Utilizing the factory amp w/o the factory head unit, possible??? (1 Viewer)

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Ok, my uncle has just about finished putting together his PC for his C5 'vette. It's running Windows XP, has GPS, XM radio, FM radio, MP3, DVD, and pretty much everything else a normal PC runs. It is controlled via remote and touchscreen LCD which he has installed in place of the factory radio. In the process of putting this together he has acquired some extra parts that will give me nearly everything I need to complete my own "carputer" when combined with a couple of old laptops I've got.

My question is in regards to the factory amp. I have recently added Eclipse speakers to my doors and am happy with their output from the factory amp. What I want to know is will it be possible to retain use of the factory amp while switching the input from the factory head unit to the "carputer"? I can have pretty much any type of output necessary, RCAs, headphone plug type, or whatever else since it's a fully functioning computer.

My plan is to set up the system to go into hybernation mode after a set period of time from shutdown of the ignition. I will wire it so that it draws on the second battery(deep cycle) to maintain power. This will enable the system to boot very quickly once I re-enter the vehicle. I have already acquired a screen that fits the head unit opening perfectly.

I'm very excited about all this since it's going to cost me very little out of pocket

Thanks

Ary

 

[lurker]

As long as you carputer has a preamp why not?

 

[Waggoner5]

The amplifier is better reguarded as a booster as it is designed to take the high level output of the radio and boost it to the amplifiers ratings. I have 97 model radios in both my 61 and 62 and have run them with no amplifiers. In other words just on the radio power. Later I added amps and speakers using low level adapter making the radios power a low level signal for the input to an aftermarket amp. So I guess in the same manor you could use a radio with normal 5-10 watt output and use the factory amp to drive the soeakers, but I'm not sure why..?? The factory amp has less output in watts vs distortion than most decent new radios.