Equalizer / amp without a head unit?

[HomeGrown]

My OEM head unit is dead (and I don't listen to cassettes anyway)

I'm not interested in a typical head unit, and I don't even listen to CD's. I only listen to my XM or MP3 player, so what I REALLY want is simply a half or full DIN equalizer / amplifier.

I have seen ultra-cheap (Cuspid EQ-1000) equalizer/amplifier that has exactly every feature that would work for me: 200watt (peak) amp, front input jack for CD (or whatever), and volume control. This is an ultra-cheap unit, and I would rather have something a little nicer, but still cheap. This unit is like $20.

I'm also looking at a refurbished Kenwood unit. It's 40 watts, but doesn't have the 3.5 mm input jack. That shouldn't be a big deal, I can hook up a 3.5mm input jack into the RCA inputs on the back. It also doesn't have a volume control, but it does have a F/R fader control, so here's my main question: If I don't particularly care if I have F/R fade control, can I simply hook up my front & rear speakers to the REAR inputs of the unit, then use the fader control as a volume control?

[TheSummoner101]

yes it would work, wouldn't be an ideal solution, but it would work.

i was thinking, since you're using external units throught his amplifier, don't u have volume controls on the device itself? for example, if u have an ipod connected to it, u can use the volume on ipod to control the total volume being amplified thus being put out by the speakers.

make sure the amp is a full range amp...

[dr_green]

Originally Posted by HomeGrown

My OEM head unit is dead (and I don't listen to cassettes anyway)

I'm not interested in a typical head unit, and I don't even listen to CD's. I only listen to my XM or MP3 player, so what I REALLY want is simply a half or full DIN equalizer / amplifier.

I have seen ultra-cheap (Cuspid EQ-1000) equalizer/amplifier that has exactly every feature that would work for me: 200watt (peak) amp, front input jack for CD (or whatever), and volume control. This is an ultra-cheap unit, and I would rather have something a little nicer, but still cheap. This unit is like $20.

I'm also looking at a refurbished Kenwood unit. It's 40 watts, but doesn't have the 3.5 mm input jack. That shouldn't be a big deal, I can hook up a 3.5mm input jack into the RCA inputs on the back. It also doesn't have a volume control, but it does have a F/R fader control, so here's my main question: If I don't particularly care if I have F/R fade control, can I simply hook up my front & rear speakers to the REAR inputs of the unit, then use the fader control as a volume control?

yeah it would but realize that you will only have the volume control coming from your mp3 player. sometimes that volume might not be good enough for you. also think about when you run your mp3 at max volume the battery power is going to be drained a lot. So I suggest getting a amplified equalizer not just a equalizer. I don't know what brands make those anymore, but there should be a few companies that do make em.

Another option could be that buy a unit with aux inputs or rca inputs. you might be able to find one for cheap on ebay or something. Then atleast you have an option of controlling volume a lot better, bass and trebble, fading, balancing, reg. radio, and maybe cd or cassete, and maybe even a built in eq.
hope this helps