Potentially poor sound quality with carputer vs. HU

SubPuter · 01-19-2004, 12:33 AM

Before I begin ordering my carputer, I want to clear this issue up.
I'm worried the carputer won't sound as good as a typical Alpine head unit with 4 volt outputs.

I plan on running an epia M10000 with an Audigy 2 card. This will tie into a fosgate power amp. From what I have read the Audigy can only output 2 volts to the amps vs. the alpine's 4. Is there going to be a huge difference between the two, it seems like there will be? Running both a carputer and head unit or 5.1 equalizer like the Alpine PXA-H700 is out of the question due to price.

frodobaggins · 01-19-2004, 12:54 AM

It will be fine, you might have to adjust the gain a little, but that is a quality card.

Twizted · 01-19-2004, 12:57 AM

The output of the card is not what determines the output of the amp... you may as Frodo said need to adjust the gain on the amp a lil higher but the output of the audigy is quite sufficient to sent a quality signal to the amps

SubPuter · 01-19-2004, 01:16 AM

Ok thats what I was worried about (quality of signal), should have been more clear.

Thanks

Vineet Singh · 01-19-2004, 01:20 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Twizted

The output of the card is not what determines the output of the amp... you may as Frodo said need to adjust the gain on the amp a lil higher but the output of the audigy is quite sufficient to sent a quality signal to the amps

If you can, try and use the Audigy NX USB or Extigy USB, you don't get all the EMF noise that sometimes happens with internal cards. The signal is purely digital until it hits the box *outside* the PC, and you can run very short RCA's. The gains on my amps are ALL the way down, and it outputs 2.5v to the RCA's. With the gain's so far down, they are really clean and quiet. Need USB 2.0 for the best sound though, and a good 5v, 1.25a+ powersupply (search for my other posts on how to make one for around 15$ in parts).

I had no luck with an internal SBLive! from way back when, there was always this "pc" related hum when it accessed the hd, or processed (significant noise at full volume). YMMV!

Twizted · 01-19-2004, 01:23 AM

yes but there is a big diff from a SBLive and an Audigy...

Vineet Singh · 01-19-2004, 02:50 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Twizted

yes but there is a big diff from a SBLive and an Audigy...

Cool!

Still wondering though, does anyone have any noticeable computer noise through their internal or onboard soundcards? Phono jacks aren't shielded very well, what are you all doing to get the signal to RCA?

I used one piece phono to RCA adapters, gold series from radio shack, is the spacing too tight on the newer audigy's (internal) to use these?

mmendis · 01-19-2004, 09:47 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Vineet Singh

Cool!

Still wondering though, does anyone have any noticeable computer noise through their internal or onboard soundcards? Phono jacks aren't shielded very well, what are you all doing to get the signal to RCA?

I used one piece phono to RCA adapters, gold series from radio shack, is the spacing too tight on the newer audigy's (internal) to use these?

Just a side note, make sure your computer is grounded, as soon as I grounded my computer to the car, the sound was alot better.

c0rrupti0n · 04-25-2004, 02:14 PM

Can i get an explanation of how or why I would need to ground my puter? Would i simply screw a small guaged wire to the side of my case running to the chassie of the car (all done in the trunk)?

c0rrupti0n · 04-25-2004, 10:24 PM

anybody?

CRCinAU · 04-25-2004, 10:27 PM

Yes.

jusatry · 04-25-2004, 11:12 PM

search corruption, search

Defiler · 04-26-2004, 09:05 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Vineet Singh

Cool!

Still wondering though, does anyone have any noticeable computer noise through their internal or onboard soundcards? Phono jacks aren't shielded very well, what are you all doing to get the signal to RCA?

No noise what so ever through my Audigy 2 ZS card. I use a 1/8 adaptor to RCAs to Stinger RCAs to EQ/Pre Amp to amps. Damn good sound I might add.

Altimat · 04-26-2004, 09:19 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Defiler

No noise what so ever through my Audigy 2 ZS card. I use a 1/8 adaptor to RCAs to Stinger RCAs to EQ/Pre Amp to amps. Damn good sound I might add.

Same here PCI Audigy sounds fantastic, and its in the case running cheap RCAs all the way to the head unit. No noise.

c0rrupti0n · 04-26-2004, 09:11 PM

I have searched plenty, forums, google, and and the yellow pages... And have found nothing! Tis why im posting... I dont mean to nag, but its not like my question would take a doctorate to answer...