[IanH]

See attached!

[BMW DIY Guy]

Originally Posted by AdonisP91

Wish I could help but I don’t own an Android device so beats me. Nothing in the posted comments under the YouTube video? I’m sure if you mentioned it there someone will chime in.

Facepalm.. go figure, its not in Developer settings but Android AUTO developer settings.

Sigh

Found it

[BMW DIY Guy]

Here we go

[///MoT]

Originally Posted by AdonisP91

... Interestingly enough the Tidal app in idrive might be lossless.

How can we get the Tidal app installed into iDrive? Did some quick searching, but not having any luck.


Thanks!
Tom

[AdonisP91]

Originally Posted by ///MoT

How can we get the Tidal app installed into iDrive? Did some quick searching, but not having any luck.


Thanks!
Tom

Oh is it not there? Maybe I hallucinated that bit then, sorry

[BMW DIY Guy]

Originally Posted by AdonisP91

Oh is it not there? Maybe I hallucinated that bit then, sorry

Yeah, I haven't seen Tidal as an available app in the iDrive, or at least in iDrive 8.0.

[AdonisP91]

Originally Posted by BMW DIY Guy

Yeah, I haven't seen Tidal as an available app in the iDrive, or at least in iDrive 8.0.

I asked the SA if I could install music apps directly on the car and he said yep, even when I asked about Tidal but they probably just thought Spotify or something. I should have double checked. Good thing others in this thread pointed out my error.

[BMW DIY Guy]

So cant tell if its confirmation bias, but with the filters removed and the change in Android Auto, I feel like the sound quality is richer.

[BroDoze]

This just came in. I've got a lot of work to do.

Time to rip the back end of the car apart again!

[BroDoze]

So far I’m still tweaking with the pre-amp interface. The sound is definitely CLEAN. Now loudness nonsense, bass drop-out and no crossovers!

I need to re-EQ the car all over again as things sound different and I’ve moved the crossovers around. I’m going to try 150hz hi-pass on the midranges and a 150hz lo-pass on the underseat woofers. Getting some real nice midbass out of those woofers now.

The bummer is the proximity bongs, turn signals etc are VERY quiet. I can barely hear them. If I turn up the global gain on the IO tab it makes them louder, but then the overall audio is running too hot IMO. I’ve adjusted the proximity bong volume in the general volume settings to max, and it appears to have no effect. Strangely, the navigation chick’s voice volume seems normal.
I also tested FM signal and yeah, it sounds like crap. Pretty much nothing below 150hz or so.
So more tweaking to do and I have to call Rich tomorrow. I’m not sure I want to give up all of the car’s other audio functions at this point. That’s quite a trade off.

[kenkamm]

Originally Posted by BroDoze

The bummer is the proximity bongs, turn signals etc are VERY quiet. I can barely hear them. If I turn up the global gain on the IO tab it makes them louder, but then the overall audio is running too hot IMO.

Wow BroDoze, you got that thing up and running quickly! You don't mess around!

I hope when you consult with Rich he has some ideas for you. The issue with the proximity bongs, turn signals etc is something that should be disclosed in the product details, so you can be aware of it before buying, if it's not something that can be resolved. I agree with you, that's a pretty big deal.

[AdonisP91]

Originally Posted by BroDoze

So far I’m still tweaking with the pre-amp interface. The sound is definitely CLEAN. Now loudness nonsense, bass drop-out and no crossovers!

I need to re-EQ the car all over again as things sound different and I’ve moved the crossovers around. I’m going to try 150hz hi-pass on the midranges and a 150hz lo-pass on the underseat woofers. Getting some real nice midbass out of those woofers now.

The bummer is the proximity bongs, turn signals etc are VERY quiet. I can barely hear them. If I turn up the global gain on the IO tab it makes them louder, but then the overall audio is running too hot IMO. I’ve adjusted the proximity bong volume in the general volume settings to max, and it appears to have no effect. Strangely, the navigation chick’s voice volume seems normal.
I also tested FM signal and yeah, it sounds like crap. Pretty much nothing below 150hz or so.
So more tweaking to do and I have to call Rich tomorrow. I’m not sure I want to give up all of the car’s other audio functions at this point. That’s quite a trade off.

Amazing progress and thanks for the report! For the input gain did you use the advanced gain option and set it up using the clipping analyzer and ATF test tone? It should be possible to get the system sounds properly balanced. As for FM, ya I guess that is the compromise.

[AdonisP91]

Originally Posted by kenkamm

Wow BroDoze, you got that thing up and running quickly! You don't mess around!

I hope when you consult with Rich he has some ideas for you. The issue with the proximity bongs, turn signals etc is something that should be disclosed in the product details, so you can be aware of it before buying, if it's not something that can be resolved. I agree with you, that's a pretty big deal.

The RDFVL website says that “ Our interfaces offer customizable sound settings, allowing users to adjust audio parameters such as door chime, Bluetooth, and other audio preferences for a personalized listening experience.” so it might also just require downloading some extra software to control the pre-amp.

Maybe BroDoze can confirm if the interface came with some software drivers for windows.

[AdonisP91]

Originally Posted by BroDoze

This just came in. I've got a lot of work to do.

Time to rip the back end of the car apart again!

Probably too late now that it is installed, but did you happen to take pictures of the wiring harness it came with and how that plugged into the factory harness?

[BroDoze]

Originally Posted by AdonisP91

Amazing progress and thanks for the report! For the input gain did you use the advanced gain option and set it up using the clipping analyzer and ATF test tone? It should be possible to get the system sounds properly balanced. As for FM, ya I guess that is the compromise.

