Computer Vs, Stereo Vs. Empeg.

**belezeebub** · 06-22-2005, 09:05 PM

Computer Vs, Stereo Vs. Empeg.

I am sure by now you are all getting tired of my endless chatter and questions so I'll go out with a bang. I currently have a Empeg player 60G works great but I was checking out some of the new audio gear and I raised some questions again.
I spent two hours trying to convence my friend that empeg was the way to go but with no good hard facts I failed, in fact now I am not sure which is the way to go, all of the options have there Pros and Cons
Looking for some UNbiased input and I am sorry but "because" is not good enough if you could post some good hards facts that would be great.(I swear this will be the last time I ask this) The Cost is not a huge issue for me but I find it hard to swallow a 500 bill to fiberglass in a screen and I lack the ability to do it myself. all of the soultions are in the same ball park and I could sell my empeg for 400 easy so thats not an issue.

Empeg 60G 450.00
DEQ with sub woofer level control 250.00
Upgrades to empeg 280 (not including a new face if they ever get out of VaporWare stage)
Tuner 200.00
Total 1180.00
Pros
Best UI I have seen
Single all in one unit

Cons
No longer supported (end users now fix all the issues, no plans for anymore software upgrades in the near future
Fewer and fewer are around

New Car Computer
Computer 300
Screen 600
DC/DC PS 200
Tuner 50
Total 1150.

Pros
5.1 or even 7.1 sound
Movies, TV, Games and GPS-Nav
Common parts at any local fry's
Full Color Touch Screen
Engine Diag
Email
Web Surfing
Unlimited add on's
I can fix any computer with an Intel inside Sticker

Cons.
Not a all in one unit
More complex to install
Higher drain on car's electrical system
Mounting Monitor is spendy and the dash monitors are a bit funky looking.

Alpine, Pioneer Head Unit Avic-N2 Or N2 or IVA900
Cost 1400

Pros
New with warrenty
Color
Nav, GPS, DVD
Engine Diag.
Built in 5.1
Built in sub output.
Built in Tuner

Cons.
Cost
Kludgie UI when playing MP3's

(Empeg 3)
VAPORWARE
May or May not ever hit the streets.

**accentsound** · 06-23-2005, 12:47 PM

You answered your own question. How? By giving your selections. It seems that you are not satified with just audio. Else you would not have listed any video enabled head units.

So you just need to figure out what you want. You need to remember that pioneer multimedia units are proven, stable, and reliable. Also they come with warrenties and a full dealer support network.

Car PC's while neat still have a very long way to go in terms of reliability and service. Have one put in and after that you are pretty much on your own. This is ok if you do it all your self but a whole other thing when you pay someone to do it for you. Car PC's heck for PC's in general cars are a hostile environment. Temprature extremes, vibration, poor voltage control only to name a few. PC's are not designed to work in that type of environment, they were never intended to work in that type of environment.

So expect problems and failures. A 1400 pioneer until could last in a vehicle indefinitely, the same can not be said for these adapted industrial PC units. On a dry day when you get in and out of your car and build up a nice charge of static, if you touch your pioneer nothing will happen. Accidentally zap one of your USB ports and it could be Bye Bye car PC.

So there you have it. At our shop when we do a car PC we do the whole install and as a matter of course we also warrenty the work and do the repairs. Of course our customers pay for this as part of the system price. You should also note that if you install a Car PC with built in (Imbedded) components like a dash installed LCD you may find that the local repair shops and certainly the dealer will not want to touch your car, especially anything having to do with the electrical system, so beware.

**belezeebub** · 06-23-2005, 02:17 PM

I wish there was a way to try before you buy on a car computer but it just doesn't happen, I guess I could drag my laptop outside and plug a USB soundcard into my Amp rack but with out having it all hooked up no telling what could happen, I was hoping to get some info from people that have one, I have the empeg I know how that works, I have had the alpine iva 900 (hated the ipod interfact) and I have had pioneer units before but never had a computer installed in my car. I have built a few prototypes but never hooked them to the cars electrical system so no point of refrence.

**techy101** · 06-23-2005, 02:54 PM

I think the biggest pro, and con of the Carputer are the same thing. It's a hobby. It's a Pro because you get to make it work EXACTLY how you want, and you're not stuck into a prebuild UI or functionality. That can also be a major downfall. That since it is a hobby, it usually requires much more tinkering, troubleshooting, and fighting than a Pioneer or Alpine etc... system. I have no experience with the Empeg systems, so I don't feel right to try to comment on them.

But if you're looking mainly for functionality, the CarPC will surpass the Pioneer system by leaps and bounds.

If you're looking mainly for stability, and making the whole thing a one time install, with no further headache from there on out, then the Poineer, etc.. system is the way to go. Again, this is not taking into account the Empeg system for the reason I listed above.