Author Topic: Lets talk Audio -- How are you guys riging up the serious sound? (Read 5130 times)

Hoagie_one · « **on:** June 09, 2003, 01:16:52 pm »

What kind of sound setup are you guys using?

Just computer speakers?
Serious home\car audio stuff?

need ideas

thanks

AlanS17 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 09, 2003, 01:19:15 pm »

I use Logitech speakers. They do everything I want them to do. They don't shake the floor, but then they didn't cost $400 either. Plus I've come to find that very often thhose powerful speakers can:

1) Shake the monitor and cause distortion
2) Make the cabinet make funny resonance noises
3) Hurt the monitor with magnetic interference

_Iz- · « **Reply #2 on:** June 09, 2003, 01:24:08 pm »

I bought a set of monsoon media planar 2.1's. (Higher end computer setup.) They have flat panel speakers which were very nice because they just lie flat over the stock speaker hole locations in my converted cab (after removing the original speakers) with a wooden block to keep them correctly postitioned. The sub just sits in the bottom of the cab.

If the original speakers had not been shot I would have considered a small car amp to power them.

I'm definitely *very* impressed with the sound from the monsoons however. Very clean and thumps enough to shake the cabinet apart. I can't crank them anywhere near full volume without being paranoid (of neighbours and/or spontaneous cabinet destruction)

REBIRTH · « **Reply #3 on:** June 09, 2003, 01:24:47 pm »

I went with mostly a good 5.1 computer speaker setup, but added a couple of small car speakers to the system - and it sounds great. I love sound and have a huge sound system in my house (2 of them actually in different rooms). I was going to go crazy and do that with the arcade, but after listening to a good PC sound system realized that was more than enough. With the volume just at 50% it is loud enough to hear the Asteroids heart pounding sound on the top floor of my house from my basement.

I have 3 speakers (left/right/center) up on top under the marquee, where arcade speakers normally go. I have 2 speakers below the screen, above the control panel. I have a subwoofer in the bottom, under the coin slot. I also attached two speakers behind me to give a good surround sound effect (I have two skinny black poles going from the top of the cab back about 4 feet to which I have the 2 spoeakers attached). I don't have my website up to date yet, so you can't see what the heck I did yet...

Bottom line, a good PC speaker setup is working very well to me. I know some guys have some serious systems in their machines, which is cool too, but for me the PC speaker setup is more than perfect.

Hoe · « **Reply #4 on:** June 09, 2003, 02:10:42 pm »

If you want to be able to get some nice sound on a budget, I'd recommend one of thouse 2 satallite and one subwoofer (2.1?) setups. I've got a cambridge sound works one (not on a cab) and I enjoy it. I'm not sure how much they go for now, but it's not bad.

I'd recommend possibly pointing the subwoofer out the back of the cab or have some sort of audio grate on one of the sides. The human ear has trouble detecting where subsounds are comming from, so you can get away with indirect placement of it-- for the most part. The satallite speakers are real nice and square, they should fit fine behind audio grates. Mine came with a potentialmeter sort of thing on the audio out to subwoofer (the two other speakers hook up to the subwoofer), which would be nice for external volume control. Even if you'rs dosn't come with that, you could easly make one for under a buck.

That guy who mentioned potential problems with using bigger stuff- all that very well may be a factor. The subwoofer inside the cab very well may cause problems from vibrations.

austinrfnd · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2003, 06:00:08 pm »

Quote from: Hoagie_one on June 09, 2003, 01:16:52 pm

What kind of sound setup are you guys using?

Just computer speakers?
Serious home\car audio stuff?

need ideas

thanks

Well I am currently using the Logitech z-340. It is a damn nice speaker set, with a well defined bass to it. As many have said that the bass on these systems may be too much for the cabinet. As for me, it does tend to vibrate in the cabinet a litttle to much, but hey I am a 19 year old teenager who loves da bass. If your running a jukebox software, a 2.1 speaker is well recommended. Heck if you got the money, go for the klipsch 2.1 system VERY nice indeed.

spectre · « **Reply #6 on:** June 09, 2003, 06:02:18 pm »

2 creative labs speakers under the marquee where the normal speakers go in a dynamo cab... and on top of the coin box (i have over under coinbox, with top half gone) i have a sub...about 100 watt all together... not bad for an arcade setup...

