Good Audio Forums

[mike511]

I know this really doesn't have much to do with Computers, but my question that i want to ask does but i figurered it would be best posted on an audio Forum. DOes anyone know of any good Audio Forums, somthing that is as good as this one?

BTW: My question is, i want to hook my computer to my stero next semester. But i want a lot of bass, i.e. subwoofers, but i don't have much cash. So my idea was i havea a 100watt pre-amp with 2 channels. I'd hook my regular speakers to channel A and then i'd buy two car subwoffers and hook them up to channel B. I was wondering if this would work? THanks.

[golfcart]

You might be able to find some help on the message board at http://www.elitecaraudio.com

As for the car subwoofers, you need to be careful with the impedance and make sure you wire them correctly. Most car speakers are rated at 4 ohms and most home amplifiers are rated at 8 ohms. Using an amplifier below its rated impedance can destroy it. If you wire two 4 ohm speakers in series it will give you a safe 8 ohm load. If you wire them in parallel it will give a 2 ohm load.

[Thud]

Couldn't you just buy a decent sub made for a PC? Wouldn't be any more expensive than buying two for a car (for which you'll also have to buy an enclosure).

[Roy]

You will get less hype and more knowledge for posting here than on an audio forum. I've been in Pro Sound forever and I'll try to answer your questions.

By "pre-amp with 2 channels" I guess you mean a "receiver" with 2 speaker selections. These contain only one stereo power amp and switches to select the speaker systems.

It sounds like you might already have one of these in the form of your "stereo" (except for the selector) and you're looking for more bass. Your computer can feed an AUX input.

There are budget subwoofers that contain their own power amp and 2 inputs that hook up in parallel with the 2 regular speakers. Something like that would be your best bet.

I hope some of this helps.

[3beanlimit]

Sure you can do that....the impedance factor that golfcart spoke of is certianly a factor.

Also keep in mind that you need a crossover for your subs. You can hook them up without it but you'll get better results if its set up right with a crossover.

In fact if your subs have them built in, run your speaker leads to them first and then from the other side of the crossovers to your speakers. No need for an a/b connection.

[mike511]

No as a pre-amp i mean a pre-amp. There is no tuner to it. ITs a Luxman pre-amp. Dual channel 100 watts at 4 ohms. So it has two power amps, one for each channel at 100 watts each. So no matter if you chose channel a, or b, or both your going to get 100 watts going to all. THats why i was thinking of wiring my speakers to channel A and then wiring two subs to channel B.

[canit]

Mike yes your idea will work. A few years ago I stumbled across a pair of Cerwin Vega XL-15S 15" car subwoofers going for $140. I built an isobaric passive sub(had to build a low-pass crossover too) using the CV's that rocks. BTW you have an integrated amp, a pre-amp has no amplifiers. Here's an audio site(with a forum); www.audioreview.com (http://www.audioreview.com)

[Warthog]

I agree with Roy on the hookup.

How much bass do you want? What size were you thinking? My dad's Altec Lansing pc system with 20w (?) 6 1/2" sub produces fairly good bass for that size. I don't think you will get the ultra lows with a car sub compared to a home sub. Plus, as others said, you have to buy the box, etc.

Warthog

[Roy]

The others are correct and confusing.

How much system do you already have? That would help us focus on the best solution.

[mike511]

YEha integrated amp was what i meant to say but i forgot the name, its finals week, what do you expect, lol. Anyways right now i have everything except the subs, box and crossover. I'm thinking 2 ten or twelve inch subs one for the left and right channel at 4 ohms each. As for subs, i was thinking a pair of poioneer free-air 10 inch subs so that i don't nessaceraly need a box with the free air type. They go down to 20hz, thats enough to rock my dorm.

[Roy]

Integrated Amp ... Right!

You really don't need two subs in a system, extreme low frequencies are very non-directional. The powered subs take bass information from both channels and mix it, EQ it, and should let you adjust the level.

Don't be fooled by "free air". Without an enclosure, the lows from the back of the driver, which are out of phase, merge immediately with the ones from the front and cancel out. That's why speakers are in boxes. They're designed to delay the lows so they come out the ports in phase and add to the output.

I strongly recommend you look at your budget and do some shopping for add-on subs. They're the product that is made exactly for your situation.

