Carputer to stock speakers

Tico0001 · 02-18-2008, 01:06 PM

I'm a newbie looking into installing a computer but don't want to spend the money on a good amp yet. I have never dealt with amps before and they scare me

. So is it possible to connect the stock speakers to the sound card of the computer using a LOC? Will the sound card be able to provide a good volume to the speakers?

http://www.davidnavone.com/cart.asp?24&cat=7

http://http://www.davidnavone.com/ne...es/NE774Va.jpg

I'm considering this just for testing and wouldn't really be final unless it works great...

Thanks,

Tico

DarquePervert · 02-18-2008, 02:14 PM

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/advf...iew&advfaqid=7

Tico0001 · 02-18-2008, 02:19 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by DarquePervert

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/advf...iew&advfaqid=7

I ran into this FAQ before but it doesn't really answer my question. Are you telling me that an amp is the ONLY way to hook up to speakers?

robhur · 02-18-2008, 02:54 PM

dude I had the same fear. Until I went into an electronics class at school, then it was a breeze. And actualy I did that. They provide enough volume to satisfy you until you muster up enough courage to do an amp install. I had mine like that 4 a year. Instaling an amp is easy, call a friend that is electronic savy they can help you.

DarquePervert · 02-18-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Tico0001

I ran into this FAQ before but it doesn't really answer my question. Are you telling me that an amp is the ONLY way to hook up to speakers?

I never said that.
And that FAQ lists other options besides an amp. I suggest reading it again.

Woofnstuff · 02-18-2008, 07:20 PM

that adapter is for converting essentially the high level output of a car stereo to a RCA plug which you can then give to an amp. for factory head units. not for powering speakers, from a rca cable.

am i right in thinking you want to replace the factory stereo with JUST a carputer?

I run the carputer i have into the line level input of my after-market car stereo, this way i keep the volume the same in the pc, and use the head deck as the volume control. most generic after-market head decks have enough grunt to power factory car speakers.

i would doubt that a pc sound card could drive the speakers properly, unless it has an amp build into it. more likely you possibly stand the chance of burning it out.

amps are easy enough to install, and worst case pay a pro to install it.
a basic 4 channel amp (guessing prices) say $150 for something okish
an amp wiring kit say $50, that should have a fuse, black wire, red wire long enough to go from the battery. and i would guess a few hours to install it so $100 there.

Woofnstuff · 02-18-2008, 07:28 PM

DIY wiring amps 101:
**read the instructions FIRST
**hook the red wire to the battery LAST!!!!!
**turn the gain control on the amps to "min/lowest"
**do all this with the car turned totally off, if you have an alarm with central locking, make sure you leave a window down. just in case

**depending where you want the amp, under passenger seat is often good, find a good earth point, under a seat bolt or something. run the earth wire to that, then to the amp
**route the audio cable to the amp from the audio source (carpc/head deck)
**connect the speaker wires to the speakers.
**connect the red wire to the amp
**route the red wire to the area where the battery is, with enough slack to tuck it into corners tidy and cable tie it safely out of the way.
**there should be a remote turn on wire (often blue) this needs +12V to tell the amp to turn on, finding this should not be to hard. use a multimeter. put a switch in it if you need.
**the fuse should not be more than 1 foot away from the battery.
**if you are not 100% confident in doing this yourself dont. getting it this far is most of the work, take it to a pro to do the final hook up, or just go chat to one.
**probably best to remove the earth from the battery first.
**using proper connectors hopfully supplied with a kit, wire the red wire with the fuse holder already installed on it (but without the fuse in it yet), to the battery.
**check and re check that black is going to negative and red to positive.
**hook the negative wire to the battery. if you have an alarm, keep the keys in your pocket cause it will go off about now.
**at this point it should be all wired and ready to go, but waiting for you to put the fuse in, make sure you have a spare fuse or 2

**still with everything turned off, put the fuse in. did it blow? no? proceed to turning it on and putting audio thru it. wind the gain on the amp up slowly.
**done
**tidy it all up and make sure nothing in the engine bay will snag on a wire.

easy as that

robhur · 02-18-2008, 07:30 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Woofnstuff

that adapter is for converting essentially the high level output of a car stereo to a RCA plug which you can then give to an amp. for factory head units. not for powering speakers, from a rca cable.

am i right in thinking you want to replace the factory stereo with JUST a carputer?