JesterDEV · « **Reply #7 on:** June 09, 2003, 06:58:24 pm »

I went with some creative speakers also. 2 behind the maurqee and the sub down inside the cab. It shakes ground quite well, also the window behind it. I'd say its more then I need. There could be world war III going on outside my house and I would never know.

planetjay · « **Reply #8 on:** June 09, 2003, 08:25:24 pm »

Quote from: AlanS17 on June 09, 2003, 01:19:15 pm

I use Logitech speakers. They do everything I want them to do. They don't shake the floor, but then they didn't cost $400 either. Plus I've come to find that very often thhose powerful speakers can:

1) Shake the monitor and cause distortion
2) Make the cabinet make funny resonance noises
3) Hurt the monitor with magnetic interference

Magnetic Sheilding

mccall · « **Reply #9 on:** June 09, 2003, 08:29:27 pm »

Register another vote for the Logitech Z340 set. Excellent sound and the price was right. Target had them on clearance last month for $12.50.

spectre · « **Reply #10 on:** June 09, 2003, 09:20:33 pm »

yes, magnetic shielding is the way to go, either that or if u decase all ur stuff like i did so i could fit it where i wanted, a metal board behind ur sub will work... i hope... lol

spectre · « **Reply #11 on:** June 09, 2003, 09:20:53 pm »

i mean wooden board... but im sure it will work, i hope

spectre · « **Reply #12 on:** June 09, 2003, 09:21:09 pm »

3 posts and a piece of wood, ghetto style! lol

Amra · « **Reply #13 on:** June 09, 2003, 11:35:34 pm »

Creative FPS 1800, loud enough to have the neighbors knocking on your door at 3am... But electronicly sheilded, so no worry about the monitor or electronic componants due to electromagnetic interference.

Xan · « **Reply #14 on:** June 09, 2003, 11:46:28 pm »

on my console cab I think I'm going to toss in my old ('93ish) infinity 6 ohm bookshelf guts into the front bottom, and purchase a used 100Wx2 home amp to power them. I'll also just use the TV speakers for up above sound. Gotta have some boom for DDR. Can't let my PC speakers (z560s) out do my cabinet for DDR, hehe

Sshado · « **Reply #15 on:** June 10, 2003, 08:50:22 am »

I used the Klipshe Pro Media Surround THX computer speaker system. I think it sounds GREAT!

Here is a pic showing how it is set up:

EDIT: Just wanted to clarify that there were grills on both sides of the cab.

ashardin · « **Reply #16 on:** June 10, 2003, 09:12:36 am »

Chalk me up for a more "overengineered" setup.

I have a 60 amp DC power supply that powers three car amps, and eq, crossover, dual subs, and power is kept constant through a 1 farad capacitor (can you tell my other hobby is car audio?).

I've got a set of 6 1/2 components in the top of the cabinet. 2 6 1/2 midbass speakers in the bottom, and 2 10" subs that sit off to the side of the cabinet. I've built a few other cabs for family and friends (not with that sort of sound system, but 2.1 setups) and have to say that you should keep the sub outside of the cabinet, especially if you have refurbed an old cab. Those things tend to develop squeaks and rattles when the sub is on the inside, but YMMV.

HeadRusch · « **Reply #17 on:** June 10, 2003, 03:17:58 pm »

Refurb Logitech Z540 PC Speakers...this isn't the 400 watt 560's but its little brother. MORE than enough oompth for mame and MP3's. I can crank up the bass on the logtechs, with very little distortion, enough to fill my basement with bass...they wereonly $50 bucks shipped free.....had to jump on em.

