iPod connected directly to an amp

[zombiekiller]

I'll post up a review of it once it's installed. I scored it for $199 with free shipping. I got it because I never, ever listen to normal radio, all my music is on an ipod or iphone, i use pandora and spotify heavily and my alternative was using a 4 year old 1st gen ipod control aftermarket head unit.

my car will have minimum security on it as far as protecting the contents. This also gives me the ability to not have a visible radio to entice a potential thief, cuts down on dash/console real estate and lowers my power draw. I'll also have the ability to just stream spotify or pandora, without having to engineer how the pass through happens. I can also always plug another source into the thing ( i.e. android, etc) if necessary.

I'm thinking that i may hard mount the pad in my console and use one of the late 60s mustang astray " roll top" type covers to be able to completely conceal it easily. We'll see what sort of ideas i get when i hit the junkyard and start scouring.

[andrewb70]

I am about to install the kicker pxi50.2 unit. It is designed for boats/lawnmowers/PWCs, BUT it will work on any 12v system and it has mega low power draw. It comes with a controls pad that is backlit. It is only a 50wx2, but i am using the preamp out to push my speakers and sub through a 5 channel amp ( 6x9s and 5.25 speakers plus a 10" sub) .

I'll post up a review after I get it in and cranking. I'm in the midst of rewiring the entire car, so it may be a bit.

http://www.kicker.com/pxi502

The Kicker box does look like a pretty neat solution. It looks like it is designed more like an integrated amp with built in pre-amp functionality. The iStreamer will still offer better sound quality because of the external DAC function, but if you are mostly streaming Pandora, you probably won't be able to tell the difference because the Pandora stream is is only 64kbit/s.

Andrew

[zombiekiller]

The Kicker box does look like a pretty neat solution. It looks like it is designed more like an integrated amp with built in pre-amp functionality. The iStreamer will still offer better sound quality because of the external DAC function, but if you are mostly streaming Pandora, you probably won't be able to tell the difference because the Pandora stream is is only 64kbit/s.

Andrew

I listen to the majority of my music on vinyl ( wife is a singer, we're huge fans of less than popular 50s-60s soul ), so the term "hi-fi" is relative. I won't be opting for any record breaking clarity or loudness. Just need it to be loud enough to overpower the exhaust

[andrewb70]

I listen to the majority of my music on vinyl ( wife is a singer, we're huge fans of less than popular 50s-60s soul ), so the term "hi-fi" is relative. I won't be opting for any record breaking clarity or loudness. Just need it to be loud enough to overpower the exhaust

Dave,

I think the Kicker box is a great option. I really like the control pad with the big buttons for volume control, etc...I also like that it has RCA outs so that more amps can be added to the system.

Andrew

[67gtonut]

Wow..... glad I read this thread till the end.....

I am a stereo idiot..... So bear with me.....

Not looking to have a crazy audio system...... just trying to get some music in the GTO without breaking the bank or getting complicated.....

This Kicker box..... Ipod connects to box..... and from there...... just wire 2 rear speakers...... and basicaly ...... I am done?

[andrewb70]

Wow..... glad I read this thread till the end.....

I am a stereo idiot..... So bear with me.....

Not looking to have a crazy audio system...... just trying to get some music in the GTO without breaking the bank or getting complicated.....

This Kicker box..... Ipod connects to box..... and from there...... just wire 2 rear speakers...... and basicaly ...... I am done?

Preferably front speakers, but yes, that is all you do...

Andrew

[67gtonut]

Thank you......
This will make life very easy.....

[hag6888]

Kicker. Makes one now

[raf0419]

Just want to give a big thumbs up and thank you to John, Andrew and the other contributors to this thread. I had been considering this very issue and found all of the information I needed here. Andrew addressing the DAC info was crucial as this had been the very obstacle I was trying to overcome. The Kicker solution is great as well, and offers a compact easy to use remote. Decision time - sound quality vs ease of use and installation......

My only regret was not reading the sticky months ago! Still wiring the car and hope to have it on the road by spring.

[andrewb70]

Just want to give a big thumbs up and thank you to John, Andrew and the other contributors to this thread. I had been considering this very issue and found all of the information I needed here. Andrew addressing the DAC info was crucial as this had been the very obstacle I was trying to overcome. The Kicker solution is great as well, and offers a compact easy to use remote. Decision time - sound quality vs ease of use and installation......

My only regret was not reading the sticky months ago! Still wiring the car and hope to have it on the road by spring.

Glad to be of help. Please let us know what you plan for the rest of the system.

I also want to add the following link that I saw in a thread that Larry started:

http://www.daqstuff.com/400116_5volt...wer_supply.htm

Looks like a great way to integrate a USB port into older vehicles.

