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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: NoBonus on March 09, 2005, 05:31:08 pm

Title: Internal shielded speaker question
Post by: NoBonus on March 09, 2005, 05:31:08 pm

I am considering building what I call a half-cab.  It will have no monitor and be about 3 feet tall, but will be free standing and inside will be a PC, keyboard, and speakers.  The top of the half-cab will be where the arcade controls will be located (Two players w/ six buttons each + trackball + extra buttons). The idea is to roll the half-cab in front of an exisiting desktop computer and simply plug the monitor into the half-cab and viola, instant arcade.  Here is my question.  If I remove the guts from my PC and mount them inside the cab, what sort of barrier do I need to make to prevent any damage to my PC from my unshielded speakers? Would shielded speakers be a lot better? Any thoughts?

Thanks! 

Title: Re: Internal shielded speaker question
Post by: Trimoor on March 09, 2005, 05:57:37 pm

Shielded would be better.  Unless the speakers are withing inches of sensitive components, don't worry about it.  Hard drives are shielded, and a computer is much more sensitive to RF than magnetic fields.  If you still want a barrier, use aluminum sheet metal (not foil).

Title: Re: Internal shielded speaker question
Post by: ShinAce on March 09, 2005, 07:09:38 pm

I'm not sure about aluminium, since it's only weakly paramagnetic. Something ferro-magnetic like iron or steel should be better.

Personally, I woulnd't bother. You only need to protect the monitor, everything else can come within inches of the speakers. And even then, the speakers are likely to have small magnets.

Title: Re: Internal shielded speaker question
Post by: Flinkly on March 09, 2005, 07:23:04 pm

just to add to the chorus, most speakers are shielded, so don't worry too much unless you know they aren't sheilded, but even then, it shouldn't matter much.

Title: Re: Internal shielded speaker question
Post by: NoBonus on March 09, 2005, 07:37:59 pm

Thanks for the insights! I think I will end up using some shielded, powered PC speakers and hack the control knob to an external volume control knob on the outside of the mini-cab (shouldn't be too hard).  I think some smaller PC speakers will work best as I do not want to hear the music from Frogger clear as day when I am outside mowing the lawn and they are inside with the door closed.  Maybe some speakers with a small subwoofer or maybe not... I will see what I can find cheap and start there.