Line Drivers, USB Dacs, Equalizers, Crossovers, Processors galore!

[Ruffy 10+ year member]

Ok heres the thing. I'm working on a carputer setup and plan to not have an HU as my dash wont fit one when I'm done. (I might end up putting one hidden in the armrest console....)

Anyways. The problem with carputer setups is the low voltage output from most soundcards. Now my initial plan was to use a Creative X-Fi music soundcard. I dont know it's voltage out but most soundcards do UNDER 1volt.

Now the common thing for people to do is use a external USB soundcard with a higher voltage. Or use some sort of processing to boost the voltage.

Any ideas Which Way I should go? I'm not sure which to really get.

Line Driver, Pre-Amp, Crossover, EQ. ? Or should I be looking more towards the more expensive full DSP solutions.

There are several EQ/Crossovers Which act as line drivers and boost voltages. The one I'm looking at is a Clarion EQS746. It's fairly cheap and nets me the benefit of having a EQ.

Another is a Soundstream Tube pre-amp.

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_6655.html

Would be interesting to try

I'm trying to go for great SQ/SQL. Any ideas?

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[bri487 5,000+ posts]

Ok heres the thing. I'm working on a carputer setup and plan to not have an HU as my dash wont fit one when I'm done. (I might end up putting one hidden in the armrest console....)
Anyways. The problem with carputer setups is the low voltage output from most soundcards. Now my initial plan was to use a Creative X-Fi music soundcard. I dont know it's voltage out but most soundcards do UNDER 1volt.

Now the common thing for people to do is use a external USB soundcard with a higher voltage. Or use some sort of processing to boost the voltage.

Any ideas Which Way I should go? I'm not sure which to really get.

Line Driver, Pre-Amp, Crossover, EQ. ? Or should I be looking more towards the more expensive full DSP solutions.

There are several EQ/Crossovers Which act as line drivers and boost voltages. The one I'm looking at is a Clarion EQS746. It's fairly cheap and nets me the benefit of having a EQ.

Another is a Soundstream Tube pre-amp.

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_6655.html

Would be interesting to try

I'm trying to go for great SQ/SQL. Any ideas?

the zapco dsp will do it all. it is just plain badass. check it out. if it is in your price range, go for it. and since you have a carputer, you can use the program with it.

 

[qtipextra 5,000+ posts]

Excuse my noob-like question, but what do you mean carputer?

 

[reneeb7363 10+ year member]

Excuse my noob-like question, but what do you mean carputer?

lol.. dont worry.. Idaho is like two decades behind--- see profile! LOL...

it is a small computer that goes in a car -- usually pre-wired for 12 v application -- go with touch screens, large HD, CD/DVD ROM for nav and entertainment-- the likes....

 

[Rsx_03 10+ year member]

yea i have the same problem im going to get the clarion also

i have a mini creative sound card and my amp with the gains turned almost all the way down but it still sounds better then my last pioneer radio

hopefully that eq will make it sound better, this is after i get my rims in =/ bout a week for 2 more until i get em

 

[Ruffy 10+ year member]

The Zapco is nice and I've looked into it(not enough info/reviews) But it's way past my pricerange($800)

I'm looking for Sub $200

 

[djman37 5,000+ posts]

carputer and SQ do NOT go hand-in-hand. Unless you aren't going to play mp3 files, you'll just be putting lipstick on a pig.

 

[Ruffy 10+ year member]

carputer and SQ do NOT go hand-in-hand. Unless you aren't going to play mp3 files, you'll just be putting lipstick on a pig.

All my music is in Flac/Ape lossless audio.

And how can you say they dont go hand in hand, with the list of audiophile hardware packages out there.

 

[djman37 5,000+ posts]

All my music is in Flac/Ape lossless audio.
And how can you say they dont go hand in hand, with the list of audiophile hardware packages out there.

Then I should say most of the carputer installs I've seen use shuttles with crappy sound cards and they play 192 mp3s.

'hey i've got a carputer, I can keep ALL my mp3's on here' is what I hear.

It sounds like you are way past that, G/L.

 

[Ruffy 10+ year member]

Then I should say most of the carputer installs I've seen use shuttles with crappy sound cards and they play 192 mp3s.
'hey i've got a carputer, I can keep ALL my mp3's on here' is what I hear.

It sounds like you are way past that, G/L.

Yeah, Im planning on an actual computer with a full PCI soundcard, Emu, M-Audio, Creative X-Fi, Via Envy HTS

or some sort of USB setup. Still dont know

 

[bri487 5,000+ posts]

The Zapco is nice and I've looked into it(not enough info/reviews) But it's way past my pricerange($800)
I'm looking for Sub $200

i have heard the dsp on c2k's in a few installs, and i have the same processing in my reference dc's. it is absolutly awesome. there arent many reviews on it since it is still relatively new to the market.

 

[marley1 10+ year member]

i dont know if this would work in anyway.

but most external soundcards have optical output.

cant u run that to some sort of processor or maybe amp input?

wouldn't that give you a great signal to start with?

 

[Ruffy 10+ year member]

i dont know if this would work in anyway.
but most external soundcards have optical output.

cant u run that to some sort of processor or maybe amp input?

wouldn't that give you a great signal to start with?

already have my amps so I dont wanna change them out.

Any type of processor input is an option. I'd like a discrete subwoofer channel input. Optical would be great. Just gotta find a solution for sub $200

 

[937DYTBOI 5,000+ posts]

i dont want to thread bash buti got a question. When using this carputer setup how does the sub stage sound, i mean if i wanted to could i use this setup at comps for spl. Ive always thought of using this type of setup just never heard one for myself to do it in my own ride

 

[igeriys 10+ year member]

I had same kind of problem you having, I couldn't decide on soundcard/DAC for my SQ Carputer setup. So I had to read over 1000 posts on mp3car.com forum before I made my mind. I can share with you some thing I learned about the "SQ and the Carputer":

1. Power Suply matters a lot. If you are plannig to use a power inverter, forget about the SQ. It'll make a constant system noise no matter how well u ground it. (proven //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif )

Use only DC-DC PSUs. Opus-250 most powerful PSU available http://www.digitalww.com/opus250.htm plus it got automatic shutdown/sleep option.

2. Forget about the RCAs, think Optical. All soundcards I know don't produce more than 1-2 volts output and that includes Audigy X-FI and M-AUDIO Audiophile. Auzentech X-Meridian is the only one exception with 4v preouts but its not out yet.

Just use any card equipped with toslink style optical out.

3. External DSP/DAC with Optical Input.

Zapco DSP6-SL is #1 but pricy. The best price/quality DSP/DAC is Alpine PXA-H700/H701. It will convert your optical signal to 4v analog, also got: 165 Band Graphic EQ, 27 Band Parametric EQ, Dolby PRO LOGIC II, Time Correction, etc