Upgrading speakers in jukebox

[More_Beer]

I made a jukebox a while back using some altec lansing speakers, which just don't cut it for me volume/quality wise.

Here's a pic;

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/9996/jukebox19wh2.jpg

I plan on buying the following...

- 6x9's for the top...

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=CS2328&CATID=15&keywords=&SPECIAL=&fo

- Powered by...

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=AA0470&CATID=15&keywords=&SPECIAL=&fo

- Sub amp...

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=AA0508&CATID=15&keywords=&SPECIAL=&fo

- Sub/s

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=CS2366&CATID=15&keywords=&SPECIAL=&fo

How do you think this setup will compare to the existing Altec Lansings, which I was never really satisified with (you get what you pay for hey)

Should I go with 1 sub or 2? I'd rather go with 2 and do what Kneivel done, add plasma disc in aswell (http://www.knievelkustoms.com/ms17.jpg). The sub amp will handle 2 or so I have been told.

Will the 6x9's have to be mounted in a box? I assume the sub/s have to?

I don't think the 6x9's are shielded. They will be mounted close to the PC/LCD monitor. Does this matter?

Running off the mains, is this gonna knock up my power bill substantially?

Lastly, this gear is compatible yeah? I have never had anything to do with building speakers before.

Cheers!

[liche]

Screw those speakers.

Go to EBAY and search for Pyle component speakers.  You can get some surplus 6.5" speakers (with crossover and tweeter) for about $30.00 with $10.00 shipping.  Granted these aren't top of the line audio speakers, but for this type of
application they work just great.  I've never had problems with them.

[More_Beer]

Well the speakers are ordered anyway so lets see how they go

[Freeplay]

wooooooo.. I hope you have a jaycar vip card.....
because thats going to add up.

I bought  speakers and an amp from ebay (aus, sydney )  all new for a fraction of that cost for my juke

[digitaldj]

This whole thread has not suprised me!

First off in my opinion why would somebody want to build a jukebox and put computer speakers in it, of coarse your not going to get any good sound. Second off to go blindly and purchase sound equipment without doing a little research first is just asking for who knows what your going to get. For the money your spending on the amp you could have bought a 100w per channel commercial amp. Speaker choice is very important along with box size and crossover selection. If you want excellent sound you have to do your homework! A subwoofer to me is overkill unless your playing movies or wanting to listen to rap crap. If you have a good setup of bass speakers it sounds so much better than annoying thump which is unrealistic natural sound.

Ask before you purchase if you don't know!
digitaldj

[Barry Barcrest]

Digital DJ making friends on BYOAC yet again.... I use PC Speakers... I have a microsoft sound system and it sounds great.

[digitaldj]

Straight to the point, don't pull no punches and just a lovable guy!

[leapinlew]

Straight to the point, don't pull no punches and just a lovable guy!

Straight to your point perhaps. There are some good computer speakers out there... I use the Logitech Z2300 and they rock. In a previous project I used some EV computer speakers... those were pretty righteous too.

http://reviews.cnet.com/pc-speakers/logitech-z-2300/4505-3179_7-30993080.html

[digitaldj]

Try tweeters, midrage and a couple 15" bass speakers with crossovers and everything calculated the way it's supposed to be and couple to a commercial 100x per channel amp and calculated cabinet size and that is what rocks. Take pride in knowing you did yourself with a little help!

Ok so now what you have is a computer in a box with computer speakers. Where's the jukebox, all you did is put you desktop computer in a box you call a jukebox. A true jukebox feel is when you walk up to it and totally forget it is a comptuer and the way to do that is not to let it look anything like a computer or sound like one. Come on guys spend some time and build a true mp3 jukebox with a full sound system. Guaranteed if you were to hear mine it would blow you away.

The idea to building a project is to do it all, not to take an old cabinet and drop everything in it that is just a conversion. There is alot more pride to be had by doing it all and if that means getting help from people that are more specialized in other areas of the build then that is ok! Heck I can throw everything in a box in a couple of days but I wouldn't get any satisfaction out of it.

I've worked hard to do everything i've done and i'm proud to know i've done it and i've had help and questions along the way. I'm proud everytime I turn it on and listen to it.