The suggestion about using a computer system's sub is a good one, except for one detail ~ they don't kick the way I suspect you want. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

[mike511]

Budget isn't that big. I know subs aren't that non-directional, but i would need two subs to even the second channel on my amp. But i think i might have found a nice solution, still car audio wise.
<A HREF="http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-TPls1WY8VAv/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=3&g=510&I=110KS2400&o=&a="" TARGET=_blank>http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-TPls1WY8VAv/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=3&g=510&I=110KS2400&o=&a="</A> TARGET=_blank&gt;http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-TPls1WY8VAv/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=3&g=510&I=110KS2400&o=&a=

IT has two sbs, at 4ohms with hig 96Db rating. and its in a box with dual sets of terminals. Just an idea.

oh and btw i have a computer sub right now witha 5.25 inch woofer and a pair of flat panel speakers. And while it still shakes my bed, its still only 18 watts and its still a computer system. Need to rival the neighbors you know http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif. LOL

[This message has been edited by mike511 (edited 12-14-2000).]

[Warthog]

Yeah, comp subs don't do a whole lot....unless you're on a reeeeeaaally tight budget http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif.

I use a $519 15", 265w Klipsch. It was so big that the guy had to special order it for me because they didn't have any in stock (bass freak right here). It goes so low it's just plain scary! I love talking about my stereo http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif. Why don't you have the mone??? http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif Then we could have some REAL fun http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Need to rival the neighbors you know

It's a good thing my room is in the back of the house lol http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Warthog

[Warthog]

Oh yeah, definately. In car audio, Sony is a prime example.

Warthog

[mike511]

I've had good luck with jensen though. I replaced the speakers in my moms car with some sweet jensen 4 way 6x9's and with the 11 year old factory am/fm radio its still buts out some rockin bass. So there not really a H type. I'm not looking to spend more than 160 bucks and i don't need a pre-amp, thats what i was trying to avoid, cause thats more money, and since i have the integrated amp to do it with i really don't need it. Is this jensen box a good way to go space wise for a dorm room, or can you give me some other 160 or less subs home or car that would be small, yet put out some nice bass, like 20hz or lower. THanks

[Roy]

Here's (http://www.800.com/prod.asp?p=3962) one from KLH. 10" $130 less 10% for a few more days.

Here's (http://www.consumer-direct.com/detail.cfm?vpartno=JENJS800&weight=25.0) one from Jensen. 8" $125.

Another Jensen (http://www.consumer-direct.com/detail.cfm?vpartno=JENJS1000&weight=34.0) . 15" $150.

<A HREF="http://www.consumer-direct.com/detail.cfm?vpartno=ARS108PS&weight=35.0"" TARGET=_blank>Acoustic Research</A> . 8" $150.

They all say 30Hz but that's where rollof begins, not a brick wall cutoff. There are others out there. I'd probably go for the Jensen 15" in your situation.


[This message has been edited by Roy (edited 12-15-2000).]

[Roy]

I would edit the above to correct the word "rolloff" but the URL problem makes it too much of a hassle.

[Roy]

Looks like a nice package. Remember, with a lot of Type H Audio (Hype), how it looks is more important than how it sounds. I'd put my $160 on something that didn't look as good and had it's own power amp.

[Putteh]

I just had to tell you about my solution for big bass to the computer...it's a bit complicated, but was a good solution for me with a zero budget. I've hooked up a homebrew pre-amplifier, with built-in low-pass filters for the sub. The 1st power amplifier is a Clarion caramp that connects to 2 boxes with 5.25" speakers and tweeters. Not much bass in that though, so I connected an Alphine (Alpine-rip off) power-amp to the sub-output on the pre-amp, put it in bridge-mode, and connected a 12" speaker, mounted in a big box. The power-amps are powerer by an old PC powersupply. It looks like hell, but sounds really good! http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif Just image all the cables involved...Might not be the easiest solution, but good when you have some caraudio stuff lying around...

[3beanlimit]

mike511

You say next semester. Are you staying in a dorm? If so......think about using a lot of bass. It will carry throught the floor, the walls, the ceiling. You'll probably get kicked out.

