Ghetto computer sub wiring help
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0 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3
Ghetto computer sub wiring help
Greetings from across the great pond!
Got a question that I should think will get some heads shaking and eyes rolling, but I do have my reasons, honest!
Ok, so I've got some random British car, Rover 214Si to be exact. It's getting on a bit really, had god-knows how many owners, water pump died on the motorway a while back, new engine time. Generally a touch cranky since then, but yeah... So for the next 12 or so months, I expect it to last. Now, I was recently looking into installing a sound system, with a budget of say £400 (directly converted that's something like $750). However, since I'm currently saving for a new car I a) can't be bothered to save up for it and b) don't want the hassle of installing it all nicely, then 12 months down the line rip it all out to install in a new car. Not looked much into the dimensions of all the components, but I assume that there could be possible fitment problems.
I like my music quite a bit, especially while driving. Most of my journeys are longer than an hour or so, so decent music in my car is something I do enjoy. Recently learnt how to build computers, so built me a nice gaming comp, complete with £70 surround sound system. Ever since I started listening to music through it, I've really felt the difference between the music in my room, and music in car. Considering that I can turn my music right up for maximum enjoyment when I'm on the road, I felt my car was a little lacking. The current stock system really isn't all that bad, it just lacks bass. So, as is my way, I started playing around with the sub from my comp, and found that wiring up the "centre/sub" input to my MP3 player resulted in some pretty mean bass (albeit without anything other than bass!). A few days (and after some testing in the driveway, an inverter off eBay) later, and I had it all hastily hooked up in my car.
It actually works surprisingly well, certainly enough to satisfy me until I've got a new car worth putting something permanent in. To get it working I wired the left rear audio output from the head unit up to the sub input on the sub unit using a 3.5mm mono jack (actually the lead which is used to make my 400D connect to a TV). It works well enough when the jack is all the way in, but seems much louder when the jack is halfway out. Now this isn't a problem, I'll buy a stereo jack and have a play with the wiring. BUT... with the head unit end (shown below)...
...not knowing much about car audio, I'm just playing it all by ear. The system seems to work just as well with the plug in the L socket as the R socket. So my question is... since the sub input from the computer is stereo, should I make a lead that uses BOTH the L and R outputs from the head unit? Will there be any advantage to this, or is plugging it into just one all I need to do?
On a side note, what gauge wiring would be best to use? Since it's not particularly powerful, (and has its own amp?) I'd assume the wiring doesn't need to be beefy...
Any help would be much appreciated!
Cheers!
Corvid
Got a question that I should think will get some heads shaking and eyes rolling, but I do have my reasons, honest!
Ok, so I've got some random British car, Rover 214Si to be exact. It's getting on a bit really, had god-knows how many owners, water pump died on the motorway a while back, new engine time. Generally a touch cranky since then, but yeah... So for the next 12 or so months, I expect it to last. Now, I was recently looking into installing a sound system, with a budget of say £400 (directly converted that's something like $750). However, since I'm currently saving for a new car I a) can't be bothered to save up for it and b) don't want the hassle of installing it all nicely, then 12 months down the line rip it all out to install in a new car. Not looked much into the dimensions of all the components, but I assume that there could be possible fitment problems.
I like my music quite a bit, especially while driving. Most of my journeys are longer than an hour or so, so decent music in my car is something I do enjoy. Recently learnt how to build computers, so built me a nice gaming comp, complete with £70 surround sound system. Ever since I started listening to music through it, I've really felt the difference between the music in my room, and music in car. Considering that I can turn my music right up for maximum enjoyment when I'm on the road, I felt my car was a little lacking. The current stock system really isn't all that bad, it just lacks bass. So, as is my way, I started playing around with the sub from my comp, and found that wiring up the "centre/sub" input to my MP3 player resulted in some pretty mean bass (albeit without anything other than bass!). A few days (and after some testing in the driveway, an inverter off eBay) later, and I had it all hastily hooked up in my car.
It actually works surprisingly well, certainly enough to satisfy me until I've got a new car worth putting something permanent in. To get it working I wired the left rear audio output from the head unit up to the sub input on the sub unit using a 3.5mm mono jack (actually the lead which is used to make my 400D connect to a TV). It works well enough when the jack is all the way in, but seems much louder when the jack is halfway out. Now this isn't a problem, I'll buy a stereo jack and have a play with the wiring. BUT... with the head unit end (shown below)...
...not knowing much about car audio, I'm just playing it all by ear. The system seems to work just as well with the plug in the L socket as the R socket. So my question is... since the sub input from the computer is stereo, should I make a lead that uses BOTH the L and R outputs from the head unit? Will there be any advantage to this, or is plugging it into just one all I need to do?
On a side note, what gauge wiring would be best to use? Since it's not particularly powerful, (and has its own amp?) I'd assume the wiring doesn't need to be beefy...
Any help would be much appreciated!
Cheers!
Corvid
2000 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,026
Get a lead the takes both L and R out puts from the car stereo, and plug it into the "Aux in" jack just above your volume control jack. I'm quite certain that when you do that, your computer sound system will convert the 2 channel signal into the 5.1 (or 7.1) output.
I had an Altec Lansing 5.1 home PC surround sound system, and it could take a 2 channel input in the Aux in and send it out to all 5 channels.
Your owners manual for the computer speaker system should be able to tell you how to do this with the functions of your remote / control module.
I had an Altec Lansing 5.1 home PC surround sound system, and it could take a 2 channel input in the Aux in and send it out to all 5 channels.
Your owners manual for the computer speaker system should be able to tell you how to do this with the functions of your remote / control module.
Thread Starter
0 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3
What sort of difference should I see over plugging it into the sub/centre input?
EDIT: Given that I'm not using the other speakers, since the speakers already in the car do just fine. And more importantly are already there
EDIT: Given that I'm not using the other speakers, since the speakers already in the car do just fine. And more importantly are already there
Thread Starter
0 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3
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