Car amp for home use

Wharfedale EVO 4.2 Speakers
Sumanta

Sumanta

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I want to use this JBL amplifier GTX424 for my OB speaker. I want to connect two 12inch driver per channel of 100W 8 Ohms (97 SPL, Qts0.7) in parallel with each one channel of this amp to get 4 ohm equivalent impedance.

Does any of you have any experience in using car audio amplifier at home? How then you used it?
Who or where can one make an AC/DC converter?
Has anybody used it to drive drivers of high Qts and size?

Please do let me know your experience then.
 
I would suggest not to use a car amp though it can be used after a lot of messing around. 2 big issues: first off, car amps are built for 4 ohm resistance. Second, they are build for 12v DC power, you need a good converter to get this. For all this extra money i would suggest to go with a budget amp like Norge for HT use.
 
This is really not a good idea. Sure it can work, but you expose yourself to real danger. Car audio products are designed and insulated for a 12 volt environment. You can have a battery eliminator power supply that runs on 230volt mains and outputs DC voltage, but the current state of Indian power systems often sends huge power spikes down the line. While most mains equipment is fairly tolerant of this the insulation in automotive products is not. You run risk of fire, and I have not yet mentioned lightning.

You could build or buy a safe battery eliminator with good isolation and fault protection, but the cost of the transformer alone would exceed the cost of a middle of the road home theater receiver with 7.1 and 100w/channel.

Use the car amp in the Tata, and get a proper mains amp for the house.
 
Sumanta said:
I want to use this JBL amplifier GTX424 for my OB speaker. I want to connect two 12inch driver per channel of 100W 8 Ohms (97 SPL, Qts0.7) in parallel with each one channel of this amp to get 4 ohm equivalent impedance.

Does any of you have any experience in using car audio amplifier at home? How then you used it?
Who or where can one make an AC/DC converter?
Has anybody used it to drive drivers of high Qts and size?

Please do let me know your experience then.
Click to expand...

In my college days in Mumbai, I could only afford a locally made cassette car head unit (not even an amp) for my home stereo, but I luckily had an excellent pair of Arphi speakers.
I used it without any problem for almost 5 years, the sound quality was excellent.
So if you can get a decent quality 12 volt converter, then go for it, you won't regret
 
Marsons, Moviela and Kannan, thank you for your informations. thank you so much.

I have thought of taking care of the impedence part by having two 8 ohms drivers in parallel. I am not sure about the eliminator yet:sad:. Let'e see..
 
You can surely and use a car amp, as for power why not use a junked computer SMPS which will give you 12 Volts @ 35-40 Amps and is very tolerant to spikes, surges lo/hi input voltages ?? a new one would cost you a max of Rs 600.

regards

lifewater
 
Life water, thank you so much.
Please clarify a little more about what are the modification that I should do on the SMPS and/or amp to make it work. Please....:)
 
WOW!
Thank you Lifewater!

I will be doing it.
Right now I am planning for making my next DIY OB with bi-amping facility and will be using my Onkyo AVR TX SR608for bi amping it.

If I am right and lucky (that means if my latest OB works), I will then use it with my tube amp for mid and high and Low range with a car amp with an SMPS.
I will ask for your help then.
It is a pity that I am more than 2000 km away from your place. Other wise I would have it ready this time. I will go for a proper local help here when the time comes.
Thanks a lot again for your direction. I am clear in understanding now.
 
Sumanta said:
WOW!
Thank you Lifewater!

I will be doing it.
Right now I am planning for making my next DIY OB with bi-amping facility and will be using my Onkyo AVR TX SR608for bi amping it.

If I am right and lucky (that means if my latest OB works), I will then use it with my tube amp for mid and high and Low range with a car amp with an SMPS.
I will ask for your help then.
It is a pity that I am more than 2000 km away from your place. Other wise I would have it ready this time. I will go for a proper local help here when the time comes.
Thanks a lot again for your direction. I am clear in understanding now.
Click to expand...

All the best. Me always arount the corner to help.

Regards

lifewater
 
I have uzed successfully drawing power from the inverter battary. The advantage with car amps is that and they are cheap. Built solid. Great for lowest frequency bass reproduction. Specially sub bass. Easy and cheap to repair. Downside is they dont look as good in home set up. In my current set up i am gonna use all car audio euipment worth 30 k. I had a spare 88 amp batt lying from my E 240 and bought a new inverter to charge it.

If you can use blaupunkt car audio componentz it can leave many audiophile systems far behind IMHO.
 
Last edited:
Kaps, if you want to get rid of batteries, you can go for high amperage server supplies which are capable in excess of 100A, often you can parallel them for more current.
 
I am successfully using junk pc smps into modded 12v supply..
you can surely go for it.
short green and black.group all yellow and black.terminate others.you are done.
use it.if not satisfied then go for HT amp.
 
kaps said:
I have uzed successfully drawing power from the inverter battary. The advantage with car amps is that and they are cheap. Built solid. Great for lowest frequency bass reproduction. Specially sub bass. Easy and cheap to repair. Downside is they dont look as good in home set up. In my current set up i am gonna use all car audio euipment worth 30 k. I had a spare 88 amp batt lying from my E 240 and bought a new inverter to charge it.

If you can use blaupunkt car audio componentz it can leave many audiophile systems far behind IMHO.
Click to expand...

kaps...i have a question..i was also thinking why not use car audio sacrifising looks...what i heard is car amps use cheap electronics components comapred to HT ones..
now the looks/connection hassles really does not matter to me.i want good audio if possible with lower cost off course..

so going car amp way....is it justified...lets say blaupunkt..:)
 
Thanks for the suggestion @ KANWAR. Will surely try that now. Sony and Blaupunkt dont use cheap parts specially older ones. If you have good filter circuits coupled with extra tweeters and midranges, it IMHO leaves pricy systems far behind. But the entire setup will be DIY.
 
Hi Kaps,
i agree with Prosenjit. Car amps u can get it for around 5k but the same wattage brand amplifiers will cost more than 20k.

To use car amps, you can use 12 v 5 amps MAXINE (Brand name - Standard) readymade box.
 
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