MP3 player direct to amplifier in van

Post by **kefty** » 14 Apr 2007, 23:33

Hello!!

Is it possible to wire up an mp3 player to play through 2 channel amplifier then speakers

Kefty

Post by **jamesc76** » 15 Apr 2007, 00:39

yes go along to maplins and get a converter plug from one that looks like a head phone jack plug to two rca plugs, plug and play i use a mp3 player when i dj and its near as damd it the same system!!

Post by **kefty** » 15 Apr 2007, 00:43

thanks i thought as much. is this the cable i need?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Tab ... 0&doy=15m4

Does it sound good? Cheers

Post by **Other-Power** » 15 Apr 2007, 00:48

How about,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0100518245

Works great cuts out any bull cr£p

Jon[/url]

Post by **kefty** » 15 Apr 2007, 00:51

Using the FM thingy surely loses out on sound quality? Also that would mean I still need to buy a head unit?

Post by **ghost123uk** » 15 Apr 2007, 09:36

All the FM thingies I have tried are rubbish.

I even bought a quite expensive one, but that was little better.

If anyone knows of one with proper decent build, stability, sound quality and range I would be pleased to hear about it.

mini stereo jack to 2 x RCA "phono" plugs, as has been said, is the way to go. Dead easy and works just fine

Post by **kevtherev** » 15 Apr 2007, 14:51

I have done this with the ipod and it's a fantastic addition to the music selection when travelling
only drawback at the moment is the pod running low on power

Post by **jamesc76** » 15 Apr 2007, 14:55

it works fine i use it for dj'ing at partys so if it lost on quality i wouldnt use it !!!

Post by **DiscoDave** » 15 Apr 2007, 17:44

i managed to get a thing that plugs in to my cd changer socket on the back of my head unit! this "opens" up the the input ports on the back! hey presto i have aux input! only £30 too!

Post by **Other-Power** » 15 Apr 2007, 21:54

Got to say the FM thing does loss quality but the one i have is some 205 channels on it, a light and a temptature gage, and yes you would need a header unit.

Just an idea, and works with all radios so.

Jon

Post by **airhead** » 15 Apr 2007, 23:30

FM doesnt have a very high dynamic range. Its only 60dBs, so thats why you lose out on sound quality. The input into the transmitter has to be compressed. That and youre dealing with MP3s in the first place and youre really losign a lot of quality. Processing systems for FM radio stations to control the dynamic range are very advanced pieces of equipment. If youre interested, look up the Orban Optimod or Digimod on google.

Post by **ghost123uk** » 16 Apr 2007, 08:50

airhead wrote:FM doesnt have a very high dynamic range. Its only 60dBs, so thats why you lose out on sound quality. The input into the transmitter has to be compressed. That and youre dealing with MP3s in the first place and youre really losign a lot of quality. Processing systems for FM radio stations to control the dynamic range are very advanced pieces of equipment. If youre interested, look up the Orban Optimod or Digimod on google.

Aye - I hear what you say re FM compression ( though I don't think these FM thingies have a compressor built in - just a soft AGC ) and MP3 quality in general, but the quality I was referring to was that of the actual FM transmitters we are talking about.

They are built so cheaply that the audio, modulation and RF stages are all really poor performance. Plus the output frequency is unstable and jitters around with power supply modulation and even mechanical vibrations. They are not even PLL put usually just crystal controlled oscillators !!

Re MP3's - I agree that even 192 bitrate is low on Hi-Fi quality, but the compression and lack of dynamic range can be a good advantage in a relatively noisy environment such as a camper van ( or noisy party !! )

For now I recommend the hard wired option for simplicity, cheapness, quality, no extra batteries and reliability.

beep beep beep - my two pence worth has just run out.

anyway, just thought, all this techy stuff should be in a different thread - sorry for the Hi-Jack

Post by **johncelliot** » 16 Apr 2007, 08:59

I connect my ipod directly to an amp (with the cable described above) that I have shoehorned into my front dash. Nice and loud, and no head unit to get stolen. I have found that the ipod sits nicely in the ashtray up front. My dog likes the tunes too!

cheers,

JCE

Post by **ghost123uk** » 16 Apr 2007, 09:04

Post by **kefty** » 16 Apr 2007, 11:46

Thanks Guys
Hard wire straight to amp it is. Thanks v much

Kefty