Recently my car was broken into and I got my head unit, subs, amplifier, and ipod stolen from right in front of my house, directly under a streetlight . The hoodlums smashed the passenger window and took about $600 in electronics. Not ever wanting to deal with something like this again, I made two decisions that day: buy and install a good car alarm, and make sure my future car electronic's installs are more permanent/secure.

I did some thinking and decided that I didn't want a traditional head unit, because clearly I can't remember to remove the faceplate and what's left when you do can still get stolen. So I came up with this crazy idea that maybe you could use your phone as a head unit, and that maybe with some slight forethought and planning you could make it look somewhat decent. A simple google search "smartphone as car head unit" gave me lots of information and revealed that an issue involved would be that regardless of your type of phone, you wouldn't have enough power output to adequately power your speakers unless you setup an amp. Here's a diagram of how the set-up works together:



I was wary of getting an amp since that was something commonly stolen from vehicles, but convinced with the "cell phone as head unit" idea I decided to make an amp install that was both discreet and difficult to for someone to steal. In the process of the thieves ripping my equipment out of my car, speaker wires were shorted and I had to run new wire to the front doors and rear deck which meant I had to tear apart the car.

Initially I had dreams of installing the amp under the dash somewhere, but after looking around under there there was just no room so I went for the trunk. I used a drill bit and bored out the amp's mounting holes to fit larger specialty bit screws that now hold the amp firmly to a approx. 36" x 12" x 2" board. I set this board in the trunk, test fitted and connected all wires, then bolted it down to the frame upside down with tons of the same screws. Then I just pulled the trunk carpet back over to conceal it!






Could have made the wires in the trunk a little more organized, but no one will see it so wth

For the "phone as head unit" idea I purchased the OEM Single DIN Radio Delete Plate, a small project box from radio shack, and velcro. In attaching to the dash, the Delete Plate went first, then the project box (held on with 3M tape) and then a velcro strip on the other side of the box and on the back of the phone. Here's what that looks like when all said and done:







In the mail I have a cord coming that should allow me to simply plug in a micro usb and then retrieve sound and charge my phone at once, so I don't lose all my battery. So far though I think this project has turned out great, and now I can access Google Maps and use Voice Commands just like a much more expensive stand-alone head unit! Anyways I thought this was pretty cool and wanted to see what some other people's thoughts were

 

Needs better implementation. Workmanship not the best.

 

That's an awesome idea in theory, and could catch on in the future.

Agree with grumblemarc, it's a good proof of concept, but needs some tweaking. Looks better than what I did years ago when I head my head unit out for a few days - just had a portable MP3 player plugged in to an 1/8 stereo to RCA adapter - looked hideous. Maybe try with a smart phone cradle instead of the project box.

Have you fastened the board to the car securely?

With today's smart phones and digital audio, head units could be a thing of the past.

 

It's identical to the setup I had when I ran a carputer (conceptually, not physically). With the proper RCA outs to the amp you could run anything.

 

Could you elaborate?

The board with the amp is very secure. My friend of 300 lbs can't rip it out, when he tries the whole car just moves back and forth. I've always got a case on my phone though so I don't know how the cradle would work out

 

Okay. It looks like crap. Thrown together with scraps and cheap parts. An afterthought. No cable management. Put together with whatever you could find simply because none would see it.

You asked.

 

With most smart phone controlled devices, you may have to remove the case you have on. A cradle would look better, and with a little fiberglass/bondo/epoxy, you can make nice, smooth contours to the factory blank cover. Imagine a custom 'face plate' for each type of phone. However, I'm betting smart phones still have junky equilizers to work with, for now (still have a dumb phone, myself).

The project box/velcro is just too klunky, and makes the phone stick out goofy. I understand it's a first run, but it has potential. It's not prototype/kick starter quality - and I would say that if it were my job. Other than traditional looks, there's no reason to even have the phone at that spot. It is the safest alternative, as it reduces the amount of attention off of the road, but with a long enough cable - or blue tooth...

 

Haha alright Mr. ***hole, no need to come out swinging. Since you seem to know how this could have been done better, what would you have done differently?

I guess I could model something out of bondo or jb weld with something else to make it look a lil cleaner, good idea

Yea this was in no way meant to be something I would market, just a lil something for myself. I should be able to find an adjustable cradle that's universal to eliminate the velcro aspect

 

I would have planned the setup more carefully; not just thrown it together with scraps. I see it's just for you but you posted it up in a public forum for scrutiny.

 

Shitty execution

 

the painted trim pieces and "racer" pedal covers says it all......RICE. There's nothing CUSTOM about this crappy install.

Instead of buying more crap, take the car to have an alarm installed on it. I would suggest installing the alarm yourself but your WORKMANSHIP is way below par.

 

Thanks bud

Painted trim pieces: $5
"Ricer" pedals: $10
Amp and Install: $60
Seeing you rage on HT: priceless

According to Merriam Webster, the word custom means "made or performed according to personal order." I think that's what I did here so......

 

He isn't raging. No one is. Yes it's custom but that doesn't mean it still doesn't look like ****. And the killer is you came on acting like you did something new.
http://www.instructables.com/id/MP3-...d-Unit-como-c/

"I came up with a crazy idea". Meh. Even stole the image. It might not have been from this site but you stole it.

 

Well I apologize for coming off that way. I intended to sound like someone who had come up with something and was looking for inputs on how to improve or modify. I got that and some, but whatever it's the internet

 

You weren't looking for any ideas on improving anything. You came on looking for pats on the back. Everyone offered you some opinion (that you asked for) or way to improve your setup and all you kept doing was defending the way that you did it. "I like it the way it is and I'm happy with it." You weren't looking for any constructive criticism.

 

Or not... This IS Honda-Tech

 

I have always had good success with mounting the amps underneath the seats. They always stay cool even on full blast.

 

That's where mine is.

 

Not bad. Pretty innovative.

 

What's innovative? He stole the whole idea.

 

WHERE DID YOU SEE THAT?