OLD Car "install" question...

[gregnoll]

Hi All ! I have a '67 Pontiac with the stock AM radio installed, and plan on leaving that alone. What I've done is taken a 10 Watt amp and hooked that up to a set of speakers (totally separate from the radio set up) I can then plug my Ipod (using the line out from the base) into the RCA inputs on the amp. This scenario works, its just not loud enough. The Ipod is EQ'd to "Loudness" and the Gain control on the amp is at Max, but considering the car is a convertible I defintely need more volume ! I thought about getting a different amp, like a 1000 Watter, but a friend told me that my 100 amp should be plenty...is this true? Anyone have any ideas on how to get more volume here? I read a jillion posts tonite but couldn't find anyhting that fit my scenario. Anyway, I anxiously await some feedback.
Thanks !
Greg

[kman1666]

If you are getting your audio from the headphone out on the top of the ipod...there is not going to be much more you can do if the volume is maxed out on the ipod. I think if you use line out instead you should be able to get more volume.

[Lew]

A 1000 watt amp? At 12VDC that's over 80 amps -- possibly far more than the car's alternator can supply.

I'm no car stereo expert, but have you considered going to a car audio shop and asking to hear how loud a 100W amp is and also ask their opinions as to what would work?

Sounds like you're on the right track though.

kman: it was buried in his post but he said he's using line out

[lechonlubber]

How are you controlling the volume? The line out does not have volume control and is not affected by the EQ. It sounds like you need some sort of pre-amp before the amp. Another way would be to get an inexpensive head-unit with a line in and use that to power the speakers. You could just hide the head-unit in the glove box or under a seat.

Another question, what kind of speakers are you using? Are they home speakers or ones designed for car use?

[gregnoll]

I ended up buying an Aiwa head unit yesterday and I'll hook that up this weekend, that just seemed like the most foolproof way to do this. I'm hoping I can come up with some creative way to hinge it behind the dash so that it drops down when I need it...
Thanks for all your input gang, you've been quite helpful !

Greg

[rasher]

OK, I have a '64 thunderbird with a similar setup. I already have great speakers and amp installed. I need to be able to control the line-out level (volume) somehow between the ipod dock line-out and the line-in RCA hookups of the power amp.

Installing a head unit is not possible, this is to be a totally concealed install.

The way the install would look would have the dock sitting on the center console (there is a LOT of room for this on these cars) with a small, elegant volume knob immediately underneath. All the guts would then be concealed under this console. The ipod dock power would be hard-wired into the cig lighter circuit.

If anybody has any suggestions about how to control the volume, I'd be eternally greatful.

Thanks.

[lechonlubber]

Originally posted by rasher
OK, I have a '64 thunderbird with a similar setup. I already have great speakers and amp installed. I need to be able to control the line-out level (volume) somehow between the ipod dock line-out and the line-in RCA hookups of the power amp.

Installing a head unit is not possible, this is to be a totally concealed install.

The way the install would look would have the dock sitting on the center console (there is a LOT of room for this on these cars) with a small, elegant volume knob immediately underneath. All the guts would then be concealed under this console. The ipod dock power would be hard-wired into the cig lighter circuit.

If anybody has any suggestions about how to control the volume, I'd be eternally greatful.

Thanks.

Could you hide one of these in the console?Audio Control (http://www.audiocontrol.com/MobileAudio/Products/InDash/Four1i.html) A Pre-Amp like this would give you total control over the system. Rockford made a nice one too, I don't see it on their site now though.

[rasher]

The Audiocontrol units are oh-so-close to what I'm looking for. The one that works best I think is this:
http://www.audiocontrol.com/MobileAudio/Products/InDash/HPX.html
How much does this thing cost? I can't get a price.
Here's what I would have to do to make it work, though:
Open the case (void the warranty), rewire the volume control knob to make it a remote unit that I could then mount on my dash.
Option 1: Speaker-level input the factory AM/FM head into the back so I can route that signal into the new amp and new speakers. If I did this, then I'd have to wire to iPod line-out into the front panel AUX-in of the preamp and then wire up a remote source switch to mount on the dash next to the remote volume control.
Option 2: simply wire the iPod line-out into the line-in in the back of the unit and go with only the one source.

