Best way to hook up audio in a new carputer?

**Fruitloaf** · 06-10-2002, 06:48 PM

I've built plenty of computers before, just never one in a car (never had a car before) my plan so far is to use a VIA Eden 800 MHz board, that has vid, cpu, lan, sound, tv-out even SPDIF out on it. Hopefully this will fit under the front seat (it is REALLY tiny) if not it goes in the boot.

I was planning on using the cheapest inverter I could find since the Eden mobo only needs 50Ws max (yes thats not a typo). I was also planning on using a UPS as well so that I didn't waste my battery during shut down etc.

Aside from that its pretty simple however I know nothing about audio systems in cars, again because I haven't owned a car before. I was going to use a casette adaptor to plug it in is there any other better but cheap - read less than $50 - solution to this or are there any other things I'm not considering?

**eugenen** · 06-10-2002, 06:57 PM

Some aftermarket radios have aux inputs that you can use. You could also open the radio and add it yourself assuming your past warranty. Most radios have one (or more) main baords for the radio/amp and the preamp for the tape/cd is mounted on the tape /cditsself as a seperate module. There will be one or more plugs from the tape or cd module to the main baord or amp board that will carry the power and signals as well as the line level audio. You could cut that wire and rig up the taoe/cd in switch to trick the amp into using that input.

**Fruitloaf** · 06-10-2002, 07:07 PM

Sounds interesting, the radio is very much past its waranty so thats no prob. Essentially yours saying to cut out the casette function by splicing in the computer audio.

I'll need to look at the radio in more detail first though. Is it usually easy to locate the link between casette and pre-amp

**magnetik** · 06-10-2002, 07:11 PM

maybe just start out with the tape adaptor to start with, or possibly a good quality FM modulator.... the sound wont be the best it can be, but will be a start. When u get the cash, then get an amp/speakers/etc.... its the natural progression for a mp3car system!

**eugenen** · 06-10-2002, 07:26 PM

yea I was surprised at how well my wife's car worked on a casette adapter. I have pulled apart a couple of dead radios and they were all modular (factory GM anyway). There was one main baord soldered to another in a T shape for the front panal and radio, then another for the amp and another built onto the casette mechanism. Both had small cables going to the amp part. I have toyed with the idea of either adding a relay internal to the radio to switch between the casette and an external plug, or just bring line level out of the radio into a seperate amp.

**ShinkunoNamida** · 06-10-2002, 09:00 PM

I purchased this board in a barebones from caseoutlet.com the case fits under my seat dispite all of the motors and things for moving the seat. Also I am tall so my seat is all the way dow and back.. no problem

I'm dumping the stock HU and putting an amp in the trunk.. the computer will be run to that

**cenwesi** · 06-11-2002, 06:20 AM

Originally posted by eugenen
Some aftermarket radios have aux inputs that you can use. You could also open the radio and add it yourself assuming your past warranty. Most radios have one (or more) main baords for the radio/amp and the preamp for the tape/cd is mounted on the tape /cditsself as a seperate module. There will be one or more plugs from the tape or cd module to the main baord or amp board that will carry the power and signals as well as the line level audio. You could cut that wire and rig up the taoe/cd in switch to trick the amp into using that input.

Well said...this is exactly what my boy did to my stang when we were hooking up my system. All it takes is just a little bit of imagination and anything is possible

**Fruitloaf** · 06-11-2002, 06:58 AM

Thanks for all that. I think I'll stick with the casette adaptor for now, if the audios not good enough I'll try hacking it into the wires or mybe get an amp and speakers

**nolmscheid** · 06-11-2002, 08:10 AM

I have a 2001 Durango with the infinity sound system. I use a casette adapter and with everything well grounded and such, mine sounds amazingly good. I have a few car audio juknky's and they were impressed too. I think if you have a super nice tape deck and such, it can sound good. I would challenge people to listen to see if its a aux in or a tape adapter...

Nathan

P.S. I had a Ford Exploder a couple years back....the tape adapter did not sound nearly as good in that vehicle.

**Tech^Cellfish** · 06-11-2002, 08:33 AM

My first mp3car computer was hooked up with a casette adapter. It sounded better that regular casette tapes. But I lost some bass, so when I got some cash I bought a headunit with aux input.

Just remember to ground everything properly and disable sound inputs on your computer. That gives you a minimum noise level.

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