Using car speakers on the PC.

[bartre]

well, i'm sure this gets asked all the time, but I've got quite the load of auto speakers should i decide to use them, as a few members of my family are auto mechanics, but I was wondering if there is a way to use the scrap speakers in the mame cabinet I'm building.
I do have some basic knowledge, but i was wondering if there's more to it than checking the impedance, and if so, what?

[Kevin Mullins]

checking the impedance, and

an amp

[bartre]

so i have to check current as well?
or are you referring to something else?

[Barry Barcrest]

so i have to check current as well?
or are you referring to something else?

He was refering to an amplifier, I think in jest dude.... The easiest way to hook up car speakers is to use a car amp an dpower it off the pc power supply. Just make sure the PC Power supply is throwing out enough power.

[bartre]

hmm...
well, now i have no idea what to do.
what would i need?

[Kevin Mullins]

what would i need?

an amp



















Sorry couldn't resist.
There are several topics on the forum here about doing exactly what you want to do.
Don't over think it.....
PC / Sound card-----> Amplifier input-----> Amplifier Output to speakers.
Power supplied from the PC power supply.
You don't need some huge ass thumping amplifier either, just enough to drive the speakers. Doesn't even need to be a "car" amplifier, there have been many small alternatives, single or dual channel amps that can be had for around $30.

[bartre]

okay, so i need something to pull power and send it to the speakers, right?
so if the impedance matches, i can simply replace the speakers from a pair i already have, right?
oh, and could you point me to a decent amp, if i can't do that?

[Fordman]

I'll give you three ways to do this.

1) You Need This

3.5mm male to R-L RCA plug cord

and one of these





Here is where you can get the t-amp

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lepai-TA2020-Class-T-Amp-Mini-Stereo-Amplifier-20WX2_W0QQitemZ110397434181QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCar_Amplifiers?hash=item19b4332945&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1205%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

Take the 3.5mm plug from the computer sound out to the R-L RCA audio input plugs on the back of the t-amp. Then wire the speaker wires to the R-L Speaker outs on the back.

2) You need this

3.5mm male to R-L RCA plug cord

and one of these



Home Stereo Receiver. Plug in the cord from the sound-out on the computer, plug the two RCA ends into any R-L jacks in the back, select on the front where they where plugged into, attach speaker wires to the back of the stereo L-R speaker terminals and instant sound!

or 3)

You need one of these

and one of these



3.5mm male to male plug wire.

The car stereo must have a 'Aux' jack for the cord above to plug into.

Set the car stereo to AUX. Wire the 12v and ground to the 12v yellow wire & one of the black wires coming from the computer power supply. Wire the speakers to the R-L speaker outputs on the stereo and you have sound! I have seen this work in two separate MAME cabs, so I dont know why it wouldnt work in a jukebox!

 

Fordman

[richms]

A friend got that same t-amp deal off ebay for a different project (audio artwork thing) and the amps fine but the supplied power supply got hot and made bad smells - but not to worry, you can chop the cable off it and use that to power the amp off the PC power supply. It will give similar power levels to the car headdeck at a much lower price, so unless you want a radio or the ability to put obsolete optical discs into it, there is no reason to get the car headdeck.

[orion]

I was looking at that exact T amp, but the problem was it was a 4ohm amp and I needed a 2ohm amp. The only 2ohm amp that I could find that was small enough was this one, despite using Bose chips instead of the tripath it sounds pretty decent. So if you happen to need a 2ohm amp....

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-MINI-LEPAI-V3-Amplifier-Mp3-ipod-700W-BOSE-POWER-IC_W0QQitemZ260410576338QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca1ae0dd2&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1240|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

[bartre]

okay, well now that i know what you mean by an amp, that seems simple enough, got plenty of speaker wire i can use, thanks for the help!