Hamilton Motor Company Conversion Kit - Audio Level Issues between navigation and music

[uod]

BLUF: Has anyone else installed one of the Hamilton Motor Company conversion kits and found a way to increase navigation/Siri volume compared to music? I can't for the life of me figure out how to fix this problem.


I installed one of the conversion kits about a week ago in my 2017 LX. This is the one that completely replaces the factory screen with a new touchscreen. Everything about this has been absolutely awesome so far --- with the exception of one problem. When I am playing music in Apple CarPlay using either Spotify or Apple Music, the navigation or Siri volume is too low to clearly hear what is being said unless I have the music up pretty loud. Siri/Navigation lowers the music while speaking, but the volume while speaking is too low to hear it clearly.

I have testing using Goole Maps, Apple Maps, and just regular old Siri. I have tried adjusting the navigation volume versus the system volume in the Hamilton menus (no positive effect). I have tried adjusting the volume up only when Siri is playing (no positive effect). If I am playing audio through the phone's built in speakers, I can easily make Siri/navigation screaming loud while the music is nice and low. I have updated the OS and CAN to the latest version on the Hamilton unit, and the updates didn't give any relief.

From what I am seeing, most factory CarPlay implementations recognize the audio channels of music and navigation/Siri separately such that the volumes can be controlled independently. On these "Android device" 3rd party implementations, such as the Hamilton, they may not recognize the channels like they are supposed to. I am hoping someone else who has installed one of these has found a fix.

 

[Boston Mangler]

For whatever it’s worth…

I have the Grom, completely different system, but accomplishes same task

I have the exact same issue with nav/audio volume as well

Curious if ya find a fix, I gave up

 

[marcus clarkus]

I have the Hamilton kit and haven’t felt the need to adjust the volumes separately, but I’ve wondered how. I know they sell an external speaker so you can play the nav sound separately (needed if you are using XM radio).

I’d recommend reaching out to Hamilton support to see if have a way to do it. They respond very quickly.

 

[uod]

I have the Hamilton kit and haven’t felt the need to adjust the volumes separately, but I’ve wondered how. I know they sell an external speaker so you can play the nav sound separately (needed if you are using XM radio).

I’d recommend reaching out to Hamilton support to see if have a way to do it. They respond very quickly.

I have been back and forth with Hamilton on this with no solution unfortunately. That's why I reached out here -- I was hoping someone cracked the code.

I actually have the external speaker installed. I accidentally had the audio routing through it initially. It doesn't really provide much value. It wasn't very loud, and I don't use XM radio at all.

 

[uod]

For whatever it’s worth…

I have the Grom, completely different system, but accomplishes same task

I have the exact same issue with nav/audio volume as well

Curious if ya find a fix, I gave up

I am wondering if there are some similarities in the two though. Does Grom use an Android-based system? I wonder if they are also using the same CarPlay software. I think the Hamilton is using Zlink -- I'll have to double-check.

 

[Boston Mangler]

I am wondering if there are some similarities in the two though. Does Grom use an Android-based system? I wonder if they are also using the same CarPlay software. I think the Hamilton is using Zlink -- I'll have to double-check.

I am honestly not sure what OS the Grom uses

 

[slipkid13]

I think the easiest way to adjust the media volume down (in the Hamilton menu) until it is even with the Siri volume then use the truck volume to adjust everything up/down. This is how I solved my low call volume issue. My calls were super low, I had to crank up the volume, when the call disconnected the music volume would be insane. I turned down the media volume in the Hamilton until it was even with the call volume and now I just adjust everything with the car volume.

Also, I use Android so it may not be relevant but Google Maps has a separate map voice navigation volume on the phone, I cranked that up (it was super low) no idea if Apple has a similar feature for Siri/maps.

 

[uod]

I think the easiest way to adjust the media volume down (in the Hamilton menu) until it is even with the Siri volume then use the truck volume to adjust everything up/down. This is how I solved my low call volume issue. My calls were super low, I had to crank up the volume, when the call disconnected the music volume would be insane. I turned down the media volume in the Hamilton until it was even with the call volume and now I just adjust everything with the car volume.

Also, I use Android so it may not be relevant but Google Maps has a separate map voice navigation volume on the phone, I cranked that up (it was super low) no idea if Apple has a similar feature for Siri/maps.

I have both my Google Maps and my Apple Maps volumes set to the loudest in the two apps.

When you say "adjust the media volume down" -- what do you mean? I only see two options in the Hamilton menu for volume. One is the master volume and one is the navigation volume. The navigation volume has no effect on the volume of anything coming from the iPhone. The master volume turns everything down. I think these two volumes might be specific to how an Android phone interacts with the unit.

 

[slipkid13]

I believe if you exit the interface (Car Play or Android Auto) to menu where you would choose then hit exit again it brings you to he Android OS. You have a later system (I have a '13 LX) I have volume options for calls and music. I just turned down the Hamilton music volume until it was about even with the call volume. This also even out the volume with with Google maps voice.

I found the "use car Bluetooth option" so I am using that. Wireless just for Android Auto all audio goes throug hthe car BT, volume issue fully fixed.

 

[MRego]

For what it's worth, I used to have a Beatsonic unit in my LC200 and had the same issue over and over. After lots of back and forth with their support, never could have it solved entirely, so possibly not an issue with the Hamilton hardware/software. I think your assessment that OEM systems use separate channels, while the aftermarket ones do not, is accurate. Sorry, but I am not sure there is a solution for it. I also gave up and just got used to crank up the volume when having a call and immediately after finishing scrolling all back to lower the volume to avoid the deafening loudness.

 

[elcie200]

No solution here, just an anecdote:
I noticed today that when no audio source was playing (I was in by audio mode, but did not have anything playing — like Spotify etc) the nav and Siri volume were really low. I had increased the volume by the knob, but the nav was still pretty soft (like trying to turn up the phone volume while not on speaker phone mode)

When I played Spotify, the nav volume increased — to match (Spotify and Apple Maps nav voice) were comfortably similar. The Siri voice volume was still really soft.

 

[marcus clarkus]

Do you have this screen of settings in your LX? This is the Hamilton unit in my LC
Hamilton/Settings/Audio/Volume

 

[Dan Higgins]

Do you have this screen of settings in your LX? This is the Hamilton unit in my LC
Hamilton/Settings/Audio/Volume

Thanks for this! I have been frustrated by the volume of phone calls being much quieter than the volume of the music. I had never dug into the System Settings for the Hamilton. I just did and found a lot of things I could tune. I'll need to play with it to get the best balance for me but just knowing it is there is very helpful!