This article will show how to install a Soundman iPad dash kit.
Product Links
- Soundman iPad Kits
- Fabrication Materials (Amazon Link)
Step 1 - Trim your Soundman iPad kit to fit your dash panel.
Step 2 - Cut your dash panel and grind smooth.
Step 3 - Measure and tack the Soundman iPad kit into place with Gorilla gel CA glue and Zip Kick accelerator in a needle tip bottle.
Step 4 - Bond along seems, front and rear, with JB Weld Plastic Bonder and mixing tip.
Step 5 - Thoroughly scuff entire surface, scuff all epoxy, blow clean with compressed air, then apply Fiberglass Bondo body filler along seems.
Step 6 - Sand smooth, blow clean, apply 3M Bondo Professional body filler.
Step 7 -Sand smooth with 80 grit, then 120, 220, clean, then apply tack coat of TranStar 2 in 1 primer, wait 15 minutes, then apply wet coat. Let fully dry.
*Repeat steps 6 and 7 if you still see flaws in the surface. Body work until perfectly smooth. Fix small flaws and pin holes with Bondo glazing putty.
Step 8 - Sand with 400 grit sand paper, clean, then apply tack coat of SEM Landau Black paint or your choice of colored SEM Interior paint, wait 10 minutes, then apply thin wet coat. Then apply thin, wet coat of SEM Satin Clear Coat to protect surface from scuffing.
Step 9 - Once painted, apply 3M Super 77 spray adhesive to the suede backing and lay it into the dash kit.
Step 10 - Insert iPad into the kit, fully slide into the docked position and plug your cable or 90 degree usb connector into the iPad. Use JB Weld Plastic Bonder and mixing tip to glue the cable/connector in place. Let epoxy dry for one hour before undocking the iPad.
This guide will show you how to use your iPad as a "stand alone" optical head unit cabable of streaming Hi-Res audio, with fully tunable Digital Signal Proccessing for your aftermarket car syereo system.
This configuration turns your iPad into the ULTIMATE HEAD UNIT!
Parts needed (Amazon links)
- Apple Multi AV Dongle
- Cubilux USB-A to Optical adaptor
- Optical SPDIF Cable
- USB-C Charging Cable
- 12 Volt USB-C Charger
- Female 12 Volt Socket
- Audio Control DSP
- Audio Control ACR-3 Volume Knob
Connection Diagram
Instructions
The Apple Multi AV Dongle will allow you to connect, the Cubilux Optical adaptor and the USB-C charger to the iPad simultaneously.
The SPDIF optical cable will then run to the Audio Control DSP. The USB-C port on the Apple Multi AV dongle will run to the 12 Volt charger.
Wire the red power wire of the female 12 Volt socket to a 12 volt accessory power in your car, preferable from the stock radio harness. This will allow the iPad to charge when the key is turned on. Ground the black wire. The ground can also be connected to the ground wire on your stock radio harness. Connect the USB-C cable between the Apple Multi AV dongle and 12 volt car charger. Plug the car charger into the female 12 volt socket.
Mount the Audio Control ACR-3 knob in the desired location. This will be the master volume knob for the stereo system. Plug the provided cable of the ACR-3 into the Audio Control DSP.
The RCA output of the Audio Control DSP will run to your aftermarket amplifiers. Now your ready to tune your DSP!
When using an iPad with aftermarket amplifiers, it may be advantageous to install an aftermarket head unit, depending on your vehicle's configuration. Vehicles with bad OEM hardware can be updated to a newer head unit that works with iPad.
This guide will cover how to connect an iPad to an aftermarket car stereo/head unit. For info on connecting to an OEM head unit see THIS GUIDE.
Controlling a head unit that is mounted behind the iPad
For vehicles with OEM steering wheel controls, the head unit can be mounted behind the iPad and operated with the OEM steering wheel controls by way of an optional adapter from Metra or PAC. If your vehicle does not have OEM steering wheel controls, a head unit can be mounted under the iPad (if there is room), or hidden behind the iPad and controlled via wireless remote and infrared repeater (such as PAC IR-X). Most parts listed here can purchased from our Amazon Store.
Advantages of using an aftermarket head unit
- Retain OEM steering wheel controls with the appropriate adapter
- Good quality RCA outputs for use with aftermarket amplifiers
- Gain the ability to play higher bit rate audio files such as FLAC and DSD
Below are three recommended ways to connect an iPad to an aftermarket head unit.
GOOD
Charge iPad and connect audio to any head unit that has an AUX input.
- Works with any head unit that has an AUX input.
- Parts needed - Belkin Rockstar (USB-C or Lightning), Belkin 12 volt USB-C charger, Apple USB-C cable, 3.5mm aux cable, female 12 volt cigarette lighter socket (needed to hide charger behind dashboard)
Charge iPad and connect to any head unit that has Bluetooth.
- Works with most Bluetooth compatible head units.
- Parts needed - Apple USB-C cable, Belkin 12 volt USB-C charger, female 12 volt cigarette lighter socket (needed to hide charger behind dashboard)
BETTER
Connect iPad to Sony DSX-GS80 via front USB with 90 degree USB-C to USB-A cable.
- Supports FLAC playback for better sound quality
- Front/rear/sub RCA pre-outs for aftermarket amplifiers
- Supports OEM steering wheel control integration
- Parts needed - Sony DSX-GS80, 90 degree USB-C to USB-A cable
BEST
Connect iPad to Sony RSX-GS9 via front micro USB port.
- Best possible audio quality (plays 5.6MHZ DSD files via Onkyo HF Player iPad app)
- Front micro USB is a direct USB to DAC connection, digital signal from the iPad will connect directly to the Sony's internal 32 bit ESS DAC
- Optical out and high quality RCA pre-outs
- Supports OEM steering wheel control integration
Find these recommended products on our Amazon store.
For newer vehicles, this option is best in order to retain factory features with minimal wiring. Best for people who don't plan to upgrade the original audio system. You can retain your factory touch screen behind the iPad by cutting a hole in Soundman iPad dash kit before installation as shown below, on our 2022 Chevy Silverado dash mod.
Below are three recommended ways of connecting an iPad to your OEM stereo. Most parts listed here can purchased from our Amazon Store.
GOOD
Fast charger and Bluetooth
- Works with most Bluetooth compatible head units.
- Parts needed: Apple USB-C cable, Belkin 12 volt USB-C charger, female 12 volt cigarette lighter socket (needed to hide charger behind dashboard)
BETTER
Fast charger and aux in
- Works with any OEM head unit that has an AUX input.
- Parts needed: Belkin Rockstar (USB-C or Lightning), Belkin 12 volt USB-C charger, Apple USB-C cable, 3.5mm aux cable, female 12 volt cigarette lighter socket (needed to hide charger behind dashboard)
BEST
USB, if iPad charging is supported by your vehicle
