Why not PC speakers? - Page 6

3onDubs · 04-07-2006, 05:12 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by H4T

@TruckinMP3: I don't like it when people say "this is right" or "this is wrong" and then just go, "trust us." I don't trust you. I don't trust him.

When you post a question on a forum, you are essentially asking for two things: advice/opinions from people who are knowledgeable in the field....and insight from those with experience. When you get that advice/insight/opinion you can either like it or not like it....but either way, nobody cares to know.

Quote: Originally Posted by H4T

I read this entire thread, and everyone wants great quality audio. Anything less than crystal clear to you technical experts is rubbish.

Crystal clear is good...and i wouldn't accept anything less for myself, but the advice that was given in this thread was not pertaining to what would be good enough for optimal listening, but rather, if these speakers would meet the minimum requirements to hit audible frequencies.

Quote: Originally Posted by H4T

My question was not "is this a good idea," my question was, "has anyone tried this yet?" I want to know from actual testing if this idea is worth a shot. You guys just tell me to not even try, then bash me for being an idiot and a n00b, but you don't tell me anything useful. Yes, I know this system will not be as good as a real car audio setup, but thats not what I was asking.

Why does it matter if ur just going to tape them behind ur headrests and u just want sound? Do you want to know if sound will come out? Yes, sound will come out and ull hear it....that's all u wanted, right? I mean, if u plug it in and the inverter is powered, it'll work...why wouldn't it?

What's the minimum requirement for it to be worth it? Would sub-stock speaker standard be worth it? If sound quality is not an issue, then what is?

Quote: Originally Posted by H4T

I respect you for your knowledge and insight, but you don't care to understand the situation. I don't care if my setup is less than perfect, as long as its better than a setup of two tiny speakers in the back of the car that crackle when I turn my volume up or down.

It might be a slight improvement.

Quote: Originally Posted by H4T

Thanks for posting, but in all due respect, just let us give it a shot and we'll tell you how it goes, alright?

We?

3onDubs · 04-07-2006, 05:17 PM

You ask if it's worth it....and we don't have a copy of your "worth-it scale" on hand, so the best we can do is tell u if it would be worth it on our own "worth-it scale". When you get no as an answer and then get mad because it didn't match up with ur "worth-it scale", that makes it seem as if you are not posting a question, but rather, arguing a point.

pyros · 04-07-2006, 07:05 PM

When I first setup my car pc I blew the amp I had bought to run the stock speakers. The car came with factory amps, but at the time no harness was available for it so I thought I'd wait.

Well after a few days, I was dying without any music. So, I took my 5.1 audio system and popped it in the car. I ran it off an inverter for power.

Bottom line, it sounded like ****. Sure it sounds good in my room, but in the car, it sucked. No where to mount anything, everything was bouncing around, and it looked, well, ******* retarded. Put the windows down and you can't hear ****, even if it was loud as hell. The wind just drowned out the sound completely. The sound was way off, everything sounded watered down, the bass was crap.... not worth the hassle.

It was plugged into my SB Audigy NX soundcard, so the source wasn't the problem. The acoustics in the car just aren't meant for a 5.1 computer audio system.

Save yourself a headache and just do it properly. Computer speakers aren't designed for an automotive environment and most likely can't withstand the changes in environment, bumps, etc. I'm sure the **** isn't reinfoced the way car stereo stuff is... one hard enough bump and I'm sure something will break.

mbuchman · 04-07-2006, 07:32 PM

I have to apologize for putting a link to this thread, I didn't expect it to blow up again like this.

I read over that thread that checksum linked... Let me do some 'splanin about amperage and all that.

Your outlets in your room are fused at 15A... (or in some cases only 10A). So if those speakers took 39A worth of current, your breaker would instantly fuse, and you would have to reset it any time you turned them on.

So lets do the math here...

470W/12VDC=39A, fair enough, but that is at 12VDC.

470W/120VAC=3.9A (100% efficiency here, but who cares, close enough)

Realisticailly, you will use nowhere near that much power, because 470 watts is mose likely a maximum number, so divide that by 2 to get RMS (this is a bad practice, with no accuracy, but it is not uncommon for max to be double RMS)
235/120VAC = under 2 amps.

And as far as decibles, 62dB is nothing. I will tell you what I will do. Tonight, when I go out, I will bring my decible meter, and tell you how much road noise I get in my car. I drive a 1996 Buick Park Avenue at the moment (Buick = quiet, thats they are known for), so unless you drive a luxury vheicle, your car will be much louder. I will also see how loud I have my radio set, just for you.

-Matt

checksum · 04-07-2006, 10:02 PM

I beleive that's 470W RMS @mbuchman, which you only reach at MAXIMUM power. And even at high volume level, you would only draw less than 5A.
Have you ever listen to these speakers? or any other 5.1 equivalent? Just go to BEST BUY, they carry the same set of speakers and play with the volume and see how loud they can get, I know what I am talking about, road noise or engine noise would mean nothing to these little babies.

People talk about road noise, wind noise, ac noise atc... as a major factor for the sound quality, but whether you use car speakers or computer speakers, thoses noises are still present.
Environment you said?? Well I own a set of old 5.1 speakers, I have never taken the volume past 1/2 before the windows start shaking and the neighbors start complaining. 1/2 for me is more than enough loud music if you are that close to the speakers, unless you want to go deaf. Now if I place these speakers inside the car, I am sitting even more closer to the speakers, also the car is more confined than my apartment, so less space for the sound to surround you, I mean each speaker is only a couple feet away from you, so why sould I beleive that the sound quality would be so bad.
Even with the windows opened, driving at 60mph with my AC at max, I beleive I can get decent loud and clear music from these speakers to my satisfaction.

