another carpc/headunit question

BDVirus · 07-16-2006, 10:52 AM

ok been reading the carpc vs headunit thread (quite interesting i might add), but as for wireing a carpc with a headunit heres my question. Im looking to have a car pc in there BUT most of my actual driving time is just to/from work which is 5-10 min drive. I might be wrong but a carpc would take time to boot up and get to the music (even if you keep it in standby, the time to find music and get it playing would take 1-2 min, which i dont wanna do while driving 70 on the highway), so heres what i wanna do. get a quality HU then have the pc hooked up to the aux input, BUT during longer drives I would rather use the pc. So basically im lookin for a switch to go between the carpc and HU but still go to the same amp(s). Anybody got any ideas on howto wire this one up?

necrolyte · 07-16-2006, 11:01 AM

Just get a headunit with an AUX input. These headunits you can normally switch between Radio/CD/Aux at the push of a button. Feed the amps and speakers off the headunit. Easy to do.

-zip- · 07-16-2006, 11:01 AM

Same way you would install a normal amp/HU and hook up the Aux to the PC sound card. If your budget allows, try and get digital in on the H/U with digital out on the sound card.

scott_fx · 07-16-2006, 11:11 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by -zip-

Same way you would install a normal amp/HU and hook up the Aux to the PC sound card. If your budget allows, try and get digital in on the H/U with digital out on the sound card.

they have headunits with digital in? interesting. as for the boot time and what not. It's really not that bad. by the time you start your car put your seatbelt on back out of the driveway and pull onto the road....you'r pc would probably be booted. and just like a cd player the music will start playing where you left off...do you really dont have fudge with the interface much.

BDVirus · 07-16-2006, 11:59 AM

hmmm then maybe im just not gonna use a HU, and just feed it directly off the pc (initally use a laptop, as i have an inverter that would power a laptop fine, then get a 7 in indash touchscreen lcd, and the actual permanent carpc)...

what would every1 recommend tho? a carpc directly to sound? or a carpc>HU>sound?

DarquePervert · 07-16-2006, 12:07 PM

You're missing the boat, BDVirus....
It's either PC -> Headunit -> speakers
or PC -> Headunit -> speakers

I suppose you could also do PC -> Headunit -> amp(s) -> speakers as well.

-zip- · 07-16-2006, 01:55 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by DarquePervert

I suppose you could also do PC -> Headunit -> amp(s) -> speakers as well.

Bingo!

-zip- · 07-16-2006, 01:59 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by scott_fx

they have headunits with digital in?

Yep my Eclipse CD8455 has it, one of the many reasons I picked this H/U.

BDVirus · 07-17-2006, 12:23 PM

hmmm i thought you could do comp>amp

damn oh well lol

DarquePervert · 07-17-2006, 02:25 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by BDVirus

hmmm i thought you could do comp>amp

damn oh well lol

That's an option, too....
However you're talking about the headunit in all of this, as well. Do you want to go without a headunit or not?

scott_fx · 07-17-2006, 02:31 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by DarquePervert

You're missing the boat, BDVirus....
It's either PC -> Headunit -> speakers
or PC -> Headunit -> speakers

I suppose you could also do PC -> Headunit -> amp(s) -> speakers as well.

wait...those two are the same

it's:
PC -> Headunit -> speakers
PC -> amp -> speakers
or
PC -> Headunit -> amp(s) -> speakers
(or pc -> active x-over -> amps -> speakers

)

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