Guys..
All i listen to in the Car is Spotify via a Nexus 5 that lives permanently in the car.
So what I'm after is the Auto equipment of an integrated Amp that will would where the radio would go.
Anyone know of any?
These guys do some interesting stuff http://www.milbert.com/ but not quite what i want.
Just do a normal car amp install and then run this from the phone to the amp
m http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 24&alt=web (http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=311437953624&alt=web) m
Or you could get an 8 inch tablet and put that in the place of the double din stereo. You can also run a variety of apps through it and link to obd2 s:) :) s:)
How about getting a media streaming headunit (no cd mech) which can control the nexus, ie vol, skip track, etc. ?
If spotify really is all you use, I would see if you can get an Android head unit such as the one Stewart@Boro has and some others on here.
That way you can install Spotify and stream it directly from the unit instead of relying on quality being maintained when going from phone to head unit.
If you want to stick to using the phone; I do wonder what the most lossless way of playing music is. Through the headphone jack or through the data port of the phone? I'm excluding Bluetooth as I assume this leads to quality loss (although I've never noticed and I exclusively use this)
I use my phone and a high quality Bluetooth speaker in my mk2. That's all you need
Thanks for these comments Guy's so to address them in order..
The issue with a normal car amp install is no volume control, I know I can control it from the phone if I use the headphone out, but not if I use digital out and a DAC. I also actually like the tactile feel of a mechanical volume control.
I also don't fancy the Android head unit route, as I'd feel Id be paying for features I'd never use,
Also have to say the more I think about it the more i fancy a valve amp in the car, Totally impractical i know, but somehow cool, n'es pa?
Quote from: "martin_b"Thanks for these comments Guy's so to address them in order..
The issue with a normal car amp install is no volume control, I know I can control it from the phone if I use the headphone out, but not if I use digital out and a DAC. I also actually like the tactile feel of a mechanical volume control.
I also don't fancy the Android head unit route, as I'd feel Id be paying for features I'd never use,
Also have to say the more I think about it the more i fancy a valve amp in the car, Totally impractical i know, but somehow cool, n'es pa?
You could fit a valve amp. You still need the headphone jack to phone convertor and you will need a caravan type power convertor. Also a small enough amp s:o :o s:o
The necessity of a headphone jack depends on the phone i think. IPhones certainly used to give digital out via the USB, I have a dock on my home Hi-Fi.
As for small... throw away the spare an mount it in the Frunk, ditch the mains transformer and run it DC straight from the battery, ( split charger maybe) then throw away the steel hood and install a Plexiglass one so everyone can see the Valves glowing at night! :-) :-) :-)
soemthing like this slotted onto a single-DIN bracket would be funky
m http://130.com.ua/product/car-amplifier ... ?widgets=1 (http://130.com.ua/product/car-amplifier-e-o-s-amadeus-21/?widgets=1) m
Quote from: "shnazzle"soemthing like this slotted onto a single-DIN bracket would be funky
m http://130.com.ua/product/car-amplifier ... ?widgets=1 (http://130.com.ua/product/car-amplifier-e-o-s-amadeus-21/?widgets=1) m
Ohh.. i like that. now to find out how much.
Quote from: "martin_b"Quote from: "shnazzle"soemthing like this slotted onto a single-DIN bracket would be funky
m http://130.com.ua/product/car-amplifier ... ?widgets=1 (http://130.com.ua/product/car-amplifier-e-o-s-amadeus-21/?widgets=1) m
Ohh.. i like that. now to find out how much.
£465
I did not see that haha... well...at least you know it stands a good chance of being good quality...
On the other end of the quality spectrum this may very welldo the trick: m http://www.dhgate.com/product/hot-sell- ... 76204.html (http://www.dhgate.com/product/hot-sell-12v-small-stereo-high-power-amplifier/157776204.html) m
Not quite a valve amp or the 465 quid EOS...
I haven't discounted the Ukrainian option yet!
Quote from: "martin_b"I haven't discounted the Ukrainian option yet!
I have to admit it does scream "audio sex". Even I'd be quite happy to get this
ive bought stuff from here before http://www.china-hifi-audio.com/en i just need to find something to fit in the car.
Totes late to the party but through my research I've found that all you need is an "RCA volume control". A quick google search will show you exactly what I mean.
What I intend to do is delete my headunit, fabricate a holder for my note 4 using mdf and black felt with a qi charger built into it. Hidden behind the dash will be an Alpine KTP-445U amp with a Bluetooth receiver via RCA. An RCA volume knob out of the amp to somewhere accessible. A wiring harness to the speakers and BLAMO, we have ourselves a tablet/phone install.
How do you connect the amp to the Bluetooth module/aux input. I'd want both, especially of the Note4 was built in, might as well wire it in for a better connection
If you can find a Bluetooth Receiver with both an RCA and AUX input then there's your answer.
If not you could use a series of cable splitters and converters. Short of drawing you a picture (too lazy) I'd go Amp > RCA > RCA to AUX converter > AUX > AUX splitter > AUX to both phone and BT Receiver (in this case it would be easier to use a BT Receiver with an AUX input). It's worth noting that with this method a loss of quality is possible, I'd imagine but may be wrong.
Or indeed do away with the Bluetooth Receiver altogether if you're going to keep the Note 4 or other device permanently installed.
I'm choosing to use my Note 4 because I already have one and I don't like the idea of leaving a 7" Nexus in an unattended car so I'd like to be able to remove it. 7" Nexus seems to be the preferred choice by people who do tablet installs but I have a soft top.
I don't even know why I asked haha. I'm very happy with my Sony doubleDIN head unit and it's Bluetooth connectivity.
The whole screen thing doesn't work for me in the 2. I had one and it just doesn't work having a touch screen that low down.
Others love it.
Helen uses the radio sometimes so I couldn't do away with the head unit, but I do like the idea of just the small amp (as above) with the RCA audio control, RCA to Bluetooth.
I've found a component online that may be perfect for this.
It operates on 12v, it has a bluetooth module built in and an amazing output for the size.
m http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301719603137? ... EBIDX%3AIT (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301719603137?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT) m
You'd wire the two door speakers (upgraded I'd hope) straight to this amp via the L/R inputs. With 2x50W you've got..err..capacity spare? s:) :) s:)
Power would be straight to a 12v supply from the existing radio harness. So I'd just get a spare ISO adapter and hack at it to hijack the speakers directly and the power/ground.
The entire setup could be placed in a small box the size of a large matchbox, with extending wires for an optional volume control potentiometer (bit of soldering required there). Or just cheat and put a dual-channel potentiometer between the speakers and the amp, bit awful but works s:D :D s:D
Easily done via a RCA volume knob (as described in post above) and an RCA splitter
m http://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-Univ ... 51583.html (http://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-Universal-Car-Audio-Amplifier-Bass-RCA-Level-Remote-Volume-Control-Knob-LC-1/32432451583.html) m
Benefits would be that you could drive two very hefty speakers with 12-15 volts (voltage booster component potentially) via bluetooth and do away with the entire headunit. Go Lotus Elise style s:) :) s:)