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Archive for the ‘Audio Equipment’ Category

An increasing number of individuals are going with used tyres when they bring their car in for restoration. The expansion in the used automobile parts market in the past couple of years has shown that lots of car owners no longer opt to go with new OEM parts. The move of automobile proprietors to second-hand car parts can be due to a lot of reasons. However, there are three main motives that the majority of second hand car parts users cite as among the explanations why the made their choice. Listed here are those causes.

1. Availability – sourcing new substitute vehicle parts can be quite complicated and difficult. The problem with new car parts is that a lot of OEM brands hold a monopoly. As such they are not really focused on making their items available all over the country as they are secure that clients will seek them out when they need a car part porblem. Sourcing new parts can at times lead to weeks of delay for your car’s repair as you have to wait for a part to become available and shipped to your mechanic. By going with old car parts however, you can easily look for the automobile parts yourself with minimum hassle, and by taking only a little time. You can go or simply call up junk yards and vehicle dismantlers and just tell them the car part that you need and they would be happy to check if they have one for you. You can also go online and check out second hand wheels trading websites and find somebody with the automobile part you need. Chances are by going with old automobile parts, you will have little or no problem entirely with sourcing them.

2. Cost – recycled transmissions can save vehicle owners a lot of cash. Their value is considerably lower than that relating to OEM manufacturers. While the price may be low, the quality of the vehicle part is at par with new ones. This means you can do more for your automobile with your money. The money that you save on replacement vehicle parts can be invested on a new paint job for your car or other accessories.

3. Environmentally Friendly – modern car parts use up a lot of energy to build and ship. Not only will it burn up lots of fossil fuels manufacturing it in the factory, it will also take up energy in shipping the part and delivering it to the vehicle parts shop. With a used vehicle part however, less energy is used to dismantle it and deliver to the vehicle repair shop. There will also be less waste inside landfill as the car parts that could have been disposed are recycled and put to good use.

Carputerz.com

This HOW-TO is a simple set of instructions for mounting your Car PC into your car with the sound quality you’ve come to expect. Audio integration is usually the first step in getting PC to work in a car, and it is one of the most important steps.

Many people are discouraged about their car pc installation because they can hear a big difference between computer and audio system they use right now. Despite the versatility of a car PC, if the sound quality is not good enough, it can’t compete with an aftermarket stereo system.

This how-to focuses on basic to intermediate installations, but will also be informative to those installing premium auto sound systems and components.

Choices

In this article, we’re going to assume you’ve already figured out what computer you’re going to install in your car. The next step is to determine if you retain your existing head unit, replace it with the aftermarket one or even replace it with an LCD screen. Once you know what’s right for you, you can jump to the appropriate section in this article. The final section on Sound Quality Issues applies to all installations.

Car stereo Installed (OEM or aftermarket)

The least dramatic way to install a car PC is to leave the car stereo intact and just use its well designed controls, display, FM tuner and amplifier. Depending on the solution you choose, you will get different levels of sound quality and control over your car PC. There are 4 options available right now, each with their own pros and cons.

AUX input ready car stereo

You can purchase an aftermarket stereo from almost any major brand which has AUX input option, either built in or available through a simple adapter. This provides is the easiest way to feed the audio from PC to the car speakers, just as you would connect a DVD player or video game system to a television. All you have to do is to plug the head phone output from PC into that input. Very simple!

Pros:

Simple and very cost effective

In most cases, no installation is required

No additional sound processing, feeds directly to amplifier

Cons:

No matching of audio levels, some PCs may sound very quiet even if using headphone output

Have to use external device to control the PC such as IR/RF remote, wireless keyboard

Some head units have AUX in as an option and require an adapter to be connected inconveniently to the back of the stereo

For stereos with wires on the front, unsightly wires run from front of the stereo to your car PC

Keywords for search engine: AUX input receiver

FM / Cassette adapter

Your head unit is almost certain to have an FM receiver and may have a cassette deck as well. In this connection category, you have 3 options:

Cassette adapter

This device takes an audio signal from computer and retransmits it into the cassette-like device which is inserted into the cassette slot of the car stereo.

If your car stereo has cassette it may be simplest and cheapest option.

