Headunit vs no headunit

isisfreak · 05-28-2006, 10:56 AM

I'm putting together my first carputer and I'm trying to decide whether or not to use a headunit. I'm planning on doing a full stereo install also (speakers, amps, subs...). Would I gain anything by keeping a headunit? I would think that the only reason to keep it would be for its amp and the radio. But, if I'm installing an amp and I can add a reciever to the computer, is there really any reason to keep the headunit? Sound Quality? Anything? Any help is appreciated!

Thanks,

Eric

blazinaspire · 05-28-2006, 12:21 PM

i would think that it would only be needed for ease of use, but if your going to throw it out of your instal then i would sugest to use a line driver so that your signal is nice, clear and strong

proph · 05-28-2006, 01:15 PM

You would gain alot by keeping the headunit. Especially if your using any of the headunits features like onboard crossovers/eq/timealignment. Its alot of work getting everything back to the point of just using a headunit,and more expensive.

isisfreak · 05-28-2006, 01:43 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by proph

You would gain alot by keeping the headunit. Especially if your using any of the headunits features like onboard crossovers/eq/timealignment. Its alot of work getting everything back to the point of just using a headunit,and more expensive.

What would I gain though? Right now I just have the stock headunit, so I would have to buy a new one anyhow. The car is still all stock, I've only had it for about a month

I want to get the best possible sound out of it, while still keeping the price managable. It also has to be a clean install, this is going into a show car. So the less things I have cramping the dash, the better.

scott_fx · 05-29-2006, 03:26 AM

dump the head unit if you want a clean install. Look into a soundblaster pci card with kxdriver if you want some cool time alignment,x-over, and eq options.
There aren't any advantages to keeping the stock h/u besides the ones you had already mentioned. it will probably hurt the sound quality if anything

-CM · 05-29-2006, 04:50 AM

I kept my headunit because I like the fuctionality, volume control is simpler, it looks better.. and I use my steering wheel + HU controls with the car2pc adapter.

isisfreak · 05-29-2006, 10:25 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by scott_fx

dump the head unit if you want a clean install. Look into a soundblaster pci card with kxdriver if you want some cool time alignment,x-over, and eq options.
There aren't any advantages to keeping the stock h/u besides the ones you had already mentioned. it will probably hurt the sound quality if anything

Thank you. That pretty much clears it up for me.

BTW, I love your Vette

Quote: Originally Posted by -CM

I kept my headunit because I like the fuctionality, volume control is simpler, it looks better.. and I use my steering wheel + HU controls with the car2pc adapter.

Well, my headunit is kinda big and ugly and my steering wheel doesn't have any radio functions on it. As for the volume control, I'm planning to use one of these http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/powermate/ You might want to have a look

-CM · 05-29-2006, 01:19 PM

I was going to use that powermate. I still have it, not used, if you would like to buy it cheap. PM me.

scott_fx · 05-29-2006, 02:35 PM

thanks for the compliment isisfreak
for volume controll, do a search for i-drive. some people; tonyg, have made there own less bulky version of this and it may bive you the flexibility that you are looking for

pancit175 · 05-29-2006, 07:51 PM

You may also have the option to go with a seperate standalone processor that you can do your time alignments x-over and simple volume knob.

I just posted in a different thread that i'm investing in an Alpine PXA-H701 processor, and the Alpine RUX-C701 for standalone use. Where it may have everything that you may need mentioned above. It also has 3 seperate optical inputs and 1 built in and 2 additional optional analog inputs with standard RCAs. I'm gonna try using both optical and analog inputs and i got a simple optical spdif output with a usb adapter and software.\
Edit: Oh, And it does 5.1 or even mixes to 4.2 if you dont have a center channel it uses the center output into a sub L/R

scott_fx · 05-29-2006, 08:41 PM

it'll be a pain in the butt to go from optical to analog on the fly. I had the alpine unit and ended up selling mine because it was just too bulky for me.

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