Here's my budget stereo. It sounds great (to me at least). I'm running 1 channel of the mid/high amps (top & bottom amps in pic) at 1 ohm, and the other channel at 3 ohm. The sub amps are running at 2 ohm bridged. After 10 continuous hrs of playing, the amps aren't much warmer than my breath. The power supply hasn't dropped below 13.5v. So far, so good.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc314/gearhead_to_the_max/stereo/DCP_1070.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc314/gearhead_to_the_max/stereo/DCP_1069.jpg
There's another set of subs off to the right that don't show up in the pic.
Replies (16)
swez on 12/10/2007 05:29:32
Nice work on the amp rack and installing the HU and changer too. Looks very good.
If you want better coverage from the mids and highs in the work area, consider adjusting the towers so that they aim downward into your work area. As is, the mids will give about 50-80 degrees of dispersion pattern and the tweeters are more like 30-45 degrees.
Am sure this sounds pretty solid in such a large work area. How's the "reverberation affect" in such a large space?
Swez
gearhead on 12/10/2007 08:18:55
Most of the "work" area is 8'-25' from the speakers. I don't notice much reverb. The walls and roof are insulated, there are 3- 8' h x 8' l x 2' w wood storage shelves off to the right, along with numerous motorcycles and other junk, so there isn't much unobstructed space below the 8' level. All of the speakers "point" at the 8' high x 12' wide front rollup door. Even at moderate volume levels (20-25, HU goes to 62), the sound is pretty clear all the way to the street 50' away. Bass is pretty tight with no muddiness. So far there's only 1 song (Savoy Truffle) that doesn't sound the way I want it to. It's probably due to the way it was recorded. I'll have to play with the HU settings to see if I can get what I want for that 1 song. Overall, I'm pretty happy. All I have to do now is practice some restraint so the cops don't bother me.
swez on 12/10/2007 17:59:00
Quote: "All I have to do now is practice some restraint so the cops don't bother me."
Hehe, I hear dat brother and so do the neighbors. When we are inside a larger space like this and dial up the SPL, it does not seem too obnoxious inside the building. However, if we walk outside on a clear and cold night, the sound carries a lot further then we might expect. (Cold, dry air really transmits soundwaves much more than warm, damp nights)
Anyway, nice work and enjoy your new system. It's very well done and can really bother the neighbors if one is not carefull. (Got an SPL meter handy?) Above 105dB, even a well insulated building will leak.
Swez
ttocs on 12/10/2007 22:53:31
what is your power source for the amps?
SQLThump on 12/11/2007 01:21:54
Dude, thats way tight. Can I come over to work on the Bucket???
What are the other subs you are using? Man thats one sick as hell garage stereo. You are breaking the standard to what a usual garage stereo is held to..
gearhead on 12/11/2007 02:03:19
"what is your power source for the amps?"
I've got a Kepco RAX 12-125K (13.5v/125A) and 2 Cosel PBA 1500F's(13.5v/125A). The Cosel's are connected in parallel so I've got 250A from them. They're my "backup" right now since the Kepco seems to be handling things just fine. At the highest levels I normally listen to, the Kepco hasn't dropped voltage below 13.5v and the overcurrent protection hasn't triggered. My HU and CD changer are powered by 12v battery that has a Battery Tender charger connected to it, that way I don't lose my presets.
I've got 2 Bazooka EL 1004's (10") & 2 Infinity 1230W's, all in separate sealed boxes. 1- 10" & 1- 12" wired in parallel, per amp.Makes for some tight bass.
The towers have 4 separate sealed sections, 1 for each speaker. The boxes with the 2 Sony's (gold colored speakers) in them are sealed with a single compartment.
All of the speaker wiring is 12ga.. Amp power wiring is 4ga. & power supply to distribution "block" is 1/0.
This is all low budget stuff except the H/U, which I purchased retail (Circuit City, didn't feel like waiting for a good deal to come along). Amps were $50 ea.(2 new, 2 used), subs were $20 ea.(new), the Sony's were $7 ea. (new, retail is $149ea if you can find them), the components & coax's averaged $30/set (2 new, 2 used), power supplies averaged $70 ea., wiring was all purchased at Skycraft (Army/Navy/Air Force surplus store) in Orlando. All total, including the materials for the boxes & amp rack, I've got less than $1K in it.
SQLThump on 12/11/2007 02:28:59
Very nicely done. How much do some power supplies like that set you back?
gearhead on 12/11/2007 03:08:05
You have to keep your eyes open on eBay to find them. They show up very sporadically. Both the Kepco & the Cosel retail in the $1000-$1500 range, new.