Pros:

Simple and affordable solution

No need to pull out the car stereo or disassemble dashboard

Works for all cars having cassette player

Cons:

Sound goes through the magnetic heads, reducing quality. In some cases head alignment is needed to achieve decent quality

No matching of audio levels, may lead to weak audio output

Have to use external device to control your PC Such as IR/RF remote, wireless keyboard

Keywords for search engine: car cassette adapter

Wireless FM transmitter

FM transmitters are small devices that turn your car PC or other audio source into a mini-radio station broadcast. The audio signal is retransmitted to a selected FM frequency. If you tune your FM tuner to the same channel as the transmitter you will hear the audio.

This is the most universal solution, since there are almost no car stereos on the market without an FM tuner!

Pros:

No tangled wires are involved

No need to pull out the car stereo

Cons:

Sound quality is reduced, as FM is not as high quality as a direct connection,

May need to re-tune the adapter several times during the commute to find an empty spot in FM range, especially if when traveling over hills

Have to use external device to control the PC such as IR/RF remote, wireless keyboard.

Keywords for search engine: wireless car fm adapter

Wired FM transmitter

This device works exactly as Wireless FM Transmitter, the only difference is the method it feeds the FM signal to a car stereo. This allows it to deliver the FM modulation directly to the radio, like cable TV vs. antenna. This means that the quality of the signal will be much higher due to no interference with the outer world.

It is also a very universal solution due to the fact that it uses FM part of the car stereo.

Pros:

Much better sound quality than wireless transmitter

Fairly straightforward to install and use

Cons:

Sound quality is reduced, as FM is not as high quality as a direct connection

May need to re-tune the adapter several times during the commute to find an empty spot in FM range, especially if when traveling over hills

Have to use external device to control the PC such as IR/RF remote, wireless keyboard

May need to disassemble dashboard for installation

Keywords for search engine: wired fm adapter

AUX adapter

An auxiliary inputadapter is a small electronic device which makes a cd-changer capable car stereo into “think” that it has CD changer attached. The biggest challenge with these adapters is that every car manufacturer has it own set of protocols, CD changers and formats, so manufactures are constantly playing catch-up with new car makes and models, and thus you may not be able to use this solution for your specific car.

Pros:

Much better sound than any other options such as FM or cassette adapter

Best quality for digital sound inputs

Cons:

Not all car makes can have such adapter

Have to use external device to control the PC, such as.IR/RF remote, wireless keyboard, etc.

Removal and of the car stereo may be needed

Turning the PC on can produce a noticeable “thump” in speakers

Usually requires disassembly of dashboard to access rear of head unit

Keywords for search engine: aux adapter or auxiliary adapter

Car2PC adapter

This device works exactly as AUX adapter providing a direct audio interface to a car stereo via the CD changer port. In addition, a Car2PC provides control commands to PC via a USB connection. So whenever you press button on the car stereo you can translate that press into a particular command on PC. The most common mappings are: 1-6 translates into changing the playlists, into track navigation and so on. The track information can also be sent back to a car stereo display.

This solution also provides audio level matching. So the audio signal from PC will be at the same volume as FM or cassette.

Just as with the AUX input adapters, the biggest problem with the Car2PC adapter is that every car manufacturer has it own set of protocols, CD changers and formats, so you may not be able to use this solution for your car make and year.

Pros:

Much better sound than any other options such as FM or cassette adapter

Best quality for digital sound inputs

Direct control of the PC from car stereo

Shows track information and track time

May display additional information such as track title, artist etc

Anti “thump” protection

Cons:

Not all car makes can have such adapter

May requireunmounting the car stereo to access rear of head unit

Keywords for search engine: car2pc adapter

No stereo

Some people who use PC in a car prefer to use touch screen displays in order to control the PC and get even more information from it such as video, navigation, weather, Internet etc. In many cases in order to install the monitor, the dashboard needs to be changed. Often, car PC enthusiasts will have a custom mount for a touchscreen fabricated so that the installation looks seamless, like it came from the factory. This usually requires the relocation or complete removal of the existing head unit and stereo control knobs to make room for the touch screen.

When the head unit has been removed, the only way to produce sound for the speakers is to use a 3rd party audio amplifier, usually installed in the trunk. While this is the most costly car PC integration solution, it also provides the most options such as an attractive graphical display, and the ability to use visual information like GPS navigation or the Internet.

