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Re: 10-inch-diameter speakers

Subject: Re: 10-inch-diameter speakers
From: Pooh Bear
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 08:57:08 +0100
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.basics, sci.electronics.design
epiang@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Pooh Bear wrote:
> > mrdarrett@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
> >
> > > I've always wanted some 10-inch (or 12-inch ;) speakers for my home
> > > stereo system.
> >
> > Why ?
>
> Oh, to hear the bass.  There are a few tracks on my Keiko Matsui jazz
> CDs that have bass.

I suspected as much.

Just be aware that the mid range and treble may suffer as much as the bass 
improves.

In fact a large cone isn't *essential* for bass but it does help do it 
efficiently. On
the the other hand a smaller cone is almost invariably better for mid and 
treble.


> > >  My receiver is only about 100 watts or so, and I've got
> > > one 8-inch, and one 10-inch speaker.
> > >
> > > There's this deal over at Pep Boys - a pair of 10-inch *car* speakers
> > > for $40 ($50, with $10 rebate).
> > >
> > > I was about to buy them for my Onkyo home receiver, but a fellow
> > > shopper warned me that car speakers can't be interchanged with home
> > > audio.  I thought he was BS-ing me, but then I thought I should check
> > > over here just to make sure.
> > >
> > > They're 4-ohm, 600W (peak?)
> >
> > Joke car audio rating.
>
> eh... so, if I really ran 600W through them, they'd melt the coils?

Certainly. Car audio 600W peak probably translates closer to 75W RMS. The most
powerful 'PA' 10 inch speakers I know are rated about 200-250W RMS.

> > > speakers.  Non-major-brand-name... thought
> > > I'd try them, and if they don't sound right, just return them.
> >
> > If you can.
>
> Good point... I'll double-check.
>
> > > So... can car audio speakers be interchanged with home audio speakers?
> > > Or is this a fire-hazard waiting to happen?
> >
> > Car speakers are designed to operate in a different environment and may not
> > function optimally in a normal loudspeaker enclosure and also may be more
> > robust. Other than that, there's no big difference.
> >
> > What youd need to watch is the impedance. Car speaker are normally 4 ohms 
> > to get
> > more watts from a limited voltage source. Hi-fi loudspeakers are typically 8
> > ohms. Just be sure your receiver's happy with driving 4 ohms.
>
> How would I know if my receiver's happy with 4 ohms?  Is lack of smoke
> a good indication?  ;)

That helps !

> The receiver's a 20-year-old or thereabouts Onkyo.  Still works...  ;)

It may possibly be a little unhappy with 4 ohms in that case. I'd err on the 
safe side
if I were you.

Graham


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