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Clarion CMD4 sound problems

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7.1K views 15 replies 8 participants last post by  mojocowboy  
#1 ·
My Clarion CMD4 will no longer play at loud volumes. The highest setting of 33 is about the same as 7-8 prior to having these problems. Did a search in the Electronics and Electrical Stuff Section and found one other person with a similar problem. However, no resolution was found so far. I just assumed my radio was bad so I went on eBay and purchased a new CMD4. However, after installing the new unit I still have the same problem. It doesn’t matter what source I select (AM/FM, CD, Aux, Sat, etc.) the sound is still very low. My stereo setup is the stock Sea Ray option with 4 speakers and Sirius.

Anyone else have a similar issue and found a resolution? I'm very frustrated, especially now that I have purchased a new radio and still have the same problems.

Thanks.
 
#2 ·
I have a XMD3 and a similar problem. I also purchased another radio and hoped to install this weekend. I read somewhere that the stereo has a overload protection. If the wires short then the power is reduced. If the stereo swap works then I won't worry about it. If not then I will be unplgging the speaker wires.
 
#5 ·
I purchased a new CMD4 and swapped it out with the original one. It did not fix the problem so perhaps there is a short somewhere. I've checked all my fuses and none were blown so I don't know where else to check for a short.

Please let us know if swapping your radio fixes the problem.
 
#4 ·
Is there a separate amp on a stock 2007 200 Sundeck CMD4 setup? My understanding was the CMD4 powers all 4 speakers. I did not see a separate amp when I removed my radio. There was no turn on lead or extra pair of RCA cables plugged into the back of the CMD4 so I am assuming Sea Ray did not include an amp. Perhaps if you have the subwoofer option you get an extra amp. I checked my original Sea Ray invoice and it does not list an extra amp.
 
#6 ·
Go to the speakers and unplug them one at a time. This is the easiest way to see if one of the speakers is shorted. If this does not work disconnect one speaker at a time at the head unit.

I believe the unit has a build in 50 watt per channel amp internal. If I recall, there is also a way to turn the internal amp off to use external amplificaiton. Check the user manual???
 
#9 ·
Go to the speakers and unplug them one at a time. This is the easiest way to see if one of the speakers is shorted. If this does not work disconnect one speaker at a time at the head unit.

I believe the unit has a build in 50 watt per channel amp internal. If I recall, there is also a way to turn the internal amp off to use external amplificaiton. Check the user manual???
I will try this next weekend. Just got back from the Fla. Keys and won't have time to troubleshoot again until next week. Thanks for your reply.
 
#7 ·
Go to your manual. Find the set up section. The rear speakers work off of the sub woofer. Reset the SRO. Mine got out of wack when I changed batteries this spring.
George
 
#8 ·
Ok – I found the problem with my XMD3. My second battery was weak and was not sending enough power to the radio. I didn't think about this because the battery was strong enough to trim the out drive and run the radio at weak levels. It wasn't till I gave up after trying a new radio and cutting a lot of wires that I went for a ride. I noticed that my trim was responding slowly. I thought – great something else is broken. Then I turned the battery switch to both batteries and the stereo came to life. I got a new deep cycle battery and the radio is good as new. The new radio will be going back to Amazon.
 
#10 ·
Thanks to all those who responded to my initial post. I have finally solved the problem. Turned out to be a bad antennae. I would have never figured as I could still receive AM/FM stations.

I took the boat into MM and explained to the tech all the troubleshooting I had done. He said he thought it might be the antennae and when he replaced it, problem solved!
 
#11 ·
Okay, my BS meter is going off. Somebody tell me how a bad antennae can effect the volume of a CD?:huh: Which antennae was it (Sat or AM/FM)?




Thanks to all those who responded to my initial post. I have finally solved the problem. Turned out to be a bad antennae. I would have never figured as I could still receive AM/FM stations.

I took the boat into MM and explained to the tech all the troubleshooting I had done. He said he thought it might be the antennae and when he replaced it, problem solved!
 
#12 ·
It was the AM/FM antenna. The SIRIUS Antenna is fine. BTW, prior to replacing the antennae the volume did not work properly on any source. Didn't matter if it was AM/FM radio, SIRIUS, CD or iPod. Must have been something internally in the CMD4 that limited the volume if the antennae was bad.
 
#14 ·
Didn't make a difference. I tried that myself when I initially started troubleshooting. I guess there is something in the CMD4 antenna connection that controls the volume or the amount of current the amp puts out to the speakers.
 
#15 ·
I'm having a hard time getting my arms around the antenna being the culprit too. Anything else change like the battery was charged or a loose connection to an amp corrected during the swap?