Happs to comp speaker hack, or Cyber-Acoustic system?

[MrBond]

3 Choices:
1) Ok, I'm looking to hook up two 5 inch shielded speakers that I bought from happcontrols:
Part:   50-9005-00
Nom (Watt): 4
Max (Watt): 12
Ohms: 8
Hz: 135

Will it be safe hooking these up to computer speakers?  I believe the computer speakers I have are 4 Ohms.  What type of problems, if any, would this cause?


2) My other choice is just using a Cyber-Acoustics audio system with a sub/amp unit with 2 satellite speakers that plug into it:
http://www.cyber-acoustics.com/go/to-na.en/index.cfm?fuseaction=products&brand=Cyber%20Acoustics&category=Speakers&model=CA%2D3550R%2Dus


I would just mount the satellite speakers behind the grill covers in the cab, blocking the light from my marquee light somehow.


3) Hack the satellite speakers to the happs speakers. (Probably don't want to hack these appart, but would it be POSSIBLE?)

I'm thinking the pre-fab woofer and satellite speakers would sound a whole lot better.  Which method do you think I should use?

[MrBond]

To make things more interesting, I do have 3 seperate inputs for sound on my PC.  "front", "rear", and "sub/center".  Could I possible hack the computer speakers to the happ speakers for the "front", which would mount very nicely with my grill covers
AND use the cyber-acoustics system as the "sub/center?" or even "rear"?

[NoOne=NBA=]

I'd just stick with the Cyber Acoustics set myself.

I used the same set in my cab.
I threw the sub in the base of the cabinet, and put the speakers just below my marquee.

I removed the bases from the speakers, and screwed through the 1/4" wood back into the factory holes on them.

I also mounted the ON/OFF and Volume switches between the speakers.
That lets me adjust the power and volume on the fly.
That's a really nice function when someone (my wife) complains about the volume, or when the cabinet goes into attract mode while you are on the phone.

[MrBond]

I also mounted the ON/OFF and Volume switches between the speakers.
That lets me adjust the power and volume on the fly.
That's a really nice function when someone (my wife) complains about the volume, or when the cabinet goes into attract mode while you are on the phone.

That's a great idea.  Exactly how did you mount the volume dial/power switch?  Thanks!

[MnMCaputo]

I have the cyber acoustic system on my arcade, I LOVE IT, basically i broke the base off the right one, and added in 4 feet of wire better the base and the speaker, mounted both speakers (replaced with car boston acoustic 4x6) on top under marquee, then have the base unit with bass and volume control in my keyboard drawer under my control panel.  i added a small piece of heatshink to cover the broken top of the base.  i works great!!!

[big_garryb]

i also have shielded speakers... 5 1/4" which i was going to hack into existing computer speakers...... would this be ok - or do i need to use an amp?

dont know much about the audio side of things.
garry

[MrBond]

i also have shielded speakers... 5 1/4" which i was going to hack into existing computer speakers...... would this be ok - or do i need to use an amp?

My understanding is that it will work if you have matching Ohms.  Most computer speakers (and for that matter, car speakers), are 4 Ohms.  My problem is the Happ speakers are 8 Ohms, while the computer speakers are 4 Ohms.

I've heard that hooking up 8 Ohm speakers to originally 4 Ohm computer speakers will not result in any damage.  However, it might not sound as good.  On the other hand, you don't want to be hooking up 2 Ohm speakers through originally 4 Ohm computer speakers, as it will cause damage.

Perhaps somebody can chime in and confirm the above.

[Chris]

My understanding is that it will work if you have matching Ohms.  Most computer speakers (and for that matter, car speakers), are 4 Ohms.  My problem is the Happ speakers are 8 Ohms, while the computer speakers are 4 Ohms.

A lot of the Altec Lansing sets are 8 ohms... in fact, when I was looking for a set to drive my 4 ohm car speakers, I ran into more 8 ohm sets than 4 ohm sets.

[MnMCaputo]

ok, heres the deal with 8 ohm speakers.  it cuts your power output to the speakers in half.  more resistance = less power.  Basically the cyber accoustic has a 40 Watt amp I think.  With 4 ohm speakers you'll get full power, with 8, you basically just turned it into a 20 Watt amp, But............... The amp will run a whole lot cooler, because theres less of a load on it,  and it should have cleaner sound with better signal to noise ratio, just not as loud.

[Chris]

ok, heres the deal with 8 ohm speakers.  it cuts your power output to the speakers in half.  more resistance = less power.  Basically the cyber accoustic has a 40 Watt amp I think.

Wow.. my Cyber Acoustic has only a 6 watt amp... :O  But it was the only model in the line that had a subwoofer that would fit under my coin door...

[MnMCaputo]

I'm sure we could find a place in your cabinet to put a bigger sub with MORE POWER!!!!!!  lol    Plus theres some down firing subs out there now, it basically all comes down to how much you want to spend, and work on it

[Chris]

Well, I'm wiring up an adapter now to send my jukebox output to my home theatre receiver...

