Want to make a custom speaker set

Tsaico

Platinum Member
Oct 21, 2000
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A while back I built a mame cabinet. Overall works great, but now I am disatissfied with the speakers I had built in. ( I just bought some altec lansing ones that were modified to be wall mounted, then put into a custom built "speaker box" and then attached to the unit.)

Now I want to built something a little closer to the origional cabinet. I wanted to use car speakers (they are easy to mount inside a box or cabinet) but am not sure how to build a amplifier that will be able to hook into my computer with the mini-jack, then to regular 2 way output to the 4 ohm speaker pair.

Any ideas? I have found some schematics, but am not sure they are what I am looking for.
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
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I could dig up some schematics for a DIY amplifier but they're really more for fun than actual practicallity.

Partsexpress.com usually has some inexpensive cabinet-mountable amplifiers (and raw drivers if you're searching for those too). Simplest way would be mini-jack => component audio (RCA) using a converter => RCA in on amplifier => line level out on amplifier => speakers
 

Tsaico

Platinum Member
Oct 21, 2000
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Originally posted by: b0mbrman
I could dig up some schematics for a DIY amplifier but they're really more for fun than actual practicallity.

Partsexpress.com usually has some inexpensive cabinet-mountable amplifiers (and raw drivers if you're searching for those too). Simplest way would be mini-jack => component audio (RCA) using a converter => RCA in on amplifier => line level out on amplifier => speakers

I had checked that site out, already and didn't find anything. Everything was already built (I just want the potentiometer to be seen in a discreet place, and have the rest of the actual unit hidden inside the cabinet.) If I have a pre-built one, the potentiometers are all attached/soldered on and I cannot remove them to place elsewhere in my cabinet. But what is a raw driver?I did a quick search and it seems to be some that just runs the speakers. Isn't that what an amp does? (in addition to increase sound volumes?) Not an audiphile, so not sure what that is.

edit: found this site, I think it might be what I want...Building a cheap amp
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
81
Really...I had thought Parts Express had some amplifiers that could be mounted inside cabinets but I haven't bought much audio-related stuff for several months now...that sucks :(

A raw driver is another word for a speaker--not to be mistaken with a speaker system, the raw driver is just the piece with the cone, surround, frame, etc. that doesn't include a crossover or anything...
 

Tsaico

Platinum Member
Oct 21, 2000
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Thanks bomber, but that is far to fancy for an arcade emulator. Not to mention, I would have the same problem, where I would have to cut off the pentometers to put them seperate from the actual amp. (I want to be able to adjust volume on the fly, but not have the entire amp be visable) and it is out of stock anyhow...