Build your own 2.1

[trippyshards]

Hello, Im a total noob and i would like to have a 2.1 bluetooth multimedia system that has enough bass to get me kicked out of my condo. My first interest was when i heard a friend play her bose companion system and it had nice bass but i like custom stuff and i know for the same price i can take a 8ohm car audio 8" subwoofer (JL,KICKER,CERWIN VEGA,HI FONICS,IMAGE DYNAMICS) build a custom cab wrap it in some cool material add some discounted bookshelf's and it would blow any logitech or bose out of the water i just don't know what all ill need besides what speakers to buy to make this happen. I'm guessing a mini amp but don't know if i need a 3 channel or if i can get a 2 ch with say 70-100 watts per channel and run sub off one and the bookshelf's share the other. The sub i get will be very efficent so it wont need a bunch of watts to get it moving. and some how i will need a cross over to make sure that the sub is only pumping out the lows unless the mini amp has a crossover built in. Any body have any ideas?

 

[ImcLoud]

What is your budget?

If I were trying to build a really inexpensive capable 2.1 I would do these
Overnight Sensations MT Speaker Kit Pair
Dayton Audio 10" Reference Series HO Subwoofer and Cabinet Package

You would need wood glue, terminal boxes, some clamps, sandpaper, and hardware to get them all together, then I would get some decent spray paint and paint them up...

Figure the sub and speakers would be around $400 if you do them really nice...

Then I would get a apa150 to power the sub {has a built in xover} Dayton Audio APA150 150W Power Amplifier and a ONKYO TX-8020 50 watts 2 channel Stereo Receiver | Accessories4less

so all done you will be around $700... you could save a little buy getting a plate amp for the sub...


Now if you don't want to build anything..

http://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1409528968&sr=8-8&keywords=subwoofer

and a pair of these with the receiver from above... Amazon.com: Pioneer SP-BS22-LR Andrew Jones Designed Bookshelf Loudspeakers: Electronics

 

[ARES24]

^ +1 Total win

 

[GranteedEV]

i know for the same price i can take a 8ohm car audio 8" subwoofer (JL,KICKER,CERWIN VEGA,HI FONICS,IMAGE DYNAMICS) build a custom cab wrap it in some cool material add some discounted bookshelf's and it would blow any logitech or bose out of the water i just don't know what all ill need besides what speakers to buy to make this happen.

I recommend this driver:

Peerless 830669 12" Paper Cone SLS Subwoofer

It's just as you say - very efficient and with plenty of output capability. I'd even recommend a pair if you can budget it. Even sealed you'll get decent extension compared to any eight inch car audio driver. Vented, you could do a pretty interesting, albeit large project. If you're interested I can model it up for ya.

I'm guessing a mini amp but don't know if i need a 3 channel or if i can get a 2 ch with say 70-100 watts per channel and run sub off one and the bookshelf's share the other.

Doesn't work like that. Your bookshelves need a discrete amplifier each. The subwoofer will as well.

This is one possible choice on that front:

http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sa100-100w-subwoofer-plate-amplifier--300-802
+
http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-dta-120-class-t-digital-mini-amplifier-60-wpc--300-3800

Although there's a lot of ways you could go for electronics. Ideally, I'd recommend a receiver ahead of the plate amp though, as this will allow you go tweak the crossover.

I would recommend getting bookshelves which can extend to about 100hz sealed as this will allow for smooth integration. Jeff Bagby's continuums:

Continuum, Pr

Fit this criteria perfectly, as they are designed inherently for mating to subwoofers.

 

[ImcLoud]

I recommend this driver:

Peerless 830669 12" Paper Cone SLS Subwoofer.

Oh c'mon.... Seriously, a paper cone, tiny single magnet, stamped steel basket, nothing written on the dust cover, and WHAT only one Voice coil, 100 watts you call that a subwoofer????


NO this is a subwoofer, cast aluminum, stainless steel, teflon impregnated kevlar {in case you didn't know that is what they use in bullet proof vests in Eddie Murphy movies}, FOUR voice Coils, 200 oz {that is 12 1/2 lbs} magnet made from kryptonite from the planet krypton {that sh!t kills superman}, and 4000 WATTS of liquid cooled earth shattering BASS.... Nick name the "panty dropper"...

Seriously though, I heard a diy sub with them 2 of them peerless subs, wired for 4ohms, dual opposing and it sounded good... They used the dual 12" dayton cabinet and an old pro amp...

 

[GranteedEV]

Oh c'mon.... Seriously, a paper cone, tiny single magnet, stamped steel basket, nothing written on the dust cover, and WHAT only one Voice coil, 100 watts you call that a subwoofer????

Nah, I call it a woofer. Way too little displacement for my tastes/ambitions for anything but a car or a bedroom. Personally, I'm trying to save up for a couple of these:

But let's get real, it sounds like he's building a budget PC setup, not trying to fill a large room with low distortion 10-100hz @ 130db

I think either of what we posted will obliterate anything he could get not only from the brands he's been looking at, but even good commercial stuff in the same price ranges.

 

[ImcLoud]

The Phallus units are insane... Very good choice...

 

[fuzz092888]

Subs? What kind of alignment?

Nah, I call it a woofer. Way too little displacement for my tastes/ambitions for anything but a car or a bedroom. Personally, I'm trying to save up for a couple of these:

But let's get real, it sounds like he's building a budget PC setup, not trying to fill a large room with low distortion 10-100hz @ 130db

I think either of what we posted will obliterate anything he could get not only from the brands he's been looking at, but even good commercial stuff in the same price ranges.