Convert a car subwoofer to home use

[Kamlesh D]

OK_ the wife wants the JBL CS1204t subwoofer out of the car, and I have no reason to throw it out, or sell it.

So- how do I get to convert it into a AC powered home use SUB.

Specs
JBL - CS1204T

now---- I guess all I need is a sub amplifier of about similar rating that runs on AC power.... takes line out from my amp and I am sone.

Where would I get required parts- like this in Mumbai?

KD

 

[goldyrathore]

This is all you need. subwoofer module (Powered by CubeCart)

Put it in a suitable enclosure and there you go.

 

[kapvin]

OK_ the wife wants the JBL CS1204t subwoofer out of the car, and I have no reason to throw it out, or sell it.

So- how do I get to convert it into a AC powered home use SUB.

Specs
JBL - CS1204T

now---- I guess all I need is a sub amplifier of about similar rating that runs on AC power.... takes line out from my amp and I am sone.

Where would I get required parts- like this in Mumbai?

KD

it's a tube, and it's modelled to sound best in a car (taking into account the LF gain in the car), so you may not get the deepest bass when you put it in the room. if that's okay with you.. then you just need a sub amp as described by the 2nd poster.

If feel upto "improving the deep bass" you probably need to get a fix of the T/s parameters and then model a box and alignment to suit it. it's probably the same cs driver that is also available boxless, but you could pm sam kapasi at team-bhp just to be sure. after that, there are plenty of people on the forum who can help you make choices.

also, if you want to keep it simple, just about any old amp that's stable in 4ohms and is capable of more than 60watts continuous should do you.

cheers..

 

[vivek.saikia]

OK_ the wife wants the JBL CS1204t subwoofer out of the car, and I have no reason to throw it out, or sell it.

So- how do I get to convert it into a AC powered home use SUB.

Specs
JBL - CS1204T

now---- I guess all I need is a sub amplifier of about similar rating that runs on AC power.... takes line out from my amp and I am sone.

Where would I get required parts- like this in Mumbai?

KD

There are some ICE installers who sits on the roadside of the Lamington Road (They have makeshift stalls on the footpath). They will be able to provide you with the car subwoofer enclosures. On the amplification front you can either import the plate amps from Madison or alternatively use a car subwoofer amp and get the power supply made by the local electronics repair shop.
But, be aware that this set up will not sound like the subwoofers used in homes and would be a big compromise (but save you from throwing or selling your subwoofer). You are about to open a can of worms I say .

 

[tejasnaidu]

Can you explain why a car sub would not sound good in a home setup. Except for loss of cabin gain i see no major diff.

I am considering using a car sub for home use. Reliance digital has quoted Rs 2090 for JBL GT5-12 sub. It is 12" , 275 watt RMS driver with response from 23 to 450HZ.
My setup would be sealed design and box dimensions are mentioned in JBL tech sheets. Would be using 18 mm MDF for cabinet design with bracing.
It would be driven by EAS controller and subwoofer amp designed/developed by rod elliot.
Not sure about the amp yet- to go for class AB or class D.

 

[doors666]

In a car, the room gain starts at a very high frequency (say 70hz). As long as a sub is able to go to that level flat, the room gain will take care of the rest and you will be able to hear much lesser frequencies, the jbl in question goes to 35hz.

When you take this sub out of a car and put it in a room, the room gain starts at 30hz. your sub cant do well below 70hz and it doesnt cover freq below that. what u'll hear is a major lack of bass.

my suggestion to u is to sell the sub. to get anything out of this means you'll have to rebuild the cabinet and waste the existing one. You will also need to know the T/S parameters to design the sub. and purchase an amp for this. And in the end you dont even know how low it'll go until u try it out. So, sell it and purchase a different sub, or better, make one

 

[kapvin]

Can you explain why a car sub would not sound good in a home setup. Except for loss of cabin gain i see no major diff.

I am considering using a car sub for home use. Reliance digital has quoted Rs 2090 for JBL GT5-12 sub. It is 12" , 275 watt RMS driver with response from 23 to 450HZ.
My setup would be sealed design and box dimensions are mentioned in JBL tech sheets. Would be using 18 mm MDF for cabinet design with bracing.
It would be driven by EAS controller and subwoofer amp designed/developed by rod elliot.
Not sure about the amp yet- to go for class AB or class D.

the GT5-12 models down to 35hz f3 with a sealed enclosure. with room gain in a 200sq ft room, you should get useful response to 28hz if not better. but for a system "q" of .71 you need a 200litre enclosure.

if you use a 100litre enclosure; you get a "q" of around .85, which should be fine for HT use. f3 is modelled at 37hz in this case (still pretty useable)

 

[suri]

Can you explain why a car sub would not sound good in a home setup.

because your car cabin is not as big as the room in your home where you listen to music-

subwoofers are designed (very exactly) to perform in particular locations/environments.

they are specialised - and designed for particular applications - much thought and engineering has gone into this -

naive to expect native intelligence to go against established tenets, and put a raging bull in a fine cutlery shop and expect no damage.

and tejasnaidu - do you know why the human race has achieved? -

only because we build on the (broad and capable) shoulders of geniuses.

we see far into the distance - not because we are tall-

it is because we are seated on giant's shoulders -

and when you ask this lead question - "WHY?"

do not forget the legacy - and do not forget to search the world-wide-web (www) -


edit-

HMOG (holy mother of god)!!! - venkatcr - looks like i am filling in for cranky - and i know you have a hawk's eye out for me!