My compliant was with the post basically asking for audio help after you have made the choice to purchase, ask before!

[leapinlew]

Try tweeters, midrage and a couple 15" bass speakers with crossovers and everything calculated the way it's supposed to be and couple to a commercial 100x per channel amp and calculated cabinet size and that is what rocks. Take pride in knowing you did yourself with a little help!

Ok so now what you have is a computer in a box with computer speakers. Where's the jukebox, all you did is put you desktop computer in a box you call a jukebox. A true jukebox feel is when you walk up to it and totally forget it is a comptuer and the way to do that is not to let it look anything like a computer or sound like one. Come on guys spend some time and build a true mp3 jukebox with a full sound system. Guaranteed if you were to hear mine it would blow you away.

The idea to building a project is to do it all, not to take an old cabinet and drop everything in it that is just a conversion. There is alot more pride to be had by doing it all and if that means getting help from people that are more specialized in other areas of the build then that is ok! Heck I can throw everything in a box in a couple of days but I wouldn't get any satisfaction out of it.

I've worked hard to do everything i've done and i'm proud to know i've done it and i've had help and questions along the way. I'm proud everytime I turn it on and listen to it.


My compliant was with the post basically asking for audio help after you have made the choice to purchase, ask before!

Actually, my "computer in a box" that I call a jukebox is a computer connected to a touchscreen. The end user is oblivious to the innards. I'll make sure to let everyone know that DigitalDJ thinks we're not building good jukeboxes so we can all stop building now and ask you for help. Nearly all of us are working with some limitations. Sometimes budget doesn't allow us to spend $1,000's on audio equipment. Sometimes the software we want to use is only capable of playing specific file formats. Sometimes we just need sound in a 12'x12' room.

I know plenty of people who would laugh at your idea of a "MP3" jukebox and full sound. They'd look down their nose at you and proclaim that MP3 is the devil and if you really appreciated music you would use some sort of lossless encoding.

[digitaldj]

I never said there wasn't any good projects out there, your putting words in my mouth. Actually I voiced an opinion and your the one wanting to stir up the debate.

I agree that MP3's are not the best audio format, but you will also find people that don't like cd's. Audio file buffs still prefer records. A Dj friend of mine and I checked bit rates of mp3's with a spectrum analyzer and you are typically not going to miss much of the higher frequencies anyway. Anything over 192bps your not going to hear the difference.

When I meant full sound I was talking about the frequency response of the speakers and the effeciency. You are not going to get the sound quality from small speakers, I don't care what anybody says and your definately not going to get the bass respnse much above what your sub is giving you, so sub bass is not natural. I already mentioned my feeling about subs just not natural for music and not what they were intended for. Take a live band sound and tell me where there is sub woofer frquencies are coming from, there is none. The kick bass of the drums and the bass guitar Frequencies fall in the bass speaker range not the sub. Second computer speakers do not have crossovers to tell each speaker the only frequency range they are to get. That's why they don't have the dynamics of true 3 way speakers systems with crossovers and speakers that cover normal hearing range. Also computer speakers are not tuned with the correct size case, Take a look at what bose does and you will see what i'am talking about.

I understand the financial limitations, it doesn't mean the project needs to suffer. Just take the time and money as it comes along. This is why it has taken me almost 4 years to do my project the way I wanted and I didn't build it to please anyone but myself.

[Stingray]

Actually I voiced an opinion and your the one wanting to stir up the debate.

I disagree. You were definitely the one trying to stir up debate. I doubt you're impressing anyone and you're coming off like a jerk.

...I didn't build it to please anyone but myself.

AMAZING! That's what we all do. You seem think a jukebox has to have the same sound quality that you might get at a high end live show. Webster's dictionary says a jukebox is "a coin-operated phonograph or compact-disc player that automatically plays recordings selected from its list". Nothing is said about sound quality (or MP3s for that matter, but I digress). Many of the jukeboxs I remember from my childhood had crappy, tinny, rattly sound. Modern jukes seem to have enough power to blow you into orbit. Sound quality anywhere between those two extremes is 100% acceptable.

Don't be one of those guys who thinks "I did it this way so there is no other way to do it".

