DIY home theater subwoofer with car audio subs!

Rockworthy · 3rd October 2009, 04:13 PM

Making a home stereo subwoofer out of a car audio subwoofer: So what's the most cost-effective way of making your car's old subwoofer into a sub for your living room? I've seen AC-to-DC converters on sale at Radio Shack, but they really cost a lot of money. What about a battery charger? You know, a battery charger/starter for your car's battery. Mine out in the garage has a setting for jumping a car, where 50 amps are available. That's enough for about 300watts of power to the amp isn't it? Anyone see any problems with this scenario? Thanks in advance,

Rockworthy

Glowbug · 3rd October 2009, 04:35 PM

Buy a real plate amp, from Parts Express or Apex Jr

They're not too expensive. Or, if you need more than 1kW or so, use a pro audio rack mount amp, like a Crown or QSC.

Rockworthy · 3rd October 2009, 05:12 PM

Actually I only need 350 RMS output from the amp. I was poking around on eBay for a "PA DJ amp" but I was having trouble finding one that made less than about 600 watts RMS, which is overkill. I'm not even quite sure what to search for because I'm not familiar with the terminology. If I were to search for a "PA amp", whatever that is, what exactly should I search for? I need 350 watts rms @4 ohms, mono. Class D if possible.

bobodioulasso · 3rd October 2009, 06:02 PM

A car audio amplifier is supplied through a low dc to higher dc converter. The amp itself to produce say 350 w @ 4 ohms needs about +/- 60v rails.
If you can make such a supply using a transformer, a rectifier and big caps it will do the job.

Glowbug · 3rd October 2009, 06:52 PM

http://apexjr.com/Apexsenior.htm

That'll do the trick.

Rockworthy · 3rd October 2009, 07:12 PM

Holy crap I think that is exactly the right amp for what I want to do! Thanks man!

3rd October 2009, 04:13 PM	#1
Rockworthy diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2009	DIY home theater subwoofer with car audio subs! Making a home stereo subwoofer out of a car audio subwoofer: So what's the most cost-effective way of making your car's old subwoofer into a sub for your living room? I've seen AC-to-DC converters on sale at Radio Shack, but they really cost a lot of money. What about a battery charger? You know, a battery charger/starter for your car's battery. Mine out in the garage has a setting for jumping a car, where 50 amps are available. That's enough for about 300watts of power to the amp isn't it? Anyone see any problems with this scenario? Thanks in advance, Rockworthy

3rd October 2009, 04:35 PM	#2
Glowbug diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hillsborough, NC/McLean, VA	Buy a real plate amp, from Parts Express or Apex Jr They're not too expensive. Or, if you need more than 1kW or so, use a pro audio rack mount amp, like a Crown or QSC. __________________ Jim J.

3rd October 2009, 06:52 PM	#5
Glowbug diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hillsborough, NC/McLean, VA	http://apexjr.com/Apexsenior.htm That'll do the trick. __________________ Jim J.

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3rd October 2009, 05:12 PM	#3
Rockworthy diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2009	Actually I only need 350 RMS output from the amp. I was poking around on eBay for a "PA DJ amp" but I was having trouble finding one that made less than about 600 watts RMS, which is overkill. I'm not even quite sure what to search for because I'm not familiar with the terminology. If I were to search for a "PA amp", whatever that is, what exactly should I search for? I need 350 watts rms @4 ohms, mono. Class D if possible.

3rd October 2009, 06:02 PM	#4
bobodioulasso diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2008	A car audio amplifier is supplied through a low dc to higher dc converter. The amp itself to produce say 350 w @ 4 ohms needs about +/- 60v rails. If you can make such a supply using a transformer, a rectifier and big caps it will do the job.

3rd October 2009, 07:12 PM	#6
Rockworthy diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2009	Holy crap I think that is exactly the right amp for what I want to do! Thanks man!

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