HOW TO: Get sound from PC to Car Stereo / Amp

**lgbr** · 09-11-2004, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by neema12

I have a three.1, how can I make this work? It has 1 RCA input, and 3 outputs, 1 for sub and 2 for speakers. I have my 2 amps but dont know how to hook this up to the computer. Thanks

Be more specific. What kind of input does each amp have, how many, and what for (front, rear, left, right). What kind of output does your sound card have, how many, and what for (front, rear, center/sub).

**mentalmike** · 09-14-2004, 06:15 PM

i am going to be putting a car pc in a 54 bmw coupe with a cd player at the front no cd changer in the boot, what would be the easiest way to get sound to that without hacking up the car too much or at all if posible?

**lgbr** · 09-15-2004, 02:07 AM

Originally Posted by mentalmike

i am going to be putting a car pc in a 54 bmw coupe with a cd player at the front no cd changer in the boot, what would be the easiest way to get sound to that without hacking up the car too much or at all if posible?

BMW made coupes in 1954?

You should do a

since this has been asked many times.

EDIT:

But since this is an FAQ, you can check here for an aux input adapter
http://www.partydown.com/aux/auxinput.html

**ppgt94** · 09-15-2004, 02:23 AM

Originally Posted by mentalmike

i am going to be putting a car pc in a 54 bmw coupe with a cd player at the front no cd changer in the boot, what would be the easiest way to get sound to that without hacking up the car too much or at all if posible?

Is it a after-market (I don't think CD players were invented yet in '54 lol)? Just make sure the headunit (CD player) has inputs for a auxilary source. I posted a pretty easy-to-follow illustration on page one.

**mentalmike** · 09-15-2004, 01:26 PM

by 54 i ment second half of 2004 like on the number plates, soz bout not makin that clear!

The coupe I'll be getting end of oct will have the cd player that comes as standard with the sports package and no cd changer in the boot so I was wondering if there is an easy way to hook somethin up without ripping too much of the car apart?!

**Marsupial** · 09-15-2004, 02:12 PM

what if we have no head unit? I have only a stock radio/cassette, and there is no option to play anything else...
old school techno

**mentalmike** · 09-22-2004, 04:51 AM

Right I've worked out what I'm doing, so basically all I need to know is on the newer creative sound cards can you share the outputs out, by that I mean on onboard sound to get front, rear and sub the front tends to be the normal output, the rear will be say mic in and the sub will be another output. So can I do that with a creative card, my current one is abit old and doesn't do that.

**Jiroe** · 09-22-2004, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by ppgt94

Using exsisting Headunit:

Will this concept still hold true if the output is SPDIF? Or would the common 1/8" connection, as shown in your picture, provide a better signal?

I guess the real question would be, which is better: SPDIF, or the traditional 1/8" connection (can't remember the technical name)?

Good post, by the way. Answered a few questions I had.

**antimatter** · 09-22-2004, 01:17 PM

As far as i know there are no head units that accept optical toslink. You will need an aditional Digital Surround Processor that plugs 6 channels directly into the amp. These units are not cheap

**Jiroe** · 09-22-2004, 01:50 PM

Another question I have relates to FM tuner cards. I've searched these forums throughout and it seems, aside from Seth's project, there are few cards that can tune FM radio, and they are all either not tailored specifically for it, or just altogether crappy.

My idea is to have a some sort of tuner card completely replace the HU so I can access everything through the touchscreen monitor (including radio and station presets).

How would a tuner card fit in to your drawings (if there is even an adequate one available) and how would that wire into the speakers? (I'm not at all a car audio expert)