This thing is close, but I'm looking maybe for something simpler perhaps. Anyone know of some sort of line-level volume adjuster? Perhaps it's something I could make with radioshack parts?

[lechonlubber]

Assuming that the iPod line-out is sufficient to drive the amp to the level you want, you could make a passive preamp. A potentiometer would be the easiest, but there are better ways. diyaudio.com would be a good place to start.

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=20569#post20569

http://www.users.bigpond.com/aagreen/passive02.html

[jasonphoto01]

not sure if this will help your problem but have you tried to bridge your amp?

[lechonlubber]

Bridging a two channel amp will make it one channel, and not all amps have that ability.

One thing that also came to mind is the Belkin Auto Adaptor. It can power the iPod and it's variable line out has enough power to drive most amplifiers.

[rasher]

The Belkin Auto Adapter will not work in my case because I'm attempting a more concealed installation. Due to the cigarrette lighter design in my Thunderbird, I doubt the Belkin would work very well at all, hence my dilemma.

[lechonlubber]

You could run a power line and lighter socket to anywhere in the car. I tapped into the power where my lighter is at and hid a socket behind the dash. I positioned the head of the plug in such a way that I can adjust the volume if needed. The cable comes up the center console to where the ash tray is. When I close the ash tray cover, it all dissapears. ...just a thought.

[gregnoll]

I tried the Belkin kit to amp scenario and it did not work, sounded got distorted way before it got as loud as I needed it. I'm disappointed I couldn't get the Ipod to Amp to Speaker thing to work, but at the same time I concealed the Aiwa under my seat and it works great, I now have am/fm, cd & Ipod in my GTO convert and couldn't be happier!
Interested to here how you come out with this project though, please keep us posted. and thanks agin to everyone!
greg

[rasher]

There just is no room left anywhere for any sizeable components. Can't put anything in the trunk because the convertible top eats that up, and the amp under the passenger seat fills that space. The drivers seat is power, so there's no room under there so hence my quandry.
At this point, I'm considering building one of the passive preamps mentioned in one of the articles linked above. I'll probably make some type of moulding that will hold a standard iPod dock but then contain the circuitry for the preamp plus have the volume knob on top. Imagine a "super-dock".
All of this mess could be avoided if the iPod would have just had an adjustable line-out level.... :(

[bhb399mm]

Originally posted by rasher
All of this mess could be avoided if the iPod would have just had an adjustable line-out level.... :(

have you done any research on the Belkin Auto Kit (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=T6715LL/A)? It provides a volume control for the ipod's line out, while giving you a great quality line out for an aux source, and a great charger.

[rasher]

As mentioned in previous posts, the Belkin kit will not work for me. I'm looking for other methods to achieve a variable level line-out.

[rasher]

Besides, the Belkin kit is just another thing to get stolen out of a convertible when parked. I want an installation where I can grab the iPod out of the dock, throw it in the pocket, and go. No wires, no plugs.

[bhb399mm]

okay.. i read that post.. is this car a dailiy driver?

i coulcnt find anywhere if you mentioned if you had a tape player in your head unit?

it sounds like you want to do a better instal than whats available with tape adapters, but it might be a more economical solution

[moclutt]

Greg - did you ever figure out how to do this? I'm trying to do the same thing (hook IPOD up to an amp) Did you find a preamp?

[gregnoll]

Mo:
No, sorry, I kinda gave up on the whole amp thing. Went instead with the Aiwa head unit, and although its more equipment then I really wanted in my convertible it has worked perfectly. Mounted under the seat so I just plug in the ipod and go. The way I look at it I spent $99 on a "amplifier" that I knew would work, which also gives me am/fm/cd and ipod..so I can't complain...plus I got tired of trying to figure out why that whole amp thing wasn't working out!

[gregmeach]

Originally posted by moclutt
Greg - did you ever figure out how to do this? I'm trying to do the same thing (hook IPOD up to an amp) Did you find a preamp?

Perhaps this pre-amp (http://www.davidnavone.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=N-332V) will help.

Good luck...