can a carputer compete with a head unit for sound quality?

**JasonWW** · 04-05-2006, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by AndrewK

Running a DVD from my computer will the PXA allow the sound to go through?

I think all 3 of the Alpine models I mentioned will accept the 5.1 SPDIF signal. You'll need to make sure your DVD software outputs the proper signal. Keep in mind that 5.1 in the car isn't really recommended. It can be hard to mount a proper center speaker and the small screen with big sound can be kinda wierd to watch, but yea. Some people do that. There are several threads on that if you search. I think we talked about it earlier in this thread as well.
Here's another thread on it.
Full Surround Sound

**AndrewK** · 04-05-2006, 11:49 PM

Im not going for 5.1 sound.

As long as I get sound from my fronts and sub I will be happy enough

I am making sure that the Alpine will work 100% beforeIbut it as it would be a huge waste ofmoney if it was not going to work.

**JasonWW** · 04-06-2006, 05:14 AM

Originally Posted by AndrewK

Im not going for 5.1 sound.

As long as I get sound from my fronts and sub I will be happy enough

I am making sure that the Alpine will work 100% beforeIbut it as it would be a huge waste ofmoney if it was not going to work.

So are you going for stereo sound?
That's what most of us in this thread use.
So I think you are asking if a 5.1 DVD will be downmixed to 2 channel? I think this has been talked about before. I can't remember, but I think the DVD software can be set to output 2 channel sound. For instance, if you use PowerDVD as your program, I think it can mix the 5.1 down to stereo and output it through the SPDIF. If you have the option, it's best to select the DVD's stereo soundtrack. I really haven't tried to play any DVD's yet on my system. I'm sure somebody knows. There may be some threads on that.

**3onDubs** · 04-06-2006, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by AndrewK

Im not going for 5.1 sound.

As long as I get sound from my fronts and sub I will be happy enough

I am making sure that the Alpine will work 100% before I buy it as it would be a huge waste of money if it was not going to work.

Yes, the Alpine will work 100%...there's proof all over this forum if you search. I not only get sound from my fronts and subs, i get undistorted, noise-free, digital sound.

**JasonWW** · 05-06-2006, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by JasonWW

Hey Jan, on your system (to help me understand your signal levels) at what volume on the H700 controller will the typical loud piece of music start to distort? I'm guessing it's somewhere between 30 and 35.
Do you have the PC volumes Master, Wave and SPDIF set at full or slightly below full?
If you set the Alpine controller volume to your max, whatever it was from earlier, and then use the volume on the PC, do you hear any background noise at lower (PC) volume levels?

I'm hoping you can answer that. I'd really like to know.

I re-adjusted my signal levels. I basically ended up increasing the amp gains a little and leaving the Alpine controller at 30. The noise floor is noticable at lower PC volumes, but no so much when the engine is on. I now have some extra volume if I need it by turning the Alpine controller up to 35. Changing the PC volume didn't seem to have any effect of the noise floor. I may try a different sound card later on and compare.

Anyway, I promised someone a few months ago I'd have some pics of my H700 controller and here they finally are. The H700 is green and orange. The 6 green chicklets buttons on the left are actually bulbs not LED's and have green gelcaps over them. I think they would be easy to change color.

I'm still trying to find a way to change the volume with a button. Anyone know about these rotary encoder things Alpine used?

**Aetherion** · 07-14-2006, 03:32 PM

I hope this isn't too old a thread to resurrect, but I've had an idea while reading it (took me three days

). OK, here we go... (Forgive me if I ramble a bit, I've had chronic insomnia for three days now). At some point Toslink was brought up, which from what I understand is an optical output (Digital). Digital/Analogue Converters (DAC?) were also brought into the equation as well.

The fundamental problem with using the souncard of a PC as a H701 replacement, as far as I can tell, comes down to 2 things:
A. Software (which should be relatively easy for someone with the right programming skills to remedy, I think). and
B. A serious lack of RCA outputs for a competition system (I worked out I need a bare minimum of 5 stereo channels, 6 would be better, and an extra mono above that even better still - thats between 10 and 13 RCA plugs).

1st question: Can one of those Digital/Analogue Converters (DAC?) provide multiple RCA Analogue outputs from a single Toslink input?
2nd question: If so, is there a limit on how many Analogue channels per Toslink cable?