Amplifier

The amplifier is the most important part in the stereo-replacement option. There are many choices for amplifiers on the market, but here are the things to look for if you are integrating it with a car PC:

Audio input level

Depending on the amplifier model the pre-amp input level (i.e. the voltage expected from the audio source) could vary from .2V-8V. The nominal input is somewhat that needs to be taken into account, so you better check the nominal sound output level of your PC first before deciding to buy the amplifier As a general guideline: notebooks and built-in soundcards produce from 0.5-0.8V nominal output on the headphone line, built-in sound cards produce around 1V. Most amplifiers on a market use 3V nominal input, so you should check if your amplifier can accept 1V nominal audio input. Usually it is mentioned in the manual as pre-amp input line. Trying it out first would be the best, which is true for any audio equipment.

Speakers / Channels

Most modern car have at least 6 speakers of which 2 are tweeters (high frequency). Usually, these are all driven by a 4-channel amplifier built into the head unit (Front left, front right, rear left, rear right.)Even though your input is only stereo (two channel), you’ll need at least 4 channel amp for quality sound, and the ability to fade (change volume between front and rear).

Wires

Many preinstalled car speakers are 8 Ohms and specifically designed for a low output head units (30-60 Watts). To use the most out of the high powered amplifiers you should consider getting lower resistance speakers such as 4 Ohms or even 2 Ohms. Otherwise, you might easily blow your speakers (tearing them) from high powered amplifier. For that you may need to change the wiring to reflect higher current going through. 16 gauge(thicker), in some cases even 8 gauge (even thicker) is recommended.

“Anti thump”

All amplifiers have remote-on ability to prevent “thump” during the car power on. This remote on wire makes sure that the amplifier is the last thing to turn on, so it doesn’t amplify the noise made by car PCs as they are first turning on. Make sure you enable that remote-on signal to prevent the hearing loss! Most of the Car PC power supplies provide the line to connect to the remote-on input of the amplifier.

Volume

Another issue with the no-stereo solution is the lack of tactile volume control. This can be a real problem in cases when your monitor is off or inactive of some reason, and you need to rapidly mute or lower the volume. There are 3 ways to control the volume in a safe fashion:

Analog

Simply putting a variable resistor between your PC and amplifier can do a trick. Make sure you select a low noise resistor and mount it properly. To have this solution you may need 2 parts: potentiometer (resistor) and volume knob. Resistor can be something like 10KOhm and can be purchased at any electronic store. Online or offline. Volume knobs are more hard to find. It should match your interior and be ergonomic. Many electronic stores also have standard volume knobs, just choose which is better for you.

Keywords for search engine: potentiometer 10K

Keywords for search engine: Volume control knob

Digital

Another way of controlling the volume is to connect some sort of encoder to a PC so it reads the position of the volume “knob” and changes the volume accordingly. It is most preferable way of doing volume control since it does not introduce any noise or signal quality problems. For that you may use many solutions on a market from USB to simple PS/2 devices.

Keywords for search engine: PC Volume knob

Amplifier’s gain control

Most car amplifiers on a market have gain control knob which is usually used to match the incoming signal to a right level of volume at the speakers. It will work very similar to volume knob even though not exactly and you may not be able to have fully muted audio this way. The simplest way to use it is to set PC output level for master and PCM volume to 75% (do not use 100% as it may produce distortion). Then use gain control to get the sound volume you need. Make sure you have read topic about matching input levels of audio signal for the best sound possible. In order to use gain control instcanad of volume you may need a knob connected by a long wire that you can extend to the front of the vehicle and mount cleanly in the dash.

Sound quality issues

Audio signal level

The most common problem when using AUX inputs or FM/Cassette adapters is to match the input level for audio signal. As a general guideline: notebooks and built-in soundcards produce from 0.5-1V nominal output on headphones. Most of the AUX and FM/cassettes adapters and amplifiers require about 1-1.5V, so you better check if your audio signal will match the device you’re feeding it to. It can be done by reading the technical spec or using the voltmeter.

In case if level is too low, you’ll hear a very high level of background noise from the audio system since the amplification will be at maximum.

When the input signal level is too high you may experience another problem. You’ll hear a lot of sounds from the PC itself. Such as hard drive spinning, power supply noises or even distorted sound due to overwhelmed audio inputs.

