[Capolan]

Hi All!

I recently finished a nice high end build for my car, and as I've said it's pretty incredible and I'm very pleased.

NEW PROBLEM:

I needed to keep the factory head unit, which is feeding to a ARC Audio PS8 DSP. When I went to try a smartphone type source through the 3.5 aux on the head unit I was......displeased. It sounds bad.
I realized that the source itself - i.e. the phone is probably a big reason why. Now, my car does NOT have music bluetooth, only voice. and all the converters out there all still have the garbage source fed into a 3.5 aux port. I'm completely ok with plugging the source into a line, bluetooth isn't a necessity, it was just one more possible way to do something...

I'm looking for suggestions!

the PS8 does have a unbalanced 3.5 -- should I run a wire to the front of the car and use that? I also thought about a workaround using a portable DAC/AMP from the phone/source and then outputting that into the AUX port....

So - I could use some help here. NO - the head unit won't be replaced. The PS8 Bluetooth module is not out yet.....if ever.

SO...help!? Ideas?

 

[Jepalan]

Use the extra input on the PS8. That will give you the best quality for your setup.

 

[t3sn4f2]

Two questions........Which phone do you have, and are you willing to give up master volume control from the head unit in order to have it as your SQ source?

 

[Capolan]

Two questions........Which phone do you have, and are you willing to give up master volume control from the head unit in order to have it as your SQ source?

phone is android note 3, but i don't want to use usb audio if possible. trying to stay with the 3.5mm. but if usb audio is the way to go, then so be it.

my ideal is to control volume from head unit, but if it sounds better via a way that this isn't possible I'd live with it.

basically I'm trying to make the best of a bad situation

 

[t3sn4f2]

Maybe a Bluetooth audio module is the answer. Something like an Arcan r-Blink into the digital inputs of the PS8. Don't skimp on the DC to DC power supply for it. Its quality (ie regulation and isolation) is just as important as the quality of the Bluetooth protocol and the device itself.

Here's a thread that might help.

http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/technical-advanced-car-audio-discussion/168568-smartphone-processor-connection-testing-airenabler-optical-spdif-wireless-6.html

Arcam rBlink Wireless Bluetooth® digital-to-analog converter at Crutchfield.com

 

[Capolan]

Maybe a Bluetooth audio module is the answer. Something like an Arcan r-Blink into the digital inputs of the PS8. Don't skimp on the DC to DC power supply for it. Its quality (ie regulation and isolation) is just as important as the quality of the Bluetooth protocol and the device itself.

Here's a thread that might help.

http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/technical-advanced-car-audio-discussion/168568-smartphone-processor-connection-testing-airenabler-optical-spdif-wireless-6.html

Arcam rBlink Wireless Bluetooth® digital-to-analog converter at Crutchfield.com

OH, nice find on that -- I have a "cheap" bluetooth streaming module from Amazon, the Kinivo BT455 - but it's most certainly not a DAC or amp, it's just a mechanism that lets you stream to another source that then feeds the 3.5 aux port. This (what you show) is much closer to what I need if I do this via bluetooth, essentially get a digital signal to the PS8 and let it do the heavy lifting.

One question - this arcam rblink device - it is a DAC right? can it output without the DAC, i.e. can I get the "raw" signal via bluetooth, skip the Arcam DAC and get my PS8 to do the work?

basically I'm trying to get what I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) to be the best tool in my arsenal to do the conversion as it seems once it's analog, it can't be cleaned up/fixed anymore. My best tool seems to be the PS8 in this case. So, can that thing output without converting? Or perhaps I'm assuming the PS8 can do more than it does?

 

[t3sn4f2]

OH, nice find on that -- I have a "cheap" bluetooth streaming module from Amazon, the Kinivo BT455 - but it's most certainly not a DAC or amp, it's just a mechanism that lets you stream to another source that then feeds the 3.5 aux port. This (what you show) is much closer to what I need if I do this via bluetooth, essentially get a digital signal to the PS8 and let it do the heavy lifting.

One question - this arcam rblink device - it is a DAC right? can it output without the DAC, i.e. can I get the "raw" signal via bluetooth, skip the Arcam DAC and get my PS8 to do the work?

basically I'm trying to get what I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) to be the best tool in my arsenal to do the conversion as it seems once it's analog, it can't be cleaned up/fixed anymore. My best tool seems to be the PS8 in this case. So, can that thing output without converting? Or perhaps I'm assuming the PS8 can do more than it does?

Yeah, the "SPDIF" plug next to the RCA outputs is a standard digital output, which interfaces with the PS8 using a 75 ohm specific digital coax cable. With that type of connection you will have to control the master volume of your system from the PS8 or after it somehow (ie amps or master volume control capable line driver with multi I/O)