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Author Topic: Cabinet speakers advice  (Read 1822 times)

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Beaker

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Cabinet speakers advice
« on: March 23, 2013, 09:42:16 pm »
Hi,

I've yet to build my arcade cab but wanted to get some advice and feedback on what you folks would recommend for speakers, amp, sub, sound card etc.

I'm gona run a modern PC and I wanted to know if I should go down the PC speaker route or car speakers? I plan to play a huge mix of games from MAME to retro consoles to modern day PC games. May use as a jukebox, not going to bother with movies though.

If I went for car speakers, are they able to be connected through a sound card? Was wanting to make it possible to plug in headphones if needed also.

Many thanks! :-)



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jeremy0203

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mgb

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Cabinet speakers advice
« Reply #2 on: March 24, 2013, 09:22:10 am »
Personally I don't see the benefits of using car speakers and an amplifier. It just seems like extra parts.
There are plenty of good quality pc speakers for under $50.
  As far as using the head phone jack depends your pc setup.
Most PCs just have the one audio output jack and then the headphone jack is on the speaker.
  Some PCs have a headphone switching jack on the front.
 You can always relocate that headphone jack from the speaker to somewhere outside of the cabinet.

  Or you can wire in a stereo switching jack for your headphones.
This is just a stereo jack that would take in the audio and when nothing is plugged into the jack, the audio goes to the speakers but when you plug in your headphones, it switches off the out to the speaker and audio is routed to the headphone

Beaker

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Cabinet speakers advice
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2013, 05:13:34 pm »
Personally I don't see the benefits of using car speakers and an amplifier. It just seems like extra parts.
There are plenty of good quality pc speakers for under $50.
  As far as using the head phone jack depends your pc setup.
Most PCs just have the one audio output jack and then the headphone jack is on the speaker.
  Some PCs have a headphone switching jack on the front.
 You can always relocate that headphone jack from the speaker to somewhere outside of the cabinet.

  Or you can wire in a stereo switching jack for your headphones.
This is just a stereo jack that would take in the audio and when nothing is plugged into the jack, the audio goes to the speakers but when you plug in your headphones, it switches off the out to the speaker and audio is routed to the headphone

Thanks for your help mgb, I have often thought the same about car speakers, they are a bit more hassle but I would be willing to put in the extra work if they sounded better than PC speakers. I think relocating the headphone jack from the speaker is a good idea, probably under the CP somewhere where it can't be seen.

PC speakers are pretty good these days and considering I'm wanting to also play modern PC games I would assume that this is the way forward.

 If anyone else has a second opinion or arguments for and against then that would be great to hear from you!


matsadona

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Re: Cabinet speakers advice
« Reply #4 on: March 25, 2013, 05:52:40 am »
There are good and bad speakers, regardless if they are "PC" or "Car" speakers. The price usually sets the quality.

Personally I have made a combination of a sub (with integrated amplifier from a standard PC 2.1 system) and a couple of car speakers replacing the original satellites that came with the sub. Why? Because I had them already and they are way better than the original and the form factor made it easier to put in the cabinet. Yes, looks is important as well.
Building, collecting and playing arcade machines :)