Car audio question - 2003 Audi A4 - how to power it? - Page 4

Puffanug · 07-18-2006, 04:07 PM

Yeah, that would work, but I am looking to get rid of the HU. I guess keeping it would be easier, but I don't think it can just be pushed back. I have not pulled mine out yet, so I am unsure how much room is behind the HU.

Once I have some more cash (things are tight right now) I will be moving on with my project. I am still planning on removing the HU, keeping the factory speakers and rear amp, and adding a small amp for the front stage. I will be using a factory wiring adapter to splice into, in case I need to pull the system and put the factory HU back (that way I will only be cutting the adapter and not the factory wiring).

Let me know if you come across any other options, and I'll update here if I find more info...

ssmiley1 · 07-19-2006, 10:46 PM

there is quite a bit of space behind the headunit. the front of the headunit is just held on with a couple screws and pulls right off. the buttons are all held onto the front face plate and it snaps off. even with the front piece off, the radio still works and all.

so im just thinking it might be possible to use one of those adapters as an input to the headunit, and keep the headunit powering the front speakers as it is now. and then just slide the headunit back a couple inches to make room for the screen. i dont see why it wouldnt work?

Puffanug · 07-20-2006, 11:54 AM

So we can take off the front face and still control the HU somehow? How would we adjust the volume of the HU? How would we select input sources? I like the idea of not buying an amp for the front and splicing a ton of wires. Keep me posted on your progress...

Would those car2pc adapter help at all for this?

ssmiley1 · 07-20-2006, 09:22 PM

im thinking we might be able to use the HU for just amplifying the fronts and it is already connected to the amp for the rears. you could just set the volume and input source on the HU before removing the face plate, then connect the adapter to the back of the HU to get the signal from the computer to the HU. then you could control volume and such from the computer itself. i mean all the HU would be doing is basically acting like an amp.

then with one of those audio adapters, it would just plug in to the back of the HU. so if we wanted to remove the computer and re-install the HU, just unhook the adapter, snap the face plate back on the HU, and slide it back in place.

Puffanug · 07-21-2006, 09:33 PM

Seems possible. We would need to leave it at volume 12 i think on the HU, unless we could disable the function that kicks it to 12 each time it is powered on. The source would be no problem, they stay set to the last choice.

So you have tried using it with the faceplate off? How far can it be pushed back? I am mounting my screen with a Metra kit and LCD molded in. The metra kit won't fit unless the HU is pushed way back i think. Could I maybe strip the case of the HU and just keep the components we need? Would a real amp instead of the HU power the speakers better?

Lots of options... the research continues...

SSmiley1 ~ have you started a worklog for your carputer yet?

ssmiley1 · 07-22-2006, 04:51 AM

Quote:

We would need to leave it at volume 12 i think on the HU, unless we could disable the function that kicks it to 12 each time it is powered on.

your unit kicks the volume to 12 everytime its turned on?? mine stays at the level you left it when the car was shut off...

yes ive tried using it with the face plate off. i bought my car used, and the tape slot had some sticky stuff keeping the little door down, so i took the faceplate off to clean that all up. when i pulled it off i forgot the radio was still on and it still played music haha.

it would only need to be pushed back about 2 inches at most. just the thickness of the screen. and im 80% sure there is enough room. haha.

mounting the screen in that Metra kit is a great idea. on my last car i made a face plate type thing out of plexi, and that was a PAIN. it looked good but took forever to make haha. so i will definitely be using the Metra kit on my next install. im not exactly sure how it would all fit together. but im sure there is enough space up there to fit the screen and the HU. im a firm believer in where theres a will theres a way, especially when it comes to building something. i think im going to be going this route with my install (atleast at first hehe) but ill keep posted to see what descisions/route you choose to go.

@puffanug: i had a computer installed in my 2000 a4, but i rolled/totalled it in early march. luckily i was able to get all of my parts out though! ive picked up a 2003 a4 and im about to order the metra kit and ill be starting a worklog once its under way. im glad to find someone else at the same stage of install as i am. should be fun. im keeping an eye on your worklog as well. you should probably post some progress before the whores take it over! haha. (motivation)

Paul H · 07-23-2006, 04:27 PM

You can control the radio with the multi=function steering wheel

Puffanug · 07-28-2006, 02:19 PM

I have no multifunction steering wheel control

LOL

defenseman · 09-14-2006, 09:31 PM

well this is a little late for you i guess but here goes...

as you may or may not know (i new soo) im doing a carputer mod for my '02 A4 as well. i didnt know much about the a4 audio until this thread so once i read it , i started hacking away. haha.

basically, since I want to do this the cheapest way possible until I have money, I wired my audio so that just my rears are playing. ill keep it this way until i figure out an amplifier option for the fronts.

what i did was, jumped the white amp power-on wire with the red/blue 12v line. this powered the amp up. then i simply spliced and a RCA-3.5" connection on the Line-Out wires and remembering to connect ground, white wire inbetween the RL + RR wires. and, wolah! my rears play and are powered up right through the amp, sounding just like it did with my HU in. i guess to understand, you have to look at the wiring diagrams above, or in may seem like jibberish.

again, now i have to worry about powering the fronts, but w/e that can wait!

ssmiley1 · 05-18-2007, 11:51 PM

check out my install. it may help. i powered the speakers with the stock headunit using an aux adapter.