-S

[Barry Barcrest]

Also computer speakers are not tuned with the correct size case, Take a look at what bose does and you will see what i'am talking about.

Well Phillips make or should i say made the microsoft sound system and i think they know a little bit about how to set up speakers. BOSE and Yamaha also make PC Speakers, you are implying they are not fit for purpose. I doubt any of these companies would make products that were not up to spec and risk damaging their audio brand names on making sub standard pc speakers.

[DrewKaree]

I made a jukebox a while back using some altec lansing speakers, which just don't cut it for me volume/quality wise.

Volume, I think everyone can understand the universal idea when you say "they don't cut it".  They don't get loud enough for you, right?  "Quality" is something highly subjective.  Just what exactly are you referring to?  There's no way to know what you're meaning, so how do we go about helping you?  Are you meaning that the size of the speakers simply don't allow you to do what you want?  Do you mean they don't put forth a clear-enough sound that you're looking for?  Do you mean they don't put forth enough bass for you (and do they include a sub or not - that pic doesn't tell me if a sub is specifically in there, and if it's part of the speaker setup you think isn't up to snuff, quality-wise)?

There really hasn't been enough background and explanation given before you went on to tell us what you're wanting to do future-wise, when you might be able to get along perfectly well with a BETTER set of PC speakers for far less dough than you're looking to spend, as well as far less headaches trying to figure out compatibility - the PC speakers will simply plug into your soundcard, and away you go.  Easy peasy.

As others have said (and I can personally attest to), other PC speaker setups can work just fine.  I've got a Logitech setup that is pretty damn good (I'd say EXCELLENT!) for an HTPC I have set up in my bedroom.  In a larger room, it might be lacking quality-wise.

See what I'm saying?  More info, brudda, and nice job on the juke!

[Barry Barcrest]

The best upgrade for that juke would be a touchscreen so you didn't have to use a mouse. I think you are using album player looking at your photo and i know that has a touchscreen interface. The price has really come down on them now and the user experience is improved greatly going down this path.

[digitaldj]

More Beer,

I think it is a great looking juke! Why waste putting computer speakers in it! When it comes to computer speakers you get what you pay for(just my opinion )!

Anybody live here in columbus ohio?

[rooter]

Screw those speakers.

Go to EBAY and search for Pyle component speakers.  You can get some surplus 6.5" speakers (with crossover and tweeter) for about $30.00 with $10.00 shipping.  Granted these aren't top of the line audio speakers, but for this type of
application they work just great.  I've never had problems with them.

Found some for that exact price.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PAIR-PYLE-6-5-CAR-AUDIO-STEREO-SPEAKERS-300-WATTS_W0QQitemZ270178112485QQihZ017QQcategoryZ18799QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Aren't these a better deal?

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-2-Pyle-PL63BL-6-5-360-Watts-Three-Way-Speakers_W0QQitemZ220160999746QQihZ012QQcategoryZ18799QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


How do you shield these speakers?  What kind of amp should I get (might want to include a small subwoofer in the back of the cab)?

[digitaldj]

Depending on where you locate them you don't have to worry about it.  Shielding can be a can over the magnet or the best way is to use a magnet behind the speaker magnet to reduce and contain the magnetic waves. If you don't want to do that just make sure you have something metal between them and the monitor(regular tube monitor) and the hard drive. My juke actually has the amp in between the bass speakers and the hard drive. My tweeters and midrange are not shielded and they are app. 8" from the monitor and 12 to 14" from the hardrive and I've never had a problem.

Either one of those sets of speakers will work fine but to get good bass you need to calculate box size they need to go into. Goto www.partsexpress.com and get their speaker software and specs for the speaker and calculate the box size. For lower volume bass it is best to go with a turned port cabinet. This makes sure the speaker box size and turned port match the speaker for optimum sound. My suggestion is to look at the specs and use a real crossover and get rid of the crossover capacitors that's on the tweeter to increase what frequencies are allowed to go to each tweeter, midrange and bass, this will increase the frequency respaonse and sound quality.

It is well worth the effort!

[mccoy178]

I live near Columbus.  I'd like to see those light organs in person some time.

[digitaldj]

McCoy,
I sent you a PM call me. You are welcome to come over anytime. I'll buy the beer !
Kevin