Draco-REX Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 There might be some Car PC overlap to. So, I'm really disappointed in the state of car head units. Their interfaces suck and their features are made laughable by cell phones/mp3 players that cost half as much. Car PCs are neat, but clunky still. What I want is my phone or other developed android/iPhone device as a head unit. So my question is: Is there a device that can take a standard audio feed and connect it to a car's amp without a head unit involved? Something that will take it's volume cues from the audio feed. Basically, I'd like to get a simple android tablet with WiFi and mount it where the head unit would be and connect its audio to the car's sound system. Is there a way to do this? Am I stuck with a head unit, or will a simple miniplug jack to RCA cable to an amp be all I need? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ODoyle Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 I wouldn't think an Android tablet would be able to amplify or process the audio as efficiently as a head unit though it's been years since I've looked. I know they make just "monitor" units but they still control volume and everything. Not the tablet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draco-REX Posted May 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 I wouldn't think an Android tablet would be able to amplify or process the audio as efficiently as a head unit though it's been years since I've looked. I know they make just "monitor" units but they still control volume and everything. Not the tablet. I know amps come with RCA inputs, would a headphone jack to RCA cable be all I need? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVRINGS Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 There is an App Radio that is out for the Iphone that works really well. It doesn't cost a lot and gives you some nice things out of a simple display. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjrsplat Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 I know amps come with RCA inputs, would a headphone jack to RCA cable be all I need? The sound quality would suffer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airwg2189 Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 I would personally look at getting a used Pioneer headunit, some of their older models, especially in the Premier line, have been really good with sound. Just my .02. I think Justinwebb has done something similar to tablet used as the main unit... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draco-REX Posted May 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 I might as well keep the stock headunit then... I am so amazingly disappointed in car audio. EDIT: Not the sound quality, but the interfaces and functionality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airwg2189 Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 What are you looking for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
90G60 Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Something like this? http://www.devium.us/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/11.png Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draco-REX Posted May 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 What are you looking for? Something like this? Similar idea, yes. Here's the thing.. My phone does everything I want my car's head unit to do, and it does it better than any head unit you can buy. Google Maps is the best GPS software I've ever used, I can stream audio over the internet with different apps, track my actual speed and mileage, and so many other things. So I was thinking I could rig an android tablet in place of a head unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndonD454 Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 I know amps come with RCA inputs, would a headphone jack to RCA cable be all I need? There is an App Radio that is out for the Iphone that works really well. It doesn't cost a lot and gives you some nice things out of a simple display. The sound quality would suffer. I don't know if that is necessarily true... What is the maximum voltage of the headphone output on that droid tablet? I thought I read somewhere that iPhones could continuously produce 2+ volts without clipping? This is enough to plug into an amp directly and match the gains without having terrible sound quality. Most cheaper head units only come with 2-3 volt preouts anyways, so you wouldn't be too far behind a regular head unit's amp preouts. Its been a long time since I've messed with car audio though so I might be missing something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinner Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 something like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbird Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 I'm pret sure one of the main aftermarket audio companies is coming out with a double-din head unit that runs Android. Might be worth looking into/waiting for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draco-REX Posted May 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 I don't know if that is necessarily true... What is the maximum voltage of the headphone output on that droid tablet? I thought I read somewhere that iPhones could continuously produce 2+ volts without clipping? This is enough to plug into an amp directly and match the gains without having terrible sound quality. Most cheaper head units only come with 2-3 volt preouts anyways, so you wouldn't be too far behind a regular head unit's amp preouts. Its been a long time since I've messed with car audio though so I might be missing something Is that the sweet spot? Hmm.. I'll have to see what I can find. I haven't really wanted to upgrade a stock stereo for a while since I've never seen an alternative that I liked. But this sounds like it might be a fun project.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draco-REX Posted May 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 something like this? Yes, but not so obscenely large. I want to use a smaller tablet that will fit in a double din gap and look almost factory. I'm pret sure one of the main aftermarket audio companies is coming out with a double-din head unit that runs Android. Might be worth looking into/waiting for? *look at the date* *look at my phone* *look at the date again* Day late and dollar short. The only one I've seen is either a stock Audi unit or a chinese unit. Anything in the US isn't likely near market and will be delayed and finally come out as a shadow of what it could be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbird Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Yes, but not so obscenely large. I want to use a smaller tablet that will fit in a double din gap and look almost factory. *look at the date* *look at my phone* *look at the date again* Day late and dollar short. The only one I've seen is either a stock Audi unit or a chinese unit. Anything in the US isn't likely near market and will be delayed and finally come out as a shadow of what it could be. http://www.theverge.com/2012/3/30/2912655/clarion-mirage-android-froyo-head-unit I honestly don't know if Clarion is Chinese or not, but this looks half way decent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airwg2189 Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 They're Japanese FWIW. I've never been impressed with any Clarion product, ever, but that Android-based unit just might be a different shade. Other than that, I haven't seen anything Android based. And Draco, from what I know, you're pretty much going to have to have a headunit of some sort if you want any audio. About the only thing I could think of would be buying a very basic unit with an aux-in, stripping it down to the bare bones and rigging it deep back inside the dash and mount your tablet in front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Karacho1647545492 Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 relevant http://i.imgur.com/NGcUN.jpg saw that yesterday, too true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draco-REX Posted May 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 http://www.theverge.com/2012/3/30/2912655/clarion-mirage-android-froyo-head-unit I honestly don't know if Clarion is Chinese or not, but this looks half way decent. The company is working on producing trial units for Southeast Asian automakers [...] There aren't any plans to bring Mirage to other markets yet, Might as well be vaporware. relevant http://i.imgur.com/NGcUN.jpg saw that yesterday, too true. Very relevant. I hope this makes its way to the big car audio companies. They're Japanese FWIW. I've never been impressed with any Clarion product, ever, but that Android-based unit just might be a different shade. Other than that, I haven't seen anything Android based. And Draco, from what I know, you're pretty much going to have to have a headunit of some sort if you want any audio. About the only thing I could think of would be buying a very basic unit with an aux-in, stripping it down to the bare bones and rigging it deep back inside the dash and mount your tablet in front. What do the Car PC guys do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinner Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 What do the Car PC guys do? some form of PC in the trunk like in a old CD changer. then a touch screen up from to control everything and or some kind of mini/micro keyboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airwg2189 Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 FM transmitters (shit, obviously) and aux-in cables are the only setups I've personally seen, short of $10K+ complete jobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinner Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 depending on how far you go with it I could see having 2 grand wrapped up into a system installed if you did your own work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramsey Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 I know amps come with RCA inputs, would a headphone jack to RCA cable be all I need? yes that could work, but i would recommend a signal amp like a portable headphone amp that then outputs to the amp(s). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramsey Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 The sound quality would suffer. not with a headphone amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramsey Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 http://asset3.cbsistatic.com/cnwk.1d/sc/34468548-2-300-0.gif http://img.alibaba.com/photo/11730506/Audio_Extension_Cable.jpg http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR6WnAcGCknS4D4yNkmbqC1L5iRM2fmHp-mXh3qK225bVCR2uckP0gbofKC http://ak.buy.com/PI/0/500/217600660.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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