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can it be done...

colbystephens

colbystephens

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and be done well??

i've got an ipod, and no stereo system in my rig. i was wondering if i could just run it thru an amplifier and from the amp a few speakers and a sub.

thoughts? i'd rather not buy a head unit if i don't need one - i never use the radio.
 
The amplifier will require RCA stereo inputs. Your ipod should have a stereo headphone jack output. You can get a converter cable that goes from one to the other (radioshack), so that answers that.

But what I do not know is the output voltage of an ipod, how strong the signal will be. It may take some fancy gain adjustments to make it sound right.

I dont own an ipod, so Ive never tried it. But I dont see why its not possible. Maybe someone here with an ipod has done it.
 
I'm running an ipod through an aftermarket home amplifier (15 watt). It works fine, but not sure about automotive amps.
 
I can't see it sounding good. I like how my ipod sound's with a IPod connector, but I can never get it to sound good when you have to adjust volume on the Ipod. But I guess you can do it since you will adjust your volume on your ipod. hmm......
 
yea, it's probably not a supreme audio listening experience, but will work better than the FM transmitters you use with a head unit.
 
well, i'm not too concerned about sound quality in this case... if i were concerned about sound quality i wouldn't be driving a lifted, beat up truck with one hell of a noisy diesel engine. :D if i wanted sound quality while driving, i'd drive a car and do a nice sound system. i think i'll give it a shot. :D
 
You might want to research something along the lines of this, http://www.motorcyclespeakers.net/shop/stereo-motorcycle-speakers-aw-102-prd0.htm

My buddy had one on his Harley where he just plugged his ipod into the harness going to the amp. Granted a car stereo would require more power but I was curious about what kind of amps or wiring they use in these kit to allow the ipod signal to go right into amp. Might be something you could use or adapt for your setup :dunno:
 
colbystephens said:
and be done well??

i've got an ipod, and no stereo system in my rig. i was wondering if i could just run it thru an amplifier and from the amp a few speakers and a sub.

thoughts? i'd rather not buy a head unit if i don't need one - i never use the radio.
Click to expand...


This is what I'm doing in my K5 ultimately.

The only hard part is running the iPod through the bottom connector (line-out) instead of out the headphone jack (lame). The line-out is a low level signal which will need to be amplified cleanly to provide the amp with a strong input voltage. I'm going to be using a Precision Power PAR-245 (IIRC) preamp unit. It will give me a volume control and a simple 5-band paragraphic EQ. It's small, so I can place it anywhere.

I like the idea of using the iPod as the headunit. Leave the stock AM radio in the dash, hide the amps and subs and don't worry about attracting any unwanted attention from thieves....

:usaflag:
 
colbystephens said:
why is the line-out better than the head-phone jack?
Click to expand...
It would be cleaner, it bypasses the small and crappy amplifier in the ipod meant to drive headphones. It would be a signal level voltage output, meant solely for amplification further down the signal chain.
 
I use the headphone jack in my garage on a big stereo. It is a pita to make it sound decent. The line out is the better way. That is why I thought it would sound like crap because of using the headphone jack. Because it really doe's.
 
Big91RustyBucket said:
I use the headphone jack in my garage on a big stereo. It is a pita to make it sound decent. The line out is the better way. That is why I thought it would sound like crap because of using the headphone jack. Because it really doe's.
Click to expand...


Someday I will do all the cool projects that I've written down and bought parts for, and everyone will be amazed. :D

Moving day is less than 48 hours away.....finally, I'll have garage space again!!! :saweet:


:usaflag:
 
I actually built exactly what you describe in your first post. I have it in my 1968 LTD County Squire. I wanted an iPod player, but didn't want to cut wiring (the original 8 track works great!) and didn't need a radio.

I bought an amp with RCA inputs, some speakers, and a cable from monster cable that goes from the mini jack on the ipod to the RCA's on the amp. Wired it all up with 12v ignition to power the amp on with the key, and put the cable on the bench seat and it works GREAT.

-Dan
 
dbreid said:
I actually built exactly what you describe in your first post. I have it in my 1968 LTD County Squire. I wanted an iPod player, but didn't want to cut wiring (the original 8 track works great!) and didn't need a radio.

I bought an amp with RCA inputs, some speakers, and a cable from monster cable that goes from the mini jack on the ipod to the RCA's on the amp. Wired it all up with 12v ignition to power the amp on with the key, and put the cable on the bench seat and it works GREAT.

-Dan
Click to expand...
great! thanks for the tips on what you did. :)
 
If you have a decent stereo, you will probably want more control over teh sound than that setup allows. If not, great, but most ppl with this setup suggest an equilizer/line driver. And its cheaper normally to get a decent head unit for like $130 w/ built in aux.
 
dhcomp said:
If you have a decent stereo, you will probably want more control over teh sound than that setup allows. If not, great, but most ppl with this setup suggest an equilizer/line driver. And its cheaper normally to get a decent head unit for like $130 w/ built in aux.
Click to expand...

All True. However, the volume control on the iPod does basically the same thing. There are adjusters on my amp to control sound to some extent (it sure isn't an equalizer) but mine actually sounds pretty good.
 
Its not uncommon to find parametric equalizers on amplifiers. When you know what you are doing, parametrics can be quite effective.
 
I ran my iPod through the bottom connector (line-out) instead of out the headphone jack to my aux rca inputs in the back of my deck and it sounds clean. No more hauling around CD's for me!
 
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