RV audio makeover ideas...

[slisgrinder]

hey guys,


I am just brainstorming, but after this weekend of camping, I just realized how boring the drive was to the Rockies even if it was just 1.5 hours, still REALLY boring. So I realize that we need some musical makeover that the driver + passenger will enjoy but also the 4 occupants in the back would too... so if I were to keep the makeover subtle and cheap and give a good crisp loud sound while the RV is thundering away (I really mean thundering, it is absolutely loud when inside but not so loud that you can't hear music)... the current speakers that came with the RV are really distorting at that level of output and they suck a*s including the CD player as it skips (its an Audiovox).


Any ideas???
If you need more info, please let me know...

 

[adwilk]

Any idea what the size of the stock driver is?

Budget?

 

[highfigh]

hey guys,


I am just brainstorming, but after this weekend of camping, I just realized how boring the drive was to the Rockies even if it was just 1.5 hours, still REALLY boring. So I realize that we need some musical makeover that the driver + passenger will enjoy but also the 4 occupants in the back would too... so if I were to keep the makeover subtle and cheap and give a good crisp loud sound while the RV is thundering away (I really mean thundering, it is absolutely loud when inside but not so loud that you can't hear music)... the current speakers that came with the RV are really distorting at that level of output and they suck a*s including the CD player as it skips (its an Audiovox).


Any ideas???
If you need more info, please let me know...

Audiovox sux. Get a real head unit with some decent features, like a full set of line outputs, able to play MP3/DVD/iPod input and control. Pioneer makes some that are reasonably priced and they have all of these features plus, the power output is very good. Clarion is another good brand.The also have an IR remote control, so you can be sitting in back and not have to get up to control it. If you need more power, add an amp but you will need to run power cables for this.

When the head unit goes in, many RV builders fail to use a back strap to support the head unit and this is a major cause of skipping. RVs don't ride that roughly that it should skip so unless it's justs not a good mechanism or the back strap is missing, it should really have no problem with tracking well.

If you have 6-1/2" speakers and no depth problem, look at these speakers:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=299-275

You won't find a better speaker for $48/pair. They also have an 8" version.

 

[slisgrinder]

Thanks guys...

The Audiovox came with the RV and the stock speakers are on the cieling so I guess there will be depth problems... The speakers in the driver cab doors are missing but there are grills for them. I will get back to you guys with the speaker size since my dad took the RV for maintanance...


how do I measure the speakers? diameter of the frame that its in, or the diaphram?

 

[slisgrinder]

OMFG!!! here are the speakers that are in the RV:

http://www.magnadyne.com/index.cfm?MasterAction=Item&InvMasID=8398&Web_CatID=210

When I opened it up, I found that the speakers are screwed in with long 1.5" screws through a 1/4" thick textured panel, essentially they are hanging from 6 uselessly long screws!!!

This is bad news and I am beginning to wonder how long they can hold on... Also there is at best 3" of depth to mount them in since its on a cieling... there are 4 speakers in all, 2 in the front and 2 in the back of the RV... I need to find an alternative to mounting speakers to the cieling as they offer no safety of their own and others unless they are glued with epoxy and screwed to the 1/4" textured cieling panel...

 

[adwilk]

The speakers mentioned above need 3-1/4 Think it would work? For 15 bucks a piece right now its a freakin steal. replace all the clg speakers and maybe your door speakers are 6.5 inch as well. just measure the opening and we can help ya out...

 

[slisgrinder]

I don't know about the doors since I can't find the manual for the driver cab. The driver cab is a 2002 Chevy Express 3500. Also, I live in Canada so will shipping kill me? Unless there is something similar to parts-express but in Canada. I am trying to completely avoid mounting it in the cieling since it is no longer safe. I will be removing them soon and have some filing stuffed in... I will get back with some pics of options inside the RV.

 

[slisgrinder]

Here is the gallery in Image Shack:

http://img33.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=dsc3979s.jpg

Some of the other pics are of possible locations to put speakers or building custom cabinets to fulfill my audio needs. I want to treat the RV as you would a house but with the added safety and protection of car audio parts... I will get back with some illustrated ideas for places and spaces in the RV to place/size out speaker cabinets... I absolutely do not want video involved in any way in the RV since my dad's main reason for buying the RV is for traveling long distances and taking in the outside world, not to keep our eyes inside the RV and miss all the stuff along the way... Especially in the Rockies...

 

[adwilk]

Here is the gallery in Image Shack:

http://img33.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=dsc3979s.jpg

Some of the other pics are of possible locations to put speakers or building custom cabinets to fulfill my audio needs. I want to treat the RV as you would a house but with the added safety and protection of car audio parts... I will get back with some illustrated ideas for places and spaces in the RV to place/size out speaker cabinets... I absolutely do not want video involved in any way in the RV since my dad's main reason for buying the RV is for traveling long distances and taking in the outside world, not to keep our eyes inside the RV and miss all the stuff along the way... Especially in the Rockies...

Thanks for the photos.. did you figure out the size of the speakers in the doors?

Depending on exactly what you're looking to spend, a couple nice 4channel amps, a new head unit, and replacement for all those speaker should get you going. I'd also recommend some kind of powered sub.

Pioneer Deck

A bunch of these

Couple of these

Then use the unused two amplifier channels bridged to power a sub...

 

[slisgrinder]

Thanks for the links... um I am trying to treat this as if I am going to do an audio overhaul on a house so I want to see some more "acoustically inclined" change. I am not saying that car speakers are bad but since an RV is close to an actual home - sometimes it is a home - I want it to feel like home, currently it feels like a moving motel with rickety beds and seatbelts and NO free breakfast... Do you know what I mean?


but anywayz, I am still trying to figure out the size of the speakers for the doors and I found some great spots in the RV for custom speaker cabinets and such and will get back with my
"ideas" illustrated... In the meanwhile I am going to go have a look at my dad's car and see if I can find any audio opportunities there to practice on...

