pc to amp

paradoxni · 03-28-2006, 02:47 AM

In my previous car the PC was connected to aux-in on the HU and then the HU outputting to the amp. Im just wondering the effect on removing the HU completely so I have PC --> amp. I will use my carnetix controller to remote turn on the amp after ignition. Will I notice lower volume/quality? What will be the effects of this?

Thanks,

specsix · 03-28-2006, 03:19 AM

It depends if your HU sent a passive signal or not. If it was doing some sort of pre-processing, you could lose some gain. I cannot see you losing quality. If anything, you would gain quality because you are simplifying your system by direct connecting your PC to the amp.

BUT! Make sure you use some sort of frequency cross over. Dont just send your entire signal from your PC to AMP unless you dont care about seperability.

I use an Audio Control HPX which takes in the PCs signal and then crosses over to the respective amps hi and low.

tasteItheIvalue · 04-27-2006, 02:36 AM

sorry to give a re-birth to this thread but... the pc lacks line voltage, so you will lose the ability to play your music loud w/ no distortion. might want to look into line drivers if your going from pc to amp. www.audiocontrol.com (check out the thee.1)

RedGTiVR6 · 04-27-2006, 05:22 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by specsix

I cannot see you losing quality. If anything, you would gain quality because you are simplifying your system by direct connecting your PC to the amp.

this is absolutely positively NOT true and is providing the OP with inaccurate information.

Uh Uh Uh, You didn't say the magic word !

the outputs from onboard sound have very little voltage (something like a half a volt). Because of this, your noise floor will be very low and will allow noise to be introduced into the system VERY easily. And as the person above me stated, you will loose the ability to turn the volume up and not distort. Your music will sound like hammered dog ****.

tasteItheIvalue · 04-27-2006, 05:24 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Red GTi VR6

this is absolutely positively NOT true and is providing the OP with inaccurate information.

the outputs from onboard sound have very little voltage (something like a half a volt). Because of this, your noise floor will be very low and will allow noise to be introduced into the system VERY easily. And as the person above me stated, you will loose the ability to turn the volume up and not distort. Your music will sound like hammered dog ****.

about the hammered dog ****

Genesisfactor · 04-27-2006, 05:32 PM

i have a dog...one day i'll get my little brother to hammer his 'presents' to find out how that sounds

. I just hope it sounds better than what i'm currently dealing with in my revived celica. But seriously, get the line driver. THe guy who linked you to audiocontrol was smart. Get a crossover from there, if you need it, instead because it also has a line driver built in.

tasteItheIvalue · 04-27-2006, 05:36 PM

wow, too bad for this guy that we didnt post here back in march. until yesterday he had some horrible advice...

RedGTiVR6 · 04-27-2006, 05:42 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Genesisfactor

i have a dog...one day i'll get my little brother to hammer his 'presents' to find out how that sounds

.

PLEASE let me know, I'm really interested to know how it sounds!

Genesisfactor · 04-27-2006, 06:44 PM

but you seemed to be the knowledgable one!!! Gah....there goes all the fun of doing it...

Wait, wet poop or dry poop?
(we see to do this in every thread lately, i swear)

specsix · 04-30-2006, 12:03 AM

Yeah I apologize for not being more clear. I specifically told him not to connect his amp to his PC unless he didn't care about seperability. I should of added low signal.

I also mentioned the audio control hpx. I didn't type that out to exercise my fingers :P

Also not all sound cards send low voltage. I just checked before I responded. My MAUDIO card outputs 4.99 volts on the rcas. I know this card is rare, but its simply not true to say all cards have low voltage.

Again I am sorry for misleading you.

RedGTiVR6 · 04-30-2006, 12:07 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Red GTi VR6

the outputs from onboard sound have very little voltage (something like a half a volt).

note the emphasis

specsix · 04-30-2006, 12:21 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Red GTi VR6

note the emphasis

Oh! I am sorry...I was not referring to you.

RedGTiVR6 · 04-30-2006, 12:26 AM

ahh
ok

but it's always about me!

wait...

lol

there are some cards out there that perform admerably well, even in terms of voltage output...we've found a few of them in some thread that's floating around here...somewhere

scott_fx · 04-30-2006, 12:44 AM

yup...also look into the echo gina3g, 5.76 volts. I have that and an m-audio audiophile 192. I have been considering doing some comparitave tests. I just have to get a zapco active x-over so It may not be the greatest comparison

PutterMcGavin · 04-30-2006, 12:48 AM

Ok I'm going to play devil's advocate here because I have a setup that utilizes a H/U and blows away ALL the other systems I have come across. Here is a quick breakdown of my setup:

-Biostar M7NCG 400 w/AMD 35w XP-m chip; 512mb ram; onboard sound
-Alpine CDA-855D Headunit
-Alpine component speakers (9 total including Type R sub)

My setup basically runs a line from the computer into an Ai-Net RCA y-adapter into the back of the H/U. Ai-Net is Apline's older connection for CD changers, processors, etc. From there the sound runs to amps and speakers. I only use ONE line running out the back of the computer to the H/U and have the comp. setup to send this as a "full signal", kind of like what you'd get in some headphones or whatever. The H/U processes this signal and puts it out. And unlike hammered dog **** the sound quality is incredible. I haven't once turned it up to the point where it distorts as it has hurt my ears before it gets there! The highs are crisp, sub hits hard and nobody would ever guess that it was from a computer. Personally I like the H/U acting as A) a processing center for the music (much higher quality) and B) it serves as a back up should my comp. go down (knock on wood).

Just be careful. If you hook a line straight from the computer to the H/U you might be a high pitched whine that you won't be able to take. 99% of the time if you run a wire form the comp. chassis to a ground then the noise will go away. That is what I had to do with one of my older comps. Just play with it, it will work and hopefully if all goes well you'll be as happy as I've been thus far!

Oh and think about this too...those aux input jack on your H/U are meant for iPods, cd players, etc. But you plug headphones into iPods, cd playes...and computers with the same effect. The problem isn't the voltage, but rather the way it is routed through the device. I can use the exact same line going to the H/U on both the iPod and computer. I just have to play with the volume on the H/U about 20% then use the iPod/computer to control volume from there.

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