Computer audio in a car .... Set me straight

cirrus1 · 9th November 2010, 12:33 PM

Call me way behind the times, but I just now switched over to computer audio in my home system, ALL with the help of a friend. I was able to rid myself of my BluRay/DVD/CD player , and preamplifier, and now ALL of my music comes straight from my external hard drive.

So I want to do this in my car now. I have ideas, but I am pretty sure my ideas are waaaay off, and I need help with some advice ( please remember if you use ANY abbreviations or tech speak, I will simply be lost )

Here is what I am thinking of doing ... please advise if there are easier or better ways :

Thinking about getting a nice power inverter first. Then I can plug in my laptop and external hard drive in the car. I can buy a USB DAC and plug it in also, and go from there to my car's amps.

So here are my questions :

#1 - Does anyone make a head unit that can control Foobar2000 instead of having to use a laptop ?

#2 - Does anyone make a REALLY small computer ( not laptop ) with a small separate screen, for controlling Foobar2000 which would make installation options better ?

#3 - IS there ANY chance there is a computer program add on ( like equalizers ) that allows for time alignment ?

#4 - In my ignorance, what am I missing to best do what i want ?

Thank you for any help you can offer.

mulletdude · 9th November 2010, 03:16 PM

the one thing i can offer help with is number 2. take a look at this site littlepc.com offers small pc, mini pc and small computers - little pc products .
as for the display take a look at this.
Pioneer M-Connection Single 7 Inch LCD Monitor | Vancouver Montreal Toronto Canada
should help you out. i have no experience with little pc just a quick google search for a suitable computer. and the lcd is awesome connects through a RCA yellow video connector but it is easy to buy a VGA to RCA adaptor

wakibaki · 9th November 2010, 03:25 PM

There are some good small (mini-ITX motherboard) computers available now, such as the ones on this page: Ion | Mini Motherboard. These are capable of displaying HDTV. They'll run off a car battery and regulators or downconverter so an inverter will be unnecessary. They will accommodate a large hard drive in addition to a bluray or DVD drive so an external drive will probably not be necessary. Atom 330 dual-core processors and n-Vidia ION graphics are the high performers right now, but even better are in the pipeline.

You can get very robust trackballs to use instead of a mouse.

w

qusp · 13th November 2010, 02:38 PM

I would actually recommend a Mac mini and there are forums devoted to their use in cars. You can also use an iPad as your remote if you wish and take it with you when you leave the car. Mp3car.com is a good place to start. The Mac has it's own HD and disc media drive, Bluetooth etc can interface with your phone for taking calks etc.

DJNUBZ · 16th November 2010, 04:02 AM

MP3Car.com

theAnonymous1 · 16th November 2010, 06:21 AM

You need to start with a screen/control interface. There are single and double DIN solutions for this. Neither are cheap though.

Check here for double DIN options....

BYBYTE.COM - Infotainment Solutions

Single....

Xenarc 700IDT In Dash 7 inch Touch Screen VGA Monitor
Thermaltakeusa»Chassis»Chassis Accessory»7" Touch Screen LCD Monitor : 7" Touch Screen LCD Monitor A2413

Then you need to decide if you want to use a netbook/laptop, or an permanently installed car PC.

The possibilities are endless, and only limited by how much money you are willing to spend.

Builder Brad · 17th November 2010, 06:38 PM

u might find PC applications like Foobar a bit to fiddly to use in a car, even with a touch screen.

I use Centrafuse in my car PC:

Centrafuse | A Whole New Way

nice front end, including and optional navigation package and Bluetooth mobile connectivity.

Brad

cheapskate · 17th November 2010, 07:08 PM

120 GB iPod classic.

Directly connect to the amps via the headphone output to give you volume control.

Done.

theAnonymous1 · 17th November 2010, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheapskate

120 GB iPod classic.

Directly connect to the amps via the headphone output to give you volume control.

Done.

Is that the taste of vomit in my mouth? ..............yep, sure is.

cheapskate · 18th November 2010, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theAnonymous1

Is that the taste of vomit in my mouth? ..............yep, sure is.