Car noise

Car inducted noises is the most common issue for all PC based installations. In many cases it is caused by the fact that power supply unit used in PC is pulse regulated which does not physically isolates PC power lines from the car power lines and many car noises can go through the PC on your car speakers even when PC is off. Like the regular audio signal they will be amplified and may get very loud. There is no simple way to get rid of engine “whine” completely but you can reduce it to a level you won�t hear. Very simple steps are mentioned below will help to reduce the noise: proper grounding and ground loop isolator.

Proper grounding

Usually grounding the chassis of the PC is required in order to provide the equal ground level for all electronic equipment preventing the chaotic current flow within your system. In many cases grounding the chassis of your PC can help to get rid of most noises !

Ground loop isolator

Ground loop isolator prevents the DC current from flowing freely in the different parts of the system and making a loop which causes a constant noise.

Computer noise

Along with the noises coming from the car and outside world, there are many other sources of noise inside the computer itself. Just to name a few: Hard Disk, Optical drive, Fans and many others. In general: the less devices you use, the less noise you’ll get. Below � simple summary how to get rid of very common noises.

Hard / Optical drive

Hard drives can be hard to avoid, since all latest are very “fat” and require a lot of storage space. If you use the hard drive, keep in mind that the smaller drive the less noise it produces. It is related to the power consumption of it’s electronics and motor. So whenever possible use 2.5″ or even 1.8″ hard drives.

Optical drives shares the same idea, the smaller, slimmer the drive, the less power it consumes and less noise it adds to the system. Be sure to use modern slim DVD-ROM instead of bulky and power �hungry� 3.5″ “standard” drive.

Fan

As in case with the hard drives: the smaller fan and slower it spins, the lower noise added. Of course if your system is Pentium 4 – 3.4Ghz, you will be forced to use those high speed and high power fans, but if you use any modern processors which produces very small heat, it is possible to run the systems without any fan at all. And this is the best solution of course.

In case if you can’t avoid fan, try to reduce it�s speed so it spins slower but still cools your system. Some motherboards can regulate the fan speed programmatically which is a very good way to reduce fan noise.

Power supply

Power supply can also be a source of noise even if it does not contain fans. As mentioned before the power supply transforms power in very small chunks at a time, in so called “impulses”. So whenever the impulse is generated it produces EMI spread around. The more powerful PSU, the stronger that impulse gets and stronger EMI, affecting your computer parts. So the rule still applies, the lower power consumption, the lower PSU wattage should be, the lower noise it generates. In case if your power supply is high powered (100+ Watts) it should be shielded and properly mounted to not to introduce any EMI to the motherboard itself.

Conclusion

Let’s summarize the pros and cons for every option discussed above.

OEM car stereo

Pros:

You car’s factory look and feel is maintained

You keep familiar controls and well designed features

Wheel buttons, central gauge display, phone and other equipment will function properly

There is no need to remove your car PC installation before selling the car

There is no need to rewire your speakers as they aligned with the stereo already

Can install in-dash VGA display for GPS or video

Cons:

OEM sound system may not sound as good as aftermarket ones

OEM system may lack output power

OEM system may lack support for text or other information that PC can handle

Most OEM systems lacks AUX input

Aftermarket car stereo

Pros:

Well designed and functional car stereo

May have AUX input

May sound better than OEM car stereo

Many aftermarket units have support for text and other media data to display

Can install in-dash VGA display for GPS or video

Cons:

The interior may suffer in terms of design. Very true for all modern cars, which do not have standard inputs for aftermarket stereos

May need to change OEM installed speakers

Most of functions in a car such as wheel control, central gauge display or phone may stop working (although there are adapters on a market to address that)

In all modern cars the installation is not simple. Have to buy additional bezels or faceplates

Harder to sell even if the sound system is good

No stereo ( LCD molded or in-dash LCD )

Pros:

Hi-tech looking display may bring a new look into the car�s interior if done right with professional fiberglass fabrication

Graphical information such as GPS, Internet and video can be displayed

Audio may sound very good with the right set of amplifier, speakers and wires

Cons:

No way to use controls blindly. Additional devices needed to address volume, car PC navigation issue.

Current car PC VGA monitors lack anti-glare coating. Will be hard to operate in direct sunlight. Also difficult in darkness due to lack of automatic brightness control

Have to use external amplifier

May need to change OEM installed speakers

May need to rewire audio cables

Most of functions such as wheel control, central gauge display or phone may stop working (there are adapters on a market to address that)

The installation is not simple in all modern cars. Have to buy or build additional bezels or faceplates

Harder to sell even if the sound system is good

No decent FM tuner available for PC

For more information please vista:

Links Car Computer Audio:

Links Carputerz:

Bloggers who are trying to find info about 0 car finance deal, then check out the site that was mentioned right in this passage.