Hey - thanks. So I’ve been pondering this since 4:30am this morning. I re-read parts of this thread and found Tom’s great post on page 4 explaining the input gains section/tab, with screenshots. Lightbulbs went off (it even talks about the systems sounds right on the screenshot.) So no. I completely missed that whole part last night. I was in a hurry and the wife was getting impatient. It also took me awhile to figure out where the heck the checkbox was to enable digital - the very page with all the input gains stuff.

I have time this morning before the meeting onslaught this afternoon. I should be able to experiment with the input gains stuff.

[BroDoze]

Originally Posted by AdonisP91

The RDFVL website says that “ Our interfaces offer customizable sound settings, allowing users to adjust audio parameters such as door chime, Bluetooth, and other audio preferences for a personalized listening experience.” so it might also just require downloading some extra software to control the pre-amp.

Maybe BroDoze can confirm if the interface came with some software drivers for windows.

I got nothing in the box. I asked Rich if there were any firmware updates or software to control since there’s a USB-C port on the unit. He said no - none that he’s aware of.

[BroDoze]

Originally Posted by AdonisP91

Probably too late now that it is installed, but did you happen to take pictures of the wiring harness it came with and how that plugged into the factory harness?

I did not get any pics. HOLY T-HARNESS CLUSTER. This unit’s T-harness goes AFTER the UP10 T-Harness. Ask me how I know.

It’s kind of a spider nest, but my cabling OCD managed to tuck all the things, mostly. I found sandwiching the pre-amp behind the top RAM module seemed to hold it snug and protect that flimsy Toslink connection. I just used some double-sided Velcro to secure the pre-amp to the back of the top of the RAM bracket. It’s not going anywhere. As you can see in the pictures of the pre-amp there are no mounting brackets or ears or anything.

[BroDoze]

No joy messing with any of the input sensitivit or gain settings. I'll just post a subset of what I sent Rich this morning:

I got the pre-amp all hooked up in the car along with the t-harness from the MATCH UP10 amp/dsp. Lot of t-harnesses! After figuring out how to turn on the digital input setting I finally got some audio happening. Everything sounds very clean and un-molested - no more crossovers, no more loudness and bass drop-offs etc. Exactly what I was hoping for.

My big issue now is the system sounds (turn signals, proximity bongs, chimes etc) are barely audible.
As-in, I cannot really hear them when the car is running. When it's off, they're definitely getting passed through, but SUPER quiet.

I have tried:
-Turning these sounds up via the car's menus (PDC volume etc) - those seem to have zero effect.
-Turning up the gain on the Digital Routing page. This turns up the gain on everything, and by the time the system sounds are finally audible, the overall system gain is WAY too hot.
-Messing around with the Advanced Gain setup under the bottom-left 'Main Input' box. Zero change on any of those 'Vrms' gain sliders.
-I've tried adjusting the Sensitivity up/down on the 'Main Input' box up/down - no change.
-I've tried every check-box and slider I can see - they all seem to ignore everything I do. Do these even work when the DCM menu is in digital mode? I know these used to work when I was running in analog without the Toslink pre-amp.

Any help would be great. If I cannot get the system sounds figured out we may have a problem as the tradeoff is too great. I love the clean sound but have to have these other things working. I can deal with crappy FM radio sound, but even on Nick's website, right now, he states all BMW systems sound / bongs / chimes are fully retained. Yet, he said he's personally never installed any of these into a BMW.

Is there any newer firmware or a PC-tool for the pre-amp box? It has that USB-C port on it. Maybe there's a new firmware out or something?

See attached screenshots.

[BroDoze]

More to Rich:

Also, here's a picture of the unit as it came to me and as I installed it - DIP switches 1 & 2 are on.

Is there any instructions / documentation around this thing? It almost sounds like there's adjustability within the unit itself - per your website's product page:

"Customizable Sound Settings: Our interfaces offer customizable sound settings, allowing users to adjust audio parameters such as door chime, Bluetooth, and other audio preferences for a personalized listening experience."

"Customizable sound settings"

https://rdvfl.com/products/ar1-bmw-e

[AdonisP91]

Let’s hope Rich can give some info. I also emailed EwayGPS directly let’s see if they provide any details. One interesting thing I found on the website is that red box top right, where it says config, they say it is for models and volume settings. Sadly they don’t have a manual or explanation for what the individual switches do. Hopefully the customer service is good and they clarify, or at least send me the software.



1.External Audio Optical Input
2.TYPE-C
3.External Audio coaxial Input
4.Ethernet port
5.Power supply
6.ACT/Network Activity Indicator
7.REM-OUT Power Indicator
8.Models and Volume Settings

[BroDoze]

Originally Posted by AdonisP91

Let’s hope Rich can give some info. I also emailed EwayGPS directly let’s see if they provide any details. One interesting thing I found on the website is that red box top right, where it says config, they say it is for models and volume settings. Sadly they don’t have a manual or explanation for what the individual switches do. Hopefully the customer service is good and they clarify, or at least send me the software.



1.External Audio Optical Input
2.TYPE-C
3.External Audio coaxial Input
4.Ethernet port
5.Power supply
6.ACT/Network Activity Indicator
7.REM-OUT Power Indicator
8.Models and Volume Settings

Interesting!!

[BroDoze]

Part of me wants to start screwing around with those dip switches.

All of me wishes I had some freaking documentation!