hooking up amp for AC (Making a record player system) Part 1

KillerX · Post by **KillerX** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:17 pm

Ok soooo Iv been wanting to make a record player system for a while now so im gonna try it.

But before I consider making a box I need to figure out about the electronics.

I want this system to be a SQ system. Sooo I was thinking maybe a zx450 (or other 4 channel amp you guys would recommend) for the speakers (Zero point 5 1/4 with tweets) and single sub (maybe a 10" - 12" xenon? I woulda reaaaly loved to find a cyclone but there hard to come by)

So since Iv never made an amp work on AC what would I need? Im sure its not as simple as hooking up a AC -> DC converter

So what do you guys think?
Speakers?
Subs?
Amps?

I want a super clean sound, even though this is going to be 2 speakers/tweets and one sub very close together I want it sounding good

KillerX · Post by **KillerX** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 8:34 pm

EDIT:
Well after doing some research I found the ZX450 draws 55 amps @ full power and 80 amps at peak

So that means I would need a 60+ amp computer power supply which would be insane considering looking at tiger direct
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/ ... r-Supplies
the biggest, without going crazy expensive, is +12V = 32A
So I guess another option is going with a battery and charging it orrrr going with a good home theater amplifier (which is no fun lol)

KillerX · Post by **KillerX** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:13 pm

nobody has any input on this subject?

dBincognito · Post by **dBincognito** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:15 pm

Actually that is what you need a AC-DC converter....you can't run a amplifier on 110 volts you will fry the input

dBincognito · Post by **dBincognito** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:16 pm

How much do you want to spend on the Power Supply ?

dBincognito · Post by **dBincognito** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:18 pm

I actually like the sound of that set-up and I run far more than that with my PG amps in the home.....Power Supply's are not nearly as expensive as they used to be....and 1 that would have cost around $500 a couple of years ago, goes for around $75 - $135 shipped almost everday

GX3 · Post by **GX3** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:45 pm

here is an option for you ........ i think its a bit much try and find a Todds Engineering one. A 45-60 amp should do fine for what your tying to build. Unless your going to be running the amp at full volume all the time. And dont for get a 1f cap for filtering out ripple.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rivergate-Hobby-AC- ... 18Q2el1247

GX3 · Post by **GX3** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:50 pm

KillerX wrote:
So since Iv never made an amp work on AC what would I need? Im sure its not as simple as hooking up a AC -> DC converter

Yup it about that simple ........ just add the cap ........ some add a battery but i don't recommend this unless you have a hybrid power supply and then it still not necessary and can cause more problems then they are worth ( the batttery that is ) .... a member may have one left on here if you want it .

just a side note i have a 10" Xenon if you need....... forgot i had it till i read your first post

http://phoenixphorum.com/power-supplies ... ight=power

dBincognito · Post by **dBincognito** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:59 pm

If you need more power, you can always buy another power supply and wire everything to come on with your Source Unit

KillerX · Post by **KillerX** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 9:11 pm

Wicked thanks dBincognito and GX3 for your help. I just figured since I have some spare car gear laying around why not try something like this. Make a nice oak box, it would be a one of a kind that I could possible pass down to generations.

Brad

oldskoolmseriesfan · Post by **oldskoolmseriesfan** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 9:29 pm

KillerX wrote:Wicked thanks dBincognito and GX3 for your help. I just figured since I have some spare car gear laying around why not try something like this. Make a nice oak box, it would be a one of a kind that I could possible pass down to generations.

Brad

Ive always wanted to give this a shot too, Ithink it would be a cool project.

Post by **stipud** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 6:30 am

Hmmm... why use a car amp? The bigger powersupplies will draw a ton of power, and are on all the time, which makes the design far less efficient. It's not the kind of thing you would want to leave plugged in all the time, unless you want a huge power bill every month. More expensive power supplies have line sensing, so they can ramp up the current, and draw less power at idle... but these are usually a few hundred dollars apiece.

The cost of a good power supply would probably buy you a decent Parasound, Adcom or Audiosource amplifier. Hell, there are even some decent receivers available today for little money.

There's also the issue of phono having a very low line voltage compared to typical line-level. Usually receivers have a special phono input which boosts the signal voltage, but you might require a line driver if you want to do it with a car amp.

Certainly I have seen car-stereo-in-the-home setups which work, like Nico's... but he spent lots of time and money making it feasible. I think you may get easier, more satisfactory results by using home audio gear. Then again, it might not be as fun.

nico boom · Post by **nico boom** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 9:24 am

stipud wrote:Hmmm... why use a car amp? The bigger powersupplies will draw a ton of power, and are on all the time, which makes the design far less efficient. It's not the kind of thing you would want to leave plugged in all the time, unless you want a huge power bill every month. More expensive power supplies have line sensing, so they can ramp up the current, and draw less power at idle... but these are usually a few hundred dollars apiece.

The cost of a good power supply would probably buy you a decent Parasound, Adcom or Audiosource amplifier. Hell, there are even some decent receivers available today for little money.

There's also the issue of phono having a very low line voltage compared to typical line-level. Usually receivers have a special phono input which boosts the signal voltage, but you might require a line driver if you want to do it with a car amp.

Certainly I have seen car-stereo-in-the-home setups which work, like Nico's... but he spent lots of time and money making it feasible. I think you may get easier, more satisfactory results by using home audio gear. Then again, it might not be as fun.

YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THAT LAST PART!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KillerX · Post by **KillerX** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:54 pm

Wicked Thank you to all that posted, you guys were a great help. Well after doing a bit of research im going to stick with a normal high quality receiver.

Im looking at old school marantz receivers anyone here wanna sell me there old one

EDIT: Ohhh ya is it still ok if I make a zero point mid and tweet combo using power from the AC amp? Also how would I hook up a sub now?

Brad

GX3 · Post by **GX3** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:47 pm

KillerX wrote:
EDIT: Ohhh ya is it still ok if I make a zero point mid and tweet combo using power from the AC amp? Also how would I hook up a sub now?

Brad

should be fine and for the sub use a plate amp

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdet ... er=300-752

hooking up amp for AC (Making a record player system) Part 1

hooking up amp for AC (Making a record player system) Part 1

Re: hooking up amp for AC (Making a record player system) Pa