Anyone tried using a Car HeadUnit as home CD player ;-)

[KonfuSed]

Well, I've one Blaupunkt Bahamas MP34 lying unused at home. I liked the SQ when it was playing at my car but had to replace it as I wanted iPod/USB connectivity (for convenience). So I was thinking if I connect the HU to a 12V adapter and use the pre-outs (fronts) to feed into my AVR how it'll be. Is it a good idea to use a car audio at home? I mean any particular care I need to take for not blowing up anything? If it works then I'll have a dedicated CD player instead of using the Pioneer 600AV for the job (dunno how the SQ will compare but I guess that the Blau is a better player for audio CD). What do you guys think? BTW, as I'll be getting Oppo soon then I suppose then I can decommission both(Pio and the Blau)

 

[suri]

Well, I've one Blaupunkt Bahamas MP34 lying unused at home. I liked the SQ when it was playing at my car but had to replace it as I wanted iPod/USB connectivity (for convenience). So I was thinking if I connect the HU to a 12V adapter and use the pre-outs (fronts) to feed into my AVR how it'll be. Is it a good idea to use a car audio at home? I mean any particular care I need to take for not blowing up anything? If it works then I'll have a dedicated CD player instead of using the Pioneer 600AV for the job (dunno how the SQ will compare but I guess that the Blau is a better player for audio CD). What do you guys think? BTW, as I'll be getting Oppo soon then I suppose then I can decommission both(Pio and the Blau)

there is a drawback = when you switch the 12 v adaptor off - the HU powers off = and all settings are lost = each time you power on -you will have to enter the settings again.

better to install a lead-acid battery with charger and connect the head unit to the negative/positive of the battery.

 

[anm]

I think you should try this option - no harm in trying. If you like the quality, then do as Suri suggested, else dump the idea.

Well, I've one Blaupunkt Bahamas MP34 lying unused at home. I liked the SQ when it was playing at my car but had to replace it as I wanted iPod/USB connectivity (for convenience). So I was thinking if I connect the HU to a 12V adapter and use the pre-outs (fronts) to feed into my AVR how it'll be. Is it a good idea to use a car audio at home? I mean any particular care I need to take for not blowing up anything? If it works then I'll have a dedicated CD player instead of using the Pioneer 600AV for the job (dunno how the SQ will compare but I guess that the Blau is a better player for audio CD). What do you guys think? BTW, as I'll be getting Oppo soon then I suppose then I can decommission both(Pio and the Blau)

 

[magma]

alternnatively
get a good 12v adpater and never turn it off!

 

[rallynut]

LOL,reminds me of the time i tried the same(albeit,cassette deck without pre outs,philips) in college!!hooked it up directly to car spkrs(mounted in a shallow box) in my friends room .worked brilliantly,then again at the time,it was the closest we got to mini(micro?) hifi.ha ha.go for it,as long as the preout voltages are anything close to 2V,should serve the purpose,well,atleast to listen to music!!!also as mentioned,the settings do go if switched off.get an adaptor,keep it switched on 24/7,and ur good to go.in fact,blaupunkt made some very decent HU,so sound qlty should be good.keep all settings flat(0).cheers

 

[kapvin]

there is a drawback = when you switch the 12 v adaptor off - the HU powers off = and all settings are lost = each time you power on -you will have to enter the settings again.

better to install a lead-acid battery with charger and connect the head unit to the negative/positive of the battery.

Dear OP,

thanks for bring this up. I've really been thinking about this over the last few days.. customs installation, good WAF, and well, depending on your HU.. decent sound as well..

@Suri, would a computer SMPS work? (i have a few lying spare, so I'm "willing" you to say yes) my guess is the car 12v (14v) rail is one of the noisiest power sources in the world.. so car electronics would have some power noise supression. and maybe a capacitor to filter any 50hz ac hum? 1 think 10 amps would be adequate for most HUs. i guess a decent smps should provide this?

 

[suri]

Dear OP,

thanks for bring this up. I've really been thinking about this over the last few days.. customs installation, good WAF, and well, depending on your HU.. decent sound as well..

@Suri, would a computer SMPS work? (i have a few lying spare, so I'm "willing" you to say yes) my guess is the car 12v (14v) rail is one of the noisiest power sources in the world.. so car electronics would have some power noise supression. and maybe a capacitor to filter any 50hz ac hum? 1 think 10 amps would be adequate for most HUs. i guess a decent smps should provide this?

hi kapvin,

What has been designed to run off a DC source should not (as a rule) - be run by a AC/DC converter - a good DC source (high capacity lead-acid) is capable of supplying lots more current than an SMPS designed for a computer (unless it is for the cray supercomputer!).

car ICE is a separate super-specialist pursuit - and should not be konfused with home-audio pursuits!

regards - suri

edit - i have seen ICE that want in excess of 15 amperes and 2.5 sq. mm finolex for installation!

