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Car Audio

Started by Mithrandir 4 replies 2k views
Original Post
Mithrandir
Mithrandir
A few years ago I came up with an idea to create my own computer to put in my car and play MP3's, etc. Back then it seemed cool, but I never got around to it. (Hell, I never really got past the "this is cool, in theory!" part). I don't think I ever will, either, since I noticed that car audio head units now have all (or more) of the features that I had planned to put in anyways, and cost a lot less, and have nicer user interfaces, etc, and I just plain don't have the amount of time required to do that. So, I've decided to just buy an existing head-unit and use that instead. However, I don't really know the first thing about car electronics. Are there any good resources out there I can use to look information up? Like which brands are good, what do I need to know about my specific car (2001 Toyota Camry), what kind of tools will I need, etc? I'm looking specifically for a unit that supports USB drives, since burning discs of music is a hassle. I thought an SD reader would be cool to have too, but USB is fine (and probably more future-proof anyways, since the SD standard appears have hit a size limit of 4GB). One of the ones I'm looking at is the Kenwood KDC-MP435U
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lethalhamster
lethalhamster
I don't know anything really about head units that you can put in, but I did build a car-puter once. I sold it because I never used it much, but check out MP3car.com. They know a lot about car sterio stuff, and if you chance your mind they can always help you set up a carputer!
............Could Jesus microwave a burrito so hot that he himself could not eat it?
Don Quioxte
Don Quioxte
Quote:
Original post by Mithrandir
...SD standard appears have hit a size limit of 4GB...


I can't help you with the car stereo, but SD has a maximum capacity of 8 GB currently. At that capacity, though, it becomes more economical to use flash drives, because they're much cheaper (and in many cases, faster as well).
[sub]-------------------------So impact forces are measured in Ford-Taurus-miles-per-hour in the U.S.? - Trapper Zoid[/sub]
Mithrandir
Mithrandir
Quote:
Original post by Don Quioxte
Quote:
Original post by Mithrandir
...SD standard appears have hit a size limit of 4GB...


I can't help you with the car stereo, but SD has a maximum capacity of 8 GB currently. At that capacity, though, it becomes more economical to use flash drives, because they're much cheaper (and in many cases, faster as well).


Not true; SD uses byte addressing and 32-bit addresses, and many devices can only reliably access 2GB of data due to using signed integers.

You're refering to SDHC, which is physically compatible with SD, but SDHC cards cannot be used in standard SD devices (but SD cards can be used in SDHC devices). SDHC allows up to 32GB of addressing (which is another WTF, because we'll just see another card format soon after they realise 32GB isn't quite enough).
This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My signature is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. My signature, without me, is useless. Without my signature, I am useless.
dohtem
dohtem
You should take a look at this. This guy got an xbox, modded it, and threw it into his Acura's center console. Same idea, different approach.

linky

Is this what you are looking for?
Rixter
Rixter
I don't know any site, but you may want to just go into your local car audio place and talk to them (you'll probably have better luck at a real car audio place, not Best Buy or some other place, although you may get lucky). Also you get to listen to them there, which is really more of a speaker thing.

I think Kenwood makes nice stuff, I also really like Alpine. I have a Pioneer deck, and have been happy with it, unfortunately in recent years their higher end stuff looks like it came right off the SEMA showroom floor (lots of bright lights and cheezy graphics).

Things to watch out for, in my experience:
Make sure the buttons are plastic, not that rubber coated crap (like mine has :( ), it will wear through after a couple years and you'll have to patch it with electrical tape. Not sure if anyone still uses the rubber buttons, but just in case.

Motorized faces are cool, but are one more thing to break. Mine has a flip down (spring, not motor), which still works great, but has begun to rattle.

You may see a bigger difference in quality based on your speakers, rather than the deck, so I'd look for one of the better brands that has the features and style you want and you should be ok. But then again I bought mine like 8 years ago so everything may be different now.

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