In other words, is it possible (theoretically at least) to run all of your digital processing, EQing, X/O control, Volume adjustment, control for individual speakers, and anything else you happen to need through the PC, then run the output out via a clean digital signal through the Toslink to a (DAC?), which then splits the signal into its respective Analogue RCA outputs, and to run them into your existing amplifiers?

If the (DAC?) can't split the signal that way, what about amps with digital input? Could the digital signal be split into multiple channels in digital?

I'll stop now to see what feedback I can get from everyone here, and keep going once I see what you say about it.

Thanks for reading

Oh yeah, if this works...

**RedGTiVR6** · 07-14-2006, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by Aetherion

I hope this isn't too old a thread to resurrect

This thread is never too old!

The fundamental problem with using the souncard of a PC as a H701 replacement, as far as I can tell, comes down to 2 things:
A. Software (which should be relatively easy for someone with the right programming skills to remedy, I think). and
B. A serious lack of RCA outputs for a competition system (I worked out I need a bare minimum of 5 stereo channels, 6 would be better, and an extra mono above that even better still - thats between 10 and 13 RCA plugs).

1st question: Can one of those Digital/Analogue Converters (DAC?) provide multiple RCA Analogue outputs from a single Toslink input?
2nd question: If so, is there a limit on how many Analogue channels per Toslink cable?

In other words, is it possible (theoretically at least) to run all of your digital processing, EQing, X/O control, Volume adjustment, control for individual speakers, and anything else you happen to need through the PC, then run the output out via a clean digital signal through the Toslink to a (DAC?), which then splits the signal into its respective Analogue RCA outputs, and to run them into your existing amplifiers?

If the (DAC?) can't split the signal that way, what about amps with digital input? Could the digital signal be split into multiple channels in digital?

I do not know the answer to this just yet, but it's a damn good question. Going to do some searching to see if I can find anything.

I do know that many times EQs that have optical ins can spit out multiple Analog RCA outs, so I don't see why not, but for it to be done on a DAC its self...I dono

**scott_fx** · 07-14-2006, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by Aetherion

B. A serious lack of RCA outputs for a competition system (I worked out I need a bare minimum of 5 stereo channels, 6 would be better, and an extra mono above that even better still - thats between 10 and 13 RCA plugs).

why would you need 5-6 stereo chans for a cometition system? even if you tri-amp your speakers (one amp for tweet, another for mid, and another for mid bass) and then you have mono for the sub, why would you need more then that for a 'competition' system? You don't see many systems with rear speakers.

Originally Posted by Aetherion

1st question: Can one of those Digital/Analogue Converters (DAC?) provide multiple RCA Analogue outputs from a single Toslink input?

i believe so, you would have to look outside of the car audio or home audio market though. you are looking into professional audio rack type components. most usb dac's only have a single set of rca's and will require some sort of active crossover

Originally Posted by Aetherion

2nd question: If so, is there a limit on how many Analogue channels per Toslink cable?

i'm confused. toslink is digital it'll give a full range of the signal and then it is then up to the processor to split it up into it's respective chans.

**RedGTiVR6** · 07-14-2006, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by scott_fx

why would you need 5-6 stereo chans for a cometition system? even if you tri-amp your speakers (one amp for tweet, another for mid, and another for mid bass) and then you have mono for the sub, why would you need more then that for a 'competition' system? You don't see many systems with rear speakers.

I guess I missed the competition system part of his/her install?

i'm confused. toslink is digital it'll give a full range of the signal and then it is then up to the processor to split it up into it's respective chans.

I read this as, how many times can you split the signal. Not can i send X frequencies here and Y here.

**Aetherion** · 07-14-2006, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by scott_fx

why would you need 5-6 stereo chans for a cometition system? even if you tri-amp your speakers (one amp for tweet, another for mid, and another for mid bass) and then you have mono for the sub, why would you need more then that for a 'competition' system? You don't see many systems with rear speakers.

1 or 2 stereo channels for tweets (I may decide to go with 4 tweeters, not sure), 1 for midrange, 1 for midbass, 1 for subs (stereo so I can control both subs individually), plus a mono for centre. Then another stereo for the rears if I put them in, and also the option of adding extra midrange or midbass. You can never have too many outputs...

Originally Posted by scott_fx

i'm confused. toslink is digital it'll give a full range of the signal and then it is then up to the processor to split it up into it's respective chans.

Ok, so you would need to make a little mini processor to split the digital signal into all the Analogue channels, if the DCA won't do it. That answers that question for me. (And if I'm confusing, put it down to almost no sleep in three days...)