This is the audio setup that I plan to put in my 1991 Camaro during my restoration process. You can see my build threads for the body, Suspension, engine, and breaking in the other sub-forums.

here are the major components:
-7" Android Tablet, or Android/Windows powered Netbook with touchscreen (in the case of a netbook, it would be disassembled, and the screen would be used as the head unit.)
-Crossover to separate audio channels
-2x Amps, one for front audio, and one for Subs
-2x 6X9's
-2x 6" Pioneer (have these already)
-2x Infinity 4" with Tweeters (have these already)
-2x 10" Subs in custom removable box in the pit in the trunk (battery to be mounted in the spare tire well)
-1x SSD Network Accessible Storage device.
-1x my Android Phone


I am a tech-head, so I have some ideas as to what I'd like my audio system to look like:

1. Android 7" Tablet as head unit.
Requirements:
-Probably a mid-range tablet, as it doesn't need to be extremely powerful. I'll probably shoot for a device that can run 3.0 (512MB of RAM, 1Ghz Processor, 480X800 Resolution ect.)
-Does not need 3G, I have an android phone that can share internet, so I would use the mobile hotspot and connect the tablet automatically to wireless when my phone is sharing, this will save me from more charges (other than the sharing fee)

2. The Tablet would slide into some kind of custom made carrier that I could close into the dash, and it would connect to power, and the audio jack. (I haven't come up with everything on this yet)

3. The Audio Cable would connect the tablet to something that would split the audio channels for the other speakers, and also the subs. I think this is a bridge? Please correct me here so I know what I need to have.

4. There would be 2 Amps, 1 for Subs, and 1 for the rest of the speakers.



I think this would be a really cool system, but I am unsure of a few aspects of it. So I have some questions for the Audio gurus:

1. Anyone have any Idea if there are aftermarket solutions that are already out there to mount a tablet like this in a dash? I'm assuming this is going to be all custom, and that doesn't bother me, but if there was an easier solution, I'd rather not waste my time on the custom stuff!

2. How will the sound be, considering I'm pushing all my sound through a headphones Jack I was wondering if this will provide me decent sound if amplified properly?

3. What other hardware would be suggested to make this thing work?


4. Another option would be to use a net-book that has a touchscreen and can run Android. The advantage of doing this would be that I could install larger SSD's for larger storage, whereas the tablet will be limited to 32gb in an Micro SD Card.

5. Network connectivity and internet connectivity would be routed through my phone which would act as a wifi hotspot, that way I wouldn't have to have a separate data account for the car.

6. Adding NAS (Network Accessible Storage) Device that would also connect through my phones hotspot when present.

Please let me know what you think!!!

 

sounds like a great idea

1. no dash mounts yet, especially since tablets are still pretty new and they all have different sizes/profiles. you're on your own with this one, but you may be able to modify a cradle/charging station if one's offered for the tablet you end up choosing to go with.

2. sound will all depend on the quality of the tablet's hardware, but should be more than enough for anyone who's used to using an mp3 player as a source. get yourself a good 3-way crossover for routing the single input to the amps and you should be in good shape

3. you should be ok with what you already listed - source, crossover, amps, speakers/subs. may want to grab a bluetooth keyboard/mouse for occasionally typing instead of using the touchscreen (if tablet's bluetooth equipped)

4. netbooks are pretty cool to play with too, but don't feel limited by the need of android as an operating system; jolicloud's a pretty cool little OS for netbooks that's very user friendly and quick to boot up

 

Thank you very much for your post, I also think that a setup like this would be really nice. I've wanted to do a carputer for years, but I think that technology is really catching up with what I think a carputer should be.

If I don't go with Android, I'll use a windows 7 tablet. I don't mind custom OS's in fact if using Android I will use a non stock ROM, but I like having a widely used OS rather than a Car audio specific OS.

I work at a software development company, so I may use my resources to make a couple custom Android Apps to run things the way I'd like to, who knows?!

 

i had done a carputer years back (before mp3 players were portable) and really would like to do another one. now that i've got a 4th gen dash, i've got some extra space underneath on the psgr side where the air bag was. good spot to put some kind of mini ITX board and hdd and a touchscreen in the radio spot. cause listening to tunes and tuning real time's awesome

 

Haha, yea, that option is definitely on the table too considering I'm also going with the 4th Gen dash.

 

Maybe do some sort of motorized drop down or slide out holder for the Tablet.

 

A slide-out, or swing out thing was exactly what i was thinking, obviously its goin to have to be a custom job, but I'm thinking it would be best to have the whole radio/AC bezel as a door where I can slide in the tablet, then close it. I'm going to have to do some research on the type of tablet I want to use, as side-mount connectors would do best for this project.

 

Unfortunately I sold this car to another Third-Gen Fan. I needed a car I could drive while I worked on it. I purchased a 1999 T/A LS1/T56, and I absolutely love it. I wish it were a third gen with all the '99 T/A interior/Engine/Trans, but it wasn't in the cards for now. I am determined to do a wild third-gen build sometime in the future though, and I will definitely keep up with the TGO boards.

I plan to do the Android Head Unit build in my '99, and I may post the write-up here because the installation and setup of it is pretty similar, especially since a lot of folks on here have 4th Gen interiors anyway.