Mp3 on CD sound better than Mp3 on my Zen (plugged to my car radio)

[marcabip]

Hi all I've been listening to my Zen in my car (using the 3.5mm output from my car radio) for about one month now, and I have this impression that it doesn't sounds as good as any of my cd (mp3 on cd)

My car radio player is not cheap at all.. can't remember the brand/model but it's all good and sound damn good when I play cd on it.

Even a 128kbps mp3 from a cd sounds better than an 320kps mp3 from my zen

The difference is not huge... just enought to let me wonder if I made a good choice by switching from good old cd to mp3player to listen music in my car.

Please let me know.. Maybe it's just the EQ from my Zen that is set wrong? (I don't think so)

[CrowdAds]

[Satellite_6]

"Even a 128kbps mp3 from a cd sounds better than an 320kps mp3 from my zen

The difference is not huge... "


That sounds pretty huge to me, definitely something wrong here. . .
Maybe the input just sucks for some reason, other than that, idk.

[B. Diddy]

Are you connecting your ZVM to your car stereo using the headphone jack or the connector dongle (you know, the thing that connects to the bottom of the player, with DC power and AV output jacks). If you connect using the headphone jack, the sound isn't great. But if you connect using the dongle, then it's essentially a line out, and the sound is much better.

[delaware74b]

^ *2. Using the line-out from the dongle is -the- only way to connect ZVM to any amplifier (car head unit, home stereo system, etc). The line-out is giving the amp exactly the type of signal it needs.

[malina]

I have always used the headphone jack and turned up the volume on the player all the way. I just now tried using the dongle (A/V out) for my portable speakers and I have two problems:

1) the screen turns off - it still plays but I cannot see the screen unless i unplug the speakers)

2) I usually use my speakers in the "off" mode and I still get a reasonable volume without wasting batteries (I know this sounds weird, but trust me, it works) - but when I tried with the dongle, it was much quieter, and i couldn't get a reasonable volume without turning on the speakers. With the speakers on, it was fine though.

I couldn't tell a difference in sound quality, but these aren't the greatest speakers anyway, so maybe it's more evident on better sound systems.

Any thoughts/ideas on either of these issues?

[delaware74b]

malina- if you navigate system |photo/video settings|video out and set video out to 'off', the display won't blank unless you lock the player during audio playback.

If you're using the dongle connection, you should turn the volume to minimum and lock the player to extend battery life.

Sound quality will *almost* always be better, through the dongle unless you are using non-powered speakers (these are the ones that have no batteries or power cord).

Please refer to post #4 in this thread.....

[freddie]

The DAC in your head unit is probably more substantial than the one in the Vision:M. Volume perception may also play a part here....Even if they sound the same there may be a level mismatch, and the louder one will generally be perceived as better.


That said, everyone is right in saying you should use the line out instead of the headphone jack. The ZVM's internal amplifier will play it's own part in negatively affecting the quality. Line out is the way to go here.

[malina]

Originally Posted by delaware74b

malina- if you navigate system |photo/video settings|video out and set video out to 'off', the display won't blank unless you lock the player during audio playback.

If you're using the dongle connection, you should turn the volume to minimum and lock the player to extend battery life.

Sound quality will *almost* always be better, through the dongle unless you are using non-powered speakers (these are the ones that have no batteries or power cord).

Please refer to post #4 in this thread.....

Thanks

[merlin43]

7 months later
Where can I buy the dongle connector?
thanks

[B. Diddy]

Originally Posted by merlin43

7 months later
Where can I buy the dongle connector?
thanks

Here's one on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/CREATIVE-ZEN-Syn...#ht_2744wt_905

You can also search on eBay for "Zen Vision M Adapter."

[merlin43]

I saw that one, but was leery about it being from Hong Kong.
thanks though
do you have one? if so where did you get it?
thanks

[coachop94]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Creative-Zen-Vis...item3367a38bb9

[coachop94]

Originally Posted by merlin43

I saw that one, but was leery about it being from Hong Kong.
thanks though
do you have one? if so where did you get it?
thanks

http://cgi.ebay.com/Creative-Zen-Vis...item3367a38bb9