Hi folks! I'm really new to this whole audio thing, so I hope this is the right place to post this...
I recently acquired a very old Motorola console stereo which I'm planning to turn into a digital jukebox. I seem to be getting a lot of conflicting information as to how to go about setting up the system, and I had some speaker questions. The PC stuff I know backwards and forwards, but when it comes to speakers, amps etc. I'm pretty clueless.
The console had six speakers in it, all of which I'm planning to replace as a couple are blown:
2 - 12" speakers
2 - 5.25" speakers
2 - 6"x2" horn tweeters
I can find speakers at a pretty reasonable price in all those sizes, but I'm lost when it comes to determining what kind of amp I'll need to run them. This is a home jukebox, so it's not like I need to be able to hear it in the next county over. I just need an amp that won't break the bank that can run them. I'm already assuming a car amp is my best cost option, even including the price of a power source.
I tried to get a crash course from a car audio installer, but he wasn't terribly helpful. I may have been asking the wrong questions, or he simply might not have been the most knowledgeable person. He recommended running two 2-channel amps, but that would effectively double the cost of an expensive component. Is it possible to use something like a single 4-channel amp to run all six speakers? I'm told I can wire the 5.25" speakers and tweeters together, but powering a pair of 12" speakers might be kind of rough.
So I guess my question is... what am I looking at? What's my best cost effective means of powering six speakers in those sizes?
Thanks in advance!
I recently acquired a very old Motorola console stereo which I'm planning to turn into a digital jukebox. I seem to be getting a lot of conflicting information as to how to go about setting up the system, and I had some speaker questions. The PC stuff I know backwards and forwards, but when it comes to speakers, amps etc. I'm pretty clueless.
The console had six speakers in it, all of which I'm planning to replace as a couple are blown:
2 - 12" speakers
2 - 5.25" speakers
2 - 6"x2" horn tweeters
I can find speakers at a pretty reasonable price in all those sizes, but I'm lost when it comes to determining what kind of amp I'll need to run them. This is a home jukebox, so it's not like I need to be able to hear it in the next county over. I just need an amp that won't break the bank that can run them. I'm already assuming a car amp is my best cost option, even including the price of a power source.
I tried to get a crash course from a car audio installer, but he wasn't terribly helpful. I may have been asking the wrong questions, or he simply might not have been the most knowledgeable person. He recommended running two 2-channel amps, but that would effectively double the cost of an expensive component. Is it possible to use something like a single 4-channel amp to run all six speakers? I'm told I can wire the 5.25" speakers and tweeters together, but powering a pair of 12" speakers might be kind of rough.
So I guess my question is... what am I looking at? What's my best cost effective means of powering six speakers in those sizes?
Thanks in advance!
Do you know about chip amps? There is a ton of information here in the fourm. They can be had in kit form. You could drive them from your sound card, no problem. If you had multiple channels on the sound card you could even go Bi-amp digital crossover. Lots of free software. 🙂
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Nope, never heard of em. Something new to research!
I've got two options for the computer guts of this thing. Either an old laptop with an external USB 5.1 sound card, or I can frankenstein a PC together out of spare parts. I'm not 100% sure how I'll go yet.
I've got two options for the computer guts of this thing. Either an old laptop with an external USB 5.1 sound card, or I can frankenstein a PC together out of spare parts. I'm not 100% sure how I'll go yet.
The laptop is a good option because it can run low power and it has the built in keyboard and monitor, which can be very handy. Normally you run it with the lid shut and control it via network. However.... laptops have latency issues and are prone to pops and dropouts.
As for the speakers, have a look at the vast selection at Parts Express.
Chip amps are a good idea for this.
As for the speakers, have a look at the vast selection at Parts Express.
Chip amps are a good idea for this.
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