For a Commerce uni assignment we have to come up with an original product (or at least semi-original..so no "that already exists comments!! 
) and come up with a business plan etc.
Its a group assignment and I, being the EE of the group have been allocated to R&D.
FWIW, im a 4th year B.com/B.EE student.
For those who care of the background, our "product" is a portable car stereo system. Basically its a discman which has a "slot" in the car stereo, so you can essentially remove the cd player from the car, leaving the "console" in which it sits in behind. The console will also consist of a radio.
By having a product which acts as a car stereo AND a discman, we hope it will appeal to students etc. Adding perhaps mp3's etc etc...either way, whether it would sell or not is beside the point, what I need your guys help for is a few starting tips
The removable cd player (discman) will contain rechargable batteries, fed off a car battery.
I need to break up the "discman" component into transport, DAC and headphone stage.
I need to break the "console" part into the preamp, radio, and power amp.
The problem is keeping the costs down. Seeing as you can get a "4x50W" head unit, which has a cdp and radio for about $AU500...building a $AU2000 car stereo setup isnt exactly going to work.
Price is more of a factor than sonic quality. I like to pay for good sound, but for this assignment...I have to go the other way
I think retail price should be around $AU600-700...so assume parts cost has to be $AU200-300, at the most. Less is better.
DISCMAN
=======
I am pretty sure I can handle the DAC section myself (using a 12V car battery source).
I am pretty sure I can handle the headphone stage myself, and their are enough projects out there for me to copy/modify one.
The problem is the transport. I cant seem to find anything either suitable for a "discman" style implementation, not anything thats even remotely close to the price range. Realistically this thing should cost about $AU50 when buying in mass quantities, otherwise the budget is going to blow out. Any ideas?
CONSOLE
=======
For the radio section I can probably buy an off-the-shelf ready to go "module". Anyone know a decent, but cheap one?
The preamp can also probably be either passive (just a pot), or somthing pretty minimalistic.
The power amp. I am sure there are some efficient IC based amps out there. Has anyone got any suggestions?
Thanks for any opinions out there. Basically I dont have to come up with a working design..just something that gives the idea that it "could be done". Its a Commerce assignment, not an engineering one
Lots of tricky looking schematics/datasheets go down well with people who have absolutely no idea what they mean..
) and come up with a business plan etc.Its a group assignment and I, being the EE of the group have been allocated to R&D.
FWIW, im a 4th year B.com/B.EE student.
For those who care of the background, our "product" is a portable car stereo system. Basically its a discman which has a "slot" in the car stereo, so you can essentially remove the cd player from the car, leaving the "console" in which it sits in behind. The console will also consist of a radio.
By having a product which acts as a car stereo AND a discman, we hope it will appeal to students etc. Adding perhaps mp3's etc etc...either way, whether it would sell or not is beside the point, what I need your guys help for is a few starting tips
The removable cd player (discman) will contain rechargable batteries, fed off a car battery.
I need to break up the "discman" component into transport, DAC and headphone stage.
I need to break the "console" part into the preamp, radio, and power amp.
The problem is keeping the costs down. Seeing as you can get a "4x50W" head unit, which has a cdp and radio for about $AU500...building a $AU2000 car stereo setup isnt exactly going to work.
Price is more of a factor than sonic quality. I like to pay for good sound, but for this assignment...I have to go the other way
I think retail price should be around $AU600-700...so assume parts cost has to be $AU200-300, at the most. Less is better.
DISCMAN
=======
I am pretty sure I can handle the DAC section myself (using a 12V car battery source).
I am pretty sure I can handle the headphone stage myself, and their are enough projects out there for me to copy/modify one.
The problem is the transport. I cant seem to find anything either suitable for a "discman" style implementation, not anything thats even remotely close to the price range. Realistically this thing should cost about $AU50 when buying in mass quantities, otherwise the budget is going to blow out. Any ideas?
CONSOLE
=======
For the radio section I can probably buy an off-the-shelf ready to go "module". Anyone know a decent, but cheap one?
The preamp can also probably be either passive (just a pot), or somthing pretty minimalistic.
The power amp. I am sure there are some efficient IC based amps out there. Has anyone got any suggestions?
Thanks for any opinions out there. Basically I dont have to come up with a working design..just something that gives the idea that it "could be done". Its a Commerce assignment, not an engineering one
Lots of tricky looking schematics/datasheets go down well with people who have absolutely no idea what they mean..
