Computers VS HUs

[lubetek 10+ year member]

I for one don't think (like I posted) that a carputer would be better sq than a hu. thats just my two cents though. Also I don't want a "carputer" I plan to build a full pc (mini) and use it for multimedia purposes (DVDmovies, music, and what ever else I want. The uses are endless. its a PC. I wouldn't be aiming it at high SQ though. The hu would handle that.

I'm into computers like you guys are into car audio. for me it would just be cool to have a mini pc with touch screen 15" lcd.

 

[jrpro130 10+ year member]

Okay, I hate to be the one to break it to you folks, but a carputer with a simple soundcard (external OR internal) will NOT sound as good or better than a good HU (and by good, I mean something with a 24-bit DAC) -- regardless of the sound card you use. The reason? I'm not going to get too technical (there's quite a few articles out there about it), but just know that the preout voltage on a computer sound card is extremely low (check out the Creative website for exact specs... you'll be a bit surprised) and is very sensitive to distortion...
Don't believe me? Go listen to a "n00b" carputer setup with something like a SoundBlaster Audigy NX (external) connected via RCA to amplifiers. Then listen to decent transport >>> amplifiers setup (something like an Eclipse CD8053). The difference is DRAMATIC.

If you want to do a carputer, please, for Christ's sake do it right and use an outboard processor/DAC.

The easiest way to accomplish this is build a carputer using a motherboard with a digital coaxial output. That particular signal is particarly easy to convert into Toslink (what most people associate with "optical") which would be connected to your amp or processor (in my case, an Alpine H701).

Don't you see? The computer is just another transport, albeit a VERY versatile one. But all it is, is your preamp. Nothing more. Your outboard processor/EQ/crossover will handle the rest. If you want to achieve the ultimate in sound quality with your carputer, don't even think about using headphone outputs converted to RCA -- you will be very dissapointed.

Digital is the ONLY way to go.

Here's some food for thought (something I will probably do in an upcoming install in my father's car):

Carputer with digital out >>> toslink >>> Alpine MRA-D550 5.1 Dolby Digital amp >>> sub amp

A simple, and TRUE, 5.1 in-car system.

I would never chince on my soundcard. That is the basis of your "system"

Somone around mp3car forums said that your system is only as good as your carputer/head unit.

Basically if you can't play audio well, your definetly not going to produce it well.

If you buy one of the top soundcards...you will get that quality sound (w/ proper equipment)

If you buy a crappy soundcard or just use a noob stock one w/ headphone jacks...your going to get just that...crappy sound

 

[Ctminime 10+ year member]

Last I checked I wasn't retarded. I'm A+ certified though so that should stand for something. (should lol)as for a normal HDD skipping. I do not see that being a problem. Maybe your car has crap for suspension and every bump jars you badly. I have no idea. Most cars ride fairly smooth these days. Skipping will NOT be an issue.

i have A+ and mcse cert too buddy its nothing special..... and i didnt say that an hdd would skip.... not like a cd skips anyway.... cuz that is not the case with that situation, i said that if u might hit a bump while the thing is reading/or writing the needle on the drive CAN remove the film it records data on, it does happen and nobody can tell me that it dosent... what do you think causes the deathof many ipods SHOCK while it is reading or writing.... and just for the record when it comes to computers i DO know what im talking about so as far as im concerned ure opinions on what i know or dont can eat me!

!have a nice day!//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[lubetek 10+ year member]

i have A+ and mcse cert too buddy its nothing special.....

so what are you saying? that you wasted your time getting certified? I guess anyone can do the things you and I can do? Not sure where you were going with that.

anyway. our opinions differ. Good enough. I understand how a HDD can be damaged. I'm not saying its impossible to happen in a vehicle either. I just said I don't think it will be a problem. I bet I'll have no problem running one either.

Others have had no problems as well.

You do make a good point about lap top HDD's being shock resistant. That would only make things less likely to go wrong.

 

[M5AM 10+ year member]

I had a carputer and it was alright, but after 4 months it became more a novelty that for the cost of it I could replace with a few different things that I would actually use more. Things would happen that would be verrrry annoying.

Computer freezes while playing a song and kept replaying a certain part over and over untill the computer was turned off hard.