 

[magma]

hi kapvin,


edit - i have seen ICE that want in excess of 15 amperes and 2.5 sq. mm finolex for installation!

my ice draws about that much
could you possibly be mistaken about the 2.5 mm part though
dont they use thicker for that draw
at least i use and recommend at least 8 mm sq when using even a small amplifier

 

[rallynut]

The concept makes me roll back to the engineering college hostel days - matkaas stuffed with glasswool & a coaxial Car speaker on top of it was quite a standard in most of the mate's rooms! what a wonderful life it was... :yahoo:

yes sir!!that,it was!!!!cheers

 

[KonfuSed]

Thanks a lot for all your inputs.
@Suri, never occurred to my mind that the settings will go every time I switch it off. Now need to think about the battery approach. Any specific model for the battery and charger?
I went to buy a 12 volt adapter today but the guy told me that the adapters he have won't suit as teh current rating will be different for a car HU. According to him it'll need around 5amps current, but I want to make it sure. But I'm unable to find the current rating on the player and god knows where the manual is. Called up one installer I know in Bangy and he told that it would be around 15-20amp.Any pointers here?

Hey BTW, I guess during college everyone had those matka Speakers, I had one with one chinese cassette player cum amplifier( company called Takai or something like that). Actually this idea is from college days only, seen a similar thing(cassette player though) at one of cousin's place.

EDIT: Just talked to the electrical/electronics DIY expert in my friend circle. He also told me that a 5amp 12 volt transformer will be needed (3amp itself will do as I'm planning to use only the pre-amp outs). I may not get the whole thing but I can build the adapter myself. (This guy can almost do any kind of DIY, recently he built an 150watt amplifier which he is using to play his acoustic guitar converted to electric[he had added a pick up to pick the tunes]. He was our music system repair man during college days . )

 

[suri]

. Called up one installer I know in Bangy and he told that it would be around 15-20amp.Any pointers here?

15 amperes would be just about right - for a high-end ICE - but just about adequate when one is adapting ICE for home audio use- if you are using only the pre-amp outs - and outboard amplifiers run off 220 volts AC - a 5 amp transformer should suffice

NO !

at the end of the day - not worth it!

 

[KonfuSed]

15 amperes would be just about right - for a high-end ICE - but just about adequate when one is adapting ICE for home audio use- if you are using only the pre-amp outs - and outboard amplifiers run off 220 volts AC - a 5 amp transformer should suffice

NO !

at the end of the day - not worth it!

Yup, even my friend also confirmed me the same. I'll just get a 5amp transformer and that would work fine I think. Shouldn't cost more than 400Rs according to my friend. He talked about Milton or SRC transformer, any idea about them?
All the amplification will be done by the AVR.

 

[psychotropic]

but what makes you think it'll sound any better than the Pioneer? I am not saying it won't.....but I wouldn't bet on it. No harm trying I guess. All the best!

 

[suri]

but what makes you think it'll sound any better than the Pioneer? I am not saying it won't.....but I wouldn't bet on it. No harm trying I guess. All the best!

german versus japanese ? - hehehehe! psychotropic - you gotta be kidding - blue eyed aryans will always make better things!!!:lol:

just think of this - if you were to buy a bathroom shower - one designed by blaumfartner/berlin as opposed to another designed by nakamura of shinwata prefecture - which one would you buy?

ehehehe! - heil hismler!!!!

 

[KonfuSed]

but what makes you think it'll sound any better than the Pioneer? I am not saying it won't.....but I wouldn't bet on it. No harm trying I guess. All the best!

Well I don;t know. No idea if this will sound better than the Pioneer. But I thought as it's a dedicated CD player it may sound better. And I spent some good money on this player when I bought it, long back though. So instead of throwing it out, I thought just to try something.

 

[psychotropic]

if it's a standard car HU then it's a CDP + amp + tuner isn't it? so then i don't imagine that logic would work....no harm trying though, but do compare sQ properly before investing in a battery pack or whatever.

And suri, both Herr Himmler and Nakagawa san now get their goods manufactured by Mr. Tan.....so I am guessing there'll be some 'standardisation'

Well I don;t know. No idea if this will sound better than the Pioneer. But I thought as it's a dedicated CD player it may sound better. And I spent some good money on this player when I bought it, long back though. So instead of throwing it out, I thought just to try something.

 

[kapvin]

15 amperes would be just about right - for a high-end ICE - but just about adequate when one is adapting ICE for home audio use- if you are using only the pre-amp outs - and outboard amplifiers run off 220 volts AC - a 5 amp transformer should suffice

NO !

at the end of the day - not worth it!

Are you sure that just a hu would draw more than 10 amps? -- .. I remember my Alpine 9857 as having a 10 amp fuse, that's about 120w and it's about the standard as far power is concerned 4 x 18w (CEA)

possibly I'm misremembering, i'll check again..

 

[suri]

my ice draws about that much
could you possibly be mistaken about the 2.5 mm part though
dont they use thicker for that draw
at least i use and recommend at least 8 mm sq when using even a small amplifier

sorry

yes, magma, those wires are as thick as my little finger!

 

[suri]

Are you sure that just a hu would draw more than 10 amps? -- .. I remember my Alpine 9857 as having a 10 amp fuse, that's about 120w and it's about the standard as far power is concerned 4 x 18w (CEA)

possibly I'm misremembering, i'll check again..

hi kapvin-

not the HU that draws that kind of power - what draws the power in ICE are the components - amplifiers and subwoofers - and car amps need a lot of DC juice.

regds

 

[suri]

And suri, both Herr Himmler and Nakagawa san now get their goods manufactured by Mr. Tan.....so I am guessing there'll be some 'standardisation'

oops! - i forgot - that is so true!