Thread: ByByte Black Box N Nano-ITX Car PC Case

As far as I'm aware, you have only one option for a NanoITX motherboard, and that is made by VIA.

I have it, I was going to review it, but I would have given it such a scathing review I decided not to. I use it plus I have the built in amplifier from ByByte also. The built quality is sub-par and feels flimsy in my opinion. but I do like the range of motherboards it supports(Nano-ITX, Pico-ITX, and 3.5" SBC) I have a Pico-ITX I tried to mount in there but gave up after realizing that I would have to fashion my own mounting brackets. I previously used a Xenarc MDT-X7000 which is known to have issues. I would still be using it if I had not sold it already. The amplified provided by ByByte has such horrible interference that I cannot hear my music. No matter how I wire it and or shield it there is only minimal improvement over the racket that is supposed to be my music.

if TLDR basically forget the box and only get the LCD mount if you can.

Take a look at the new 3.5" format available from Quannmax. They sell them at LogicSupply. I like the Atom stuff over the VIA, so I think they are the perfect board for the BlackBox.

http://www.logicsupply.com/categorie...s/3_5_inch_ecx

Originally Posted by meryan00

I have it, I was going to review it, but I would have given it such a scathing review I decided not to. I use it plus I have the built in amplifier from ByByte also. .

How is the sound from the amp? Can the amp be used with atom boards?

I am using the amp with a 3.5mm stereo in from my atom board with no issues, but I have a horrible amount of interference, I have finally gotten most of it removed, but there is still a significant noise level before the computer boots up. The other thing is that there is no on off option so you either have to have it always on or only come on with the car is started, but then you have interference issues. I chose to run direct power lines for the amp so it always stays on.

Originally Posted by slonoma98

How is the sound from the amp? Can the amp be used with atom boards?

Hey meryan00, did you manage to figure out how to get the ByByte amplifier to turn on and off with the car? Or is still always on?

I just stumbled upon the amplifier on the ByByte website and it looks pretty decent for what it does and it will surely help those who want to build an integrated system, but it lacks the remote power-on feature that normal car amplifiers have.

Also, in the manual, it says it's 4 channel, but I only see 2 channel outputs?

Originally Posted by MeeM

Hey meryan00, did you manage to figure out how to get the ByByte amplifier to turn on and off with the car? Or is still always on?

I just stumbled upon the amplifier on the ByByte website and it looks pretty decent for what it does and it will surely help those who want to build an integrated system, but it lacks the remote power-on feature that normal car amplifiers have.

Also, in the manual, it says it's 4 channel, but I only see 2 channel outputs?

I have the amp plugged in all the time, sure i could wire up a relay to control it, but i decided not to. When e pc is off the amp takes hardly any power, i left it on for a week without starting my car with no real drop in voltage on my battery. I am using to build a fully integrated system, but found i had to run new power lines for the amp, it comes with 20-gauge lines for power, which i found to be insufficient. I ran new 12-gauge lines and get rid of all the interference on the system.

The last issue about channels is true, they mislead you saying 4 channel. It is 2 separate chanenels that are wired in parallel. So you can still fade left to rit but not front and rear. What i am doing is buying a second amp to give me 4 channels and am using the new 1.2ghz via artigo pico-itx motherboard, I am still working on building the system but i am also integrating the factory harness Clip from a extra radio i had.

I am happy to answer any more questions you have if you need me to.

Originally Posted by meryan00

The last issue about channels is true, they mislead you saying 4 channel. It is 2 separate chanenels that are wired in parallel. So you can still fade left to rit but not front and rear.

Thought so! My current setup has a 4-channel amplifier under the seat, but like most car PC setups with a single car amplifier, I can only adjust the left-right balance and no front-back fading. I don't require this feature now, but one solution is to have two 2-channel amplifiers, one for the front and one for the rear. Provided your motherboard outputs 5.1 audio, you can connect the front outputs to one amp and the rear outputs to the other amp. The PC will then have balance AND fader control

most car audio specific amps will have dual inputs, and a setting for 2, or 4 channel inputs, so, you could also use one of those amps for fading capability.