Boot times.

Bugs and glitches in software.

There are a few other things but all the reasons why I said I would get the CarPC were almost not used at all. I think anyone considering getting one should think about a touch screen unit or something. Mabye the alpine IVA-310 with an iPod or something like that.

If you do decide to go with a CarPC I would suggest the M-Audio sound cards, much better for music than the audigy cards, plus some if the nicer ones have RCA out on the card since they are used a lot in studios.

 

[Ctminime 10+ year member]

You do make a good point about lap top HDD's being shock resistant. That would only make things less likely to go wrong.

after this stuff that we argued about i respect u more 99.9 percent just because u didnt carry it on anymore cuz to a point we were both right and i think just misunderstood the reasoning, the difference of it being a problem and the possibility that it could happen are pretty different... way to be

 

[DragonCub 10+ year member]

Also I don't want a "carputer" I plan to build a full pc (mini) and use it for multimedia purposes (DVDmovies, music, and what ever else I want. The uses are endless. its a PC.

what do you think a "carputer" is??

 

[DragonCub 10+ year member]

I had a carputer and it was alright, but after 4 months it became more a novelty that for the cost of it I could replace with a few different things that I would actually use more. Things would happen that would be verrrry annoying.
Computer freezes while playing a song and kept replaying a certain part over and over untill the computer was turned off hard.

Boot times.

Bugs and glitches in software.

There are a few other things but all the reasons why I said I would get the CarPC were almost not used at all. I think anyone considering getting one should think about a touch screen unit or something. Mabye the alpine IVA-310 with an iPod or something like that.

If you do decide to go with a CarPC I would suggest the M-Audio sound cards, much better for music than the audigy cards, plus some if the nicer ones have RCA out on the card since they are used a lot in studios.

Its been said carputers are not for everyone, espcially not for the novice.

I've had mine in my car for a long time and have never expericed any of the problems you've stated. I think it was probably a bad setup on your part.

and boot times?? What boot times? who reboots everytime when you start the car? This proves you didn't know what you were doing.

 

[M5AM 10+ year member]

The computer usually reboots when you have an automatic start up and shut down power supply, and the gliches were caused most likely by the stiff suspension in my car and the bad roads in my area. You are right that they are not for everyone, but to discredit my input makes you seem uncreditable. Go back to mp3car.

 

[DragonCub 10+ year member]

The computer usually reboots when you have an automatic start up and shut down power supply, and the gliches were caused most likely by the stiff suspension in my car and the bad roads in my area. You are right that they are not for everyone, but to discredit my input makes you seem uncreditable. Go back to mp3car.

I use a power supply that has automatic start up and shut down and I never reboot. and your roads can't be worst then NYC roads.

Go back to mp3car.

fine I will. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crying.gif.ec0ebefe590df0251476573bc49e46d8.gif

 

[lubetek 10+ year member]

after this stuff that we argued about i respect u more 99.9 percent just because u didnt carry it on anymore cuz to a point we were both right and i think just misunderstood the reasoning, the difference of it being a problem and the possibility that it could happen are pretty different... way to be

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

 

[lubetek 10+ year member]

what do you think a "carputer" is??

yeah you are right. I should have explained myself better. I do not like the term "carputer" sounds stupid to me. I prefer PC.

I really don't want it for music all that much. more so for DVD and games. Once a week before my class i sit in my car for two hours from when I get off work till class starts. I usually sit there and read (working on "The Da Vinci Code" but i wouldn't mind watching a movie or playing madden 2006 or something. Plus I have a map program that would come in handy on it. Wireless internet would be cool if i'm in a un secured zone...some music, maybe music video's ( i have a large collection of them)

sure the novelty might wear off but then again maybe not. A pc in my car would in no way take the place of my hu though. it would just be an addition. Not to mention I have all the pc parts laying around. The only thing I'll need is a touch screen LCD

 

[DragonCub 10+ year member]

my setup does all that and more. and a PC can for sure replace a HU. Name me one thing you can do with a HU that you can't with a PC.

 

[lubetek 10+ year member]

you talking to me? Because if you are you are barking up the wrong tree. a PC can do anything a HU can do and more. I wouldn't argue that.