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smoker wrote:from what ive been reading most guys who are doing it with a lot of success are using the pc as an aux source and still using a head unit to control most functions...id like to avoid that and use the pc for everything

X2. I'll go PC when I can replace everything up front with it.

from what ive been reading most guys who are doing it with a lot of success are using the pc as an aux source and still using a head unit to control most functions...id like to avoid that and use the pc for everything

PCs can crush anything else out there as far as options. Look into software called "console". It uses plugins and routing to do pretty much anything you can think of. I think capable up to 384db/oct xovers, pretty much unlimited T/A, EQ, variable phase or anything else you can get a plugin for. There's another program called AudioLense which I believe does something similar.

I have a hard time justifying the potential for problems both hardware and software or the expense, without it being able to do everything. I want it to be able to replace the HU and the processors before I make the switch. Once I can comfortably do that, I'll do it.

yea id just do stereo and then run external active crossovers. im thinking a stereo output into a line driver into an eq or something like audio controls 4.1 with built in line driver. then to the xovers and amps.......i sell a 9.2" touchscreen with 2 av and i vga input that comes with the software for the touch screen keyboard but id probably do an external keyboard....., use my sprint wireless aircard for on the road internet, integrate a trackball mouse into the center console, in dash dvd drive, in dash usb inputs .....should be pretty snazzy, i have everything at the shop except the monitor at this point and the trackbball mouse, im just gonna have to find the startup/shutdown software so i dont have to do startup and shutdown everytime i get in and out of the car.....my biggest thing before i start all this is whether or not i can build a case out of mdf for the guts.....i know id have to use multiple fans but im thinking mdf is going to transfer fewer vibrations than a metal case......id also like the sd/mmc card reader in dash or at least accesible...

The biggest problem I've run into is active crossovers. if you're just going to run stereo output, no problems.

Well Windows Media Player has a built in EQ...

For me its mainly a question of output quality. I guess I dont need the absolute best, but I want to maintain a certain degree of SQ in the house.

Even more so if I was putting it into my car. Ive seen a vew extremely nice sound cars around the $200 area that utilize Burr-Brown DACs even... Asus and Onkyo make them, check E Pay.

mp3car.com

I've been looking into this quite a bit myself. I'm still afraid to try it though. I'm going to get a 701 for the time being, and play around with the computer stuff until I'm confident it can take the place of the alpine processor.

im going to be putting in a pc based audio/video system in my car and i wonder how good the audio will be, probably gonna need a line driver and an eq but i think itll be allright...what do you computer guys think cause computers aint my thing really

Stereo 1/8th to left and right RCA works for me for years... many years.