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CarPC Sound Integration
I currently am running a CarPC. The sound is running into my stock HU through a Grom Audio adapter.
Now with the Metra kit coming out I will be getting rid of the Stock HU entirely. I'll fill in the radio through the PC with a USB radio tuner so I won't be missing anything. However I've been having some trouble figuring out how to get the sound directly from the PC into my stock Bose system. I'd like to keep my speakers in place for sure and ideally the Boseamp.. but I've been given a suggestion to just get another amp in there to make it all easier. What do you guys suggest? And if getting another amp is what I ultimately do, what amp am I looking at? I'm very computer literate and hands-on which is how I got the entire carpc going in the first place but I'm still catching on the basics of car audio. The stock sound is enough for me so anything in that range to simply "plug and play" into the speakers will do. Or a completely different approach from anyone else would also help.. |
If you can wire a car computer you can do car stereos. Personally, I'd go whole hog and do a full stereo upgrade. Stock systems are only enough for people until they hear their favorite song on a good system and say "I never heard that in this song before!" :)
Personally, I consider the work of installing a simple 4 channel amp and replacing speakers to be easier then working out how to make an aftermarket stereo talk with the OEM Bose amp. Mostly because I've no idea how to make an aftermarket stereo talk with the Bose amp. :uhh: The only real difficult part is running new wires through the doors for aftermarket speakers. If you aren't the sort to listen to music LOUD you could just reuse the stock speaker wires and avoid that problem entirely. Replacing the rear deck speakers is easy and documented in the DIY section. Replacing the tweeters is easy and is documented in the DIY section. Putting new speakers in the 9 inch holes left by the front door woofers requires fabricating a bracket, but this isn't difficult so much as time consuming, depending on materials used, tools available and your skill with them. It doesn't sound like you are looking to build an assault class stereo, so I won't bother to recommend a sub. A good set of coaxial speakers will give you all the frequency range you'll ever need without pissing off your neighbors. Unfortunately, PC's dont have amplified speaker outputs like head units do, so you're going to have to get an aftermarket amp. If you go the HU route, you'd get a 4 channel amplifier to power your speakers built into it, and could connect the car PC via AUX input. |
Originally Posted by Socket7
(Post 2551241)
If you can wire a car computer you can do car stereos. Personally, I'd go whole hog and do a full stereo upgrade. Stock systems are only enough for people until they hear their favorite song on a good system and say "I never heard that in this song before!" :)
Personally, I consider the work of installing a simple 4 channel amp and replacing speakers to be easier then working out how to make an aftermarket stereo talk with the OEM Bose amp. Mostly because I've no idea how to make an aftermarket stereo talk with the Bose amp. :uhh: The only real difficult part is running new wires through the doors for aftermarket speakers. If you aren't the sort to listen to music LOUD you could just reuse the stock speaker wires and avoid that problem entirely. Replacing the rear deck speakers is easy and documented in the DIY section. Replacing the tweeters is ehey asy and is documented in the DIY section. Putting new speakers in the 9 inch holes left by the front door woofers requires fabricating a bracket, but this isn't difficult so much as time consuming, depending on materials used, tools available and your skill with them. It doesn't sound like you are looking to build an assault class stereo, so I won't bother to recommend a sub. A good set of coaxial speakers will give you all the frequency range you'll ever need without pissing off your neighbors. Unfortunately, PC's dont have amplified speaker outputs like head units do, so you're going to have to get an aftermarket amp. If you go the HU route, you'd get a 4 channel amplifier to power your speakers built into it, and could connect the car PC via AUX input. al |
I use AuxMod Basic by Sylfex,Hope this helps
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Originally Posted by CostasX8
(Post 2551883)
I use AuxMod Basic by Sylfex,Hope this helps
I have figured out what I'm going to do thanks to some very insightful help from Socket7. |
I'm working on a car PC right now and have anticipated the same problem. alz, could you please elaborate on the "very insightful help?"
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Originally Posted by eastcoastrotary
(Post 2551945)
I'm working on a car PC right now and have anticipated the same problem. alz, could you please elaborate on the "very insightful help?"
Bose speakers sound like crap on non bose amps (they sound like crap on bose amps too) So you need 4 new speakers. everything else is just wiring. |
Ay basically I'm redoing my entire sound system. Getting a APX4240 Clarion AMP, JL TR650's to replace the front speakers/tweeters, and some Infinity Kappas for the rear deck.
The problem with getting rid of the headunit is that without it the Bose amp is useless. Getting an aftermarket amp will allow me to have RCA inputs that I can easily interface the PC with. On top of that you have the ability to give the sound system in the car some real bump. :) You don't have to do all this if you are keeping the stock headunit though since an AUX mod of some sort is fine for getting CarPC audio in. I'm just going the full distance with the Metra kit and am completely replacing the stock HU. |
i will be removing the stock HU and running things from the car PC. specifically for the audio, i was going to employ a new soundblaster 5.1 card and link to the stock (bose) speakers. i had also planned on adding 2 small subs in the trunk (mounted behind the tail lights in the corners) and a smallish amp for them, but had not accounted for replacing the whole system. therefore.......three questions:
1) what about an interfaceable bose amp to keep the stock speakers? 2) if not, what is the approximate cost I should expect for replacing the rear deck speakers, front door speakers, and tweeters (as alz0rz is doing). 3) what about the center dash speaker and the rest of the "9" speakers included in the bose system? |
Originally Posted by eastcoastrotary
(Post 2553490)
i will be removing the stock HU and running things from the car PC. specifically for the audio, i was going to employ a new soundblaster 5.1 card and link to the stock (bose) speakers. i had also planned on adding 2 small subs in the trunk (mounted behind the tail lights in the corners) and a smallish amp for them, but had not accounted for replacing the whole system. therefore.......three questions:
1) what about an interfaceable bose amp to keep the stock speakers? 2) if not, what is the approximate cost I should expect for replacing the rear deck speakers, front door speakers, and tweeters (as alz0rz is doing). 3) what about the center dash speaker and the rest of the "9" speakers included in the bose system? 2) I'm going for modest ugrades which should definitely be better then the Bose but not enough to project music in a 3 block radius. I like keeping my sense of hearing :). The sound system upgrade i'm planning is ~$300. 3) The center dash speaker is expendable. You'd be replacing the front two speakers and tweeters (they come as a pair) and the rear deck speakers and tweeters (also sold as a pair). I'm going with a 4 channel amp. You could always get a 5+ channel amp to salvage your center speaker. Hopefully that helps but there are people alot more experience then I am so await their response as well! al |
I appreciate the feedback.
I wasn't sure if there was a way to utilize the more advanced controls offered by a car PC to get around the troubles of the Bose amp, but I haven't (unfortunately) heard of any yet. Ultimately, you're right in that the Bose is system is weak relative to other potential upgrades. I won't start installing anything until September but I'll have a chat with some contacts at Crutchfield to get their recommendation and will post if I learn anything new. |
Metra kit is starting to show up in some places. I guess I'll be the guinea pig and attempt to get an LCD in there with a complete stereo replacement for the CarPC. I'll document what I can.
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