 

[doors666]

Can you explain why a car sub would not sound good in a home setup. Except for loss of cabin gain i see no major diff.

Cabin gain is everything (well almost, and that too in a car). in a car, you can get away with a teensy subwoofer due to the cabin gain, an f3 of 70hz is great in a car. try the same sub with an f3 of 70hz in a room and you will see the difference.

A car sub would not sound good in a HT means a car sub with a cabinet designed for the car wont sound good in a HT. If you take a car audio sub driver and design a cabinet from grounds up, you can get a pretty decent performance. of course it depends upon your driver too. There are companies that use the same drivers for both home and car use, e.g. elemental designs.

 

[tejasnaidu]

For GT5-12 sealed enclosure

Based on Qtc of 0.7, the volume comes to 119 litres and F3 is 35.3 Hz.

The above values are calculates using T/S parameters from JBL specs sheet.

 

[gobble]

Instead of struggling with all that here are some easy tips to make your car subwoofer feel right at home and let it sing in an uninhibited fashion -

1. Put 4 wheels under your house (may require slight re-working of the foundation, but the engineer should be able to do that)
2. A steering wheel in the living room
3. A lever at each window sill to roll down the windows
4. A loud horn on the roof


Finally add reclining seats lean back and just chill listening to your new "setup" hyeah:


HTH
Cheers

 

[kapvin]

For GT5-12 sealed enclosure

Based on Qtc of 0.7, the volume comes to 119 litres and F3 is 35.3 Hz.

The above values are calculates using T/S parameters from JBL specs sheet.

my error, that was for 2x gt5. for 1 it is 108 lits. you may want to measure the parameters yourself after break-in.. they tend to be a bit off from published specs

edit: the box dimensions in the jbl spec sheet are for car applications

 

[NetFreak]

To put things into perspective...

OP is just trying to use a sub he already has. If it was being used in car, he would have an enclosure as well.

Its definitely worth trying to use this sub as part of HT. Only cost would be a used plate amp.

 

[Kamlesh D]

I am a double MS in Zoology and work in the Construction Industry. I am spread on thin ice where new hobbies or pursuits are concerned. ;-)
It looks like its going to stay a tube, as lack of subject knowledge will wreck the lovely sub. It is increasingly looking like.... The JBL Tube will go to someone who promises it a good boot to reside in.

KD

 

[hemantwaghe]

I am a double MS in Zoology and work in the Construction Industry. I am spread on thin ice where new hobbies or pursuits are concerned. ;-)
It looks like its going to stay a tube, as lack of subject knowledge will wreck the lovely sub. It is increasingly looking like.... The JBL Tube will go to someone who promises it a good boot to reside in.

KD

Kamlesh that is what I was suggesting
Do not open and tamper the tube.
Sell it and buy a professionally designed SUB,you can explore used option too..

btw are you from navi mumbai? we can do some esting to gether.

If anyone has constructed box and plate amp and want to do basic testing I have a pioneer 12 Inch car sub bte it is reconed..

can be used for basic testing ,my condito nis taht i need it back in same condition hyeah:

 

[vivekphadnis]

I have made two subs using Infinity car subs. I have tried it using a small amp and the results were not that bad. I plan to use a car amp with a 12/13V DC supply and use it. I have been lazy and not progressed much but the boxes are ready. Have a look

 

[Kamlesh D]

OK- here is what happened. I purchased he Polk PSW 125 rom Viola in Mumbai.... and decided to give the bass tube to youngster from a far-away suburb

Maybe my next DIY poject will go one step further.

Thanks for the support.

KD

 

[npalesha]

OK_ the wife wants the JBL CS1204t subwoofer out of the car, and I have no reason to throw it out, or sell it.

So- how do I get to convert it into a AC powered home use SUB.

Specs
JBL - CS1204T

now---- I guess all I need is a sub amplifier of about similar rating that runs on AC power.... takes line out from my amp and I am sone.

Where would I get required parts- like this in Mumbai?

KD

You are only saving the cost of a subwoofer and nothing else. You need to design a good cabinet for home use and also a good amplifier to drive the subwoofer. Also many home subwoofers have in built auto on when the signal is received to the amp. The placement of the sub in your house is also critical. noise in car sub is not as noticable as in home because the basic noise in a car is too high. Build quality ts parameters of car subwoofers is different from that of home subwoofers.

 

[hemantwaghe]

@ npalesha -are u from palkesha subwoofers?
BTW read post above kamlesh already bought another sub.

 

[kapvin]

I have made two subs using Infinity car subs. I have tried it using a small amp and the results were not that bad. I plan to use a car amp with a 12/13V DC supply and use it. I have been lazy and not progressed much but the boxes are ready. Have a look

which infinity subs did you use?