Thread: 6-channel amp for 7.1?

Originally Posted by WuNgUn

Here are ALL the jacks...

Line in
Mic in
Front
Side Surround
Back Surround
Center/Subwoofer
Coaxial (SPDIF)
Optical (SPDIF)

Oh ok, that's great then, that center/subwoofer is actually 2 channels, just like all the other ones. One "side" is the center, the other "side" is the subwoofer.

Personally, unless you watch movies with 5.1 content, I don't think you really need or want a center channel - because that's juts another thing that you have to fabricate a location for and mount.. unless you are happy with having the speaker lying around in the car.

So I think the most economical way to do this would be to get:
4 channel amp for interior listening
big mono amp for big sub - and I think you should get at least a 12" to give your tailgaters some thump outside
2 channel amp for rear-facing tailgating speakers

The only speakers you would have to buy would be:
1 sub + enclosure
2 rear facing speakers + enclosure

Your 2 rear channels could be connected to the pass-through on your 4 channel amp, and you could put a switch for your remote-power-on wires for the amps, so flipped one way, your interior speakers are on, and flipped the other way, your outside speakers are on - and your sub is always on.

Sorry I keep pushing less channels, but I think you will be really happy with 4.1 sound.. the center channel would be useless for tailgating, unless you actually had 4 tailgating speakers and set them in a circle around the tailgaters... the center channel is really only for playing center channel sound on 5.1 channel media, such as DVDs.

Yeah, I get the center channel constraints for tailgating...not practical at all...
But the tailgate option will only be used for camping and demonstrations, etc...
And even the 5.1 or 7.1 wil get limited use.

But, with a wireless keyboard/mouse (diNovo Mini, http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard/devices/3848&cl=ca,en?WT.ac=mb|3850|hp)
Imagine, sitting around the campfire with your friends, and running your music library from your folding chair, using the 22" monitor to navigate...

I already have a 2 channel amp, which I'll likely use for the rears...and a 5 channel for the 4 main speakers and sub...
BTW, I'm going to run a single 10" as my car already has accomadation for such...probably a 4 ohm, dual voice coil bridged...

That keyboard looks sweet.

I'm still not sure what you want to accomplish with the center speaker. If you are outside, you'd be using your 2 "outside sound" speakers, and there are no standards for 3.1 (left, right, center, sub). So you would either end up losing the rear channel while playing 5.1, or you would get nothing out of the center, while playing 2.1.

I think the two channels facing outward is sufficient - and if you want more speakers, just go to 4 outside channels instead of 3.

But yeah.. your plan sounds pretty cool and I'm interested in seeing how it turns out..

The 5.1 or 7.1 is mainly meant for in-car viewing...
I only mentioned it as an option...Switching the audio properties from 5.1 to 2.1 and driving it thru the rear channels is doable, but not easily accomplished..

Originally Posted by krnpimpsta

That keyboard looks sweet.

I'm still not sure what you want to accomplish with the center speaker. If you are outside, you'd be using your 2 "outside sound" speakers, and there are no standards for 3.1 (left, right, center, sub). So you would either end up losing the rear channel while playing 5.1, or you would get nothing out of the center, while playing 2.1.

I think the two channels facing outward is sufficient - and if you want more speakers, just go to 4 outside channels instead of 3.

But yeah.. your plan sounds pretty cool and I'm interested in seeing how it turns out..

Originally Posted by RedGTiVR6

Lordy....a computer speaker?

I'm outta here...

If you have a better option in mind, I'd love to hear it...
NXT licensed technology is pretty sweet for limited spaces!
And of course, the center channel will only be used for movie dialogue, so 2% of the time?

hey, this might be a stretch, but have you considered two sound cards? do you have a fullsize computer or are you trying to conserve space?

i ask this because on my home computer, i use both onboard sound and my pci sound card. my pci sound card is connected to my computer speakers for daily listening. my other sound card is outputting 2 channels to a behringer 2500 watt amp powering a few large speakers (3 15" woofers, 8 horn tweeters).

this way, there is actually no switching i have to do. i have two copies of winamp installed. one is configured to play to my computer speakers, the other is configured to play to my party speakers. so i just click on a different winamp shortcut when i want to play music for parties.

if space is not a concern, a 2nd sound card might be an option - or maybe a USB sound card... at least that would make it VERY easy to switch between two outputs - or even play different content to both outputs simultaneously (watch a dvd in the car while playing music outside)

Interesting...
Yeah, I have onboard sound and a PCI sound card...space isn't a concern...
Pretty neat idea!

great, then you should have no problem. i think you're on the way to a pretty cool system.

only thing i would change is... you know it.. the center speaker. :P (if i had to have a center, i would probably go with a $30 6.5" fullrange 2-way and power it with the 5th channel of a 5 channel amp - and use a dedicated sub amp for the sub.. its cheaper/more-efficient/better-in-my-opinion that way)