Best option?

**super-fly** · 02-13-2006, 10:55 AM

I'm wondering what my best audio option is right now. I've read the FAQ on all the different ways to hook audio up and searched the heck out of the rest of the forum. I know how to do it I am just wondering my best option.

Right now I just want to be able to hear the computer through the speakers. Ideally down the road I want to get an external sound card, amp, etc. I just want to get by the cheapest way possible as I'm going to spend most of my money on the screen and computer.

I want to retain am/fm and the radio shark stink from what I can gather so that means I'm keeping a headunit of some kind. I'd like to keep the factory one because then I can still use my steering wheel controls. This means I'm either getting an aux-box or getting an amp and running audio from the computer to the amp. The only problem I have with this is for some reason you can only switch between am and fm with the steering wheel controls, and if I keep the head unit I'll have to relocate it, so then it will be a pain in the neck switching back and forth between the input and the radio.

I also have and old kenwood head unit with an cd changer control. If I used this though I would be lossing steering wheel control so that still wouldn't work. I could buy the steering wheel remote thingy, but that is just as much as a aux-box. This got kinda long...sorry. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

By the way I have a 2001 impala with the premium sound package(rds radio, cd, cassette, and factory amp). Thanks again!

**Will Albers** · 02-13-2006, 12:09 PM

keep your stock radio where it is. Use a FM modulator. Mount the screen somewhere else.

**super-fly** · 02-13-2006, 01:48 PM

That was the one thing i didn't want to do...use a modulator...they suck.

**Rocky388** · 02-13-2006, 03:40 PM

get a new headunit with aux-in, and read up how you can use your exsisting controls. While I haven't done this myself, i've seen a couple threads that explain how it's possible.

Most new headunits will come with a remote too, so switching between inputs won't be a hassel no matter where you mount it. (well, as long as the remote is in sight of the h/u)

**super-fly** · 02-13-2006, 07:38 PM

Any suggestions on hu's

**TheLlama** · 02-13-2006, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by super-fly

Any suggestions on hu's

If you are good at electronics you may be able to "tap" the signal in. Before I purchased amplifiers I took my Nissan head unit apart and found where the AM signal enters the main sound processing chip. I merely disconnected it and wired an RCA cable to the chip. When you would choose AM the CarPC would be playing.