The Kepco appears to be the more robust of the 2, it weighs a lot more than the Cosel.
The Cosel has an "unlimited" life expectancy at the levels & temperatures I'm using it at (according to the owners manual).
There's a Cosel on eBay right now that's brand new with a high bid of $25.
SQLThump on 12/11/2007 03:13:48
Wow, some high list prices there. How much time was left on that auction? That would be a pretty steep drop in price.
I would like to do something like that, but I would first have to get me one of the newfangdangled garages!
gearhead on 12/11/2007 03:23:43
5 days 15hrs left. Most folks go for modified battery chargers when they want 12v power supplies for "home" use. These power supplies are pretty much for high-tech lab grade "industrial" use, and of very high quality. A lot of "surplus" shows up on eBay.
The garage is easy. I built mine all by myself, literally.
SQLThump on 12/11/2007 03:34:57
Wonder how much that price will climb up between now and then.
I wouldn't mind constructing a garage, but I live in a Mobile home park, so build a garage on somebody else's land sounds a bit out of order....at least we own the crib.
Wonder what kind of lab work they use thes kind of ower supplies for. Maybe making audio equipment?
gearhead on 12/11/2007 03:44:48
"Wonder how much that price will climb up between now and then"
I don't expect the price will go much above $125-$150.
"Wonder what kind of lab work they use thes kind of ower supplies for. Maybe making audio equipment?"
They are generally used to power other test equipment, instrument panels, etc..
SQLThump on 12/11/2007 03:56:20
Wow, so if sold around that price, thats an nice 90% off.
I am sure these things also see some work on soundboards in electronics stores too.
How big are these things?
gearhead on 12/11/2007 06:15:19
"I am sure these things also see some work on soundboards in electronics stores too."
Probably not. The most popular 120v/12v power supplies for car audio shops are Cascade and Pyramid. They target their advertising to the car audio market.
"How big are these things?"
Kepco- 12"x8"x5"
Cosel- 11"x7"x2 1/2"
swez on 12/11/2007 19:40:59
Are these power supplies variable in voltage supply they can deliver, (Say 11 - 15 VDC) or fixed at a given voltage, and over 100A's of current?
Swez
gearhead on 12/12/2007 01:17:33
The specs for the Kepco say 8.4-13.2v, but my Fluke meter says 13.5v. Output @ 50degs C ambient- 125A/1500W, @ 60degs C ambient- 87.5A/1050W, @ 71degs C ambient-50A/600W
The Cosel specs are pretty similar.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc314/gearhead_to_the_max/stereo/DCP_1070.jpg
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc314/gearhead_to_the_max/stereo/DCP_1069.jpg
There's another set of subs off to the right that don't show up in the pic.
Replies (16)
swez on 12/10/2007 05:29:32
Nice work on the amp rack and installing the HU and changer too. Looks very good.
If you want better coverage from the mids and highs in the work area, consider adjusting the towers so that they aim downward into your work area. As is, the mids will give about 50-80 degrees of dispersion pattern and the tweeters are more like 30-45 degrees.
Am sure this sounds pretty solid in such a large work area. How's the "reverberation affect" in such a large space?
Swez
gearhead on 12/10/2007 08:18:55
Most of the "work" area is 8'-25' from the speakers. I don't notice much reverb. The walls and roof are insulated, there are 3- 8' h x 8' l x 2' w wood storage shelves off to the right, along with numerous motorcycles and other junk, so there isn't much unobstructed space below the 8' level. All of the speakers "point" at the 8' high x 12' wide front rollup door. Even at moderate volume levels (20-25, HU goes to 62), the sound is pretty clear all the way to the street 50' away. Bass is pretty tight with no muddiness. So far there's only 1 song (Savoy Truffle) that doesn't sound the way I want it to. It's probably due to the way it was recorded. I'll have to play with the HU settings to see if I can get what I want for that 1 song. Overall, I'm pretty happy. All I have to do now is practice some restraint so the cops don't bother me.
swez on 12/10/2007 17:59:00
Quote: "All I have to do now is practice some restraint so the cops don't bother me."
Hehe, I hear dat brother and so do the neighbors. When we are inside a larger space like this and dial up the SPL, it does not seem too obnoxious inside the building. However, if we walk outside on a clear and cold night, the sound carries a lot further then we might expect. (Cold, dry air really transmits soundwaves much more than warm, damp nights)
Anyway, nice work and enjoy your new system. It's very well done and can really bother the neighbors if one is not carefull. (Got an SPL meter handy?) Above 105dB, even a well insulated building will leak.
Swez
ttocs on 12/10/2007 22:53:31
what is your power source for the amps?
