Thread: 5.1 Amplifiers with Optical inputs

Originally Posted by ajscomp372

I know the Performance Teknique amplifier has DTS decoding because it's the amp I use in my car. It doesn't mention it anywhere online, but it says that it decodes DTS in the manual for the amp.

Thanks then I know!

Do You have a subwoofer and do You think that the power is enough if so?

Do You have to use the remote for day to day use of the amp if connected digitally with the pc. I´m thinking about volume adjusting etcetera.. not the initial install/setup tuning (that doesnt matter because it´s a more rare used procedure)

Can You add modifications to the sound if connected digitally, like fading backsead/fronseat, balance, bass/treble, time-compensation without using the amp´s remote (like You do on home-hifisystems)

I ask since I want to use the touchscreen for all this while driving.

bimmerpc, in response to your questions:

1. I used all of the car's original wiring and speakers, including subwoofers. The power that this amp gives to the subs is great, at least for my car.

2. One problem that I have with the amp is that yes, you do have to use the remote for use daily with a PC connected digitally. You have to push the power button on the remote to turn on the decoder. I use the Auzentech X-Mystique to connect with the amp optically.

3. You can adjust volume on the PC side very easily. If you want to adjust volume on the amp, it is very easy with the remote (simple up/down buttons). For setup/tuning and such, I recommend that you connect this amp to the touchscreen in front with the composite video connector (on-screen display). Wire the remote receiver up to the front as well and setup will be very easy.

4. Some of the sound modifications you were talking about can be done on the amp: you can adjust crossover point, gain for individual channels, and whether the subs are on or not. The fading/balance/bass/treble can all be done easily on the PC. Those controls are even integrated into many forntends. Time compensation is another story. I don't know of any sound cards that support it, and I don't know of any PC programs that do it. You certainly can't do it on the amp. By the way, if you want to change amp settings using the touchscreen you will need to change the "channel" on the touchscreen from VGA to composite, if your screen can do that. But you'll have to use the amp remote to change the settings (not so easy to do in traffic, except for volume, which is easy).

And yes, you're welcome.

With these facts at hand, would You say that If You had both the amp and souundcard in the trunk, You would rather switch it for a normal amp? By that I mean use for example Turtle beach roadie and have all audio signals decoded within the computer and just outputted via 4 + 1 RCA cables directly to the amp?
Using really good rca seems like the risk for interference would be reduced.
= No adjusting with remote and no power on switching needed..

Only problem I see is that the amp has to have 4.1 surround input via minimum 5 different rca connector (maybe 10 If there isnt one with stereo rca input) Sorry havent really checked the car-audio stores recently to see how the inputs looks like

If you had both the soundcard and amp in the trunk, it would be easier to use a standard amp. For your purposes, if you don't absolutely need to have dolby digital or dts, a standard amp seems to be a good way to go. Having the audio outputted directly to an amp that accepts at least five RCA inputs with good RCA cables would work well. Soundcards such as the Audigy 2 and others have cables that convert the outputs from the card to standard RCA.

Well I´ll have to consider where I will place the amp.
I dont know what I will miss if I have a standard amp without surround. Can I still watch all dvd´s on the market in my car?
I dont know much about crossovers, equalizers and stuffs and I would like to have the system to run by itself without too many features that require extra remotes and push of a lot of hardware buttons just to switch from mp3 to dvd for example. Still would be nice to have 4.1 surround though!

-no optical input-

Audiobahn A5100T
5.1 Surround Sound 6-Channel Amplifier

Key Features:

Class A/B Mosfet Power Amplifier
2 Ohms Stable Stereo
1 Ohm Stable (Subwoofer Channel Only)
4 Ohms Stable Bridged
Full MOSFET Power Supply
Non-Regulated Power Supply
Double Sided Circuit Board
Interior Circuit Board Illumination
L.E.D. Illuminated Edges & Heat sinks
On/Off switch for illumination
Illuminated Audiobahn name plate
Clipping L.E.D. Indicators under the Volt Meter (Blue L.E.D. Volt Meter)
Internal Cooling Fan
18dB Bass Boost
Soft Start Circuitry
Variable Sub Sonic Filter 20-50Hz
Signal To Noise Ratio: 100dB
High Quality Bipolar Audio Stage
Hi Pass Variable Crossover for 1/2/3/4 channel: 30Hz to 500Hz
Band pass variable crossover for center channel: 30Hz to 8000Hz
Low pass variable crossover for subwoofer channel: 30Hz to 120Hz
Variable Bass Boost for subwoofer channel: 45Hz, 0 ~ +18dB
Phase shift for subwoofer channel: 0 degree to 180 degrees
Dimensions: 12.7"(w) x 2.2"(h) x 23"(d)
1-year Sonic Electronix warranty

Amplifier Specifications:

Number of Channels: 6 - 5.1 Surround Sound
RMS Power (4 ohms): (Front) 125W x 2, (Center, Rear) 75W x 1 & 2, (Subwoofer) 300W x 1
RMS Power (2 ohms): (Front) 200W x 2, (Center & Rear) 130W x 1 & 2, (Subwoofer) 500W x 1
RMS Power (1 ohm): 800W (SubChan is Only Stable Chan @ 1 ohm)
Bridged RMS Power: --
Peak Power Output: --
Min. Impedance Unbridged: 2 ohms, 1 ohm subwoofer channel
Min. Impedance Bridged: 4 ohms
THD @ Rated RMS Power: 0.02%
Speaker Level Inputs: No
Amp Preamp Outputs: No
Built-in Crossover: Refer to features
High-Pass Crossover: N/A
Low-Pass Crossover: N/A
Subsonic Filter: N/A
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 100 dB
Channel Separation: N/A
Bass Boost: 0 - 18dB
Bass/Gain Remote: N/A
Fan Cooled: Yes
Fuse Rating: 40A x 2
Warranty: 1-year SE

http://www.audiobahn.com/
-may be a discontinued unit also-

You can still have surround sound with a standard amp. What most people do who want surround is buy a 4 channel amp and a 1 channel amp. The 4 channel amp powers the surround channels, and the 1 channel amp powers the subs. If you did that there would be no buttons to push and no remotes needed either.

Originally Posted by Will Albers

Autotek MM5.1

The replacement model to the Zeus. Fully available. I have one!

Hmm, what do we have here? Is that a new 5.1 amp???

Originally Posted by Red GTI VR6

I simply cannot find any solid information for this amplifier. I google it and I only come up with two links, both to mp3car.com.

I can't even find it on the Autotek web site.

I'd love to add it to the list, but if it's not even avaliable to end users, we can't quite add it just yet.

I think that one is an emphaser, instead of an autotek

edit: hmmm, looked it up and it IS an autotek, my bad

Anyone know what the requirements are for the ODR series?

Will the RS-A9/RS-A7 accept linear PCM over the optical lines? does this become an ideal amp for those wanting Optical in on an amp, who dont necessarily need 5.1?