H4T · 04-07-2006, 10:13 PM

I plead the fifth when it comes to car audio...all I know is that its expensive...very expensive. Let's say I don't want to spend more than $100 on car speakers / audio set up on top of my computer...what can I do with that?

Genesisfactor · 04-07-2006, 10:14 PM

once again, as one of the few who has heard computer speakers put in the car as the stereo system...

Does it work: Yes

Does it sound good: No. It fills the car up, but its extremely hollow. Quaility sucks all around except the mid range. Even the high range is barely passable. But do what you want. It won't kill you, but it will suck balls. The stock system is better than the computer system, and its an 88 olds ciera.

I'm not even the only one who will tell you this. We didn't put it in our cars cause we thought it woudl rock better than the system. We did it cause we thought it would work an be cheaper (sound farmiliar?). Atleast, that's what my dad did. Then agian, he doesn't care. He'd reather have that than a blown speaker

I still can't believe this thread is up to page 6...then again, i can't believe anyone voted on my what to do with the lemon thread. No wait, yes i can...well then, just this thread boggles my mind. Its their money, let them waste it.

Oh, and i'm not some audiophile guy who runs around wiht a $10 grand system. I was satisfied with those two 6.5 MTX's in my rear in a 5.25 hole, not even screwed in, for a month and a half as my entire working stereo system. Even THAT sounded better than the computer speakers.

Genesisfactor · 04-07-2006, 10:25 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by H4T

I plead the fifth when it comes to car audio...all I know is that its expensive...very expensive. Let's say I don't want to spend more than $100 on car speakers / audio set up on top of my computer...what can I do with that?

do what i did. Buy them cheap. I have spent maybe around $150 to $200 on my system thus far. I even completed it at one time. If i removed the parametric equalizer, which was used in many competitions in the 90's, the audiocontrol crossover, which won crossover of the year twice,..hell..that's it...i hit about $90-95...and i was running infinity kappas rear, infiniti reference front, and an infinity basslink. I moved the rears to the fronts as they were 3 ways, i sold the plates, and i still have the basslink. Leaves me with $30 to get a decent set or rears for fill...and i still got those 6.5 MTX's lying around... Throw in a free amp from a neighbor...i mean...seriously..its very doable. Ofcourse, there's the wirirng, but that's like another $10-$20 if you know what you're doing with that basslink. $50 for me as i'm doing two amps, an inverter, and the big three, completely fused and distroed up.

I'm not bragging, i'm jsut saying, if i can do it, and get all that good high end/old school high end stuff for that cheap, you can too. And hell, if you're that worried about things, go to walmart and buy some crappy 4 for $60 speakers, drop $30 on a head unit, and save the rest for tax and a coke.

TruckinMP3 · 04-07-2006, 10:35 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by TruckinMP3

Several examples of why are in this thread.

You do not like them ? I do understand... you still did not "get" the examples and reasons as explained...

Fine, Go do it! Prove it was a good answer for your needs.

Here is your shot... Take it already!

Fine, Go do it! Prove it was a good answer for your needs.

Yes, several of us have said that before.... and will continue to say it.

Fine, Go do it! Prove it was a good answer for your needs.

Do you have results yet? Why not? You wanted your shot, don't miss it.

Wow, nothing has really changed.... Checksum is still the 'expert'.

tj!2k4 · 04-07-2006, 10:58 PM

"Wer nicht hören will, muß fühlen." Basta.

Black_Sheep · 04-07-2006, 11:19 PM

Checksum, you started this post about a month ago. Why haven't you tried this yet? Are you too busy being "Right"?

checksum · 04-08-2006, 12:18 AM

OK, Case closed.
I have heard all of you and thanks for your valuable inputs.
The only thing for me left to do is try it, I will post my results here, and I will be very fair, if it sounds like crap, I will tell you it sounds like crap.
Check back maybe next month, my project is on hold because of funds.

mbuchman · 04-08-2006, 01:18 AM

Here are the promised results for how loud my car is in certain situations.

While driving with no air, no radio, engine at typical traveling RPMs, and windows up...
40mph: 60dB
70mph: 70dB

Music levels (remembered where volume knob was, then did the test with car parked)
typical "quiet" listening: 70dB
typical expressway listening: 80dB
typical "fast driving" level: 85dB
typical punk-*** teenagers: 90dB
my stock radio max (FM radio, sounds like the radio has a safety cutoff, becuase it didn't distort too badly): 100dB

If the windows were down, I would imagine the sound would need to be in the 85-95dB range.

As far as what is safe, here is what OSHA has to say for workers
dB:hours per day
90:8
92:6
95:4
97:3
100:2
102:1.5
105:1
110:0.5
115:0.25
(source: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owad...ARDS&p_id=9735)

Power consumption may not be the issue, but I just thought I would let you know what levels to expect.

-Matt

pyros · 04-08-2006, 02:35 AM

See my post above.. it sounds like ****.. plain and simple. I've been there, done that, moved on. If you guys dont believe me, stop whining and try it yourself. Otherwise I dont see the need for any more posts on this.. this debate is ridiculous.

DarquePervert · 04-08-2006, 09:41 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by H4T

I plead the fifth when it comes to car audio...all I know is that its expensive...very expensive. Let's say I don't want to spend more than $100 on car speakers / audio set up on top of my computer...what can I do with that?

You can get low-end car speakers that are better than the stock units for under $50.
Check out auto parts stores, Target, WalMart and such.

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