Amra · « **Reply #18 on:** June 10, 2003, 05:30:49 pm »

1 Farad, holy bajeesus, that thing must be huge (i.e. 5 inched long, 2/3 inches wide). Hope those contacts dont ever touch any metal... talk about electro-welding... lol

Bloker · « **Reply #19 on:** June 11, 2003, 04:19:02 am »

I haven't put started my project yet, but I'm more than likely going to use some Altec Lansing speakers with woofer control. I see no reason to buy expensive speakers.

These babies will work fine and I'll end up setting the woofer outside of the cab so it doesn't rattle the interior to death.

BTW, how do you do magnetic shielding for speakers that don't have this built in?

MikeW · « **Reply #20 on:** June 11, 2003, 08:13:24 am »

I installed 2 sound cards in my cabinet.
1 outputs to a Altec Lansing sub/sat system in my cabinet in the usual locations.
The other goes to my Lexicon home theater processor.
I did this so I could play a game and use the MAME pc as a jukebox at the same time. This allows me to adjust the cabinet volume seperatly from the music so I am not listening to Galaga sounds at 105db (:

I have a fairly large collection of music on my MAME pc, I think around 85GB. I wanted access to play it on my home system but I don't do it very much as I have a fairly high end system and anything compressed sounds like crap. Even stuff at 192 bit rate stinks.

BillyJack · « **Reply #21 on:** June 11, 2003, 10:15:21 am »

Any solutions for DIY magnetic shielding? I could use a little help with a home theater project...

/threadjack

BillyJack

tritonarcade · « **Reply #22 on:** June 11, 2003, 12:36:29 pm »

Quote from: BillyJack on June 11, 2003, 10:15:21 am

Any solutions for DIY magnetic shielding? I could use a little help with a home theater project...

/threadjack

BillyJack

Okay, I can actually help with this. There are two ways to shield your speaker - using "bucking magnets" and using a material called "MuMetal". The former will cost you about $2 at PartsExpress, and the latter something like $17 per square foot. I purchased both to run some tests, and the bucking magnet had significantly more impact on protecting my CRT from distortion.

So then, what is a bucking magnet? Simply a magnet of approx. 1/2-3/4 of your speaker magnet's size that you attach to the rear of the magnet. The poles of the bucking magnet must be reversed (i.e. so it is NOT attracted to the speaker magnet). That's right, use industrial adhesive to stick the sucker on there and you'll be set. And in case you're wondering, no this has no impact on the sound quality of the speaker.

I have 4" Infiniti Kappa speakers that wreak havoc on the CRT without any shielding. With the bucking magnet I can see no visible distortion at most angles, and lucklily in my setup the angle of the speaker mount has the magnet pointing away from the CRT.

By the way my "scientific method" of testing these materials involved waving the speaker magnet around a 12" TV approx. the same distance from the CRT as my speakers will be in the cab.

If you wanted to get really scientific, you need to buy a "Gauss Meter" which can detect levels of EMF in the 7th dimension.. okay I made that last part up.

http://www.audiovideo101.com/learn/askus/displayaskus.asp?questionid=89&List=6

SS427 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 11, 2003, 01:51:37 pm »

Don't want to get to off topic here, but has anyone used a dedicated computer power supply (like a atx 550, 24A, 12V) to power an amp and speakers? I have come across a few articles on this.

On the magnetic shielding, it may just depend on how strong the field is. One person I talked to about hooking speakers up had two 10's below the monitor and two 6x9 above and didn't have any interference problems. Some articles I've come across used ferrite materials (plain old steel sheets, the thicker the better) to reduce the field effects from the magnets. Non-ferrite (copper, aluminum, etc.) materials supposedly have no effect on the magnetic field. I've not verified any of this, just what I've come across searching for speaker shielding.

ss

tritonarcade · « **Reply #24 on:** June 11, 2003, 02:13:31 pm »

Quote from: SS427 on June 11, 2003, 01:51:37 pm

Don't want to get to off topic here, but has anyone used a dedicated computer power supply (like a atx 550, 24A, 12V) to power an amp and speakers? I have come across a few articles on this.