SQLThump on 12/11/2007 01:21:54
Dude, thats way tight. Can I come over to work on the Bucket???
What are the other subs you are using? Man thats one sick as hell garage stereo. You are breaking the standard to what a usual garage stereo is held to..
gearhead on 12/11/2007 02:03:19
"what is your power source for the amps?"
I've got a Kepco RAX 12-125K (13.5v/125A) and 2 Cosel PBA 1500F's(13.5v/125A). The Cosel's are connected in parallel so I've got 250A from them. They're my "backup" right now since the Kepco seems to be handling things just fine. At the highest levels I normally listen to, the Kepco hasn't dropped voltage below 13.5v and the overcurrent protection hasn't triggered. My HU and CD changer are powered by 12v battery that has a Battery Tender charger connected to it, that way I don't lose my presets.
I've got 2 Bazooka EL 1004's (10") & 2 Infinity 1230W's, all in separate sealed boxes. 1- 10" & 1- 12" wired in parallel, per amp.Makes for some tight bass.
The towers have 4 separate sealed sections, 1 for each speaker. The boxes with the 2 Sony's (gold colored speakers) in them are sealed with a single compartment.
All of the speaker wiring is 12ga.. Amp power wiring is 4ga. & power supply to distribution "block" is 1/0.
This is all low budget stuff except the H/U, which I purchased retail (Circuit City, didn't feel like waiting for a good deal to come along). Amps were $50 ea.(2 new, 2 used), subs were $20 ea.(new), the Sony's were $7 ea. (new, retail is $149ea if you can find them), the components & coax's averaged $30/set (2 new, 2 used), power supplies averaged $70 ea., wiring was all purchased at Skycraft (Army/Navy/Air Force surplus store) in Orlando. All total, including the materials for the boxes & amp rack, I've got less than $1K in it.
SQLThump on 12/11/2007 02:28:59
Very nicely done. How much do some power supplies like that set you back?
gearhead on 12/11/2007 03:08:05
You have to keep your eyes open on eBay to find them. They show up very sporadically. Both the Kepco & the Cosel retail in the $1000-$1500 range, new.
The Kepco appears to be the more robust of the 2, it weighs a lot more than the Cosel.
The Cosel has an "unlimited" life expectancy at the levels & temperatures I'm using it at (according to the owners manual).
There's a Cosel on eBay right now that's brand new with a high bid of $25.
SQLThump on 12/11/2007 03:13:48
Wow, some high list prices there. How much time was left on that auction? That would be a pretty steep drop in price.
I would like to do something like that, but I would first have to get me one of the newfangdangled garages!
gearhead on 12/11/2007 03:23:43
5 days 15hrs left. Most folks go for modified battery chargers when they want 12v power supplies for "home" use. These power supplies are pretty much for high-tech lab grade "industrial" use, and of very high quality. A lot of "surplus" shows up on eBay.
The garage is easy. I built mine all by myself, literally.
SQLThump on 12/11/2007 03:34:57
Wonder how much that price will climb up between now and then.
I wouldn't mind constructing a garage, but I live in a Mobile home park, so build a garage on somebody else's land sounds a bit out of order....at least we own the crib.
Wonder what kind of lab work they use thes kind of ower supplies for. Maybe making audio equipment?
gearhead on 12/11/2007 03:44:48
"Wonder how much that price will climb up between now and then"
I don't expect the price will go much above $125-$150.
"Wonder what kind of lab work they use thes kind of ower supplies for. Maybe making audio equipment?"
They are generally used to power other test equipment, instrument panels, etc..
SQLThump on 12/11/2007 03:56:20
Wow, so if sold around that price, thats an nice 90% off.
I am sure these things also see some work on soundboards in electronics stores too.
How big are these things?
gearhead on 12/11/2007 06:15:19
"I am sure these things also see some work on soundboards in electronics stores too."
Probably not. The most popular 120v/12v power supplies for car audio shops are Cascade and Pyramid. They target their advertising to the car audio market.
"How big are these things?"
Kepco- 12"x8"x5"
Cosel- 11"x7"x2 1/2"
swez on 12/11/2007 19:40:59
Are these power supplies variable in voltage supply they can deliver, (Say 11 - 15 VDC) or fixed at a given voltage, and over 100A's of current?
Swez
gearhead on 12/12/2007 01:17:33
The specs for the Kepco say 8.4-13.2v, but my Fluke meter says 13.5v. Output @ 50degs C ambient- 125A/1500W, @ 60degs C ambient- 87.5A/1050W, @ 71degs C ambient-50A/600W
The Cosel specs are pretty similar.
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