Azentek CPC-1000

[Robert Wollenberg]

What do you guys make of this thing? http://www.azentekonline.com/cms/content/view/41/146/

I think it looks pretty damn nice. A little pricy, but it has a lot to offer. I joined their message group and requested more information regaring the audio side of the unit. I'm curious. They'll probably have a few new models out by the time I can afford one, but they look pretty nice.

$2,500 price tag by the way.

http://www.azentekonline.com/cms/compon ... itstart,0/

[William from NOLA]

If you didn't want to build your own computer, that would be a good way to go. That is pretty cool.

[Robert Wollenberg]

What's involved with building your own carputer? How does the hardware/software work with those things? I imagine you could have as much EQ/Crossover/time alignment control as you want. You'd just have to buy the software. What software is there to do all that stuff and how much does that run?

[William from NOLA]

If you're going the windows route, then you've got plugins and whatnot for whatever player you want to use, such as Winamp that is free. It would work just like windows, letting it load up and all. You can just set some things to startup with the start of windows (or any OS really).

The computer itself should go in the trunk (or wherever) and use a touchscreen, keyboard, mouse (probably ball type or touchpad would work best in a car). Just think of it as a remote.

Next you'd have to pick your audio card (or onboard sound) and see what the voltage output is, etc.

I'm just wondering if you can just use a voltage regulator to plug into the motherboard. Doesn't make all the sense in teh world to me to take DC and convert to AC, then back to DC :) .

I think I would personally go with Linux over windows.

[Robert Wollenberg]

I wish I knew more about Linux. I don't know. I really like the idea of a computer in the car. I don't know why I don't just give it a try and see what happens. How hard could it be? Do you think the quality from a carputer would be bad? I mean, with a good soundcard, why wouldn't it be as good or better then your average HU?

[William from NOLA]

I actually think that MP3's on a computer sound better than when converted by most head units. I can still hear a difference in MP3 qualities and cd's on the computer, it's just more noticable when in the car.

A good soundcard (by my definition ) can cost as little as $150. I think mine was $180 or so when I bought it (Echo MiaMIDI). But I bought it for recording... You could get very good results from the Soundblaster cards and even onboard audio.

[Robert Wollenberg]

What about playing regular CDs on a carputer? Does a quality soundcard have any sonic benefits over a standard HU? How much processing would you really need to have for a carputer? Ram? Etc.? Couldn't you also connect it to your cars computer for diagnostics and what not?

[William from NOLA]

I couldn't tell you the sonic benefits. I just don't know. I would say that with the right equipment, it should be better.

Processing power, ram and all depend on what OS you're running and what you want to do with it. For Windows XP, I would say a minimum of 1 GHz and 512 to 1gig of ram.

For your diagnostics and all, you'd need a cable and software that would let you run it.

[Ryan from Ohio]

They have carputer cases and special DC to DC power convertors/supplies.

Lillyput makes a few touchscreen monitors.

MSI makes a "home theatre" case/mobo combo that could be modded into a dash. Thats what I was thinking awhile back.

[solacedagony]

mp3car.com has the answers to everything :)

Look into console and audiolense for software.