Ban_One

Ok so I've just fitted my CarPC. I'm running the PC through a Equaliser which then feeds into a 4 Ch amp going to speakers/sub. When playing a movie from the HDD the relative timing of speech/sound to the picture is wrong. From memory the picture is faster than the sound.

The other problem is a faint ticking/buzzing sound which seems to be in time with a slight flickering on the screen. This occurs with the engine running or not.

I'm going to re-check all my wiring & make sure everything is sweet otherwise any suggestions?

MP3Car.com

 

2k1Toaster

Most equalizers and such have an inherant time delay built in. Is it a constant delay (always the same amount of lag) or is it ok when you push play and then the longer the movie, the more out of sync it goes? For the latter it is the CPU lagging or a codec problem.

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Ban_One

Time delay seems to be ok now. Not sure what changed but that part seems good now though.

As it turns out, since I fitted the Equaliser I now have alternator whine aswell. I fitted the EQ as my PC only has 2 RCA pre-outs & I'm running a 5 ch amp so I used it to split them up. Beforehand, the sound volume just seemed lacking & the Sub was getting LP & HP even with the filter on & adjusted (I had RCA splitter cables) plus the Mids were getting too much bass.

I'm curious as to whether other people are running their PC straight to the Amp or not. My sound quality & power just seems a million times better now (apart from PC access noise & alternator whine of course ) with the EQ installed. I may look at getting another one so I can have a more-easily-reached Volume knob. Has anyone made one of those?

Woofnstuff

i have a kenwood head deck, with a cd to line in adapter, the head unit has front, back and sub outs.. and a volume control

make sure the power and earth for all the devices comes from the same place..

or cheat and get a small noise / power filter for the EQ

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mohamedali21

i get no noice from my eq but from the pc i have a pop eliminator to the amp and use that remote wire for the eq. now i notice when i open the base for the subs the eq blinks. Any idea why this is happening?
first i had a different remote turn on wire for the eq and it worked great but when i turn off the car, it gives a hard shut off to the amps. If i use the same remote turn on wire to the amps i'll get a pop.

Ban_One

Ok I've re-done alot of the wiring to try & eliminate the noise.

I already had a good power from the battery to the amp so I've kept that. I then ran 2 14 gauge cables from the battery for the PC & the EQ. I cleaned up the earths & re-did them with nice short cables. Upon starting the noise is still there & I seemed to have picked up some other sort of interference; it almost sounds like a radio signal but must be access noise from the HDD as its only there off & on.

I have kept all power cables to the LH side of the vehicle & RCA's to the centre/RH side.

If I disconnect the EQ & run the 2ch output to the amp with RCA splitters the noise is gone entirely but the volume (and bass) sucks. So it is definitely my EQ creating the noise.

I did just read somewhere about checking the soundcard is outputting in 2ch not 4 or 5.1 so I am just about to go check that, in which case I can delete the EQ from my setup altogether otherwise I guess I need a ground loop isolator for the EQ. Yes?

Woofnstuff

something like this on the eq might help.. it may have a common earth / ground and is dirtying the audio..
http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView....=&SUBCATID=563


the amp and computer probably have a floating earth.. eg the - of the audio isnt connected to the chassis of the car.. the eq may be..

msn me if you want ban_one

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Ban_One

Woof, check your email

MP3Car.com

 

Ban_One

Would a 5 amp or a 20 amp be the go?

Woofnstuff

send again.. it may have been auto sent to junk... and do you use msn?
PM me here your msn address and ill add you if you do

repco sell the power filters to.. but they are thieves..

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Ban_One

Ok so I tried a 'ground loop isolator' between the EQ & the PC and it cleared the alternator whine/access noise right up. I was over-the-moon!!!!!! Downside was I lost all my bass from my sub, like it just lost its oomph. I tried messing around with the EQ settings but just can't get the grunt back. Might aswell just have a 6x9 for a subwoofer

Anyway, I've switched back to my original EQ (I had bought another one to try) less the ground loop isolator and most of the noise is gone. I might try to see if I can source an alternator suppressor perhaps

Woofnstuff

was that an inline RCA one?

or a power filter one?

and PM me, im heading your way this w/e to visit some ppl, wanna catch up and compare stuff ?

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Ban_One

Inline RCA (Fusion) type one from DSE

Could I try running the earth from the EQ all the way back to the negative on the battery or will that not make any difference?

Woofnstuff

eq should ideally be earthed at the same point in the car as the amp and the PC.

is the eq an in dash one or is it more like an amp with its mounting points?

you got a power filter off an old head deck from your work? those little black box things you get on stereos power wires ? try that on the eq

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Ban_One

They're not but I did try bridging the earths together, made no difference apart from an awful noise through the amp if I shut the computer down while car was still running


I've got both. I have one or the other set up 'temporarily' in the boot. The in-dash type has less whine than the panel type one


Will try that. Thanks

MP3Car.com