Hooking up mp3 player directly to amp

[XanderMoser 10+ year member]

I was just thinking about making an RCA switcher so I could switch from my HU to a secondary set of RCA inputs for the amp. Then I could have my mp3 player hooked up in my car. I can't afford a HU with an aux input, and I don't want to use an fm transmitter. Not clean enough of a signal for me.

Anyone ever done this? Any reason it wouldn't work?

I thought of the amps turning off if I turn the HU off because the remote line would turn off. But I wouldn't need to turn the HU off even if I switched to the secondary RCAs.

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[blackbonnie 5,000+ posts]

are your regular speakers amped? like comps or something?

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I was just thinking about making an RCA switcher so I could switch from my HU to a secondary set of RCA inputs for the amp. Then I could have my mp3 player hooked up in my car. I can't afford a HU with an aux input, and I don't want to use an fm transmitter. Not clean enough of a signal for me.
Anyone ever done this? Any reason it wouldn't work?

I thought of the amps turning off if I turn the HU off because the remote line would turn off. But I wouldn't need to turn the HU off even if I switched to the secondary RCAs.

Yes, I guess that would work.

You wouldn't get no bass though unless you split the signal.

So it would go from the switch (the sell those at walmart for games and whatnot) to an out...split it there so one set of RCAs go to the front two channel amp and another set goes to the sub amp.

I think it is ghey, but I see no reason why it wouldn't work, but you would also have to run a new remote wire to turn the amp on.

 

[XanderMoser 10+ year member]

Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot to explain my system.

My HU is a cheap Pioneer with one RCA out, full range. That goes to a 2-way crossover. From there it splits to my component front stage amplifier (powering a set of Crystal Cpe60s) and my subwoofer amplifier.

I can make an RCA switch. I work as a tech, cords are half of my work, haha.

I don't see it as too ghetto...there will be a small jack that I will integrate into my center console between the front seats. The switch will be either in there or in my cigarette ash tray. I don't smoke I'm trying to get into more fabrication, and this would be a start.

 

[blackbonnie 5,000+ posts]

i think it should work, just try it

 

[spoonraker 10+ year member]

Yes it will work.

Having a CarPC, it's not unusual for me to go through periods of not having a stereo because of me always tinkering with it. During these times I take my iPod with me, I plug a 3.5MM headphone jack splitter into it, and then two 3.5MM jack to RCA converter cables into each of those, and then those plug into my regular RCAs for my amps. Works like a charm.

 

[XanderMoser 10+ year member]

Cool, thanks. Now I have another project to keep me busy.

I'm just gonna use an 1/8" (3.5mm) to RCA cable to go from the player to the rca switcher. Readily available and cheap.

 

[spoonraker 10+ year member]

yep that's what you need, the only reason I have more stuff is because I have to not only convert 3.5mm to RCA, I have to split it to two RCAs.

 

[wesl56 10+ year member]

yeah. would have saved me $300 if i didnt want a **** headunit?

since 99.999% of the shit is listen to is off my ipod

 

[fwb_1234 10+ year member]

You need to figure out how to set your gains though. I doubt you ipod puts out as strong a signal as your HU, even it's really cheap.

 

[hemiscott 10+ year member]

I thought of going this route but, didn't feel like fabbing it up the right way.. To do it right you would need some sort of a preamp in the circuit and i would use a audio transformer (Jensen makes one of the best xformers for audio) and some pots for the gain. Kind of like this to give ya an idea http://w2ihy.com/ibox.asp..

 

[T9X 10+ year member]

IPod HU..

Hmm..

 

[Qbenjamin 10+ year member]

I didn't read this entire thread, but my IPOD came with a jack that you plug in to convert to an RCA signal. You can hook that up directly to the input RCA on the amp.

 

[Trey803 5,000+ posts]

Save up and buy a cd player with aux input..... if u save u can afford one

 

[hemiscott 10+ year member]

What i mentioned, is if your serious about the signal.. Yes, you can just buy an adapter with a 1/8 stereo plug or what ever an i pod has on it, to rca.. I did this years ago on my first system with a walkman but it wasn't the greatest, as far as sound quality, lots of distortion.