[mike511]

Yes I'll be living in a dorm, i moved out of a triple to a double so now i have room to breath. ANd i'm not going to get kicked out if i have a sub with bass, i know people thoughout my dorm who's subs rock the walls and floors and there still there with no warnings or anything. So thats not a problem. I'm home now for the xmas break, and so i hooked up my computer to my bose floor standings and my mp3 collection never sounded so good. Though now i'm on a 28.8 phone modem, ahhhhhhh, i'm so use to the lan. LOL But christmas is coming so hopefully i'll get some money to get a sub, if not there is always next year. Thanks for all the suggestions!!!

[Scozza]

I quickly read through this post - and I don't think that anyone has mentioned that:
To use a 2 channel output amp with 'normal' speakers on one channel and a (or couple) of sub bass speaker/s on the other channel would not reproduce a stereo effect (left and right). One way would be to use an active crossover on the input stage after it has been processed to mono(L+R). Then run that signal into another amplifier with the subs on it. Another way is to put Passive crossovers on each channel, filter out the HF and attach the subs to that (on each channel). This way you can still have your full range speakers working and the subs with no extra amp. But keep an eye on the impedance. Check the spec's on the back of the amp. Both ways do cost money and don't look too good. You'd probably be best off going to a computer store and buying a system that has what you want. They don't cost much - believe me - that's what I did. Also, just be careful. It's sounds like you don't really know what you are doing (no offence) I've seen and heard people play with these things and get annoyed when they blow everything up. I hope you take this advice, I'm a cinema technician and I know what I'm talking about. Have fun http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[Roy]

Scozza wrote:

"I quickly read through this post - and I don't think that anyone has mentioned that: ... "

Much too quickly.

"I'm a cinema technician and I know what I'm talking about."

Perhaps, but if you want to be believed, take the time to digest what already has been offered. Then add something if you still can.

[mike511]

cough, cough, pardon me for choking, but it was very hard to swallow that last post there by mr. cinema technician. I'm fully aware of what i'm doing, and i haven't blown and won't be blowing any speakers. I only post these things to get more insight on what my ideas are, and posts like yours do **** to help, so like your mommy told you, if you don't have something nice to say, then DON'T say anything at all.

[greenlion]

get a grip, you two. he did make some suggestion. It seems you decided to totally ignore it just because you were offended when he said he's a cinema technician and knows what he's talking about. He was not necessarily saying that you blew up your sound system, just that in his experience some people blew up theirs because they didn't know what they're doing.

[This message has been edited by greenlion (edited 12-23-2000).]

[Scozza]

I guess in the future I will not be honest with you - maybe I should just say what sounds good. I did offer suggestions and didn't want to offend you (as written in the post). If you want to build a bridge then don't ask me how to do it. This is what I do for a living and any information I can give, I will. Simple.

[Roy]

I'll stand on what I said before.

If Scozza had read the thread thoroughly, he would have recognized Mike511's understanding, experience, budget constraints and objective. He would not have gone on about mis-use of the two channels of a power amp resulting in no stereo. He would not have described costly electronics. He would not have suggested anything about using computer speakers for the job. And he definitely would not have said "It's (sic) sounds like you don't really know what you are doing" to Mike511.

Good Luck, Scozza, in your carreer as a "Cinema Technician" (whatever that may be). When you're dealing with sound, I strongly recommend that you learn to listen before you speak.

[Scozza]

Roy, what's your problem. Can't you see the information that is handed down. If you are what you say you are, you would realise that the building of the processor side "costly electronics" is not costly at all.

Mike - You ask for advice - I gave advice. I also said Be careful. The way you explained the problem indicated to me that you were unsure of what to do. I did not want to see or hear of your work go down the drain over a silly mistake. It's that simple.

You can either take my advice or not.

Roy, 'Cinema Technician' involves: installing cinema sound equipment (dolby digital, dts, etc), Screens, projectors - all the stuff required so when you go and watch a film, it looks good and sounds good. You're a TV Engineer - why can't you understand? Or are you too much of a freelance writer? Understand? Probably not.

[This message has been edited by Scozza (edited 12-23-2000).]

[Warthog]

Hey you guys need to chill a bit. Ok?

[Roy]

I think we all understand each other's viewpoints on this matter a little better now, and I believe it's time to let this thread go to sleep.

[mike511]

Thank you Roy for letting me know someone with some understandings does exsist.

[mike511]

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