Car subwoofer used in hifi

Car subwoofer used in hifi

Author
Discussion

wjwren

Original Poster:

4,484 posts

142 months

Wednesday 15th February 2023
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I've got a spare car subwoofer. Could this be used with a hifi setup?

Lucid_AV

439 posts

43 months

Thursday 16th February 2023
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There is some common ground with the drivers. However, for home use you might want to consider adding a plate amp with the power amp on it and some controls too.

somouk

1,425 posts

205 months

Thursday 16th February 2023
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Check the resistance, car subs can often be 4 Ohm where as a lot of home amps won't drive that.

Other than that you need a cabinet suitable for the space and sound characteristics of a room and not a car.

simon_harris

1,790 posts

41 months

Thursday 16th February 2023
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The both just move air so with appropriate consideration of the power and enclosure requirements it is very do able, though tbh I would be surprised if by the time you have sourced/built the enclosure and amp to drive it properly that it would be any cheaper then just buying a dedicated "home" sub.

Tony1963

5,331 posts

169 months

Thursday 16th February 2023
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Check out what it’ll go for used, then decide.

If it doesn’t fetch much on the used market, it isn’t all that good, so not worth converting.

If it goes for a healthy price used, then you’ve more money to either buy a used domestic sub, or to build your own one.

So there’s little reason to go through all the hassle of converting it really.

OutInTheShed

9,379 posts

33 months

Friday 17th February 2023
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If you've got the driver in hand, and the speaker parameters for it, it would be a fun thing to try.

There are plenty of books and a few websites about designing simple speaker cabinets.

Personally I've listened to a few systems with subs tacked on to a normal hifi set up and none of them have sounded 'right' to me.
But OTOH I feel that my current wall mounted speakers which I listen to a fair bit, lack bottom end.
I suspect that many of the 'subs' sold for home use are designed to please people who are more 'home cinema' than hifi.
But a lot of car systems are all about pounding one base note to impress adolescents.

It's maybe not the design route of choice for someone who wants to listen to say classical music from a bassoon player's POV or a baritone sax enthusiast.

Too much Q I reckon, but it's something I'd like to have a go at.

Dragster

45 posts

21 months

Friday 17th February 2023
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wjwren said:
I've got a spare car subwoofer. Could this be used with a hifi setup?
Can you post the driver name and model number or possibly take a pic? There may be some useful information on the magnet label