Main > Audio/Jukebox/MP3 Forum
Using car speakers in a cab
Dave_K.:
--- Quote from: Elkor on February 06, 2003, 08:37:10 am ---Basically: put an appropriate load in series with the 4ohm speakers to bring the toatal load to 8ohms per channel.
I couldn't find a 4ohm load in the 'shack catalog online but they did have an 8...
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F010%5F001%5F006%5F000&product%5Fid=271%2D120
put two of these in parallel and then put the group in series w/your auto speakers. Then you can drive it with any houshold amp.....
--- End quote ---
I highly recommend Radio Shack's SA-155 mini stereo amp ($25-$30 used on ebay). Accepts 8-16 ohm loads per channel. Plenty loud, and great range with a set of 6" speakers (typically found in cabinets today). The amp is so small it generates practically no heat, and doesn't require ventaliation like most home stereos (perfect for inside a cab).
Wade:
I decided to test my setup last weekend and turn up the volume a lot.
It would only play for a few seconds and then the power supply would die. At first I thought I smoked it, but if I would unplug it and plug it back in, it would start working again. Apparently it has some kind of overload protection.
My car audio amp has a 25 amp fuze in it. The power supply lists the 12V line as 8 amps.
I don't think I'm going to use this setup. Seems like a waste to have that extra power supply and the relatively powerful amp in the cab if I can't even turn it up.
Wade
Tehrasha:
--- Quote from: Wade on February 18, 2003, 01:23:54 pm ---My car audio amp has a 25 amp fuze in it. The power supply lists the 12V line as 8 amps.
--- End quote ---
So thats a fuse rating of 300Watts, 60%, 2 channels, somewhere around 90W/channel
--- Quote from: Wade on February 18, 2003, 01:23:54 pm ---I don't think I'm going to use this setup. Seems like a waste to have that extra power supply and the relatively powerful amp in the cab if I can't even turn it up.
--- End quote ---
No need to turn it up so loudly that you cant stand in front of the cabinet to play it.
If you have an extra PS and amp lying baout gathering dust, its an excellent and cheap way to give your cabinet some boost.
But I certainly wouldnt recommend going out and spending cash to accomplish the same thing.
I wish I still hade my old 40W/channel Radio Shack EQ/Booster from the 80's... that would have been ideal.
Ouch! 90W/channel... i wouldnt want that vibrating my harddrives. I worry enough about my 40W/channel 8" subs
Wade:
I'm pretty sure its a 60w x 2 channel amp but it might have a peak output higher than that.
I was thinking, if it worked well/load enough I could use it like a jukebox too. No biggie though, I have a stereo after all. ;)
I like the cheap radio shack amp idea. I may go that route. First I will probably try just using the amp in the sound card (if it has one). One of my really old sound cards actually worked reasonably well when attached to some low power speakers I had. Not sure if this particular sound car has any power behind it at all though, will just have to try it.
Wade
Silverwind:
--- Quote from: Tehrasha on February 18, 2003, 02:03:26 pm ---
--- Quote from: Wade on February 18, 2003, 01:23:54 pm ---My car audio amp has a 25 amp fuze in it. The power supply lists the 12V line as 8 amps.
--- End quote ---
So thats a fuse rating of 300Watts, 60%, 2 channels, somewhere around 90W/channel
--- Quote from: Wade on February 18, 2003, 01:23:54 pm ---I don't think I'm going to use this setup. Seems like a waste to have that extra power supply and the relatively powerful amp in the cab if I can't even turn it up.
--- End quote ---
No need to turn it up so loudly that you cant stand in front of the cabinet to play it.
If you have an extra PS and amp lying baout gathering dust, its an excellent and cheap way to give your cabinet some boost.
But I certainly wouldnt recommend going out and spending cash to accomplish the same thing.
I wish I still hade my old 40W/channel Radio Shack EQ/Booster from the 80's... that would have been ideal.
Ouch! 90W/channel... i wouldnt want that vibrating my harddrives. I worry enough about my 40W/channel 8" subs
--- End quote ---
8amp on the +12v is rather low too.. some beefier supplies have up to 15amp on the +12v (more if you want to spend some $$)
I already have the component speakers.. and they were about $180 new.. and have not been used.. still new in box.. so don't want to waste em..
car amps are typically much cheaper than home amps for the power.. Right now i'm looking at about $60 for 80w x 2 amp (or $50 for 50w x 2 amp) and then run it off pc power supply.. worse comes to worse i'll buy a larger power supply with 15amp on the +12v.. probably another 20-30 bucks for a no frills model..
i've looked on the radio shack site.. saw that mini-amp dealbob.. didn't look too bad.. but wonder how much juice it puts out at 4ohm stereo?
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