 

[slisgrinder]

i just have a question, I have decided to simply install my Logitech Z-5500 speakers in to the RV but have a question on the power consumption of the system in Watts since I will be using an appropriately spec'ed inverter. On the Logitech website it says the following:

Total FTC power: 505 watts RMS
Sub-woofer: 188 watts RMS (into 8 ohms, @ 100Hz, @ 10% THD)

Satellites:
Left/Right: 62 watts RMS x 2 (into 8 ohms, @ 1khz, @ 10% THD)
Center: 69 watts RMS (into 8 ohms, @ 1kHz, @ 10% THD)
Rear Left & Right: 62 watts RMS x 2 (into 8 ohms, @ 1kHz, @ 10% THD)

Total Peak power: 1010 watts

So I have a 600W inverter, would that be enough to driver these speakers safely as the FTC power output is 505W RMS but the Total peak power is 1010W... Should I be looking at the FTC power output?

 

[highfigh]

i just have a question, I have decided to simply install my Logitech Z-5500 speakers in to the RV but have a question on the power consumption of the system in Watts since I will be using an appropriately spec'ed inverter. On the Logitech website it says the following:

Total FTC power: 505 watts RMS
Sub-woofer: 188 watts RMS (into 8 ohms, @ 100Hz, @ 10% THD)

Satellites:
Left/Right: 62 watts RMS x 2 (into 8 ohms, @ 1khz, @ 10% THD)
Center: 69 watts RMS (into 8 ohms, @ 1kHz, @ 10% THD)
Rear Left & Right: 62 watts RMS x 2 (into 8 ohms, @ 1kHz, @ 10% THD)

Total Peak power: 1010 watts

So I have a 600W inverter, would that be enough to driver these speakers safely as the FTC power output is 505W RMS but the Total peak power is 1010W... Should I be looking at the FTC power output?

The power consumption only matters for the inverter and most amplifiers are about 50% efficient, plus the BS factor. Small speakers in enclosures won't be very sensitive and that is 180 degrees from what you want. You want lots of dB with low power. That way, you can use a new head unit with high power or add a power amp and you'll have more output without turning it all the way up. You already have a hole in the dash- you can get a good Pioneer with IR remote, iPod input (with an optional cable) and it has three sets of pre-outs. The iPod can be controlled with the remote and you would see the tracks, artist, etc on the Pioneer's display, which is a lot easier than looking at the iPod. You can also use a charger to keep the battery from going down do you have a generator, too?).

 

[slisgrinder]

I do have a generator but only use it during extreme cases and need electricity really bad. The only reason I decided to use the Z-5500 from logitech was because I can't spend anymore money right now because I need to pay for my tuition. Secondly, I would simply need to screw in the satellite speakers straight in the wall since they are pretty thick. I won't need a head unit since I have never used it. I use a laptop connected to PC speakers using a 300W inverter. It has worked out well so far and I just though that upgrading the X-540 (the PC speakers currently in the RV) to the Z-5500. I know that the majority of the users in this forum implode at the mere mention of a home-theater-in-a-box but I am just working with what I have. So I guess that the 600W inverter should be enough to run the speakers right?

 

[highfigh]

I do have a generator but only use it during extreme cases and need electricity really bad. The only reason I decided to use the Z-5500 from logitech was because I can't spend anymore money right now because I need to pay for my tuition. Secondly, I would simply need to screw in the satellite speakers straight in the wall since they are pretty thick. I won't need a head unit since I have never used it. I use a laptop connected to PC speakers using a 300W inverter. It has worked out well so far and I just though that upgrading the X-540 (the PC speakers currently in the RV) to the Z-5500. I know that the majority of the users in this forum implode at the mere mention of a home-theater-in-a-box but I am just working with what I have. So I guess that the 600W inverter should be enough to run the speakers right?

Don't worry about what the speakers will handle, worry about what the amp needs. Hold off on cranking it too hard- it's really not made for that kind of use but you should be able to hear when it's having a hard time.

 

[slisgrinder]

I just looked in the back and the input required in 120V - 60Hz 3A which is pretty much nothing compared to a microwave (same as above but at 13A). If the inverter is rated at 600W that means it can output at roughly 5A.

I am not worried about the speakers handling the power, I am more concered with the inverter and if it will stress under the load. If so I can then go look for a 1000+ Watt inverter to be safe...

 

[highfigh]

I just looked in the back and the input required in 120V - 60Hz 3A which is pretty much nothing compared to a microwave (same as above but at 13A). If the inverter is rated at 600W that means it can output at roughly 5A.

I am not worried about the speakers handling the power, I am more concered with the inverter and if it will stress under the load. If so I can then go look for a 1000+ Watt inverter to be safe...

If you'll be using the inverter only for the Logitech, I don't think I'd worry about it unless you plan to run it fro a long time. If you want to do that, you'd be in good shape by buying the 1000W model.

You'll still need to maintain the charge level of your battery, though.

 

[slisgrinder]

There are 2 deep cycle batteries in the RV for the lights and stuff and its constantly charged by the engine or when you plug it in... If I want to run it off the battery for a long time cause usually the drives are about 8 to 9 hours long then I guess I would need a 1000W inverter. That way I can run my laptop and charge things while I am playing my music. So what is the best 1000W inverter that is cheap and keeps electrical noise to a bear minimum so as not to interfere with the sound quality of the speakers? I live in Canada so something that can be delivered or bought here would be nice too...