Can I use Sony car HU as amp for Bookshelf

[amasoun]

I know this may sound weird, but a Sony car HU is 50wx4, has remote control, Bass Treble and Midrange control.
So why cant I hook up it with anything like a TV and then attach good Bookshelf speakers to it.
Of course it will need 12v supply, that can be done with some good 12v adapter.

 

[sl4y3r]

Yup, its possible, My cousin has some Old Deftec Pro100 Bookshelves attached to his HU and it plays fairly well.

 

[greenhorn]

Car HU's typically have 12-17W RMS amps. And yes, you'll need a high current 12V adapter.

 

[jawedsoft]

My understanding was that the 52x4 refers to rms output. I was wrong?


That aside, to run a car stereo on conventional power, you need to have a very beefy and good power supply. Using a simple transformer with rectifier and only a capacitor won't be enough. You are certain to get hum and noise.

But its certainly a good idea. The output quality of the car stereos are above average and they have a sub-woofer out too. So book shelf speakers combined with SW will make it a very affordable combination.

Please keep us updated with how you go about it.

best wishes,
Jawed

 

[greenhorn]

My understanding was that the 52x4 refers to rms output. I was wrong?

Yes.
Have a look at the datasheet of a car stereo amplifier IC like the (in)famous LA4440. From a 12V(14.4V nominal) supply there is an upper limit to the power you can squeeze out of it - that's why car stereos use 4 ohm speakers. If your speakers are 8 ohm, you'll get less power. The LA4440's THD is within 1% only below 10W or so, and its rated 19W RMS power is at a 10% THD!

 

[amasoun]

So no one has tried this before? I have always wanted an amp that can be operated with a remote and has mid range control.

What sort of power supply (beefy) would I need guys? Can anyone give me any idea?

Is it OK to connect 8 ohm speakers to this Sony HU? Wouldn't it damage HU or speakers?

Yeah, I knew they can't be 50 w RMS x 4. They are around 17 w RMS. But thats not bad either. They can run a 12 inch woofer with decent power. And I am thinking of hooking only 6 inch pair.

 

[greenhorn]

^^ if you have an HU lying around, why not.
Else buy one of those mini compo systems. Its the same thing

Nope, you can safely hook up 8 ohm speakers.

you'd need a 3A, preferably 5A supply

 

[sl4y3r]

Just bought a pair of FS and they were being run off a Car amp. (not HU), it sounded pretty good till a fairly loud volume, until pushed louder when distortion set in. It was a 20W as I was informed.