How good is the sound quality?

integlikewhoa · 04-30-2007, 10:16 PM

Hello,
Im looking to building a carputer. I also heavy into good sound. Im woundering how good the sound quailty is and what kind of EQ I can use if I hook staight from the computer to my amps. I would like to avoid running a seprate head unit if possible, but i havent listened to any sound out of a fully audio ran carputer to see if its as good as a headunit. Thanks JIM

XC-C30 · 04-30-2007, 10:53 PM

the SQ is as good as you want it to be. There's too many factors you have to keep in mind, just to give plain answer like it sucks or it's the best or what ever. Asking a question like this shows me you have a TOTALLY different view on SQ.

integlikewhoa · 04-30-2007, 11:27 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by IC-C30

the SQ is as good as you want it to be. There's too many factors you have to keep in mind, just to give plain answer like it sucks or it's the best or what ever. Asking a question like this shows me you have a TOTALLY different view on SQ.

I see your point. One deciding factor of getting into carputers is the SQ. I dont normally think of great sound quality comming out the phone jacks on the back of a computer. On sound im also a little old school with likeing a volume knob. Im sure i wont have the knob and am not so sure if ill be able to use the factory steering wheel volume and other buttons. I havent asked yet how this thread came out but I see it seems like hes going for good sound quality.
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/work...-post-too.html

Also looks like hes trying to use the factory steering wheel buttons.

WarX · 05-01-2007, 08:23 AM

wow... you completely contradicted what you just stated lol

"I see your point." But his point was that the SQ can't be just "Yes, it's good, or No it sucks" but one of your deciding factors of getting into carpcs is the SQ?

lol, sorry, but yea, there are many factors you have to take into account, your sound card is the primary one, then you have to look at the amps, are you planning on running a separate Active crossover/EQ/DAC? how much money do you really plan on spending?

Dennis5587 · 05-01-2007, 09:58 AM

In short... the computer will sound as good as you want it to, with computers you are the one in control, you decide your own level of involvement.

Just as everyone else has said, saying yes or no to wether the sound quality is good or not just aint going to happen, for this simple reason...

If i went up to you and asked if a head unit has good sound quality, you'd ask me, "what head unit", "how much was it", "what are the rms ratings of the outputs", "is there amplifier pre-outs", "does it support mp3 cd's"

computers are exactly the same, depending on how far you wanna get involved say's how good it will sound.

Does a carputer have the potential to sound amazing? Absolulty, is it good enough to compete with in SQ competitions, it already has...

turbocad6 · 05-01-2007, 10:15 AM

hmmm, studios use computers, computers are more than capable, an average system with an optical out soundcard into something like an alpine pxa-h700/701 will be as good as a high end head unit,

I'm doing my next install with ultra high end sound in mind... an apogee firewire mini dac into a dbx driverack... studio equiptment & it will be better than an alpine f1 status setup, so yeah, the sound quality can be ok with a pc, don't let anyone tell you any different

RedGTiVR6 · 05-01-2007, 10:43 AM

heh - how is the SQ when using a CarPC...

one of the age old questions that has been answered time and time again...

I'll just restate what the others have already stated...it can be as good as you want it to be....

I want mine to be even better....but at what cost?

SQ and carPCs is something I've spent years on, as have many others on this forum.

Dennis5587 · 05-01-2007, 07:09 PM

as is something I'm starting to just scratch the surface of...

too bad it costs a lot of money that I do not yet have... I'm figuring by the end of next summer I should be good.

be sound deadening my car in T minus 3 weeks

CelicaGTS · 05-02-2007, 09:47 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by integlikewhoa

Hello,
Im looking to building a carputer. I also heavy into good sound. Im woundering how good the sound quailty is and what kind of EQ I can use if I hook staight from the computer to my amps. I would like to avoid running a seprate head unit if possible, but i havent listened to any sound out of a fully audio ran carputer to see if its as good as a headunit. Thanks JIM

If you go straight from PC onboard sound to amp it will sound terrible. Like a loud set of cheap headphones. How well you want the sound to be depends on the sound card you get. You HAVE to get a sound card, onboard audio is unacceptable.

The best part is you can mix and match once you get your system in. Put the puter and all the parts in, then buy a sound card. Try it out for a week, tweek it, if you arent satisfied, return it and get a better one. Of course its best to do this at a brick and morter store like circuit city or best buy. Depending on the card, the pc can sound much better than your old head unit. You dont need to use a head unit if you dont want to. Just make sure you get a sound card you're happy with.

Dennis5587 · 05-02-2007, 10:44 PM

idk... onboard sound isn't that terrible, I'd hardly say as bad as cheap headphones

RedGTiVR6 · 05-03-2007, 08:29 AM

I think you have to consider who you're talking to.

I would say that onboard sound is horrid, others have a different standard for their sound quality.

integlikewhoa · 05-03-2007, 11:02 AM

So onboard audio compaired to say a stock car HU? Worse or better?

turbocad6 · 05-03-2007, 11:03 AM

way too many variables to just have a yes or no to that...

yeah, most onboard is horrible, but then again, so is most stock headunits

RedGTiVR6 · 05-03-2007, 11:10 AM

lol - if you're into good sound, like you say, don't use onboard sound.

I'll just keep it simple.

CelicaGTS · 05-03-2007, 02:21 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by integlikewhoa

So onboard audio compaired to say a stock car HU? Worse or better?

Im not that into sound quality, and I say a bad head unit would still rape onboard sound any day.

Its like taking an equalizer and muting the first 2 and last 2 levels of your head unit. ITS ****.

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