2020 Camry.

This project is on hold for a couple of weeks as I've been asked to sit in as First violin in a quartet and after my wife my only real love is playing the fiddle so to be continued.
 
Just a note on amplifiers for this project before I head off. I got an incredible deal that I could not refuse on a pair of Kenwood Excelon power amps, an XR400-4 and a X301.4 BNIB at $200CND for the pair. And I got a good deal on a Kenwood XR1S subwoofer amp at $160USD shipped on Car Audio Classifieds. I'm thinking of using the XR400-4 bridged at 200 watts per channl on the midbasses, the X301.4 on the mids/tweets at 50 watts per channel and the XR1S on the sub at 600 watts x 1

This makes for a nice family resemblance in terms of sound quality and cosmetics IMO.

https://www.kenwood.com/ca/car/excelon/xr400-4/

https://www.kenwood.com/ca/car/excelon/x301-4/

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-x3bDoRB1264/p_113XR1S/Kenwood-Excelon-XR-1S.html
 
Donanon said:
Just a note on amplifiers for this project before I head off. I got an incredible deal that I could not refuse on a pair of Kenwood Excelon power amps, an XR400-4 and a X301.4 BNIB at $200CND for the pair. And I got a good deal on a Kenwood XR1S subwoofer amp at $160USD shipped on Car Audio Classifieds. I'm thinking of using the XR400-4 bridged at 200 watts per channl on the midbasses, the X301.4 on the mids/tweets at 50 watts per channel and the XR1S on the sub at 600 watts x 1

This makes for a nice family resemblance in terms of sound quality and cosmetics IMO.

https://www.kenwood.com/ca/car/excelon/xr400-4/

https://www.kenwood.com/ca/car/excelon/x301-4/

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-x3bDoRB1264/p_113XR1S/Kenwood-Excelon-XR-1S.html
Click to expand...

The Kenwood Excelon Amps sound quite good for the price.

I have an upcoming build 2-way front plus subs active powered by XH401-4, XH901-5 and MiniDSP 6x8. All speakers and subs are Kenwood as well.
 
Back at it today. I made a major decision regarding this project and decided to bin the Khadas SBC and go with one of the mid-upper end Kenwood DVD receivers. This is a bummer for me but the fact is that while the Khadas equipment is state of the art and very capable for use as I intended it is meant for someone who knows a lot more about Coding, tweaking Code and re-writing it than I do and after looking into learning what is needed to become comfortable with the ins/outs of the process I realized that I just don't have the drive or desire to pursue it.

So I will still end up with a system that will play Hi-Res and have Nav. etc. but it will not be the custom solution I envisioned. Also, I had originally intended to install the Car PC in the dash of our new Camry but when my wife found out that would mean removing the factory system and retro-fitting aftermarket fittings into the infotainment fascia she became dead set against it...so I decided to install the SBC in the glove box and now that I have abandoned the whole Car PC scheme I've decided to buy a used Toyota Corolla for myself and have at it as much as I want while the Missus will drive the new Camry.

I still think I was on the right track with the Khadas gear and the limitations are with me not the equipment so if anyone should have a go at this kind of project please post a build log on it.
 
Hold the phone!

I've been contacted by a Samaritan who in the interest of seeing this project proceed has offered to help me with any Linux or other coding that will be required so I a very happy to say that my original project is back on. This is yet another example of the car audio community in action and I'll let him identify himself if he so chooses.
 
I ordered the IR remote extender today:

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01KLPEQOE/ref=dp_cerb_3

Going to run it from the Car PC to a spot near the heater controls in the Corolla I'll buy...had a look at a 2016 that was nice but no rush and I will get one upon return from our winter get away. I'm going to mount the mids and tweets on the dash in small 'glass and carbon pods which I will cut the foam shapes for tonight after dinner.

Can't believe I almost gave this project up in a moment of weakness and dumbassery.
 
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View attachment 8096Got the LCD connected and wireless set up today. I was going to use Foobar as my audio player/interface but it's now down to Volumio or USB Audio Pro...Khadas will soon release a Volumio UI for their SBC's which is a major plus for that option. There is room on the LCD for four largish icons and a decent sized player UI which is perfect for me and I'll set up larger screen icons later.
 
