Phone input for car amplifier?

[IsaacMTSU]

I'm thinking it can be done, but I don't really know for sure. Basically, I want to use my phone 3.5mm jack to RCA inputs on my amp. Can that be done? Will it sound normal, undistorted, etc. if the volume and gain adjusted right?

[Gealii]

There should be no problem accomplishing this. Just need a way for the remote wire to turn the amp on which can be done by a simple switch.

The only thing is it will sound worse off than a stereo for various reasons.
1) the rca output on a stereo is a stronger/clearer signal
2) 3.5mm jacks are low quality connections
3) It would leave less control over adjusting the sound to make it sound as best as possible

IMO i would buy a radio with a 3.5mm jack and usb port. The usb port would allow you to connect an iphone to charge itself and play music at a higher quality. The USB would also allow for music to be streamed from a flash drive.

[IsaacMTSU]

Cool! I really want to keep my factory radio though. Alpine has a 50w RMS x4 amp that has speaker level inputs (for the factory radio) and RCAs if you have the outputs for it. You can't use them both at once obviously, but here is what I'm wanting to do.


I know I could run my phone into the tape deck, but that sounds crappy.

[Gealii]

Originally Posted by IsaacMTSU

Cool! I really want to keep my factory radio though. Alpine has a 50w RMS x4 amp that has speaker level inputs (for the factory radio) and RCAs if you have the outputs for it. You can't use them both at once obviously, but here is what I'm wanting to do.


I know I could run my phone into the tape deck, but that sounds crappy.

i would highly suggest against a tape deck aswell. I ran a tape deck to mp3 b4 and it was unbearable.
As far as your plan as cheap as decent decks are nowadays i would still buy a new 1, but if you plan on getting the amp anyway it would be cheap enough to at least try out your plan.

i'm unsure on what speakers you are using aswell, but i would make sure they are of good quality as i've blown a lot of factory speakers with just the headunit let alone amping the speakers

[IsaacMTSU]

I have the head unit and the speakers in there now. I run my phone through the tape deck adapter. I just wondered if I could add an amp into the mix and run my phone straight through it. The amp gains would probably need to be bumped up, but I guess I would have to try it. Anybody done this before?

[Superfuelgero]

If as an add on, just remember to wire the speakers in parallel to the head unit. Without a head unit is easiest. Its been done, I've seen it on a couple old cars, and a lot of golf carts. This is actually on my list this month. You won't be able to adjust fade/balance, but I only run 2 speakers. The volume can be adjusted directly from the phone.

[johnss]

Agree with Gealii - buy like cell phone signal booster. So my usb permit to connect an IPhone with nice quality and do not need to bother.