Car Speakers In Desktop PC

[Bruno_A]

Hey guys, I have a couple small car speakers that I would like to use with my desktop PC. How can I do that? I'm currently using the board on an old PC speaker pair and wired the board to the car speakers instead of the speakers that were originally used (I know I didn't explain well, but I included a picture) but the thing is, they don't sound very well in not very loud volumes. Is there a better way of doing this?

 

Many thanks, Bruno.

Spoiler

 

 

[Zando_]

The computer speaker circuit board probs can't put out enough power. I think often car speakers use a 200W or more amplifier. (but I'm a noob to sound systems, and have no idea how they work)

[Arty]

5 minutes ago, Zando Bob said:

The computer speaker circuit board probs can't put out enough power. I think often car speakers use a 200W or more amplifier. (but I'm a noob to sound systems, and have no idea how they work)

^ you need an AMP.

[Sack]

You can't just wire them to the computer, they need an amplifier.

[CubisticWings4]

5 minutes ago, Zando Bob said:

The computer speaker circuit board probs can't put out enough power. I think often car speakers use a 200W or more amplifier. (but I'm a noob to sound systems, and have no idea how they work)

The rule of thumb that I know about stock automotive head units is about 50-75 watts, occasionally they can go up to 200 watts, but it's not very common.

[Bruno_A]

Just now, CubisticWings4 said:

The rule of thumb that I know about stock automotive head units is about 50-75 watts, occasionally they can go up to 200 watts, but it's not very common.

 

Just now, Sack said:

You can't just wire them to the computer, they need an amplifier.

Is it possible to wire them to the PSU?

 

[NinJake]

2 minutes ago, bruny06 said:

Is it possible to wire them to the PSU?

A PSU is not an amp.

[CubisticWings4]

1 minute ago, bruny06 said:

 

Is it possible to wire them to the PSU?

 

I'm not 100% certain. I mean, in theory it's basically what an automotive amp really is, but you'd need a way to run the audio signal through the psu to get the sound signal amplified to the speaker.

[CubisticWings4]

Just now, CubisticWings4 said:

I'm not 100% certain. I mean, in theory it's basically what an automotive amp really is, but you'd need a way to run the audio signal through the psu to get the sound signal amplified to the speaker.

And even that is above my knowledge level of how to pull that off.

[CubisticWings4]

1 minute ago, CubisticWings4 said:

I'm not 100% certain. I mean, in theory it's basically what an automotive amp really is, but you'd need a way to run the audio signal through the psu to get the sound signal amplified to the speaker.

Let me clarify that. It would work on a similar principle to an auto amp IF you could run the audio signal through the PSU.

[Bruno_A]

2 minutes ago, CubisticWings4 said:

Let me clarify that. It would work on a similar principle to an auto amp IF you could run the audio signal through the PSU.

And that's impossible to do?  

[Sack]

7 minutes ago, bruny06 said:

 

Is it possible to wire them to the PSU?

 

Do you want to die?

[CubisticWings4]

I'm saying it might be possible, BUT I'm not sure as to how it could be done.

[CubisticWings4]

Just now, CubisticWings4 said:

I'm saying it might be possible, BUT I'm not sure as to how it could be done.

DONE SAFELY

[Bruno_A]

2 minutes ago, CubisticWings4 said:

DONE SAFELY

I'll just leave it then, thanks

[Bruno_A]

4 minutes ago, Sack said:

Do you want to die?

I don't know man, not really  

[CubisticWings4]

1 minute ago, bruny06 said:

I'll just leave it then, thanks

TBH: I would just buy a 110/220v to 12v converter, a car amp, a headphone to L/R audio splitter, and some speaker wire, wire it all together, and just use that.

[Sack]

14 minutes ago, bruny06 said:

I don't know man, not really  

Then don't mess with your PSU.

[CubisticWings4]

It wasn't a bad idea, just an idea where there was no safe solution

[spwath]

1 hour ago, CubisticWings4 said:

It wasn't a bad idea, just an idea where there was no safe solution

 no, it's a bad idea. There is no possible way to make it work. A power supply is nothing like an amplifier.

[Kallahan11]

2 minutes ago, spwath said:

 no, it's a bad idea. There is no possible way to make it work. A power supply is nothing like an amplifier.

Spwath is right, a power supply is not an amplifier, all this will do is blow out your speakers. you need to amplify the analog sound wave not just add a DC bias. Just buy a speaker amplifier that takes a line level input. Then its headphone jack/line out-> line in on amp -> speaker wires to car speakers. Try to match the impedance as well (should be listed on the speakers or speaker packaging, usually 8 or 16 ohms for car audio, 4 or 8 ohms for home audio. You can also use a multi meter set to read resistance).

 

PS don't mess with power supplies if you don't know what you are doing, 120VAC or 240VAC with >10amps is more than enough to do you in.

[Stagea]

8 hours ago, bruny06 said:

Hey guys, I have a couple small car speakers that I would like to use with my desktop PC. How can I do that? I'm currently using the board on an old PC speaker pair and wired the board to the car speakers instead of the speakers that were originally used (I know I didn't explain well, but I included a picture) but the thing is, they don't sound very well in not very loud volumes. Is there a better way of doing this?

 

Many thanks, Bruno.

  Hide contents

 

 

Hi Bruno,

 

You need an enclosure for those speakers. The backwave is cancelling the output from the front.They should be separated with a baffle, like that in the photo below:

 

You can get a cardboard box and cut holes on them to test this theory. Put the speakers in flush as if they are fitted in a car door (similar to the first illustration). They will sound a whole lot better when enclosed. 

 

If you are happy with the result, you can build wooden boxes for those drivers.

 

Cheers,

 

Ivan

[Bruno_A]

On 2017-5-27 at 0:11 AM, Stagea said:

Hi Bruno,

 

You need an enclosure for those speakers. The backwave is cancelling the output from the front.They should be separated with a baffle, like that in the photo below:

 

You can get a cardboard box and cut holes on them to test this theory. Put the speakers in flush as if they are fitted in a car door (similar to the first illustration). They will sound a whole lot better when enclosed. 

 

If you are happy with the result, you can build wooden boxes for those drivers.

 

Cheers,

 

Ivan

Thanks for the tip mate, I'll try it out once I get home! But I'll probably just end up buying new 2.1 speakers...

 

Many thanks, Bruno.

[Stagea]

On 5/31/2017 at 10:42 AM, bruny06 said:

Thanks for the tip mate, I'll try it out once I get home! But I'll probably just end up buying new 2.1 speakers...

 

Many thanks, Bruno.

You're welcome, buddy. Best of luck with whatever option you choose.

[Bruno_A]

On 2017-6-1 at 11:46 PM, Stagea said:

You're welcome, buddy. Best of luck with whatever option you choose.

Hey, sorry for the delay, I actualy made a cardboard housing for the speaker and the sound actually got better, thanks mate!