I run the carputer i have into the line level input of my after-market car stereo, this way i keep the volume the same in the pc, and use the head deck as the volume control. most generic after-market head decks have enough grunt to power factory car speakers.

i would doubt that a pc sound card could drive the speakers properly, unless it has an amp build into it. more likely you possibly stand the chance of burning it out.

amps are easy enough to install, and worst case pay a pro to install it.
a basic 4 channel amp (guessing prices) say $150 for something okish
an amp wiring kit say $50, that should have a fuse, black wire, red wire long enough to go from the battery. and i would guess a few hours to install it so $100 there.

Thats about how much it cost me to instal an amp in my car, a used one BTW. Talk to the guys selling the amp wiring kit. They took the rca cables out for me and droped the price, bc I didn't need them. Also talk about the carputer, alot of the time they get really interested in it and help yah out for free!

Tico0001 · 02-18-2008, 09:08 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Woofnstuff

that adapter is for converting essentially the high level output of a car stereo to a RCA plug which you can then give to an amp. for factory head units. not for powering speakers, from a rca cable.

am i right in thinking you want to replace the factory stereo with JUST a carputer?

I run the carputer i have into the line level input of my after-market car stereo, this way i keep the volume the same in the pc, and use the head deck as the volume control. most generic after-market head decks have enough grunt to power factory car speakers.

i would doubt that a pc sound card could drive the speakers properly, unless it has an amp build into it. more likely you possibly stand the chance of burning it out.

amps are easy enough to install, and worst case pay a pro to install it.
a basic 4 channel amp (guessing prices) say $150 for something okish
an amp wiring kit say $50, that should have a fuse, black wire, red wire long enough to go from the battery. and i would guess a few hours to install it so $100 there.

Thank you for the explanation. As you can tell, I don't know much about speakers and now that you mention the part about "powering" them, I can see how just using the carputer is not going to cut it. I guess I'll spend the extra money for the amp and be brave enough to connect it myself.

~Tico

Woofnstuff · 02-18-2008, 10:21 PM

what are you going to use for your volume knob tho?

if you just go PC ---> AMP you will have no physical gain control.

"i'll just use the computer" you think

while it would work... if the computer was to crash, with a horrid screaming noise still playing, that would probably be full noise into the speakers and would not be on my top 10 list of driving music,

suggested options:
having a real volume knob wired in
putting it thru a car stereo's aux input
buy a cheapish powered graphic EQ or something that has a volume knob built in(make sure it has RCA ina d outs)

what brand is your current head unit, and does it have the option to control a CD stacker, often you can buy an adapter that converts the cd stacker input to a aux line input
if its no brand what make is your car?

edit:
that website you listed before has just the thing on this page, the n-22v STEREO REMOTE VOLUME CONTROL $21.50 (no power needed)
http://www.davidnavone.com/cart.asp?24&cat=5

edit again:
and one of these should stop THUMPing when you turn it all on
http://www.davidnavone.com/cart.asp?24&cat=6

Tico0001 · 02-20-2008, 10:14 AM

Thanks for all the tips. I just ordered an amp (a crappy one for now though) and i'm looking into the volume control.

~Tico

fbcbeer · 03-10-2008, 02:26 AM

Yeah, is there any way to connect speaker wires straight to the computer without having your headunit in the car?

ronjon228 · 03-10-2008, 03:56 AM

I have to disagree on the volume control part. Using the PC only for the volume control works just fine. In all honesty, I prefer it to having some form of physical volume knob or something of the sort.

I've done it both ways, with an aux input on a head unit and with the PC as my primary and only interface and I can say with 100% certainty that I prefer the latter. Just make sure you have a switch hooked up and dedicated to just the amps. That way you can turn them on/off physically if need be (for instance if the computer locked while playing music).

brucedog · 03-10-2008, 09:19 AM

I've been using the Griffin Powrmate for volume control, muting, changing music tracks, plus LOTS of other functions. I can't find the link on my pc just now, but mp3car store sells the Powermate. It's not perfect, but works really well.

JimmyFitz · 03-10-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by fbcbeer

Yeah, is there any way to connect speaker wires straight to the computer without having your headunit in the car?

You will need some kind of amplifier. Sound cards give a headphone or line level output. It isn't meant for driving speakers.