MP3Car.com - View Single Post - Looking for a truly simple Mp3 carputer project

Porter · 07-12-2007, 01:57 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by lexdiamond20

Why not just get an MP3 player and connect it to the head unit if thats at all possible.

That's a good suggestion... but I am already doing that with a Creative Zen Micro:Photo.

My major gripes with that setup are usability and sound quality. Having a hard-drive based MP3 player sticking up obtrusively near the shifter with a cable sticking out of it is inconvenient, and the sound quality out of a headphone jack (through a volume control) is not the best. Also, the unit has to be manually turned on and off and removed from the car on a regular basis for recharging. If this thing had a real line-out jack I would probably just continue doing what I'm doing, but Mp3 players that have a true line-out seem to be both very rare and/or very expensive.

Having an in-dash carputer dedicated for Mp3 seems like it would be the best thing, other than paying $$Texas for a high capacity iPod (baaaaa) and a good dock solution. My other thought was to use an iAudio M3 with the wired remote mounted on the dash, but again they're well over $300 and I still have the manual on/off and upgradability problem.

Other (discontinued) projects and products similar to what I'm looking for include the Empeg (later "Rio Car"), the SSI Neo Car, the Dension DMP3, and the YAMPP. None of those are available any longer.

I'm wondering if anyone has a "current" project based around available hardware and firmware. I've been looking at some of the single-board computers from WinSystems and scratching my head trying to figure out how one would rig up a front panel interface.

Any thoughts or suggestions (no matter how crazy) would be greatly appreciated!! If I'm just asking for a world of pain, tell me so.

07-12-2007, 01:57 PM	#3
Porter Newbie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 12	Quote: Originally Posted by lexdiamond20 Why not just get an MP3 player and connect it to the head unit if thats at all possible. That's a good suggestion... but I am already doing that with a Creative Zen Micro:Photo. My major gripes with that setup are usability and sound quality. Having a hard-drive based MP3 player sticking up obtrusively near the shifter with a cable sticking out of it is inconvenient, and the sound quality out of a headphone jack (through a volume control) is not the best. Also, the unit has to be manually turned on and off and removed from the car on a regular basis for recharging. If this thing had a real line-out jack I would probably just continue doing what I'm doing, but Mp3 players that have a true line-out seem to be both very rare and/or very expensive. Having an in-dash carputer dedicated for Mp3 seems like it would be the best thing, other than paying $$Texas for a high capacity iPod (baaaaa) and a good dock solution. My other thought was to use an iAudio M3 with the wired remote mounted on the dash, but again they're well over $300 and I still have the manual on/off and upgradability problem. Other (discontinued) projects and products similar to what I'm looking for include the Empeg (later "Rio Car"), the SSI Neo Car, the Dension DMP3, and the YAMPP. None of those are available any longer. I'm wondering if anyone has a "current" project based around available hardware and firmware. I've been looking at some of the single-board computers from WinSystems and scratching my head trying to figure out how one would rig up a front panel interface. Any thoughts or suggestions (no matter how crazy) would be greatly appreciated!! If I'm just asking for a world of pain, tell me so. Last edited by Porter; 07-12-2007 at 02:02 PM.