PocketMatrix

I'm thinking it would be nice to use my PPC in the car for MP3 playback. I investigated my options via e-bay, and it would appear that I need to purchase an ai-net cable AND the ai-net to RCA converter. Each of these is about $23 on average, meaning when all is said and done about $60 (w/ shipping and such) to interface my PPC with the receiver. Not exactly worth it. However, I'm wondering if anyone here has much experience tinkering with these ai-net cables. Could this all be accomplished with an ai-net cable, rca cables, a razor blade and a soldering iron? That would bring this venture down to half the price, and well within the "reasonable" range.

Is this what you're looking for?

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/piealpairca.html

You could buy an AI-NET harness and figure out which plugs were for which speaker and create your own harness, but this would be cheaper than trying to do it yourself.

Some car stereo systems have standard RCA input in the back, so you could just buy a mini->RCA cable and plug your PPC in that way.

Depends on the system tho.

Actually, James, I think it might be. The ones on ebay seemed to have the gender of the ai-net side such that it would require an additional ai-net cable. This seems to be the gender that would allow it to go directly to the receiver. Chris- I wish... Seems like a logical feature that most reasonably high-end receivers should have, but unfortunately, Alpine would rather have us pay eleventy billion dollars to accomplish this.

What is the model of your Alpine receiver? Most of them do.

I wouldn't call Alpine a high end unit, though.

It's CDA-9892. I was about to pull it out and check the old fashioned way whether or not it has auxilary inputs, untill i noticed that strange booklet that i am far too stubborn to use that came with it. Under the info about auxilary inputs, it said "you can input tv/vvvideo sound by connecting an optional ai-net rca interface cable or Versatile Link Terminal to this component." In other words, I'm pretty sure that the only way to connect an auxilary input is by purchasing one of those cables.

By the way- By "reasonably high-end", I meant receivers in the $300+ retail range.

Well I have the mindset that a $500 MSRP receiver is about the middle road.

Well yeah, you're right. I should have said something more like "anything above the 'economy' level". Anyway, James, you seem to be a fellow audophile... I am considering bi-amping my front component speakers. I know what to do for the most part, but my only question is, what would you consider an appropriate amount of power for each of the components, more specifically, the tweeters? Let's say I have 150 RMS going into each channel right now, and I want to keep about that amount of power going to the mid-ranges alone (use the same amp, for that matter), but add a separate amp for the tweeters. What would an appropriate amount of power to go to the tweeters alone?

I have no idea, but I imagine that would depend on the tweeter's specifications.

I would suggest not powering them overly or you'll get a real tinny sound, especially if you have them placed high.

Hmmm yeah maybe I'll just hold off on bi-amping. I'm going away to school in like four weeks without my car, even though I did just dump about $250 into my system to upgrade the front stage and add a set of rear speakers (including an amp). I'm a loyal MB Quart fan. I currently have discus (lowest) series components up front, so I bought a pair of premium series (2nd highest out of 4 series) to put up front, and I'll move the original front speakers to the rear and power them with an amp I just bought as well. I like to think my system sounds pretty damn good, although I would still classify it as a "budget" system.