does anybody see a problem with...

[parkerbender]

Putting car audio speakers in your walls for surrounds? i've always thought it interesting that high quality car speakers were rediculously cheaper than high quality audio, and i'm not above breaking out the hole saw, so. are there any technical issues with slapping half a dozen infinity kappas or references in a person's basement walls, to go behind my rx-v2500? thanks for any advice!
http://www.infinitysystems.com/car/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=REF9623I&cat=MEL&ser=REF&Language=ENG&Country=US&Region=USA



-Parker.

 

[j_garcia]

Most car speakers are 4 Ohms or less, not the typical 8 that most receivers are geared for, though their load probably wouldn't demand too much from a receiver like the 2500. High quality car speakers may not sound great in a home setting since they were designed with cars and small spaces in mind, not large rooms.

 

[parkerbender]

does anyone here know if there are any design differences between home and car audio drivers or cones? and if so, how much/what?

 

[parkerbender]

there's got to be somebody else out there with experience in the subject, or another objective opinion... ?

 

[zumbo]

there's got to be somebody else out there with experience in the subject, or another objective opinion... ?

You said, half a dozen. You can't do that. As stated by j_garcia, car audio speakers are 4ohm. While connecting one speaker to one channel of the receiver may not present a problem, connecting more than one speaker to one channel will. Every time you connect another speaker to the same channel, the ohm load is halved.

Ex: Two 4ohm speakers connected to one channel presents a 2ohm load. While the exact load may be a little different, depending on several issues, this gives you an idea of what will happen. The 2500 just can't take the load.

EDIT: I see those speakers are 2ohm. NO, NO, NO.

 

[zumbo]

One other thing. Premium car audio components can cost as much, or more, than home audio.

6.5" Focal separates $799 retail:
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_1690_Focal+165+K2P.html

6.5" MB Quart separates. $999:
http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/product_info.php/manufacturers_id/308/products_id/41615

 

[majorloser]

You said, half a dozen. You can't do that. As stated by j_garcia, car audio speakers are 4ohm. While connecting one speaker to one channel of the receiver may not present a problem, connecting more than one speaker to one channel will. Every time you connect another speaker to the same channel, the ohm load is halved.

Ex: Two 4ohm speakers connected to one channel presents a 2ohm load. While the exact load may be a little different, depending on several issues, this gives you an idea of what will happen. The 2500 just can't take the load.

EDIT: I see those speakers are 2ohm. NO, NO, NO.

Only if wired in parallel will the resistance be halved. Wiring in series add the resistance. It would be 12 ohms in series for six drivers.

How would it sound? Probably like poo. Something along the lines of the Dollar Movie theaters from years ago. I also think you'd end up with some terrible vibrations if they were mounted into drywall. Maybe if they were mounted inside individual boxes inside the wall...

 

[zumbo]

Only if wired in parallel will the resistance be halved. Wiring in series add the resistance. It would be 12 ohms in series for six drivers.

How would it sound? Probably like poo. Something along the lines of the Dollar Movie theaters from years ago. I also think you'd end up with some terrible vibrations if they were mounted into drywall. Maybe if they were mounted inside individual boxes inside the wall...

Didn't mention that because of the "poo" issue.

To the OP. When you series, the amp power is split between the two speakers. If more than two, just keep doing the math. Again, while the actual power the amp will produce depends on several issues, this gives you an idea of what will happen.

Same with the ohm load. In this case, if you put three 2ohm in series on one channel, you will present the amp with a 6ohm load. The actual load may vary, but this gives you an idea. While a 6ohm load will be ok, I do believe poo will be the result.

 

[zumbo]

Info on wiring:
http://www.termpro.com/articles/spkrz.html

 

[garbage pale kid]

if the person is over 30 and in there parents basement

 

[parkerbender]

i said half a dozen, because i was going to use them for my surround, surround back and presence channels, definitely not thinking of wiring 6, 2ohm speakers on one channel of a 7 chanel amp. The walls are 1"knotty pine over drywall, so i didn't think vibration would be an issue. if it might sound bad i don't want to do it, i had just seen some amazing Db/w/m ratings on some speakers and my friend has these infinity's in his suburban and they sound great, so i was assuming, after looking at some real in-wall speakers, and sdeeing that they looked identical, only twice the price, that maybe it would be a doable thing for the surrounds, with a good set of normal fronts and a center. if i were to fab up a simple insert or find some sort of insertable box would that make the difference? i don't know, i can't help but think how great some systems sound in the store displays where there are just two speakers mounted in a wall, hooked to a shitty car stereo.

 

[allargon]

i don't know, i can't help but think how great some systems sound in the store displays where there are just two speakers mounted in a wall, hooked to a shitty car stereo.

Do they sound great to you or just loud? I'm not trying to insult you. I'm asking your honest opinion. At most displays I've heard, they've always put in loud rap, rock or country. I've never seen them go for the nuances. (I'm about to post my own thread where I will likely get pelted w/ tomatoes.)

 

[zumbo]

A 6x9 pair of Infinity speakers are not high-end. Not even close. A cheap pair of in-walls from almost any company will yield a better result. Seriously.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_e/103-8506857-0501464?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias=electronics&field-keywords=+in+wall&x=10&y=21

 

[parkerbender]

those are pretty good prices, i will probably go that way, thanks everybody!