Hello. Thank you for taking the time to read my post.
My goal is to build a 3 star home sound system for my gym that balances size, budget, and audio quality. Below is what I have been planning out. Please let me know what your comments, questions, or concerns are.
Audio Source: phone streaming through Google Chromecast Audio
Mixer: Berhinger 5 channel mixer
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Behringer/Xenyx-502-Mixer.gc
Amplifier: Behringer iNuke 3000 watt amp
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Behringer/iNUKE-NU3000-Power-Amp-1301508431129.gc
Mid and High Range Speakers: Rockford Fosgate 6x9 4ohm car speakers
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_575R169X2/Rockford-Fosgate-Prime-R169X2.html
Subwoofer: Rockford Fosgate 10" Sub
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_5751P2D210/Rockford-Fosgate-P2D2-10.html?tp=68872
There are several reasons that I want to use car speakers. Firstly, they are what I'm most familair with as far as brands and sound profiles. Secondly, with their lower impedence it would give me more options of wiring multiple speakers into an amp while having a lower overall impedence for optimal amp performance. Finally, they are cheaper than most monitor and bookshelf speakers. Although I would have to build a box for them, it is what I would prefer to do. For my planned set up I would use 4 of the 6x9 speakers. 2 of which would be wired in series and the other 2 wired in parallel. Wiring these 4 ohm speakers in that manner would achieve a total impedence of 4 ohm. I have run car speakers off home receivers before and they sounded fine, but I often found that home receivers lacked the wattage to achieve the speaker's potential.
That is why I was considing the Behringer iNuke 3000 watt amp. Under a 4ohm load it will send 880w through each channel. The car speakers can handle a max of 130w each, 130 x 4=520. Although 880w is significantly higher than what the speakers are rated for it should ensure that the speakers will reach their performance capacity without stressing the amp. As for the sub, the 10" is rated for a max 600 watts. Again although 880 watts is noticable higher than what the sub is rated for, the sub will perform well without the amp sweating. To my understanding, I can always turn down the gain on the amp. I have also heard that it is better to overdrive a speaker than it is to under drive. Additionally, I understand it that power amplifiers are rated at their max output and not their continuous output rating. From my experience in the car sound system world, there are some amps that are "1000 watts" but in reality they only provide 250w continuously. Please correct me if I am wrong on my understand of home power amps.
As for connections, the Chromcast Audio would use a 3.5mm to RCA wire to connect to the Berhinger mixer. The Berhinger Mixer would use 1/4" connections to the Berhinger iNuke amp. I plan on getting one 2 pole twist locking speaker wire and cutting it in half. I would take one half and strip the end of the wire just enough to plug into the subwoofer. I would take the other half and wire to the four 6x9 speakers. Again the four speakers would be wired in series parallel to achieve a total overall impedence of 4 ohms. I would wire the dual 2 ohm voice coils on the sub into 4 ohms.
After reading the Berhinger Manual for the iNuke amp, it has the capability to provide a Low Pass Filter for the Channel B output and a High Pass Filter for the Channel A output. If it is that simple, I would connect the subwoofer to the Channel B output and the 6x9s to the Channel A output of the amp.
I realize that this is an unusual set up since I am mixing components from different segments of the audio world, but I think it would work well. I have considered using a 5.1 home receiver but finding one that posts acurate power ratings when all channels are driven seems impossible. The ones that I have seen only give power rating when only 2 channels are driven. Furthermore, I don't need a receiver that splits audio into front, rear, left, and right. I just need left and right. Please let me know what you think. I am open to any and all constructive criticism. Thank you again for taking the time to read my long post and I hope that you have a great day.
