HELP high output 5.1 system w/o HU

PT0NE · 07-19-2007, 05:19 PM

I just installed a carputer in my car and now I am installing the audio part. I was planning on running the optical output on my sound card to an amp with optical input, but it doesn't look like there are many options and none of them have the kind of output I'm looking for. I have two 12" Rockford Fosgate Power subs and two 6.5" Rockford Fosgates upfront and two 5" Rockford Fosgates in the back. I am thinking about running each of the different speaker outputs on the sound card into a 5 channel amp or similar for the midrange speakers and a seperate amp for the subs. I'm not sure how well this would work though, I would prefer a completely digital system, but like I said there aren't many options and they are all underpowered. Thanks in advance for the advice!

RedGTiVR6 · 07-19-2007, 05:35 PM

'under powered' is relative.

If you spend the money and get a high quality amp, chances are you'll have more useable power than an amp that claims more power.

It's all about how clean the signal is. If it's not a clean signal, it doesn't matter how much power the amp claims to produce, it's useless.

Bollwerk · 07-19-2007, 08:18 PM

Not sure what your price range is, but I would suggest either using analog outputs from the soundcard with minijack to RCA cables, or get a seperate processor and amp. There are extremely few choices for amps with built in DD/DTS decoders. However, Alpine makes a couple and Hifonics one as well. If you can afford to spend more ($2k or so), you might want to consider an Alpine PXA-H701 processor (plus the external controller) and an amp like the Audison LRx 6SR (or the newer LRx 5.1MT). Very good sound quality, but will set you back around $1k for the amp and around $500 for the processor and $250 for the controller. I think the least expensive option would be to use the analog outputs from the sound card for front/rear/center/sub and use mini-jack to RCA cables straight into a(n) amp(s) like the Audison LRx 6SR. That way, the PC does the audio decoding for DVDs (if you play DVDs). One way or another, the signal will have to change from digital (PC) to analog (amp/speaker). I don't think it matters much whether this happens at the sound card or later. An amp with a built in processor is just going to do the same thing your sound card is already capable of. Unless you need really fancy features like time correction, parametric EQ, etc. But then you need a good processor like the PXA-H701, which means you need a controller for it and a seperate amp.

Sorry for the novella. Hope this helps.

PT0NE · 07-19-2007, 10:12 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Bollwerk

Not sure what your price range is, but I would suggest either using analog outputs from the soundcard with minijack to RCA cables, or get a seperate processor and amp. There are extremely few choices for amps with built in DD/DTS decoders. However, Alpine makes a couple and Hifonics one as well. If you can afford to spend more ($2k or so), you might want to consider an Alpine PXA-H701 processor (plus the external controller) and an amp like the Audison LRx 6SR (or the newer LRx 5.1MT). Very good sound quality, but will set you back around $1k for the amp and around $500 for the processor and $250 for the controller. I think the least expensive option would be to use the analog outputs from the sound card for front/rear/center/sub and use mini-jack to RCA cables straight into a(n) amp(s) like the Audison LRx 6SR. That way, the PC does the audio decoding for DVDs (if you play DVDs). One way or another, the signal will have to change from digital (PC) to analog (amp/speaker). I don't think it matters much whether this happens at the sound card or later. An amp with a built in processor is just going to do the same thing your sound card is already capable of. Unless you need really fancy features like time correction, parametric EQ, etc. But then you need a good processor like the PXA-H701, which means you need a controller for it and a seperate amp.

Sorry for the novella. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the reply this helps a lot ill jus use the analog ports on the card like you said

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