Radio Deleting Options?

[Timothy Watson]

I've been thinking about deleting the factory radio for a few weeks now and have a question regarding my options. I usually only use my Ipod for my stereo to begin with so losing am/fm won't really be a problem, so I was wondering Is there a kit to delete the factory head unit and still have an aux port? Or will I have to custom this little project...

[evil_demon_01]

I've been thinking about deleting the factory radio for a few weeks now and have a question regarding my options. I usually only use my Ipod for my stereo to begin with so losing am/fm won't really be a problem, so I was wondering Is there a kit to delete the factory head unit and still have an aux port? Or will I have to custom this little project...

A kit to delete the stereo, so that you can still plug in an Ipod?

Right . . .

How exactly do you plan on hearing anything from the speakers without the stereo amplifying the headphone signal?

[Timothy Watson]

I took a robotics class back in high school (tech school) and we were allowed to choose which circuit to build as our final project I was thinking if there wasn't a kit I could build on of these

http://www.electronickits.com/kit/co.../ampl/k100.htm

Then splicing wires to take rca outputs to the speakers (or small amp if needed) and buying a RCA-AUX cable to mount incar for Ipod input.

The entire point for me is to have room for gauges without going with pods or dash mounts.

[Timothy Watson]

and to address the issue of a power supply I could wire in a Variable Resistor to the carside stereo harness, tune to the correct voltage, and wire directly to the circuit.

[dockinrez]

If you pull this off let me know. I've had the same idea but no time to remember to look into it

[Timothy Watson]

Will do when I get the money to do It I'll definitely give it a go, I figure that would give me room for gauges and would eliminate the antenna. I wonder what people would think if they saw a car playing music with no visible source...

[evil_demon_01]

Why not just buy a small 2 channel amp and a RCA to 3.5mm cable?

[Timothy Watson]

I guess because I like to make things, and make them difficult. I think you should be able to do it that way just get a Aux cable female to female and run it to the amp (alot easier to tuck than other options) and get a male aux to rca male cable for the amp input. You'd still have to run the wires to the speakers like any other amp as well though. Still getting rid of the factory head unit, volume control on ipod, and you could tuck the connector, to plug your ipod in, wherever you wanted it to go... It's genius, and nothing short of it. I will be attempting this when i get the money. Thank you sir for helping me not do a lot of unnecessary work. Though a Homemade stereo circuit light up with some light behind a clear plexi-glass panel would add a nice touch...

You could even get a male aux to female aux so you wouldn't have to have another cord... Lets just say I've been up for quite a while...

[AgentHydra]

Keep in mind that most car speakers are 4ohm while most home audio amps are designed for 6-8ohm speakers. You can still run 4ohm speakers with it but you run the risk of the amp overheating unless you keep the volume low.

[Timothy Watson]

Now, If i understand it correctly ohm refers to the actual resistance of the speaker coil correct? so would it be possible to wire a resistor in circuit? Or do they make 6-8ohm car speakers, that would apply well in this application?

[AgentHydra]

Did some searching around, found this on Yahoo answers

If you add a resistor in series, you will get higher or lower voltages at the speaker, miss-improving the frequency response.
Verify that your amplifier is capable of driving 2 Ohms. If not, at low loudness levels may be OK, but close to the amplifier's max rating, the current through the output transistors would be excessive and will burn them.
rest of thread

Also looked around Amazon and Parts Express and didn't find any 8 ohm car speakers.

However, some amplifiers are designed to work with both 4 and 8 ohm loads.

For example Topping TP22

Many of the Topping Class T amps will drive a 4 ohm speaker and they have a few different wattage-versions available.

[evil_demon_01]

Now, If i understand it correctly ohm refers to the actual resistance of the speaker coil correct? so would it be possible to wire a resistor in circuit? Or do they make 6-8ohm car speakers, that would apply well in this application?

Impedance and resistance are not the same thing.

The speakers ohms value changes as the cone moves, so a fixed value resistor wouldn't work anyway.

[Timothy Watson]

Here is a Forum where someone has done it...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=298625

I know it's on a boat but he did use a auto amp, so it will work just need to figure out the tuning for the best speakers for this application.

Found a link on a similar forum to the one mentioned above.

http://www.ipodcarpros.com/p583/iAMP...duct_info.html

There it is all the wires ready to go, with a flush mount volume knob, and you could always put a lighted rocker in to cut the amp on and off.

[Tippey764]

[lucifer1]

Running an Ipod without a head unit has drawbacks. I typically don't recommend it since it costs more to do it right than just buying a head unit.

If you use the headphone out it is already amplified and has distortion issues, sounds bad.

If use use the pre amp out, the signal output is very weak by todays standards and there is no volume control. You need larger amp than with a normal headunit

For those who refuse to listen i use a Pac IS76 dock connector, Pac LC1 volume control, and an amp. If using multiple amps then a line driver should be used like an Audio Control Matrix Plus.