Andrew

[Nicks67GTO]

I'll post up a review of it once it's installed. I scored it for $199 with free shipping. I got it because I never, ever listen to normal radio, all my music is on an ipod or iphone, i use pandora and spotify heavily and my alternative was using a 4 year old 1st gen ipod control aftermarket head unit.

my car will have minimum security on it as far as protecting the contents. This also gives me the ability to not have a visible radio to entice a potential thief, cuts down on dash/console real estate and lowers my power draw. I'll also have the ability to just stream spotify or pandora, without having to engineer how the pass through happens. I can also always plug another source into the thing ( i.e. android, etc) if necessary.

I'm thinking that i may hard mount the pad in my console and use one of the late 60s mustang astray " roll top" type covers to be able to completely conceal it easily. We'll see what sort of ideas i get when i hit the junkyard and start scouring.

Any updates? Anyone used this Kicker unit with success?

[XLexusTech]

Can the ISTREAMER be used without a head Unit?

[andrewb70]

Can the ISTREAMER be used without a head Unit?

Yes, but you will need this:

http://www.amazon.com/JL-Audio-CL-RL...eywords=CL-RLC

to function as the pre amp and for volume control.

Andrew

[XLexusTech]

Thanks Andrew~! last question... is their such a thing as
A super thin radio receiver perhaps like 1 inch thick or less?
could I use the Istreamer with a Bluetooth module?

Thanks for you help.. i haven't gotten to audio yet but I am doing alot of work on my dash right now and was looking for options. The only radios i saw were all "Double Din" whatever that means.. then looked about 2 inches which is too much for me to fit my vintage Air + gauges and keep the ashtray...

[andrewb70]

Thanks Andrew~! last question... is their such a thing as
A super thin radio receiver perhaps like 1 inch thick or less?
could I use the Istreamer with a Bluetooth module?

Thanks for you help.. i haven't gotten to audio yet but I am doing alot of work on my dash right now and was looking for options. The only radios i saw were all "Double Din" whatever that means.. then looked about 2 inches which is too much for me to fit my vintage Air + gauges and keep the ashtray...

I am not aware of any small headunits like that. Most radios are either single DIN, which are about 2 inches thick and the double DIN ones are the super tall ones (ugh...twice the size...LOL).

I am not sure why you would want to use any sort of bluetooth device with the iStreamer. The whole point of using the iStreamer is to take the pure digital signal from an iPod, iPhone, or iPad, perform a high quality digital to analog conversion, and send a clean powerful signal to the amp.

Andrew

[vette427-sbc]

I have both of the popular options mentioned here in 2 different cars so I figure some people may want to hear my opinion on both back to back...
First car is my '69 vette.
I have the iSimple IS76 going to the JL volume knob/pre-amp into the Kicker PX100.2. This feeds 2 Infinity 2ohm 6.5 component speakers in the kick panels with the tweeters in the dash.
I chose the kicker amp simply because it was tiny, light weight and used very little power.
The sound quality is OK. I was really expecting it to be a little more "full" sounding. But, the car has sidepipes and is really not too quiet inside anyway, so it doesnt really bother me. Ive heard great things about the infinity speakers so this leads me to believe its the amp that is lacking in the sound quality department.

The other car is a '55 Chevy. Just 2 6x9 4 way speakers out back (forget the brand) and a memphis audio 400X4 amp. Current setup is just an RCA to headphone jack right to an ipod. Honestly, the system as it is kicks ass. It has tons of clean bass and sharp highs.
But, I dont like the ipod right to the amp setup, so I picked up the HRT iStreamer and another JL audio control. Those will be installed within the next few days and Im really interested to see what kind of difference the iStreamer will make on a setup that IMO already sounds pretty damn good.

And as a side note, I was going to run the iSimple IS76 and the JL volume control with a bluetooth adapter plugged into the iSimple so I could just hide everything and do all my music via BT and have no wires or plugs, but the iSimple seems like it wouldnt supply enough power to the BT adapter to get it to power up so that idea was scrapped.

[vette427-sbc]

Got the iStreamer in and all I can say is WOW. There is a significant difference in sound quality. Incredible clarity and full range of sound.
Used a flush mount USB extension to mount in this new control panel in the center console with the volume knob, a 12v socket and a switch to turn the amp/iStreamer/JL control when the car is off. (sorry for the crappy cell pic)


And the units under the dash


I think Im going to have to replace my iSimple IS76 in the corvette with the iStreamer. Its that much better.

[andrewb70]

Chris,

I am glad that the iStreamer worked as well for you as it did for me.

Andrew

[scott_fx]

i have one of these:
http://theauris.com/
I have it hooked up to a tube amp in my house (for when i just want to stream stuff) and i have to admit... the sound is the best bluetooth I've heard. The sound doesn't sound compressed or modulated like it does with other units... and it is very resonable. If you're going the ipod route, i'd seriously consider this. Also, something else you guys should check out are the amps over at parts express... not the car amps but the 'sure' amps. They get amazing reviews and have an external volume knob you can mount anywhere. You may be a bit gun shy because they aren't 'name brands' like alpine, audison, zapco, etc... but for a classic car with loud exhaust... cam... suspension... etc... you'd be throwing your money away with anything super high end. But like i said, the reviews are pretty impressive. Definitely something I'm exploring in my next build