I have some great speakers in the house. Very old. After a lifetime of dedicated service, soon I won't have space for them anymore. ahhhh. Funny thing is they're 4 ohm speakers - same as a car stereo likes. They're rated at 40 watts - but that's from the good old days when 40w was 40w and the Beatles played live with 15w guitar amps. What I mean is they are very loud, bassy speakers. Each speaker has 2 tweeters, 2 mid, 4x 4" bass and a 10" bass radiator. Lots of speakers to spread about. Obviously I have to keep the bass units together. My questions are: If I take them to bits and install them in the van how to judge what amp to get for them? I'm guessing wattage is exaggerated approx 10x nowadays but I'm only wild guessing. Will my battery go flat? Any other reason this is a bad idea?
I know enough to have a great system I am happy with Naim/Rega/Creek - but I rely on others to fanny around with Ohms
Hook the up and see mate before you bother taking them apart Got to be worth a go if you going to throw them. Cant help with the technical side though. I think its more the case if the amp can handle them ie your car stereo.
I don't normally do this but.... I bought one of these --> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290686748082?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 Review - > Not by me. Lepai LP-2020A+ Tripath Class T Mini Amplifier - TA2020 - Amp Bench Test And it turned out to be pretty darn good (for £17) Mine is currently driving some bookshelf Sony speakers, from the soundcard in my PC. I have also used it to connect to the xbox. Plan is to install this thing in the bus with a Raspberry Pi (next week hopefully). Don't know if it helps?!
Ok. 40w house speakers will run straight from your head unit fine. Most new models output 4x50w. 40w speakers will not be 40w, this is the maximum the speakers will run at without damage but the sound will be unlistenable. In your bus 40w won't kick it. Realistically you'll want at the very minimum 2x 100w speakers for the front which will still run fine from the head unit. I'm running 4x 200w (which are probably only really 100w listenable) direct from the head unit. These are three ways (treble, mid, bass) 6x9's. Then a 600w rainbow sub (competition make, rainbow are the best) running from a 200w (true spec) amp. I get plenty of noise from that little lot. You can pick up some decent 6x9's so cheap nowadays you'll be better buying new.
Use the amp in your bus too, for that authentic retro stereo effect. The stereo you've got came from an era where it was built to LAST.
Hook them up to your head unit in the van before you take them apart, they'll work fine. I had two house speakers that I mounted onto a parcel shelf in my old '68 bug. They worked really well. All of your speakers will be connected to the cable connector on the rear so just don't throw that bit and you'll be alrite.
I never thought about doing this before but it really makes sense. I have a couple of old stereo speakers that would match the 70s trim in my van to a tee.
