I am going to install a PC in the car, and need to figure out how I want to do the Audio. I dont know what people are paying for FM Modulators, but Im guessing $35 or so from what Ive seen on the web. I have seen some inexpensive HU's with AUX inputs too that seem like a better option. But, My PC will have an SPDIF out available, and thought Id look into that as well. Question is, Will I need an HU with a DD5.1 and DTS decoder to play DVD's if I used the SPDIF, or can the PC decode this, and the HU just play it. Also, with only 4 speakers, would I still be able to get the center channel to play out the 2 front speakers. I really dont need all this, but Im on that slippery slope.

Anyone have some HU recommendation with SPDIF in that will or will not also let me play DD5.1 and DTS DVD's thru 4 speakers?

Thanks!

Mark

 

Ares might be able to answer that.

 

Good luck in that area. I've been searching for a while and have not found a HU that has a digital AUX in, let alone 5.1 channel in. Even DVD receiver don't have it and they have 5.1 digital decode out, but regular RCA Aux in. If you do find one its not going to be cheap.

I've also thought of looking for an amp that does this, but no luck there either. Just going to take my stereo out into a line convert and plug it into my amp.

 

I believe some of the Nakamichi's have them...

 

If they do its not for sale here in the US. Only thing close that they had was a DAC unit, but thats for cd changer input.

They do have it for home audio, but that wouldn't apply here.

 

This unit has an additional one, but it doesn't specify what kind of digital aux input it is...

http://www.nakamichi.com/auto/cdplayers/cd_700.htm

 

Here's something that might work. The Clarion DVH920:

Key Features

Stand Alone/Slave Hide Away Processor
Decodes: Dolby Digital, DTS, DTS Audio CD, Dolby Pro Logic II
Directly Controlled by VRX935VD, DXZ935, DXZ835MP
6 Pre-Programmed Digital Sound Field Memories
Individual Adjustable Speaker Gains
(LF, RF, C, LR, RR, SW)
Independent 3 Band Parametric EQ for Front, Center, and Rear Channels
50/80/120Hz Selectable High Pass Crossover for Front, Center, and Rear Channels
50/80/120Hz Selectable Low Pass Crossover for Subwoofer
Speaker Time Delay Settings
24 Bit D/A Converters
24 Bit A/D Converters
One 2-Channel RCA Line Level Analog Input
One CeNet Analog Line Level Input
Two Digital Fiber Optic Inputs
Optional DVC920 Controller allows use with any source unit
From www.clarion.com

As you can see it decodes 5.1 signals and includes a full eq, crossover and digital processor. It has 2 fiber optic inputs, not sure if thats exactly what you are talking about but I know some sound cards include fiber optic outputs. It has 4volt rca outs to go to your amps. The great thing is you can get an optional controller to use with any head unit. It controls everything so it might even work as a stand alone unit. Put a touch screen where the stock radio is and hide this away and you have full control with out a normal hu. I've never used one but I looked into this and it seems like a great idea. Alpine might have something similar but I haven't checked on that. You can find it on the net for less than $350 and the controller for around $90. Hope this helps.

 

From looking around I didn't see anything SPDIF HeadUnits so I decided to go with a regular RCA input to my Pioneer HU. I'm not sure about your board but I know some boards that provide SPDIF out do the decoding internally and send the processed sound out but I really haven't seen many of them. The most common ones are the ones with one output from the board that will send the SPDIF signal out to an external processor which will decode it and distribute it to all the speakers. So unless you are willing to spend a lot of money on top of the line board with top of the line sound card and a top of the line HU, you will most likely have to buy a seperate decoder.

zaway