AM vs FM - Toyota Yaris Forums

Steveh27 · 07-13-2010, 01:45 PM

With my OEM radio the AM is much quieter than the FM stations. Why? I'm a frequent station changer & have to change the volume setting a lot when going back & forth. Do not like that. Any ideas or help?

Steve

rningonfumes · 07-13-2010, 02:16 PM

I listen to AM quite often and I don't notice much of a difference, then again I only care about differences if the sounds aren't coming in clear.

Maybe it is lower, I just never took notice since AM was mostly talk.

ChilliwackGuy · 07-13-2010, 02:54 PM

I've had the same experience - but I listen mostly to iPod / CDs / and FM - which do sound fine. Whenever I use AM - it's just to listen to Traffic Reports on NEWS 1130AM - they broadcast traffic on the "1's" - and yeah it's low - but I just raise it and lower it as needed.

bkndacn · 07-13-2010, 03:26 PM

What I understand is that the OEM radio "saves" the volume between different inputs .... For example you can have your ipod on through the Aux playing at 64 (what I usually have it at) and then switch over to FM2 and have that at a volume of 15.... but later when you switch it back to Aux it will start playing at 64!!!!

which has scared the $hit outa me and passengers but its something that you get used to

Steveh27 · 07-13-2010, 04:46 PM

I've turned the volume up to hear the AM news, weather & traffic, then push the FM button & I'm blasted into the back seat!

WIsh the volume output was the same on both AM & FM.

fujiwaru · 07-15-2010, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steveh27

I've turned the volume up to hear the AM news, weather & traffic, then push the FM button & I'm blasted into the back seat!

WIsh the volume output was the same on both AM & FM.

happens to me sometimes too

RedHatch08 · 07-14-2010, 02:19 AM

I don't think I've ever even tried AM yet.

I'll have to experiment next time I drive.

severous01 · 07-14-2010, 09:13 AM

am loses too much power over distance...that's why fm is around...also, fm modulation can carry much more information than am. so you can get dual channels out of fm, like left and right sound.

am sounds fine and plays loud enough, if you're right next to the antenna

BTW, AM is for talking, not fm. so if any of you have any pull on fm 'morning shows' where all they do is talk, make them stick to the am stations...i like listening to music, not people talking about whatever it is they can pull out of their butts......................sorry to rant, just gets on my nerves.

ChilliwackGuy · 07-14-2010, 12:46 PM

So - - - - would this be a bad time to ask all u guys 4 a proper explanation as to how the ASL works? I've tried Low / Med / High / when using the radio - and I can't understand why mine doesn't seem to work.

Steveh27 · 07-14-2010, 08:49 PM

Not a single other vehicle I've owned has had any significant difference in the volume output of AM vs FM. This is NOT due to any distance issue. On this radio when I have the FM volume set & switch to AM to check the weather or traffic it is so quiet it cannot be heard. When I get it set I have to remember to turn the vol down when jumping back to FM. Sometimes I switch back & forth every 5 minutes or more. None of my other vehicles over 40 years have had that difference. Bummer.

07-13-2010, 01:45 PM	#1
Steveh27 Drives: 2010 3dr hatchback auto red Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Grosse Pointe Woods, MI Posts: 80	AM vs FM With my OEM radio the AM is much quieter than the FM stations. Why? I'm a frequent station changer & have to change the volume setting a lot when going back & forth. Do not like that. Any ideas or help? Steve

07-13-2010, 02:16 PM	#2
rningonfumes Drives: Yaris Sedan 5MT Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 865	I listen to AM quite often and I don't notice much of a difference, then again I only care about differences if the sounds aren't coming in clear. Maybe it is lower, I just never took notice since AM was mostly talk. __________________

07-13-2010, 04:46 PM	#5
Steveh27 Drives: 2010 3dr hatchback auto red Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Grosse Pointe Woods, MI Posts: 80	Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. I've turned the volume up to hear the AM news, weather & traffic, then push the FM button & I'm blasted into the back seat! WIsh the volume output was the same on both AM & FM.

07-14-2010, 02:19 AM	#7
RedHatch08 Canadetroiter View User's Garage Drives: 2008 3DR 5M Join Date: May 2010 Location: Detroit MI USA Posts: 237	I don't think I've ever even tried AM yet. I'll have to experiment next time I drive. __________________ K&N Air Filter . Rear Debadge

07-14-2010, 08:49 PM	#10
Steveh27 Drives: 2010 3dr hatchback auto red Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Grosse Pointe Woods, MI Posts: 80	This radios am vs fm is different than all my others. Not a single other vehicle I've owned has had any significant difference in the volume output of AM vs FM. This is NOT due to any distance issue. On this radio when I have the FM volume set & switch to AM to check the weather or traffic it is so quiet it cannot be heard. When I get it set I have to remember to turn the vol down when jumping back to FM. Sometimes I switch back & forth every 5 minutes or more. None of my other vehicles over 40 years have had that difference. Bummer.

07-13-2010, 02:54 PM	#3
ChilliwackGuy WCOAST CANADIAN DRIVER!!! Drives: 2010 Hatch 5DR - AUTO/AC Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chilliwack BC, Canada Posts: 109	I've had the same experience - but I listen mostly to iPod / CDs / and FM - which do sound fine. Whenever I use AM - it's just to listen to Traffic Reports on NEWS 1130AM - they broadcast traffic on the "1's" - and yeah it's low - but I just raise it and lower it as needed.

07-13-2010, 03:26 PM	#4
bkndacn View User's Garage Drives: 2009 Toyota Yaris Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Havre de Grace, MD Posts: 372	What I understand is that the OEM radio "saves" the volume between different inputs .... For example you can have your ipod on through the Aux playing at 64 (what I usually have it at) and then switch over to FM2 and have that at a volume of 15.... but later when you switch it back to Aux it will start playing at 64!!!! which has scared the $hit outa me and passengers but its something that you get used to

07-14-2010, 09:13 AM	#8
severous01 Drives: 2008 yaris, stripped, red Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SE Texas Posts: 977	am loses too much power over distance...that's why fm is around...also, fm modulation can carry much more information than am. so you can get dual channels out of fm, like left and right sound. am sounds fine and plays loud enough, if you're right next to the antenna BTW, AM is for talking, not fm. so if any of you have any pull on fm 'morning shows' where all they do is talk, make them stick to the am stations...i like listening to music, not people talking about whatever it is they can pull out of their butts......................sorry to rant, just gets on my nerves.

07-14-2010, 12:46 PM	#9
ChilliwackGuy WCOAST CANADIAN DRIVER!!! Drives: 2010 Hatch 5DR - AUTO/AC Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chilliwack BC, Canada Posts: 109	So - - - - would this be a bad time to ask all u guys 4 a proper explanation as to how the ASL works? I've tried Low / Med / High / when using the radio - and I can't understand why mine doesn't seem to work.