Ok ... So, I'm a newbie to the CARPC hardware world ... built my first system last fall, and have now been asked by the company I work for to put a system into one of their vehicles.
Been a car audiophile since I was a teenager. Built my first system in HS, and many other friend's systems with cars much nicer than mine.
The question I have is this ...
I have ordered a PC with SPDIF Out via TOSLINK, as I wanted true digital sound. I can't seem to find a surround sound processor that doesn't have analog out to an amplifier.
I've settled with alpine's H701, but even that unit has analog RCA out to the amplifiers ... there's almost no point in using my SPDIF out from the PC if the signal is going to be converted to analog before it hits the amplifiers ... this is my pain ...
Unless there is something I may have missed???
Anyone that can help me ... I could use it ... Thanks!
perk03z06
--------------------------
Windows XP PC
InTruckPC
P4 3.0 GHz Hyperthread CPU, 1Gb RAM, 120 Gb Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW, Centrafuse XLE 1.47, 7" Xenarc, GPS, EV-DO via Samsung i730 ... more coming!
-Thanks
Mitch
www.rush2112.net
"Did you test it in carwings??"
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You are going to have to have analog in the signal path somewhere before the speakers. If you use high-quality components you should have nice signal quality. Most systems would normally use a long RCA between the head unit and the trunk which is a big source of noise/interference. Make sure your components are grounded nicely too. I am like you in that I have Toslink going to the trunk into a processor. I then go balanced RCAs into the amps and then to the speakers. Not done yet but should sound clean when I'm finished.
2006 Lancer Evolution IX MR In-Dash PC Project - WIP
Planning:
[----------] 100%
Purchasing:
[----------] 90%
Installation/Fab/Assembly (Revised v2):
[----------] 90%
Alpine MRA-F350Originally Posted by mitchjs
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...=detailed_info
From the Description:
"Right Side of Amplifier:
- Guide Control: 2-pin jack for connecting an outboard controller
- [hl]Digital Input: Toslink optical digital input for digital sources (DVD, Game system, etc)[/hl]
- Changer In: since the amp is connected to the head unit's AI-Net port, a changer is connected to the AI-Net changer input on the amp
- AI-Net: analog signals are input through an AI-Net cable; the amp has no standard RCA inputs
- Guide Input: single RCA input
- Subwoofer: single RCA output
perk03z06
--------------------------
Windows XP PC
InTruckPC
P4 3.0 GHz Hyperthread CPU, 1Gb RAM, 120 Gb Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW, Centrafuse XLE 1.47, 7" Xenarc, GPS, EV-DO via Samsung i730 ... more coming!
Some of those alpine amps require a alpine headunit
My carpc worklog
I know ... which bites a big one.I don't need a head unit ...
Which is why I think I'm going to opt for the H701 processor and RUX-C701 controller for it.
Damn audio HW manufacturers ... nothing is standardized ...
perk03z06
--------------------------
Windows XP PC
InTruckPC
P4 3.0 GHz Hyperthread CPU, 1Gb RAM, 120 Gb Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW, Centrafuse XLE 1.47, 7" Xenarc, GPS, EV-DO via Samsung i730 ... more coming!
The Zapco DSP6-SL also takes TosLink and is USB controllable so you can use the PC to tune it and control the volume.
http://www.zapco.com/
2006 Lancer Evolution IX MR In-Dash PC Project - WIP
Planning:
[----------] 100%
Purchasing:
[----------] 90%
Installation/Fab/Assembly (Revised v2):
[----------] 90%
Wow ... that's quite the spanky little unit ...
I don't like:
But it does give me PC control w/o having to buy a dedicated HW controller for it.
- How I'm forced into using their SymbiLink adapters for output from the processor
- No mention of decoding for 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS signals
- No mention of Dolby Pro Logic II
Not sure which one to use. Will probably end up going with the Alpine Units ... more budget friendly ... I think I need to do more research though ...
Many Thanks for pointing that out, though. I'm glad at least 1 person in here didn't think I was out of my mind when I came in here looking for an amp that had toslink in ...
perk03z06
--------------------------
Windows XP PC
InTruckPC
P4 3.0 GHz Hyperthread CPU, 1Gb RAM, 120 Gb Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW, Centrafuse XLE 1.47, 7" Xenarc, GPS, EV-DO via Samsung i730 ... more coming!
Yeah, you have to do an adapter from their proprietary connector. But really it's just a balanced RCA underneath so you can use an adapter.
You are right that the alpine is less expensive but nobody has reverse engineered AiNet yet so you can't control it via the PC...
2006 Lancer Evolution IX MR In-Dash PC Project - WIP
Planning:
[----------] 100%
Purchasing:
[----------] 90%
Installation/Fab/Assembly (Revised v2):
[----------] 90%
I really would not be worrying about running 1 or 2 feet of analog cables into the amps from the DSP. Just make sure they are as short as possible and don't skimp on the quality. 1-2 feet of analog is nothing compared to the 5-10 feet of speaker wire you will be running out from the amp to the speakers anyways. I have this setup and I have no interference I can notice. It sounds money.
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