25 replies to this topic

[speaksgeek]

0restes, on Sep 21 2009, 06:12 PM, said:

I wouldn't bother with the Macbooks bluetooth for audio, the quality of it is garbage, I got my MacBook to detect the Wifi from my headunit and it sounded average, I was disappointed. You'd probably get away with it for a keyboard/mouse, but I would go with a cable for audio.

Get a USB hub and an external soundcard that is Mac Compatible, or run it on windows and use what you like... you're wasting your time using the MacBooks onboard audio if you want SQ

I know plenty of people running the optical out with 5.1 dolby and DTS from macbooks, and Mac Minis. I'll be doing it myself as soon as I get a home theatre receiver.

I've not looked properly, but surely there is either a headunit, or processor you can get with optical in, that way can bypass the conversion to analog at that point.
*Edit, I have looked, how about an Audison BitOne?*

Bluetooth on the other hand, will be properly terrible.

Edited by speaksgeek, 22 September 2009 - 06:23 PM.

[Arkhaeon]

I don't know who said anything about bluetooth audio.. I'm not retarded like that Running optical into my home amp (Yamaha DSP-A1) yeilds DTS 5.1, so i'm sure the mac's optical is doing its job.

I'm not after la-de-da sound quality - the rest of the system comprises of:
- JBL 1100w 6ch amp
- JBL 1000w 10" subwoofer
- Pioneer 6x9's (NFI on specs, came with the car)
- Rockford Fosgate 6.5" splits

It's just got to sound not-crap.

I can just run a stack of Y cables off the headphone jack if need be; I just thought running a nice optical signal to a cheap device that will then split it into my 4.1 would be ideal. I'm not going to spend a big whack of money on a decoder; If I was going to spend a few bob, I'd just build a "real" carPC and use a 5.1ch PCI sound card >.<

On another note, I just installed Windows XP 64bit - will throw on Centrafuse and see how it runs tonight

[speaksgeek]

Perhaps getting a Rockford 360.1 would be the go then? Not too expensive, often for sale here as people upgrade.
It won't run optical, but it will take the analog stereo from the headphones and send it out to your 4.1 with a fair amount of tuneability of crossovers and EQ etc. If you're installing windows, you can also tune it on the fly using bluetooth (it is useful after all, however RF software only runs on 32-bit windows).

[Arkhaeon]

SWEET!

http://www.mini-box.com/DCDC-USB

Power issues sorted - I emailed minibox about a product like this.. two weeks later, here it is >.< Perfect for anyone using a laptop as a base to their carPC - adjustable voltage output, and still including their on/off controller!

w00t!

[Arkhaeon]

I'm thinking I'll just run a few Y splitters off the 3.5mm stereo for my dodgy audio setup, and the mini-box DC-DC USB for power. Should be good for a laugh

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[Gobbledok]

your better off running a line driver with that many splits.

[Dogo]

useful?

http://www.ifixit.com/

[Arkhaeon]

GTi-FTW, on Sep 29 2009, 12:05 AM, said:

your better off running a line driver with that many splits.

Why is that? I was assuming the voltage of a headphone jack on full tilt would be adequate to give a signal to the amp. The RCA output of a headunit isnt that powerful - it only needs to send a data signal essentially (or so I thought)

[Gobbledok]

with every split, your essentially halving the signal output voltage.

[Big_Valven]

Yes it also creates some nasty impedance mismatch problems... meaning worse sound and possibly eventually damage to the sound output from your mac.

[0restes]

From what I've been reading the MacBook doesn't do 5.1 unless the audio track is encoded in 5.1, I.E. it won't do stereo to 5.1 like some home theatre amps will... other then that you just need a plug that will convert your mini jack into an optical audio port, I'm prety sure someone like kensington does one. Then all you need is to figure out which head unit you can buy that will do optical in.