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Laptop car audio questions?

General Tech Talk

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Laptop car audio questions?

Post by ROCKMUTT »

Guys im planning on setting up a laptop in my truck in the next few months will be running a seperate touch screen on the dash and using Ozi explorer for gps

What i want to know tho is it possible to use my media player on the laptop full of music and connect it to a head deck via usb connection and play my music through my car stereo ?? is it possible do i need some sort of program to do this? and can i do this while running Ozi on my touch screeen at the same time?

cheers shane
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Post by KaMo »

Do you already have a head unit with USB capabilities do you?

A lot of head units have means for an AUX input in the back. You may need an adapter to go from the head units particular plug too a left and right rca plug. And then you just get a cable that has two rca plugs to a headphone jack plug. Headphone jack into your computer...rca plugs to head unit/headunit-rca adapter...set head unit to 'aux' and wala.
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Post by smileysmoke »

headphone jack being 3.5mm if you are looking at dicksmith.. i would do that personally.
an mp3 deck would be a lot easier and wouldnt require having your laptop running all the time.. plus laptop hdds can take a beating but i doubt it will last too long with prolonged bumping round whilst reading and writing..
just a thought.
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Post by ROCKMUTT »

i havent got a usb head deck yet but might be getting one soon
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Post by ausyota »

It would be a great idea for watching DVDs on the lappy.
Plumb the audio though the stereo with subs etc :D
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Post by striker99 »

Another option is to get a hold of a connection for laptop audio output that outputs a FM raido frequency so you can tune it in on your radio to get the audio.
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Post by ROCKMUTT »

can you get these connections striker?
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Post by CairnsZook »

ausyota wrote:It would be a great idea for watching DVDs on the lappy.
Plumb the audio though the stereo with subs etc :D
Just like being at the drive in....

Not many around these days. :cry:
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Post by BundyRumandCoke »

You could use an MP3 transmitter for the same purpose. Instead of into the headphone jack of the MP3, it would be into the jack of the laptop.
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Post by Shorti »

CairnsZook wrote:
ausyota wrote:It would be a great idea for watching DVDs on the lappy.
Plumb the audio though the stereo with subs etc :D
Just like being at the drive in....

Not many around these days. :cry:
Only one in Perth and i live 2km away from it :D
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Post by smileysmoke »

theres a drivein over here? for real where?! :D
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Re: Laptop car audio questions?

Post by Dak Dak »

Shane, another option to throw into the mix: Replace your car stereo with an amp. Run an audio jack - RCA lead from your laptop to the amp and power your speakers this way. Can do away with the head unit (leaves a nice space for extra mounting gauges or UHF radio) and you can crank things up a little with the amp. Only thing is you don't have radio....
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Post by Mowie »

ausyota wrote:It would be a great idea for watching DVDs on the lappy.
Plumb the audio though the stereo with subs etc :D
Even better being able to watch all that pr0n that ya have downloaded from the net :D :D :D
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Post by ROCKMUTT »

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Post by nicbeer »

smileysmoke wrote:theres a drivein over here? for real where?! :D
Near my place :lol: kingsley

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Post by HotFourOk »

Can anyone comment on the sound quality when using FM transmitters such as the units available for iPods and the eBay link above??
If it is normal radio quality, I would hate it....
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Post by Shorti »

HotFourOk wrote:Can anyone comment on the sound quality when using FM transmitters such as the units available for iPods and the eBay link above??
If it is normal radio quality, I would hate it....
I think it is average. You really notice it when you turn up the volume a bit.

Personally if I were to do this setup id use a small laptop or even better a 12v computer from Bitdistribution.com.au and also an 8 inch touch screen. You could run the output from the sound card to an aux input on the audio deck. You could also run tomtom and oziexplorer, watch dvds etc.. Corugations and hdd is something to worry about though.
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Post by Trusa »

HotFourOk wrote:Can anyone comment on the sound quality when using FM transmitters such as the units available for iPods and the eBay link above??
If it is normal radio quality, I would hate it....
It is like normal radio quality. There is no comparison between using a cable link (any cable link) and an FM modulator. Especially if using at high volume and wanting clarity, it's just not possible using FM. However, they do serve a purpose well.
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Post by Shorti »

Trusa wrote:
HotFourOk wrote:Can anyone comment on the sound quality when using FM transmitters such as the units available for iPods and the eBay link above??
If it is normal radio quality, I would hate it....
It is like normal radio quality. There is no comparison between using a cable link (any cable link) and an FM modulator. Especially if using at high volume and wanting clarity, it's just not possible using FM. However, they do serve a purpose well.
I think they are sub radio quality ... but that may have been the one i had (which is gathering dust in a cupboard somewhere now).
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Post by striker99 »

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BELKIN-TuneCast- ... dZViewItem

Thats almost same as one I have except mine is different colours :D works great.
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Post by KiwiBacon »

Shorti wrote: I think they are sub radio quality ... but that may have been the one i had (which is gathering dust in a cupboard somewhere now).
The one I bought was absolute crap. Picked up a steady tick, tick, tick from somewhere and put it straight through your speakers. :bad-words:

Serves me right for paying $15 (incl postage) and expecting something useful.
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Post by Rb25sil80 »

ROCKMUTT wrote:can you get these connections striker?
You can buy them for an ipod so I dont see why not!
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Post by Dooley »

Shorti wrote:
HotFourOk wrote:Can anyone comment on the sound quality when using FM transmitters such as the units available for iPods and the eBay link above??
If it is normal radio quality, I would hate it....
I think it is average. You really notice it when you turn up the volume a bit.

Personally if I were to do this setup id use a small laptop or even better a 12v computer from Bitdistribution.com.au and also an 8 inch touch screen. You could run the output from the sound card to an aux input on the audio deck. You could also run tomtom and oziexplorer, watch dvds etc.. Corugations and hdd is something to worry about though.
Hookup a laptop HDD, they're better for vibration and shock.


To the OP, thought about a DAC... ?

I've got one right here that goes from USB to 2 x RCA, this one is DIY but you can buy them. May be a bit expensive though...
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Post by muckute »

FM transmitters have reasonable quality but if you want clear sound straight off your computer then you will need a head unit or amp with an aux line that will run direct from the laptop.

The USB input in most head units will only read USB flash drives they won't allow you to connect the laptop direct to the head unit.

I run a laptop when touring for GPS duties also but for the music i have a head unit that will read USB/SD cards and have 2x2Gb memory sticks that i use for music. If i get sick of what's on the stick (not often since they hold about 40 cd's worth) then i just use the computer to load more tunes

The sound quality is great and cos its not on CD theres no skipping or scratched disks
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