Output Difference between CarPlay and USB Drive

[Dmthomp32]

So I broke out my old flash drive on a 7 hour road trip this weekend. Packed with some classic MP3’s from back in the day. Unplugged my phone and let the good times roll. Only to notice that when using the USB drive/MP3’s, the sound output was noticeably better and louder. Volume 12 with the USB drive was the equivalent of volume 19 with CarPlay (Amazon music/Pandora). Not to mention the bass output and overall quality of the music was drastically improved. I’m just not sure how the same stereo and speakers can perform so differently due to an input shift. These aren’t even hi-fi quality MP3’s, and yet they blew away the sounds from my streaming sources. If my stereo could have the same output no matter the input I probably wouldn’t feel the need to want new speakers.

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[Carlitos_92]

Not surprising. In general, content streamed over the internet is hugely compressed. Your cellular network and device probably compress it even more before it gets to your stereo.

MP3s are still compressed, but a first-generation copy at 192 kpbs or more can sound really good to most people.

 

[Dmthomp32]

Not surprising. In general, content streamed over the internet is hugely compressed. Your cellular network and device probably compress it even more before it gets to your stereo.

MP3s are still compressed, but a first-generation copy at 192 kpbs or more can sound really good to most people.

I can understand that but does that also translate to the volume difference?

 

[Carlitos_92]

I can understand that but does that also translate to the volume difference?

Not directly, but any given streaming service is probably aiming for a consistent output level so volume doesn’t jump around too much from song to song. Whatever target level they pick is up to them, and might be higher/lower than radio, recorded media, or even other streaming services.

I have something like 30,000 MP3s in my library and I know those are all over the map in terms of volume level. In my case, the solution is that Apple’s music player software has a setting that tries to equalize the volume across tracks. Of course, that wouldn’t be much help switching from source to source.

A lot of home stereo equipment has settings where you can adjust the input levels of individual sources (you can turn up the TV, turn down the XBox, etc) but I don’t know of any such remedy with the Ford head unit.

 

[Superg0]

I have noticed the same thing. When I plug my phone into Carplay the volume is lower. My phone connected by Bluetooth (no carplay) its louder.

 

[Tbone289]

There's a psychoacoustic phenomenon that alters your perception of audio quality based on volume. In comparison, listeners will nearly always perceive the same music at louder volumes as better quality.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

I can understand that but does that also translate to the volume difference?

That may be an apple issue, as it's been mentioned on MTC repeatedly.

I don't have the volume difference on my Android phone. Also, in your streaming apps, set them to "higher quality." Note that this will, of course, use more mobile data and may cause more buffering, if that's an issue with your mobile account.

Another option is to connect your phone to a PC and drag-drop a copy of your MP3s to a folder on your phone, to play in the truck. Assuming you kept a backup of your MP3s that were on the USB drive.

MP3s recorded at a sufficient bit-rate will sound pretty decent in the Maverick. And often better than streaming music from an app.

 

[TomD]

There's a psychoacoustic phenomenon that alters your perception of audio quality based on volume. In comparison, listeners will nearly always perceive the same music at louder volumes as better quality.

My wife only listens to classical music and I only listen to books. She has the. Volume set around 8 or 9 for Mozart and for books I usually listen at 12. Clipping down the freeway the volume needs to be increased accordingly due to the road noise.

 

[Tbone289]

My wife only listens to classical music and I only listen to books. She has the. Volume set around 8 or 9 for Mozart and for books I usually listen at 12. Clipping down the freeway the volume needs to be increased accordingly due to the road noise.

Of course it does. The noise floor is much higher clipping down the freeway.

 

[dldjtad]

My wife only listens to classical music and I only listen to books. She has the. Volume set around 8 or 9 for Mozart and for books I usually listen at 12. Clipping down the freeway the volume needs to be increased accordingly due to the road noise.

In my truck, there is an adjustment which will automatically increase or decrease the volume, according to speed.

 

[Dmthomp32]

In my truck, there is an adjustment which will automatically increase or decrease the volume, according to speed.

That is true. The interior space on the highway is so loud though that I don’t think most can tell the difference.

 

[Darnon]

It's just the gain the radio has on AA/Carplay sources. The AM/FM radio source likewise is a lot louder; I usually have to lower it to 9-10 vs 15 when listening through my phone.

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