CarPC sound through car speakers without a headunit?, how?

DSM97RS · 05-04-2004, 04:34 PM

i know i can use a tape adaptor, or auxillary input, or fm modulator when i have a headunit, but is there a way i can get the sound from the car pc to go through the speakers without a headunit? thanks

Izik · 05-04-2004, 04:38 PM

You will need an amplifier. PC -> Amp (RCA connectors) -> Speakers

Quote: Originally Posted by DSM97RS

i know i can use a tape adaptor, or auxillary input, or fm modulator when i have a headunit, but is there a way i can get the sound from the car pc to go through the speakers without a headunit? thanks

raypsaliga · 05-04-2004, 04:39 PM

Yes, but you will need an amp. an amp takes sound in RCA style, and puts it through the speakers. depending on your car and sound system, you may already have one. search for more info, many people have done it, its very common.
EDIT: oops you beat me to it

Marsupial · 05-04-2004, 11:16 PM

what if one is noob to amps... what is needed to know about amps to put a PC to it?

JayKaye · 05-05-2004, 03:55 AM

rather than plugging your head unit into the amp as normally would be done, you plug the PC in. you cant really go wrong.

find out what sort of amp you have (if any) and let us know what plugs its got on it, that way we can help you out better

raypsaliga · 05-05-2004, 07:05 AM

my advice is to get your amp professionally installed. then you are pretty good to go. just plug the pc into it, possibly adjust the level via a knob on the amp, and you're done

guitar333 · 05-05-2004, 11:23 AM

Personally I would get a cheap pre-amp with front/rear/sub RCA outs then go from that to the RCA input on the amp(s). That way you will have an EQ/volume in reach while driving and will sound much better. But thats me, not sure if your interested in subs and/or SQ

good luck

antimatter · 05-06-2004, 07:44 PM

First question you gots to ask yourself is do you want Dolby Digital/DTS/Pro logic.

If you want the above to have 5.1 surround sound in your car from DVD's you must get a DSP (Digital Surround Processor). An external sound card wont cut it.

My opinion is don't go cheap on the sound. That means expensice DSP (panosonic CY-AC300EX $200-350 on ebay) and a 6 channel amp (SounStream D'artigan 5.1 $350-$400 on ebay)

Then you gots to choose the speakers and sub. I havn't replaced my stock speakers but for surround sound you want full range speakers where possible and 1 sub channel.

It is the expensive way to go but it is also the most quality/feature way to go

Marsupial · 05-07-2004, 12:50 AM

is there any 2 channel to 4 channel preamp with equalizer? I'd put the stereo in, 4 speaker out (front L/R and back L/R)... but I know nothing about car amps... hints?

lgbr · 05-07-2004, 11:19 AM

An amplifier is fairly simple. It takes 2-4 RCAs, one for each channel. You provide power to it from the battery, ground it, and have a wire that tells it when to turn off and on. Then run wire to each speaker from the amplifier and it will power them. An amplifier produces much clearer sound than any head unit you can buy, and the volume can go a lot louder without distorting. Use the crossover on an amp to clean up the sound even more to make it sound better.

Most head units have 4 RCA jacks out, Front L & R, Rear L & R, simply for the purpose of using an amplifier. All you need to do with a PC is go to RadioShack and get a wire that has the headphone jack plug on one end (so it goes from the computer) and on the other end two RCAs. Sound will then play perfectly through your car's speakers. If you have a 4 channel sound card on your computer, you can also get another wire from RadioShack to plug the other two channels into a 4 channel amp. If you don't, use a DSP as suggested above, or use an RCA splitter (also from radioshack).

I don't recommend getting an amplifier professionally installed. If you do that, you will not be able to learn about an amplifier, which is important.

leon_id · 05-08-2004, 06:47 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by guitar333

Personally I would get a cheap pre-amp with front/rear/sub RCA outs then go from that to the RCA input on the amp(s). That way you will have an EQ/volume in reach while driving and will sound much better.

any example of this?

yes, I know

Marsupial · 05-09-2004, 11:59 PM

Igbr - you make much sense. I still wonder about sound degradation if the output of a PC is splitter on the amp, and is there a way to control the front/back volume with the amp then in the case the left-right is splitted via RCA splitter...

thanks.