stuff that emits RF noise: ignition/sparks, power supplies, phones, BT, wifi, electrical mains and poor connections. All these faint signals are picked up by your giant ground loop and amplified by your radio.
There are also some audio ground loop isolators, but I don't know how well they work.
www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062214

I know this thread is old and dead, but I just wanted to thank arkavat and xdZKu7 for their answers. I've had interference since I got my car and plugged my DHD into the aux in, and it's been driving me mad for ages. The sound is crystal clear until I plug the charger in and then I get some nasty alternator whining. I searched and found this thread last night, today I went with arkavat's answer and I found the cigarette lighter's ground wire and earthed it nearer by, now the alternator noise is gone almost entirely. I'm going to look into what I can do to reduce ground loop antenna noise also, although it's bearable for now. Thanks guys.

I bought the "official" OEM HTC micro USB CC C200 at amazon.
And it works fine. No problems with audio and navigation so far.

[Q] Audio noise from car power adapter - how to get clean power?

I have Bell Galaxy S. I have a line-in (aux input) module in my car (2008 Mazda6). When I connect phone to the input when phone is battery-powered - everything is fine, sound is clean and no noise. The moment I plug the micro-usb power adapter to the phone - I hear lots of background crackle, hiss and noise, making listening to music unbearable.
I have tried 5 (!) different car adapters (with usb->microusb adapter and the ones with usb jack and regular usb->microusb cable that came with phone), different USB cables - same result. The moment power is on, noise is there. Looks like a design flaw of Galaxy S - it was perfectly OK with my old phone (HTC Touch).
I would appreciate any advise about how to solve this. Maybe getting a cleaner power feed somehow, or solving it in the phone, or something else. I can't be the only one noticing this, the noise is pretty loud and anyone would be annoyed by this.

Does your mazda have the bose system? Anyway if not you need a ground loop isolator. It will fix the annoying whine coming through.
Sent via ET and he phoned it in.

Get this
m.crutchfield.com/mt/www.crutchfield.com/p_127SNI135/PAC-SNI-1-3-5-Noise-Filter.html?tp=2653
It will definitely work it is perfect.

me_ashman said:
you need a ground loop isolator..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True. I'd take it to the auto electrician and have them wire it up properly. Ground loops in the audio system is a rookie mistake by mazda.

[Q] please recommend a Car Bluetooth adapter that is very loud

I need more volume from my phones bluetooth music streaming so I can hear it in my car. My new car is much noiser and using a samsung hs3000 to the aux , songs on the phone are only about 50% as loud as cd's or the xm radio from the car reciever.
I've tried modding the phone with several ICS roms and JB mods and had some success with 4.04 and kingbeatz, but not enough.
I'm currently running pac rom with kingbeats and volume + but that only effects the headphone jack. It sounds fantastic though.
Anyone have a bluetooth receiver suggestion? I can't find output specs on any of them.

I'm using the GROM-USB2 + the BT thing from grom audio.
But I have to ask, why do you need one if your stereo already has an AUX entry? Just plug directly your phone to the AUX.

My car's aux connection is located in a compartment where you rest your arm in between the seats, not on the front of the radio's head unit. You can't close the compartment if you have the wire coming out and its not conveniently placed. Bluetooth takes care of that.

betterthan74 said:
My car's aux connection is located in a compartment where you rest your arm in between the seats, not on the front of the radio's head unit. You can't close the compartment if you have the wire coming out and its not conveniently placed. Bluetooth takes care of that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like a diy mod is in order lol.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

mtdew said:
Sounds like a diy mod is in order lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. A drill, some cable and some time. Without knowing the layout of the car it's hard to tell if that's long enough. Or better yet a new deck. lol

hechoen said:
Yep. A drill, some cable and some time. Without knowing the layout of the car it's hard to tell if that's long enough. Or better yet a new deck. lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking split or reroute the adapter and put it towards the front
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

mtdew said:
I was thinking split or reroute the adapter and put it towards the front
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Splitting it would most likely require more time and patience than the average audiophile is will to commit. Rerouting is easy enough as long as your OK with taking the in and tracing it back. If it's another 3.5 male at the deck then just unplug and replug. If the out is hardwired you are still going to have a lot of teardown to get the in released. That just leaves a hole that is pretty obvious to any potential owner in the future. With a male to male cable and a drill you can put it anywhere you want with minimal fuss. All the original components are left intact except for a 1/4" hole or two.

hechoen said:
Splitting it would most likely require more time and patience than the average audiophile is will to commit. Rerouting is easy enough as long as your OK with taking the in and tracing it back. If it's another 3.5 male at the deck then just unplug and replug. If the out is hardwired you are still going to have a lot of teardown to get the in released. That just leaves a hole that is pretty obvious to any potential owner in the future. With a male to male cable and a drill you can put it anywhere you want with minimal fuss. All the original components are left intact except for a 1/4" hole or two.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not known for halfway on my car audio. I'm good at creative solutions and love a good teardown install lol. I tinker with everything I can get my hands on.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

I appreciate the suggestions but that leaves me having to plug in when I get into the car. I'd rather stick with blue tooth. I just tested it and my Bluetooth is about half the volume of a direct connect. There has to be an adapter that is better then what I have.. The car is a 2011 Camaro with the stock radio.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk 2

Yeah a better amp.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

betterthan74 said:
The car is a 2011 Camaro with the stock radio.
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lift up a little on the right foot...
But seriously, if you don't have Bluetooth built into the radio, in my experience, you will have a bad time.

Bluetooth volume issue solved.
I was able to solve my problem with fiio E11 portable headphone amp. No buzz and it actually warms up the sound I am getting from my phone with the built in amp and EQ settings.
The only downside is can't change while being in use and my car's cigarette ports turn off with the car, so I can't listen and charge while driving. I'm looking for battery pack to keep in the car to remedy that so I don't have constantly take it out of the car.