integrate carpc with which aftermarket headunit?

spyrule · 10-23-2009, 08:57 PM

Hello,

First a little explination. I plan on doing a carpc that will be made of the following :

Actual pc in the trunk (havn't settled on hardware yet).
Most likely an OS boot off of a USB key from the front dash.

The screen will most likely be Xenarc 700IDT 7" 1 DIN monitor.
Now the reason for this is because I probably won't be able to afford the full setup I want until sometime in the new year (vacation to jamaica coming up... yah Maan!). So for now I would like to get a decent aftermarket headunit, that plays MP3 and has Satelite radio capabilities... and is possible bluetooth.

Now the part that I would love to do, would be able to use one of these HU's in conjunction with the future carpc. I'm thinking this mainly for simplicity in wiring. I won't have to re-wire any speakers or subs, simply connect the pc via a rear Aux input, and enjoy the best of both worlds.

So on that note...

Is there a known HU that integrates well with a car pc ?

Is there known issues with doing this setup? Or would a pure carpc be easier/less problematic in the long run?

I AM a noob to this, so bare with my rediculously short-sighted questions and my seemingly horrible searching skills....

ALL suggestions / improvements are hugely welcome.

Thanks in advance,

Spyrule

leo_bergamo · 10-23-2009, 10:32 PM

Can you describe the head unit you plan on hooking up to ?

spyrule · 10-23-2009, 10:45 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by leo_bergamo

Can you describe the head unit you plan on hooking up to ?

Actually that's what I'm trying to decide on purchasing for now. So far I've put a pair of Pioneer 300-Watt Three-Way 6.5'' Speakers for the rear doors, and a set of Alpine 6 1/2" Component Car Speaker (SPS-600C) for the front. I currently have no sub, but I plan on adding one via pawnshop deals.

I'm not picky about the brand of HU, but I would like it to be able to run these sets of speakers well, have a sub connection, and a rear aux connection. The rest of the features I want are pretty standard, cd/mp3/sat radio ready... and if possible bluetooth (until I get my carpc working anyway...).

So I'm asking for suggestions if people know of a HU that is easy to interface with a carpc.

Any and ALL suggestions are welcome.

Btw, this is getting installed into a 2006 Subaru Impreza 2.5i .

- Spyrule.

leo_bergamo · 10-23-2009, 10:53 PM

I am a Pioneer fan. My vanputer is hooked to my Pioneer HU via a very clean homemade AUX cable I made. I could have bought one but Pioneer wanted $50 for it and I made mine from what I had laying around. Anyways, if you are a cheap skate like me then Pioneer and Kenwood head units have their extension port pinouts posted on the web and instructions on how to interface with them. These procedures are very simple. I would suggest to bo with Pioneer. Also you could look for a head unit with an AUX port on the front of the head unit and just go from their.

spyrule · 10-23-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by leo_bergamo

I am a Pioneer fan. My vanputer is hooked to my Pioneer HU via a very clean homemade AUX cable I made. I could have bought one but Pioneer wanted $50 for it and I made mine from what I had laying around. Anyways, if you are a cheap skate like me then Pioneer and Kenwood head units have their extension port pinouts posted on the web and instructions on how to interface with them. These procedures are very simple. I would suggest to bo with Pioneer. Also you could look for a head unit with an AUX port on the front of the head unit and just go from their.

Yeah, I really want to avoid a HU with a front only aux channel. I don't mind if it has both, but I don't want to rely on that port solely.

Any particular pioneer HU you would suggest?

Spyrule

leo_bergamo · 10-23-2009, 11:20 PM

Well Pioneer head units are pretty standard when it comes to performance. I think you will get the result you want with any mid to high end Pioneer head unit. What I will suggest is you use the same brand speakers as the head unit. For example if you hook a Sony head unit to a pair of Kenwood 6x9s they sound good but not great. If you hook Sony to Sony then it is like WOW I did not know this head unit sounded like this and you think you have a new head unit.

Another suggestion is when you go through with your install and say you choose to use an inverter to power it run the +VDC and ground with nothing smaller than 8 AWG wire. Also, keep your ground as short as possible and connect it to a vehicle frame member if possible. As my setup evolved I battled noise issues until I ground the inverter to the chasis.

hexxamillion · 10-24-2009, 12:49 AM

Alpine HU's have rear auxiliary input.

BIGGKATT01 · 10-24-2009, 01:04 AM

I would go for a Kenwwod unit, I put a Pioneer f700 in her van and I was not happy with it after words. I put a Kenwood DDX812 in my Chrysler 300 after my 04 Dodge Durango was hit by a stop sign runner with all my carpc parts in it. I am waiting for the court date to come thats why I purchased the DDX812.

But anyway to get back to your case my cousins friend kept his DDX812 in his car and has a laptop running with it. The DDX812 can be connected to the Kenwood Garmin nav unit Kna G510 it has I believe a rgb connector that connects it to the back of the DDX812 he somehow tapped into it and uses the screen as his regular screen he's running Centrafuse so when he wants to run it he just pushes the nav button and Centrafuse pops up.

I waited to write this so I could be sure so I went to my car and pulled my unit out and it does have a rgb connection on the back. when I can I will call my cousin and have him ask his friend how he did it.

The reason I say go with a Keenwood is because my fiance's Pioneer is comparable to my Keenwood and my unit has way more features I can tailor my sound system in my unit way more than she can.

soundman98 · 10-26-2009, 12:47 AM

I personally am more of a pioneer guy for hu's. For the price, pioneer and kenwood offer the most amount of features in almost any price range. Also, I have found that both pioneer and kenwood decks are a lot easier to change settings on than alpine decks.

I know for sure that as long as you get a pioneer deck with a P-Bus connector on the back, you could add a aux, bluetooth, and/or iPod control. I am not sure if any one else has a similar system though

hexxamillion · 10-26-2009, 08:14 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by soundman98

I personally am more of a pioneer guy for hu's. For the price, pioneer and kenwood offer the most amount of features in almost any price range. Also, I have found that both pioneer and kenwood decks are a lot easier to change settings on than alpine decks.

I know for sure that as long as you get a pioneer deck with a P-Bus connector on the back, you could add a aux, bluetooth, and/or iPod control. I am not sure if any one else has a similar system though

I had a Kenwood back in the day and it was the best.

User Name		Remember Me?
Password