Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: DeLuSioNal29 on December 17, 2007, 12:54:09 pm
-
I had wanted to install two 5¼" car audio speakers (4 ohm) into my cab, right below my marquee. They would be powered by 4 ohm computer speakers which would be spliced into the new speakers. Kevin Steele from Retroblast.com did something similar: http://www.retroblast.com/Videos/Wiring-Up-An-Arcade-Cabinet-Sound-System.php
Here's my main concern. Will the unshielded speakers destroy my monitor? Will I see color bleeding because of the magnets?
Here are the speakers that I want to order: (must have blue color to match my blue theme)
http://www.caraudiodeals.com/pyle-pl53bl-525-200w-3way-200w-blue-label-car-speakers-p-1408.html
Do they even make shielded speakers in blue?
Thanks in advance!
~ DeLuSioNaL
-
It probably won't be a problem. I've never seen original arcade machine speakers that were shielded.
-
I think the biggest issue that you may run into is destroying the speakers by underpowering them. If you use an underpowered amp (which you may well be doing with using computer speaker amps), you'll probably have to crank up the amps to get some decent volume out of them. Now, when you crank up the amp too much, the amp won't be able to put out the power, which introduces a whole lot of distortion into the signal. Think of a sine wave, then lop off the tops and bottoms of the waveform. (This is known as clipping) This is what you're sending into the speaker. Notice how at the peaks, the direction of wave abruptly changes? Speakers don't like that.
-
I had discolouration on my monitor from my car speakers in my cab. I tried a few different things to resolve it like bucking magnets but i still get some distortion. I do have a deguass wand which will fix the problem for a while. It seems to be at it's worse when the volume is loud for a period of time. So I would be careful about how close you place your speakers to your monitor. Another alternative is magnetic shielding material but its very expensive I hear.
-
I have 5 1/4s in my UAII cabinet,
with a wells gardner 27" and so far have not seen any distortion or bleeding
-
I did the retroblast speaker setup with 5 1/4 sony xplod, & used backing magnets I have never had any issues
dm
-
I would suggest looking at some pictures of the speakers you want before buying them to get an idea of the magnet size. Unless you're gonna be using your cabinet as a jukebox as well, you're not gonna need home theater quality sound.
Also, while bucking/backing magnets do help cut down on CRT problems, they also hurt your speakers performance. Bucking magnets cut down on the force the speakers voice coil has to overcome to move, so there is a loss in volume and clairity. Its like buying a car with a V8 and pulling 2 plugwires off.
Another option you may want to look into is checking the local junk yard for speakers in wrecked cars. Honda and GM use speakers with small magnets that produce very good sound without a need for high wattage. I'm using two "chrysler" speakers from a plymouth mini-van in my cabinet and the sound is great. Best part is, they were free!
-Harry
-
Honestly, I have a Creative Inspire T3000 system now and they sound GREAT! However, I was just looking to pimp out the cab with nice blue speakers to match the theme. I'm not really concerned about it being loud or anything. Just so it looks nice and delivers decent sound.
But I'm still nervous about the magnet thing. Maybe I'll just compromise and buy shielded speaker here:
http://www.happcontrols.com/amusement/acesor/49022800.htm
Then I can buy grilles for them and paint them blue to match the theme.
I'll have to think long and hard for this one to see if it's worth it.
~ DeLuSioNaL
-
I've heard of a couple methods for DIY speaker shielding. Most of them involve covering the speaker driver with steel. A #10 can (big canned food can) works. Here's a link where a guy uses ducting steel.
http://www.andrewrondeau.com/Voight%20Pipes/shielding.html (http://www.andrewrondeau.com/Voight%20Pipes/shielding.html)
-
I shielded my own speakers, there was a post about it a while back:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=26785.msg221998#msg221998
I've never had any problems with my speakers since.
-
Cheap coffee cans work. I have used them to shield transformers in cocktails that were interfering with the CRT.