Pre Amp Question

[Sony]

Hi to all,

 

I'm in the midst of adding the Harman Kardon Drive and Plug thingy to my car in order to play my ipod.

 

Car come with stock HU and doesn't have any Aux-In. Guess the option I have now is to add in a preamp and at the same time, dig out my helix 4ch amp from the storeroom to hook up as well.

 

Can I ask for your recommendation for a preamp? or is there any other option I can go for?

 

Only other thing in the car is the pioneer Active sub.

 

Not really looking to throw a lot of money to the setup, so prefer to go for less costly setup.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Sony]

No one have any recommendation?

[Darkness]

bro dun go the preamp way...u might have unwanted pop noise etc....(been there done that)

 

just get a decent hi-lo convertor. (costs $30-$450)...

 

 

Cheers

[Sony]

I'm not too sure about these Preamp and Hi Lo thingy.

 

so what's the difference?

Edited October 16, 2007 by Sony

[Darkness]

As far as I know...

 

Technically a PREAMP is any device that u hook up between the HU and the AMP.

 

However, in practice the term 'preamps' often refers to devices that have some sort of functions to control the bass, treble, tune the EQ, process the signal etc.

 

A hi-lo which is a type of preamp is a simple devce that merely converts the signal from the HU (in ur case hi level signal) to low level RCA signal. The more expensve hi-lo convertors have some gain setting u can play with too. But IMO cheaper hi-los are good enough. The most impt thing is not the cost but that it must not have unwanted noise etc.

[Sony]

actually i don't really need the function to tune but needed the aux in which the preamp can provide for my Harman Kardon Ipod connector

[Darkness]

then get those IPOD/AUX adaptor for ur car. Best option.

[Madsumm]

Ok, maybe I try to correct some misconception on Preamps and why is it there.

 

I think, only in Car Audio, there are confusion, but not in HiFi world.

 

Preamps are important for a few things, and one of them is to match line input and output current and voltages. A properly matched preamp-amp will in fact, have a much much higher audiophile quality sound then none. Also, most home CDplayers do not have Volume control. Most are in pre-amps. The diff is that for car, volume control is built into the HU.

 

Unfortunately, no 2 RCA out are identical in Voltage out.

 

Then comes car audio and a term "line-drivers" are created.

In fact, these line-drivers to me are preamps.

 

In HiFi Audio, I belief a 7Vp-p is optimal. For car, it depends on the amp input signal it takes and what output signal your HU throw. This will definitely varies since your HU controls the volume.

 

Normally, output from HU is about 2-3V p-p at best. That is way below optimal and it will sound compressed with little dynamics. A line-driver is suppose to correct that.

 

Again, in car, you have the risk of introducing Noise.

 

BTW, line drivers I belief can allow 2 inputs. That should help. But again, you need to put that line driver out on your dash for you to switch between HU and Aux.

 

You might want to take a look at this. It costs between 200-800 i think... depends on the brand.

 

Rgds

Edited October 16, 2007 by Madsumm

[Sony]

that's the issue.There's no aux in for my factory fitted HU, thus I need a preamp or DSP to provide the aux in to connect to my Harman kardon

[Darkness]

ya but there are adapators that will tap to ur hu to 'create' a aux port....

 

try connects2 or incartec

[Sony]

Nah.. I prefer Preamp or DSP since I have to add in my 4ch amp as well