can a carputer compete with a head unit for sound quality? - Page 3

Lum · 01-18-2005, 11:53 AM

I'm a n00b to the car side of things, but have been involved in digital audio in a hi-fi context for a while.

Surely if the source media is fixed then the variables in quality come down to the DAC, the cabling on the analogue side of things and the amp/speaker combination.

I get much better results on audio with my cheap VideoLogic SonicXPlosion than I got on good SoundBlaster cards, simply because I connected it digitally to a Yamaha receiver and let that do the conversion.

In a car context, I know at least one company (Pioneer) make a digital car amplifier and head units with digital out so assuming the DAC in the amp is decent and that the amp itself is decent then going down that route you could probably get better results with the onboard SP/DIF converter than with an Audigy using analogue out. You may be able to split the digital signall and avoid having analogue cable runs working their way to the back of your car and picking up interference.

LATEOTT · 01-18-2005, 06:26 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by edscholl

that is absolutely NOT the point if you're into SQ! SQ, from a purely technical perspective, is ALL about accurately reproducing the sound of your source.

Ah...I think you are overlooking the fact that a sound system doesn't end at the HU.

If the source was PERFECTLY reproduced at the HU, then output to whatever amps and speakers you had in your car you would not even place in a SQ competition.

(Maybe you would get a special pink ribbon for "Best Line Out Performance." Yippee, congratulations.)

Sorry, but the reality is that tuning, tweaking, and processing are performed to compensate for deficiencies in amps and speakers (and speaker boxes) and the defects in the non-studio environment of the common automobile.

Ultimately, you want the final sound that comes out of the speakers to represent the sound of the source. Most of us can't actually hear what comes directly out of the HU (or preamp, or PC). Maybe you have special powers.

RedGTiVR6 · 01-19-2005, 07:10 AM

lateott is exactly right!

no matter how much you spend or how advanced the technology, you will never reproduce EXACTLY what comes off of that CD......that's what makes this fun, what makes this an involved sport!

LATEOTT · 01-19-2005, 01:29 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Red GTi VR6

lateott is exactly right!

no matter how much you spend or how advanced the technology, you will never reproduce EXACTLY what comes off of that CD......that's what makes this fun, what makes this an involved sport!

Thanks for your comments Red GTi!

The funny thing is, if we want to get really deep and philosophical about this, when it comes down to it, the SOURCE is usually an imperfect reproduction of reality. Think about it. Whether you're listening to classical orchestra, classic rock, R&B or gagsta rap, the studio recording and CD (a flat, shiny disc) is trying to capture a live performance of something.

Rather than simply reproduce whatever the the flat shiny disc has captured, it is often desirable to expand beyond that and actually reproduce the sound of the original performance and venue. We know that is the case in home theaters with surround processing, and in computer gaming and other applications where we are moving users further from the "observer" role and more to the "participant" role when it comes to audio (and video, of course).

But as far as the original post goes, the question was whether a PC could match a HU for sound quality. I think the answer is definitely yes, especially when your consider the ability to process the sound for any desired effect.

The advantages HU's have is that they are dedicated devices engineered for reproducing sound whereas computers are more generic devices engineered to do a lot of things. If you have decent sound hardware in your carputer, it all comes down to software. But I have no doubt that with the proper software and hardware a carputer can out perform a HU.

RedGTiVR6 · 01-19-2005, 01:32 PM

for instance:

a few years ago, the SONG for USACi SQ was Hotel California by The Eagles, as it was sung off of the DVD of their live performance....

those who reproduced that scene most accurately AND had quality installs, were those who won....

=]

LATEOTT · 01-19-2005, 01:33 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Red GTi VR6

for instance:

a few years ago, the SONG for USACi SQ was Hotel California by The Eagles, as it was sung off of the DVD of their live performance....

those who reproduced that scene most accurately AND had quality installs, were those who won....

=]

A perfect example!

loscooby · 01-29-2005, 09:53 AM

Speaking of Soundblaster PCI-cards...

I know there are alot of us here using the M10000-boards so here I go again:
has anybody actually gotten their Soundblaster cards to function on the M10000-board?

I know I have tried all the SB-driver patches to make the PCI-card work the VIA-boards without any luck.
I have tried the KXProject drivers but I can get these to work either...

/l-O

0l33l · 01-29-2005, 01:18 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by loscooby

Speaking of Soundblaster PCI-cards...

I know there are alot of us here using the M10000-boards so here I go again:
has anybody actually gotten their Soundblaster cards to function on the M10000-board?

I know I have tried all the SB-driver patches to make the PCI-card work the VIA-boards without any luck.
I have tried the KXProject drivers but I can get these to work either...

/l-O

I have never had problems with sound blasters. Although I avoid VIA like the police.

[Edit]: Changed "fire" to "the police"

BlerBaby · 03-25-2005, 11:35 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by 0l33l

You can do all this with the kXProject for creative sounds cards. No USB support though. I wouldn't want to hog the USB bus anyway with audio.

Is there any other program that will do the same thing??? this program is only for E-mu and creative soundcards.
The problem is that i have a ESI waverterminal 192L

(http://www.esi-pro.com/viewProduct.php?pid=5&page=1)

0l33l · 03-25-2005, 09:12 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by BlerBaby

Is there any other program that will do the same thing??? this program is only for E-mu and creative soundcards.
The problem is that i have a ESI waverterminal 192L

(http://www.esi-pro.com/viewProduct.php?pid=5&page=1)

No clue

Probably there is one, but it will suck up CPU cycles. I think that the kXProject uses hardware to do the processing.

Blackrazor · 03-25-2005, 10:47 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by edscholl

that is absolutely NOT the point if you're into SQ! SQ, from a purely technical perspective, is ALL about accurately reproducing the sound of your source.

No its not. SQ, from a purely technical perspective, is about creating a sound that is ambient, defined, lively, and that people enjoy as much as possible. You can have the worlds most accurate reproduction, and still have it sound nasty...

Trying to recreate exactly the sound of 'the source' is an impossible goal, as the guys on the mixing desks and pre/post edit stages at recording studios have already tinkered to their hearts content anyway... whats on the CD is not 'the source', but the editors rendition of what the source SHOULD sound like

If music was all about accuracy only, then noone would use tube amps, and we would have abandoned cone drivers long ago and worked on ways to fit electrostatic drivers in-car

sansoo24 · 03-29-2005, 05:49 PM

I would have to say a carpc is way better than a typical or even high end HU. I mean think about all the ways that with the proper card and software you can fine tune your sound. Each vehicle is different and the acoustics are different for each vehicle and system. With a carpc you should be able to really fine tune the its acoustics to fit your car and system.

just my 2 cents

dusty · 03-30-2005, 02:31 PM

to the question a most definete yes... its good to see so many other people thinking outside the box so to speak and not being ruled by the.."you need a hu for sq"

http://www.audio-one.co.uk/gallery/d...n&cat=0&pos=14

dusty · 03-30-2005, 02:34 PM

the answer to the question.. a resounding.. yes, its good to see so many other people thinking outside the box.

and not being ruled by the usual "you need a headunit for soundquality", "you cant get good sound quality from a computer"( my pet hate)

http://www.audio-one.co.uk/gallery/d...n&cat=0&pos=14

Gavc · 04-07-2005, 05:24 AM

what about the fact that most soundcards output around 1-2mv and a head unit outputs 5mv. considering most car amps are made for car headunits, is sound quality from the pc source worst because it is amplified wiht a 5mv signal ?