Please explain, are you suggesting you believe the audio quality is deficient in some respect?

16th November 2010, 06:21 AM	#6
theAnonymous1 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Anonymityville	You need to start with a screen/control interface. There are single and double DIN solutions for this. Neither are cheap though. Check here for double DIN options.... BYBYTE.COM - Infotainment Solutions Single.... Xenarc 700IDT In Dash 7 inch Touch Screen VGA Monitor Thermaltakeusa»Chassis»Chassis Accessory»7" Touch Screen LCD Monitor : 7" Touch Screen LCD Monitor A2413 Then you need to decide if you want to use a netbook/laptop, or an permanently installed car PC. The possibilities are endless, and only limited by how much money you are willing to spend. __________________ "If you don't like funerals don't kick sand in Ninja's face." - Ninja

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9th November 2010, 12:33 PM	#1
cirrus1 diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2010	Computer audio in a car .... Set me straight Call me way behind the times, but I just now switched over to computer audio in my home system, ALL with the help of a friend. I was able to rid myself of my BluRay/DVD/CD player , and preamplifier, and now ALL of my music comes straight from my external hard drive. So I want to do this in my car now. I have ideas, but I am pretty sure my ideas are waaaay off, and I need help with some advice ( please remember if you use ANY abbreviations or tech speak, I will simply be lost ) Here is what I am thinking of doing ... please advise if there are easier or better ways : Thinking about getting a nice power inverter first. Then I can plug in my laptop and external hard drive in the car. I can buy a USB DAC and plug it in also, and go from there to my car's amps. So here are my questions : #1 - Does anyone make a head unit that can control Foobar2000 instead of having to use a laptop ? #2 - Does anyone make a REALLY small computer ( not laptop ) with a small separate screen, for controlling Foobar2000 which would make installation options better ? #3 - IS there ANY chance there is a computer program add on ( like equalizers ) that allows for time alignment ? #4 - In my ignorance, what am I missing to best do what i want ? Thank you for any help you can offer.

9th November 2010, 03:16 PM	#2
mulletdude diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2008	the one thing i can offer help with is number 2. take a look at this site littlepc.com offers small pc, mini pc and small computers - little pc products . as for the display take a look at this. Pioneer M-Connection Single 7 Inch LCD Monitor \| Vancouver Montreal Toronto Canada should help you out. i have no experience with little pc just a quick google search for a suitable computer. and the lcd is awesome connects through a RCA yellow video connector but it is easy to buy a VGA to RCA adaptor __________________ Bigger the better... unless you like peace and quiet... But we can fix that too.

9th November 2010, 03:25 PM	#3
wakibaki Banned Join Date: Jan 2008 Blog Entries: 2	There are some good small (mini-ITX motherboard) computers available now, such as the ones on this page: Ion \| Mini Motherboard. These are capable of displaying HDTV. They'll run off a car battery and regulators or downconverter so an inverter will be unnecessary. They will accommodate a large hard drive in addition to a bluray or DVD drive so an external drive will probably not be necessary. Atom 330 dual-core processors and n-Vidia ION graphics are the high performers right now, but even better are in the pipeline. You can get very robust trackballs to use instead of a mouse. w

13th November 2010, 02:38 PM	#4
qusp Sometimes a square peg fits a round hole just fine diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia	I would actually recommend a Mac mini and there are forums devoted to their use in cars. You can also use an iPad as your remote if you wish and take it with you when you leave the car. Mp3car.com is a good place to start. The Mac has it's own HD and disc media drive, Bluetooth etc can interface with your phone for taking calks etc.

16th November 2010, 04:02 AM	#5
DJNUBZ diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago	MP3Car.com

17th November 2010, 06:38 PM	#7
Builder Brad diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent, UK	u might find PC applications like Foobar a bit to fiddly to use in a car, even with a touch screen. I use Centrafuse in my car PC: Centrafuse \| A Whole New Way nice front end, including and optional navigation package and Bluetooth mobile connectivity. Brad

17th November 2010, 07:08 PM	#8
cheapskate diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2007	120 GB iPod classic. Directly connect to the amps via the headphone output to give you volume control. Done.

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