[Paul Olson]

I hacked Logitech speakers to the speakers in my Tekken 2 cab.  It actually sounds pretty good.  I had to to destroy one of the satelite enclosures to remove the wires.  The other one only had one wire which I just disconnected from the speaker.  I put the board with the volume knob in the good enclosure and mounted it to the back of the CP box.  I ran the wires for the speakers, sub, and sound card thru the box into the cab.  I think it looks much cleaner than mounting the PC speakers to the cab.

Paul

PS If you try this, do it in an area that can get messy.  My dremmel sent little bits of plastic flying everywhere.

[big_garryb]

ld i be right in saying it doesnt really matter about the speakers watts.....as ling as the ohms match up?

[MrBond]

ok, heres the deal with 8 ohm speakers.  it cuts your power output to the speakers in half.  more resistance = less power.  Basically the cyber accoustic has a 40 Watt amp I think.  With 4 ohm speakers you'll get full power, with 8, you basically just turned it into a 20 Watt amp, But............... The amp will run a whole lot cooler, because theres less of a load on it,  and it should have cleaner sound with better signal to noise ratio, just not as loud.

The power output is 68 watts.  Is that what your looking at?

A lot of the Altec Lansing sets are 8 ohms

I have a set of Altec Lansing speakers!  It doesn't say on them what the resistance (Ohms) are.  I suppose I could open one up and see if it says on the back of one of the magnets.

At this point, I'm thinking of hooking up the Cyber Acoustics system into the "rear" output jack on the back of my computer, and have the Altec Lansing to Happ speakers (assuming I find that both having 8 Ohms) to the "front" output jack.  (my computer came 5.1 surround capable)

[MnMCaputo]

yes    it says 68 watt, but i think its more like 40rms, not 68 peak

[MrBond]

oh, ok.  

Seems as if I may have to force the Altec Lansing speakers apart!  They are molded together - no screws   Sheesh (but did that ever stop anyone on this forum...)  It would suck if they weren't 8 Ohms then though, as I use those speakers on my "real" computer as "rear" speakers (they have good base too).

I may just use the cyber acoustic system as is and plan on car speakers later.  I want it to be done this weekend!

[Paul Olson]

There may be screws hidden under the grill.  On my logitechs they were stuck on pretty good, almost felt like they were glued, but they finally came off.

Paul

[MrBond]

The grills are part of the speakers as well...
Here's a pic:

[MrBond]

This is another picture: the cyber acoustic speaker opened up, the happ speaker, and grill cover.

[MnMCaputo]

have you done the mod yet?  how did it turn out?  

[MrBond]

Yup, I did it!  I went with the cyber acoustics -> Happ speakers.  

I cut the wires to the speaker inside the right cyber acoustics satellite speaker, attached about 5 feet of wire, and hooked them to one of the happs speakers.  For the left satellite speaker, I simply cut the cord on the outside of the enclosure and attached the two wires to the other happ speaker.  Temporarily I have the volume/bass dials and power button still in the original enclosure (which is now empty of any speaker), inside my control panel for easy access.  I plan on mounting them under the marquee with the speakers...or perhaps under/behind the cp.
I loaded up windows and crossed my fingers.  Turned on the speakers and played some songs through media player.  I also tried out a few arcade games.  It sounded great to me!  I figure if it is lowering the output watts, I can always just turn up the volume...the sound is clear to my ears.  And the bass is excellent.  I love feeling the bass in the cp!  Nothing like hearing the fruit bounce around the MsPacman maze or the space invaders drone.  Temporarily the sub unit is sitting on top of my coin boxes.  I will eventually build a shelf.

My dad helped cut out the holes in below the marquee...the shelf would not come out, so we had fun holding the jigsaw upside down...it was messy, but it worked.  No one is going to see the holes anyway once I attach the grill covers (need to buy some black screws).

Anyway, the cyber acoustics system is great!  I saw it in at radio shack for $50...a cheaper model was on sale for $30.

[MrBond]

Just thought of a question:  Should I be afraid that the unshielded sub unit may damage my computer?  As I said, the unit is sitting on the coin boxes in the interior of my cab, but the computer is right below it as well.
Also, I kept the computer tower intact.

[MnMCaputo]

I have my cyber accoustic sub about 6 inches from my computer case, i would just recomment keeping the computer in a case with the side on, the case should have a common ground, unless its one of the those acrylic ones, i'm not sure how those work.  you should be fine, mine system has been working great for about 4 months now.

[Thread Killer]

I'm planning a similar audio setup that will interface the Happs shielded speakers with Creative Inspire T2900 2.1s. Will the sound from the Inspire's satellite speakers (normally 6 watts) hacked into the Happs at half power be able to 'fill' a modestly-sized rec room?