Car Stereo Installation Guide

Want to save some money? Ever wonder if you could do a car stereo installation yourself? Yes, you can do it yourself! Go ahead, spend that money on your hardware! Don’t spend it on labor. Besides, doing a car stereo installation yourself can be a very rewarding experience, not to mention you can learn a lot from it too. Nothing beats the feeling of seeing your “creation” in action, running smoothly and perfectly. But be very careful, you really won’t want to damage your expensive hardware. Well, most car audio hardware are no-brainers to install, you’d find that most of the time the parts have specially shaped sockets and slots etc. and would only fit where it’s supposed to be installed. Still, it’s best to proceed methodically.

Read the rest of this entry »

Finding the best amplifier for your car audio system can be a lot easier if you take the time ahead of time to learn what you need and what will work best with the audio system you’ve selected for your car, truck, or SUV. It helps to understand what an amplifier does in order to purchase the one that will best suit your needs. An amplifier takes a small sound, adds a little boost of its own, and then turns it into a big sound. The more power your amplifier has, the better quality of sound it will provide. An underpowered amplifier will have a thin, tinny sound that is rather unattractive in an car audio system, or any other audio system for that matter. Read the rest of this entry »

Even if you’re not a car audio connoisseur, it’s easy to be impressed with a car stereo speaker while looking around in an expo or convention. They’re the first thing you’ll probably notice, they come in different colors, shapes and sizes. Those big throbbing concaves blaring incredibly low bass lines or cool little tweeters whistling out seething treble sounds.

Car stereo speakers are interesting and very tempting to buy, especially the big loud ones. But big is not always the best. Each speaker has its own unique quality, intended use and price range. Some may also be better than others at certain things so it pays to investigate your type of car stereo amplifier or head unit before you finally decide on a car stereo speaker for your system.

Here are some features to consider:
Car stereo speakers are not all the same size and wattage, and this can cause a problem once you try to hook it up in your car. Know the specs of your system. Sort this out ahead of time, it will save you a lot of hassle. You will be happier with your new acquisition if you can get to see it in action as soon as possible.

There are also a lot of car stereo amplifiers on the market, it pays to be aware of how the car stereo speaker you are considering compares to the others, and how compatible it is to your amplifier or the amplifier you’re planning to buy. Car stereo speakers and amplifiers go hand in hand. You’ll want the car stereo speakers you buy to be suitable for your automotive entertainment needs and not strain the system.

Style can be an important factor when choosing your special car stereo speakers. You’ll want the one you choose to fit in perfectly with your other all sorts of stereo speakers. If you’re planning to install something different, you have to take into consideration the modifications your going to have to make in order to accommodate your new car stereo speakers.

One of the biggest issues in buying a new type of car stereo speaker is suitability. How suitable your car stereo speakers are is probably the biggest issue. Don’t forget the reason you’re buying the type of car stereo amplifier in the first place, and ensure that the all sorts of stereo speakers you are looking at will do the job you need no matter what other fancy features they may offer.

Brand is an important consideration when you are shopping for a car stereo speaker. The fact is, one brand of type of car stereo amplifier may have a much better reputation than another, and for good reason. You be the judge. Do your research. Ask car audio enthusiasts. Read magazines and reviews. Do you want to take a chance on just any car stereo speakers, or go for the proven name brand?

Lastly, price is important even if you think it’s not. After all, would you want to pay more for your car stereo speakers only to find it cheaper the next day at a different store? Nobody likes that. When shopping for better car stereo speakers, it pays to check at least a couple of different stores, just to make sure you’re getting your car stereo speakers at the best price.

I have  a list of why you need a new car audio system. The sad part is that some of this may ring true for many, if not, I bet it will at least make you smile.

1) You really hate your neighbors and secretly hope that enough loud, late night thumping from your car will convince them to move. Admittedly not the kindest     reason for the need of a new auto sound system but if you’ve had some of my previous neighbors I am fairly certain that it isn’t too bad of an idea. Just be     careful not to shake too much or they may be leaving part of their automobiles behind. Read the rest of this entry »