Actually I have wondered about how I will be powering my setup as well. The plan was to go get an AT power supply so it would power on without needing a on/off momentary switch. Otherwise one could just wire the same on/off switch to both the computer PSU and the speaker PSU.

What did you find in those articles? Any do's/don'ts?

SS427 · « **Reply #25 on:** June 11, 2003, 02:26:12 pm »

I haven't found a lot of do or don't when using this setup. The person I was refering to with the speakers was using a dedicated 12v power supply from radio shack (around 30-35 amps) and they run over $100. He indicated that the amp had a 20 amp fuse so it seems like the computer power supply would do ok (last I checked ebay had those for like $26) plus you have the option of powering coin door and other lights from it.

Here is one sight that discusses the pc power supply and amp/speaker hookup (doesn't go in depth though about amp draw, etc.)
http://www.mameworld.net/massive/How-to/Amp_Install/amp_install.html

My situation (I already have a small amp and equilizer), much cheaper to purchase two or even three pc power supply with access to 12V and 5V than get one like at Radio Shack with just 12v.

ss

spectre · « **Reply #26 on:** June 11, 2003, 03:44:09 pm »

i have a sub on top of my coin box on the front, i don't think it affects my monitor., but i'm worried about the pc... will it damage the computer i'm going to put in there?

Amra · « **Reply #27 on:** June 11, 2003, 04:17:37 pm »

Watts = Volts X Amps
Amps = Watts / Volts

A 500 Watt Power Supply, can sustain about a 42 Amp draw (i wouldnt say constantly though), so yes, a standalone Power Supply should be able to run an Amp, as long as it doesnt draw more then 42 Amps at any given time.

However, I would give one word of advice. Connect two/three power wires and two/three ground wires together, this will keep all that power from coming through two rather thin wires.

Other then that, good luck

StLouisRod · « **Reply #28 on:** June 11, 2003, 10:46:44 pm »

I've built 5 Mame cabinets in the past 2 years, and I've used the same audio setup for them all -- Creative Labs Inspire 2.1 ($50.00). I hook up the subwoofer, cut the satellites off and throw them away (they are junk anyway), then rehook the speaker wires into a pair of 4" shielded full-range speakers purchased from Parts Express ($14.00 a pair). Though it only produces about 20 watts of power, the Inspires are the only PC speakers I've found with the remote volume dial, which mounts with double-stick tape onto any control panel. This is absolutely essential for Mame cabinets as you are constantly fudging with the sound dial between different games, windows, mp3's, etc. And even 20watts is plenty for gaming... maybe not enough for high quality juke-boxing, but the sub definitely rocks!

Justin · « **Reply #29 on:** June 15, 2003, 07:52:42 pm »

How are you guys bringin apart Logitech speakers? They all seem to be sealed tight, no screws or anything

BestBuy has the Z-340 on special this week. Down to $30 with a mail in rebate. These speakers sound superb.

SirPoonga · « **Reply #30 on:** June 15, 2003, 07:59:42 pm »

Well, just computer speakers right now. eventually will have something better.

HeadRusch · « **Reply #31 on:** June 15, 2003, 09:23:51 pm »

Well, I didn't break my logitechs apart, I used the little reversable "mounting brackets/stands" they come with....

REBIRTH · « **Reply #32 on:** June 16, 2003, 06:57:32 am »

Quote from: Justin on June 15, 2003, 07:52:42 pm

How are you guys bringin apart Logitech speakers? They all seem to be sealed tight, no screws or anything

BestBuy has the Z-340 on special this week. Down to $30 with a mail in rebate. These speakers sound superb.

Most of those speakers do not have any screws showing, but if you pop off the speaker grill (careful of the speaker inside) you'll then have easy acces to the screws.


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