I'm sure this has been asked before, but I gotta ask again.

I recently installed a Rockford Fosgate RAVDVD2 DVD head unit with screen into my girlfriend's Prelude. The head unit plays DVDs and sends the audio signal via optical cable to a neat little control box which I screwed to the back of the backseat. Then it outputs 5.1 discrete channels of audio which can be amplified (and are being amplified). I played movies on it and the sound is incredible. True surround sound from movies in a car. In the enclosed space, it sounds great. So I was SUPER jealous because although I can play movies on my Navi screen and the headrest LCDs, the sound coming from the PS2 is a stereo signal fed to the head unit via a Blitzsafe adapter. So there's obviously no surround information.

Since our head units do at one point decode surround sound information, I was wondering if there would be a way to dissect the head unit and tap into the circuitry doing the decoding, and if not, perhaps find where the sound has been decoded to 5.1 discrete channels and insert it there.

I know this would be pretty complicated but I've done a lot of work with a soldering iron and wouldn't be afraid to go in there if I knew it was possible.

What do y'all think? What I'm trying to do is use the optical out from my PS2 in the glovebox and get surround information into the OEM head unit.

Rob

 

wow....this would be interesting. If you can figure it out, that would be great!

 

Even if possible you would be limited to DTS since Advance Resolution Sound 5.1 is different encoding than Dolby Digital 5.1 (even though they're both Dolby encoding).

 

Yeah, I realized that, that's why I was saying we'd probably have to tap in after it's been decoded but before the pre-amp so that all the sound adjustments (treble/balance, etc) would still work.

I realize that this project is close to impossible.

 

It is possible, but is far from easy. I added a stereo input for CD changer in my old car, but I had schematics for a head unit. If you will be able to get them and you know waht your way with electronics, this project is doable. Unfortunately, manufactures rarely sell schematics for their OEM equipment. Still, I would try it. Find out model number of the head unit, which is printed on a label on the unit and call a distributer for Panasonic spare parts and ask for a service manual. It worked for me, but my old radio was made by Clarion.

 

I like that idea GT1... Maybe some brave soul on the forum has their head unit out of the car and would like to give me the model number. I don't think I'd like to take apart my center console just to get the model number.

 

It has to be a model # off the head unit, not Acura part#. I agree, taking apart our dash is such a pain, nevermaind that it leads to more rattles. This disassembly cooled down my mod enthusiasm considerably

 

Zax, you may try asking this guy

 

Awesome, thanks, I sent him a note.