I got a message from Khadas saying that they will soon be releasing a version of Volumio for the VIM3 SBC I am using in this install which means I can forgo the 5" touch screen and use my Samsung 7" tablet as a wireless remote control for the Volumio music player, GPS and various other functions of the SBC with charging for the tablet from the cigarette lighter...this is the only part of this set up that I don't like as I will need to run a charging wire but it might be possible to add an auto connect charging set up to the tablet mount.

Using this app (or the Foobar player with it's remote app) will really simplify things for this install and make everything more stealthy . I have a 3 year old tablet I could use but I will probably buy something like this:

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/produc...axar-galaxy-a-7-in-8-gb-tablet-white/11332534

as I want to start out with a new system.

I want the tablet mount to have ease of access and un-mounting so I can take the tablet with me when I exit the car. I was going to mount the tablet directly to the SBC enclosure but instead I'm thinking of using a cup mount holder. A Weather Tech CupFone would be nice but they don't make one in the size I need so it might be something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Macally-Heav...79Y24YR4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_sims?ie=UTF8

or this:

https://www.amazon.com/Holder-Cellet-Compatible-Samsung-Surface/dp/B075G4KRM5/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_sims?ie=UTF8


 
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Re: 2014 Corolla

Got the first 'pod' out of the vacuum bag. I used 5 layers of 5.8oz. carbon cloth with one layer of 6oz. satin E-glass and a layer of .5oz. glass over all to make a nice surface over a blue foam shape. I went a little overboard and lined the interior with CLD...it is solid and VERY dead sounding when rapped on. The odd shape is to fit in the corner of the dash between the windshield and top of the dash. Still need to hone out the driver openings for a good fit and I'm torn between a perforated metal grill or a grill cloth over frame type...I have the material for either one.

You can probably see in the photo where I partially caved the midrange cone in by dropping it and tried to unbend the cone with not so great results, I ordered a replacement and it should be here early next week. Rather a bummer but that's what happens at 3AM when one should be sleeping instead of messing with car audio.
 
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I've decided to use the Khadas Tone Board DAC in my install. This DAC is made to be used with the VIM3 single board computer I am using as the core of the playback system. The Tone Board uses the ESS E9038Q2M DAC and outputs digital to S/PDIF and analogue to RCA so I don't have to worry and futz with hanging after market bits on the VIM3. So what we have here is a system that will play just about any file format out there with video playback, aftermarket GPS and wireless or wired control from a LCD, tablet or phone.

So I ordered it this morning and expect it within a couple of weeks from Hong Kong.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that this complete playback system (without touchscreen) can be had for $198USD shipped.
https://www.khadas.com/tone

View attachment 8525View attachment 8526
 
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Well, the wife gave me a miniDSP C-DSP 6x8 for Hanukkah so I will be using that...for now at least. Just over two weeks before we leave to warmer climes for a few weeks so this install will take longer than I thought.
 
I've been humming and hawing over which 7" HDMI display to use for my install so I put a post out on another forum for advice and I've been recommended to this:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000373269310.html

One guy tells me he has been using this screen for over a year without a hick up and another says the ZHIXIANDA 7" has performed flawlessly for over 8 months so I bought one tonight. Not risking a lot of money on this so I think it is a good bet at $39.89CDN or $30.49USD.

Forgot to mention that it's 12 volt.
 
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The 7" display I bought will recess into the in dash enclosure I'm fabbing so the finished install should have good fit and finish into the dash. I am told the screen doesn't run overly hot but if I find it does during those hot summer days I'll put a small de-rated fan in the enclosure for cooling...something like this:

https://www.coolerguys.com/products/ebm-papst-80mm-80x80x32-24v-fan-with-alarm-8314-19h

There will be louvers in the sides, top and bottom of the enclosure for air flow.
 
This install is crazy different and good. I’ve never seen anything done like this before. Very interesting to watch!
 
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