HT Setup in a Car

[just4kix]

I have seen many in-car video systems. But the sound is not 5.1 - so there is no joy watching the movie, e.g. from the second row of an Innova.

How does one set up a true 5.1 system in a car?

 

[ashishkesarwani]

There are 5.1 amplifiers meant for cars from the likes of Blaupunkt and Alpine and these amplifiers are capable of decoding the Dolby or DTS signal sent to them through the digital ouput of the HU of the in car entertainment system. Another option is to go for a system with the built in decoder for the above mentioned codecs and then connect the speakers through its 5.1 channel speakers output posts. There are also specialised 5.1 speaker sets from the likes of Blaupaunkt and Pioneer to complete the 5.1 HT experience for your car.

 

[just4kix]

There are 5.1 amplifiers meant for cars from the likes of Blaupunkt and Alpine and these amplifiers are capable of decoding the Dolby or DTS signal sent to them through the digital ouput of the HU of the in car entertainment system. Another option is to go for a system with the built in decoder for the above mentioned codecs and then connect the speakers through its 5.1 channel speakers output posts. There are also specialised 5.1 speaker sets from the likes of Blaupaunkt and Pioneer to complete the 5.1 HT experience for your car.

Hmm. Does this mean replacing the existing speaker systems?

Not having a dedicated center channel is a major spoiler in a in-Car Video system.

 

[ashishkesarwani]

Its absolutely not necessary to replace the existing speakers in your car but by just adding the center channel speaker would do the trick for you, if your system permits so.

 

[Ajay Kamath]

I have seen many in-car video systems. But the sound is not 5.1 - so there is no joy watching the movie, e.g. from the second row of an Innova.

How does one set up a true 5.1 system in a car?

In an Innova it would be fairly simple. Install good front components in the rear doors to act as fronts, mount a center channel amplifier on the roof where the cabin light is. The tail gate will have to be used for the surrounds, and a subwoofer in the trunk.

As far as electronics is concerned, depending on the budget and fidelity required, one can go for either a high-end head unit accompanied with a surround sound processor or a head unit with built-in decoding, feeding a couple of amplifiers. It is not compulsory to use a 5.1 (6 channel) amplifier