Eonon GA7166A - Multiple Problems

[samer0214]

I purchased this in 2017 and installed it in my 2005 e53 4.8is, then had to take it out because audio stopped working. No sound can be heard regardless of source. (BTW, car is equipped with factory DSP).

I re-installed it last month figuring I would chase whatever problem(s) that made it stop the 1st time around, only to find out that it started working again, but.....

1) Audio only out of the front speakers
2) Radio buttons do not illuminate when the headlights are turned on. I have confirmed that the buttons do light up when the unit is 1st turned on, but then and only then.
3) Steering wheel controls: only volume up/down works. Nothing else works or can be programmed/assigned

4) Finally, the BIG one: audio stopped working altogether (AGAIN), out of the front speakers as well, after about one week of the re-install !!

What gives? What should I check? Is the problem from the unit itself or something in the car?

Eonon Customer Service leaves much to be desired.

Thank you - Samer

[ajacks8]

My best guess is dying factory amp. Similar symptoms occurred in my 2006 w/DSP. It can usually be temporarily remedied with an battery disconnect/reconnect...but that will only buy you a few days/weeks at a time. You could look for cheep used replacement (risky), a new replacement ($1200ish), or go aftermarket and stumble through wiring complexities of DSP. All great options, right??? Good luck!

[samer0214]

I have a couple of after market amps, and would consider installing those instead of the factory amp, but a couple of questions first:

1) I assume the DSP function is built INTO the factory amp, and is not a separate unit, correct?
2) If that's the case, wouldn't removing the amp make wiring the after market amps a bit easier?
3) Someone on this board must have had the wiring figured out by now. I haven't searched the forum yet.

Thanks - Samer

[ajacks8]

Well, when my issues occurred, I had eonon unit, factory DSP everything else. I just bypassed factory DSP amp to install a JL jx400/4d. This has worked decently, but I do get alternator noise constantly and am living without DSP which I likely lost with Eonon - not really sure because previous owner installed that. Does that help?

[titan silber]

I'm far from an Android headunit expert but that won't stop me from posting...


What have to done to turn on the DSP amp when your headunit is powered on? In my install I chose to us the Resler IBus interface with the DSP option which send the power-on signal to the DSP amp and allows you to control the amp. The IBus interface also integrates very nicely to provide the factory OBC functions (plus more) through the headunit.

[upallnight]

You will need to convert the analog signal to Digital Signal in order for the DSP amp to work correctly. If you have a coaxial cable connector on the factory amp you can buy an analog to digital converter to make everything work. I used a Grom integration system in my X when I had the X to install bluetooth and a jump drive with music on it in stead of using the rear CD changer. If your amp don't have the coaxial connector on it, you have a fake DSP system that BMW marketed as the DSP system.

Here's a video on installing the GROM DSP converter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de-j7rt0tUU

[samer0214]

Originally Posted by ajacks8

My best guess is dying factory amp. Similar symptoms occurred in my 2006 w/DSP. It can usually be temporarily remedied with an battery disconnect/reconnect...but that will only buy you a few days/weeks at a time. You could look for cheep used replacement (risky), a new replacement ($1200ish), or go aftermarket and stumble through wiring complexities of DSP. All great options, right??? Good luck!

This ^^ sounds like the most plausible answer so far. I will test this theory by disconnecting/reconnecting the battery, but will also pull the HU out and test it on a bench with some speakers, using the built in amp in the HU.

[samer0214]

Originally Posted by ajacks8

Well, when my issues occurred, I had eonon unit, factory DSP everything else. I just bypassed factory DSP amp to install a JL jx400/4d. This has worked decently, but I do get alternator noise constantly and am living without DSP which I likely lost with Eonon - not really sure because previous owner installed that. Does that help?

That certainly helps, thank you! It also answers my question as to whther an external after market amp can be used with the HU and factory speakers.

As long as the speaker wires can be properly identified, I don't see why they couldn't be used with an aftermarket radio and amp.

Am I missing something?

[samer0214]

Originally Posted by titan silber

I'm far from an Android headunit expert but that won't stop me from posting...


What have to done to turn on the DSP amp when your headunit is powered on? In my install I chose to us the Resler IBus interface with the DSP option which send the power-on signal to the DSP amp and allows you to control the amp. The IBus interface also integrates very nicely to provide the factory OBC functions (plus more) through the headunit.

Thanks for the reply, but my issue is not whether the DSP amp is powering on or not. It does turn on, but will stop working after about one week.

[samer0214]

Originally Posted by upallnight

You will need to convert the analog signal to Digital Signal in order for the DSP amp to work correctly. If you have a coaxial cable connector on the factory amp you can buy an analog to digital converter to make everything work. I used a Grom integration system in my X when I had the X to install bluetooth and a jump drive with music on it in stead of using the rear CD changer. If your amp don't have the coaxial connector on it, you have a fake DSP system that BMW marketed as the DSP system.

Here's a video on installing the GROM DSP converter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de-j7rt0tUU

Are you suggesting that the DSP amp won't work properly unless the signal is converted to digital? And when you say "correctly" are you referring to the various built-in effects of the factory DSP amp?

If that's the case, then my answer is that I really don't care about the DSP effects. All I care about is getting plain amplification out of the amp. The DSP was crap anyway, and the sound effects were horrible.

Regardless, the Eonon HU is supposed to directly interface to the factory system without the need for an interface such as the GROM or others.

Until others chime in with a different opinion, I'm leaning towards the issue being with the amp itself. I will test this out and report back.