Hello, new guy here, first time posting.
I'm building my first speaker, and I'm looking at an amp that says it has an output of 2x15W. I'm assuming this means there are two separate outputs of 15W from the amp.
I'm planning on a two-way system, how do I go about connecting the amp to the crossover considering the amp has two outputs? Do they just connect together? Do I only use one output, and if so should I get a different wattage amp? Help!
One other thing. My speaker system is 2x40W RMS woofers (in parallel) and a 20W tweeter. I figured going with the 2x15W amp was a safe bet, but perhaps I should go higher.
If I've posted this in the wrong section, please do let me know so I can move this across.
Thank you!
I'm building my first speaker, and I'm looking at an amp that says it has an output of 2x15W. I'm assuming this means there are two separate outputs of 15W from the amp.
I'm planning on a two-way system, how do I go about connecting the amp to the crossover considering the amp has two outputs? Do they just connect together? Do I only use one output, and if so should I get a different wattage amp? Help!
One other thing. My speaker system is 2x40W RMS woofers (in parallel) and a 20W tweeter. I figured going with the 2x15W amp was a safe bet, but perhaps I should go higher.
If I've posted this in the wrong section, please do let me know so I can move this across.
Thank you!
More info required.
How are the speaker drive units connected (series or parallel) and what is the overall impedance.
What is the sensitivity of the speakers units.
What sort of music do you listen to and at what sort of volume.
What is the 15w amp (post details or a link)
Does the amp have it's own power supply or do you have provide one for it?
How are the speaker drive units connected (series or parallel) and what is the overall impedance.
What is the sensitivity of the speakers units.
What sort of music do you listen to and at what sort of volume.
What is the 15w amp (post details or a link)
Does the amp have it's own power supply or do you have provide one for it?
You have a stereo amp, so use one speaker box per channel.
Don't attempt to parallel the amplifier channels.
Don't attempt to parallel the amplifier channels.
Hey, thanks for your response.
Here's an image of my circuit and impedance graph in VirtuixCAD. I'm not sure how to get a flat impedance measurement.
Here's a link for the amp I'm using:
Dayton Audio KAB-215 2x15W Class D Audio Amplifier Board with Bluetooth 2.1
Really what I'm trying to understand is how I wire the amp to the crossover components, considering that it appears there are two 15W outputs from the amp.
Thank you so much again.
Here's an image of my circuit and impedance graph in VirtuixCAD. I'm not sure how to get a flat impedance measurement.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Here's a link for the amp I'm using:
Dayton Audio KAB-215 2x15W Class D Audio Amplifier Board with Bluetooth 2.1
Really what I'm trying to understand is how I wire the amp to the crossover components, considering that it appears there are two 15W outputs from the amp.
Thank you so much again.
It's my first build - I'm going for simplicity. With that in consideration, in your opinion what would be the best route?
As Russ says - are you going stereo with two speakers, or mono with one?
The input to your crossover will be wired to ONE of the amp outputs. On your schematic, the generator (circle with the wave in it) is one of your amp channels.
The input to your crossover will be wired to ONE of the amp outputs. On your schematic, the generator (circle with the wave in it) is one of your amp channels.
Alright thank you!
With the tweeter at 20W and the woofers 40W a piece, should change amp to one with a higher output wattage?
Also, if I have a stereo amp, is it okay if I just wire it mono, or should I pursue a mono amp (if such a thing exists)?
With the tweeter at 20W and the woofers 40W a piece, should change amp to one with a higher output wattage?
Also, if I have a stereo amp, is it okay if I just wire it mono, or should I pursue a mono amp (if such a thing exists)?
You don't need a higher wattage if you are close to the speaker.
You can use just one side of the stereo amp, but you'll need to somehow mix the left and right before they get to the amp. That might not be simple, especially if you are using Bluetooth. Yes, there are mono amplifiers. Some will even mix stereo into mono for you.
You can use just one side of the stereo amp, but you'll need to somehow mix the left and right before they get to the amp. That might not be simple, especially if you are using Bluetooth. Yes, there are mono amplifiers. Some will even mix stereo into mono for you.
Okay sweet. I guess my question is then, do I take into consideration the RMS of the individual speakers, or the combined watts? Because that's either 20, or 100.
Thank you so much again, this is a lot of clarity.
Thank you so much again, this is a lot of clarity.
You're welcome!
It's common for people to think of speakers like light bulbs. A 100 watt bulb will be at 100 watt all the time while its on. But a speaker won't be. It gets a highly changing signal called music. And you can make the music louder or softer with the volume control. A 40W speaker isn't playing anywhere near 40W most of the time, maybe even never. More likely in the range of 1 watt.
The wattage given for speaker is how much power it can stand before it burns up. It is not how much power the speaker needs or uses.
It's common for people to think of speakers like light bulbs. A 100 watt bulb will be at 100 watt all the time while its on. But a speaker won't be. It gets a highly changing signal called music. And you can make the music louder or softer with the volume control. A 40W speaker isn't playing anywhere near 40W most of the time, maybe even never. More likely in the range of 1 watt.
The wattage given for speaker is how much power it can stand before it burns up. It is not how much power the speaker needs or uses.
I tried to put together one side of a stereo setup just now on Vituix, didn't go so well, guess I'm going mono!
Alright, so with a 100W system on mono, would a 50W amp output be a good buy?
Alright, so with a 100W system on mono, would a 50W amp output be a good buy?
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The average, normal person usually listens to a system at normal levels.
And for that sound level, considering most consumer-grade speakers, it's usually around 1 to 5 watts.
Anything above that is going to be LOUD, and difficult to have a conversation in the same room.
Indeed, having "headroom" in an amplifier allows for cleaner transients in the music, however those "monster amps" with hundreds of watts are only wasted money, impressing the owner or possibly friends - hype, like owning a powerful expensive automobile and showing it off - you couldn't utilize its speed in normal everyday use.
Even though my main stereo system is rated at 60/60 watts per channel, I've never needed to use it for that much, I like to keep my hearing intact, and my neighbors from calling the cops.
And for that sound level, considering most consumer-grade speakers, it's usually around 1 to 5 watts.
Anything above that is going to be LOUD, and difficult to have a conversation in the same room.
Indeed, having "headroom" in an amplifier allows for cleaner transients in the music, however those "monster amps" with hundreds of watts are only wasted money, impressing the owner or possibly friends - hype, like owning a powerful expensive automobile and showing it off - you couldn't utilize its speed in normal everyday use.
Even though my main stereo system is rated at 60/60 watts per channel, I've never needed to use it for that much, I like to keep my hearing intact, and my neighbors from calling the cops.