Carputer 101

[jadon087]

got any more pics also?

[viziers]

Hey Mega,


Heres one for ya maybe two for ya..


1. By having a carputer is there a way to retain the MFSW (multi function steering wheel) controls and the DID (Driver Informtion Display) on an 05 A4 2.0?

2. Do you know what the RCA voltage output is and how would you hook up amps?


Thanks
viziers

[Megalomaniac]

wow thats sick i would love to do something like that, actually exactly like that for my hoe. What year is his?

I am a newb coming into this and need some advice on where to begin so far all i have put together is

http://secure.newegg.com/Newversion/...sp?Submit=view

I wanna do a custom case in the center console as your friend has. but a few more questions i have are what power supply would i need/ other parts?

95'

LCD Build
Console Build

Hey Mega,


Heres one for ya maybe two for ya..


1. By having a carputer is there a way to retain the MFSW (multi function steering wheel) controls and the DID (Driver Informtion Display) on an 05 A4 2.0?

2. Do you know what the RCA voltage output is and how would you hook up amps?


Thanks
viziers

1. There is a way i dont know if you audi fits in this catagory, although it might since its older.
maybe this?
http://store.mp3car.com/SWI_CAN_p/com-016.htm
or this?
http://store.mp3car.com/SWI_X_Steeri..._p/com-004.htm

im not sure about the DID you may want to do a search on http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/

2. That all depends on which mobo or soundcard you get. i think, im not certain, you may have to turn the gain up slightly higher than an HU would connect to.

to hook up to amp you need a 3.5mm to rca cable like this just not necessarily that long

[spoonraker]

90% of the time the preout voltage from a computer soundcard is well below what a typical voltage from a car audio head unit would be. The gains will be set considerably higher for a CarPC, make sure you know what you are doing before you crank it though.

[jadon087]

90% of the time the preout voltage from a computer soundcard is well below what a typical voltage from a car audio head unit would be. The gains will be set considerably higher for a CarPC, make sure you know what you are doing before you crank it though.

i plan on adding the alpineH701/c701 to mine to help with the signal voltage/stereo control. Think that will help?

[Megalomaniac]

god yes!! and more eq options

[Symon_say]

90% of the time the preout voltage from a computer soundcard is well below what a typical voltage from a car audio head unit would be. The gains will be set considerably higher for a CarPC, make sure you know what you are doing before you crank it though.

There are some pci cards that have 2 volts of preout and are not expensive.

[viziers]

95'

LCD Build
Console Build




1. There is a way i dont know if you audi fits in this catagory, although it might since its older.
maybe this?
http://store.mp3car.com/SWI_CAN_p/com-016.htm
or this?
http://store.mp3car.com/SWI_X_Steeri..._p/com-004.htm

im not sure about the DID you may want to do a search on http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/

2. That all depends on which mobo or soundcard you get. i think, im not certain, you may have to turn the gain up slightly higher than an HU would connect to.

to hook up to amp you need a 3.5mm to rca cable like this just not necessarily that long

what if the carputer has a spdif jack on it would that work?

[Megalomaniac]

There are some pci cards that have 2 volts of preout and are not expensive.

question should be. does it sound good

what if the carputer has a spdif jack on it would that work?

you mean optical? then that would be a digital signal so yeah it would work especially with that h701

[viziers]

Well the CarPuter i have found and would use would be these. Please tell me your thoughts on the components i have selected. Remember this is also for SQL with amps.

http://www.cappuccinopc.com/pandora-945-x.asp - CarPuter

http://www.digitalww.com/store/prodd...sp?prod=EBY701 - TS Monitor

http://www.cappuccinopc.com/parts/p2140.asp#buy - dc-dc Power supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834995074 - Security


viziers

[Ruffy]

90% of the time the preout voltage from a computer soundcard is well below what a typical voltage from a car audio head unit would be. The gains will be set considerably higher for a CarPC, make sure you know what you are doing before you crank it though.

There are many ways around that. From USB DACs with higher voltage outputs, to higher end studio level sound cards with swapable op-amps and higher voltages out.

I currently use a Silverstone EB01 usb dac modified to put out 3V RMS. I plan on replacing it in the future with something else, maybe a EMU 404 usb dac.

Then theres the alpine h701. use Toslink\spidif out from the carputer and voltage doesnt matter anymore as its optical.

And yes it sounds great. Computers are used as entire sound production studios, why wouldn't it sound good.

[spoonraker]

I never said it wouldn't sound good, I just said most sound cards have a lower voltage so the gains will have to be set higher accordingly. Sure you could buy an expensive card, or solder on different op-amps, or buy an external equalizer, but most people don't.

A really good sound card with high voltage preouts will cost you, and not everybody knows how to replace op-amps or is willing to try it. A processor like the h701 is another way of upping the voltage, but they cost a LOT of money, and the computer is capable of doing all the equalization, time delay, and crossover work, so buying an external unit just to up the voltage is rather redundant and a big waste of money and nice equipment.

If it's that big of a deal and money is tight, just buy a line driver, although you shouldn't need one.

Viziers, those components look pretty good. The only thing I worry about is the monitor, it says it's a 7'' touchscreen, but there is a large button panel on the side. So either the screen is much smaller than most 7'' monitors, or the unit its self is about an inch wider than most which could make installation more difficult.

Oh and I always thought it would be fun to have a fingerprint scanner start the car...you should do it since you have one.

[bland]

My carputer sound just as good as any cd I'm playing in the head unit. All I"m using for a sound card is this model with the line out.

I'm in no way setup for sound quality, but it is more than acceptable.

http://www.creative.com/products/pro...&product=10702

[Megalomaniac]

My carputer sound just as good as any cd I'm playing in the head unit. All I"m using for a sound card is this model with the line out.

I'm in no way setup for sound quality, but it is more than acceptable.

http://www.creative.com/products/pro...&product=10702

the LIVE and the X-Fi sound completely different. I know you are using the usb version but had you used the X-Fi soundcard its a world of difference. just a thought for the future for you

[bland]

A pci card was not a option for me. I'm running the aopen minipc, so usb was my only option. Also i was reading about noise issues on internal cards.

My first chois was the audigy 2 nx version, but it was unavailable when I built my sytem.

http://www.creative.com/products/pro...5&product=9103

This was a hack job, because I rushed to get it in there for my road trip right after getting the vehicle. The sound card is sitting under the pc.