Sound Quality Survey- PC-IPOD-OTHER

**jay350z** · 09-27-2007, 10:41 PM

Hello All,

I just wanted to do a quick survey to see if people feel that their pc sound better an IPOD or someother MP3 player.

Here is my question:
Do you feel that you get better sound quailty with mp3s on you carputer than an IPOD or some other mp3 player or even head unit??

(My reason for going with carputer is that I figured for less than 1000 I could get better sound, have better visual sound effects, and have a screen for the backup camera for less than 800 dollars. Orginal I was just putting in a Backup camera and found that VGA touch screens were affordable. I had considered installing a new headunit for better sound quality that had an lcd screen for the backup camera but those were upwards of 1000 dollars. On top of that they did have those cheesy graphics that moved with the sounds. No even an visual eq. So here I am on this board with my carputer)

**neilhart** · 09-28-2007, 06:13 AM

In my case: I have found that the Bose system in C5 Corvettes (I have two) is just barely okay. However if you provide a "good clean" audio input via the AUX channel that you get much better sound out... da! And if you add an external amp along with some good rear speakers and a sub you can have MUCH better sound. I feed the MP3s into the HUs from in car computer and/or iPod.

If interested in the details, check out my web site.

Neil.

**RedGTiVR6** · 09-28-2007, 08:29 AM

This poll is rather strange.

It doesn't matter where the MP3 is stored as the storage has nothing to do with the quality of the sound. It's the compression that makes the difference first and foremost.

The difference comes in how you have your system hooked up and that can vary greatly. Your poll/question is not a good one as it's making the wrong assumption.

There is just so much more that can affect the end result (sound quality) of how the same MP3 can sound on a CarPC v. from an iPod through a head unit. The real question you should be asking is which has the best SQ, a CarPC or a HU as the format has little to nothing to do with the quality when it's the same format on the two.

And even in that case, a CarPC can sound just as good if not better than a HU set-up, no questions asked. There are a number of us on here that compete on a fairly high level in SQ competitions with our cars and ONLY run carPCs.

**DarquePervert** · 09-28-2007, 08:56 AM

This poll is really useless. There are so many facotrs besides the audio source that will affect sound quality that it's impossible to say that one audio source is better than another.

A cheap transistor radio will sound better when piped through Red's award-winning SQ system than a high-end iPod connection through a crappy stock headunit.

Even with an iPod, there are better audio connections than others. A direct connection through RCA connectors is far superior to an FM modulator, for example.

**jay350z** · 09-28-2007, 03:22 PM

Wow. I hope I didn't offend anyone by posting this poll. Again, this survey is intended to be based on opinion.

The reason I bought it up is that I wanted to get more insight how others feel in general about it. I know different bitrates for mp3 will of course sound better. But by posting this poll on a website for carputers I had assume a few people may have tried different mp3 players on their system. For me my carputer sounds better than an my mda phone with the same mp3 song using the same system. (I do not have an ipod to compare it as I refuse to buy an IPOD product. )

Say someone is using a fm modulator with their carputer and then they plug the ipod or something else in the the same fm modulator. Is there a difference in sound. Does it sound better or worse. I don't think there is any harm in asking this question or posting a survey.

As for the equipment, their is a real difference between how different mp3 players reproduce sound. For example here is a write up on an older ipod http://stereophile.com/mediaservers/934/index5.html

I hate to say this but even a internal pccard soundcard is more vulnerable to electrical noise from the other internal computer components causing it not to sound as good as another mp3 device (unless you are using an external usb sound card).

For myself the main reason for installing a carputer is that I think it does sound better than other mp3 players as it give you more control of the sound. The new mobile audio equipment is just not like it used to be as far as sound quality Ex. orion,eclipse,soundstream,nakamichi, etc. ( I may have not been in any sq competition but back in 1997, but I had eclipse head unit, 3 phenoix gold amps, jlaudio subs,audio control eq adjustable cross over, mb quarts componets all around. I even hooked up my laptop that had an high end sound card to the amps to play mp3s and this is back in 1997.)

**marshallh** · 09-28-2007, 11:02 PM

Here's my take -

Ipods and the like vary greatly on sound quality - some have lots of noise (typical Chinese crap) and others can't produce much power. Most name-brand players will have a good filtering system. I'd say they are a very good audio source if you have a decent MP3/AAC source.

MP3 Phones, PDAs, etc - mostly crap. They have tons of noise generally (because of the backlight inverter) but have gotten better. If you don't mind static then it will work fine.

Car PCs - Okay sound quality out of integrated sound. Single board SBC computers are the worst - very noisy because of on-board power regulation. Mostly though the output is very good. If you are picky and have a high-end setup, you can get a high-end sound card to drive it and a isolated DAC to minimize noise.

If you run the any of these through a FM Modulator, they will all sound just as bad.

Generally, the less complicated the device, the better. Pocket PCs can do many things but none of them very well

**RedGTiVR6** · 09-29-2007, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by jay350z

Wow. I hope I didn't offend anyone by posting this poll. Again, this survey is intended to be based on opinion.

The reason I bought it up is that I wanted to get more insight how others feel in general about it. I know different bitrates for mp3 will of course sound better. But by posting this poll on a website for carputers I had assume a few people may have tried different mp3 players on their system. For me my carputer sounds better than an my mda phone with the same mp3 song using the same system. (I do not have an ipod to compare it as I refuse to buy an IPOD product. )

Say someone is using a fm modulator with their carputer and then they plug the ipod or something else in the the same fm modulator. Is there a difference in sound. Does it sound better or worse. I don't think there is any harm in asking this question or posting a survey.

As for the equipment, their is a real difference between how different mp3 players reproduce sound. For example here is a write up on an older ipod http://stereophile.com/mediaservers/934/index5.html

I hate to say this but even a internal pccard soundcard is more vulnerable to electrical noise from the other internal computer components causing it not to sound as good as another mp3 device (unless you are using an external usb sound card).

For myself the main reason for installing a carputer is that I think it does sound better than other mp3 players as it give you more control of the sound. The new mobile audio equipment is just not like it used to be as far as sound quality Ex. orion,eclipse,soundstream,nakamichi, etc. ( I may have not been in any sq competition but back in 1997, but I had eclipse head unit, 3 phenoix gold amps, jlaudio subs,audio control eq adjustable cross over, mb quarts componets all around. I even hooked up my laptop that had an high end sound card to the amps to play mp3s and this is back in 1997.)

Your post didn't come across like this. What you're saying is the SOURCE. What your post indicated was completely different.

Comparing your CarPC to your iPod is still not appropriate though. Comparing the sound between the CarPC and complete system and your other complete complete system with head unit IS appropriate.

**ironfinger** · 09-29-2007, 08:28 PM

okay, I can answer this because I've done both. A carpc has the ability to sound way better than an ipod. The ipod(at least my ipodvideo) puts out less than a 1volt signal. So you risk lossing sound quality-as well as low volume output- when running your audio lines. Also, if I remember correctly, you need to connect the ipod through the docking connector to get a good flat eq curve, so for best possible SQ, an FM transmitter is out of the question.

However, let me suggest this, if you really want good sound, add 500 bucks to your budget for an amplifier and upgraded speakers and subwoofers. If you already have all that then you're good. If not, then the differences betwen ipod vs carputer will be, i think, the differences between features and options, and not sound quailty.