speakers

donn Wolfsburg Elder

3,515 posts · joined Nov 2005 · 22 Jun 2013, 10:05 am

#960628

Any body here know if computer speakers can be used on a car radio? I have been looking for speakers to fit into the Caddy for a specific reason / purpose and have chanced on a set of new stand alone computer speakers that will fit perfectly, not expecting sound quality to be too great but in this instance that's not required, just wondering about the watts ohms or whatever is the criteria for car radio use?

I dream of a day when a chicken can cross a road without being asked for it's motive!

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 22 Jun 2013, 1:24 pm

#960651

Hi Don
just check on the back of the speakers and Your radio to see whether they are all 4 ohms which is normal .. now.. [8 ohms years ago]

also check to see if the speakers need to be powered..
All the ones I'm using with My computers at the moment all need to be plugged into power.. 12 volts for the older ones and 5 volts is now normal for computers.. so they must be amplified.. and they are quite good audio,,
some are 6 inches high and others 12 inches high [older ones]
both have leds that come on when the power is applied..

Wattage..I suppose is important.. but there is nothing on My computer speakers about resistance in ohms or wattage in watts..
20 watts is OK for Us oldies.. but if its higher it doesn't matter.. for a radio CD player etc.. but most car speakers are rated at 60-80 watts or even more....

cheers

LEE

PS: check out shops or ebay for car speakers.. end of june is a good time for low prices..

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

donn Wolfsburg Elder

3,515 posts · joined Nov 2005 · 22 Jun 2013, 3:18 pm

#960656

Thanks Lee, checked the back of the speakers first thing, no info relating to the ohms etc on the sticker, tried to get them apart to check inside but it seems they are glued together, after removing the screws from the back panel no amount of levering cursing or pulling could make it budge, maybe if I just plug them in it will tell the storey but I have reservations about doing that as I'm not sure if I'll cause damage to the radio.

I dream of a day when a chicken can cross a road without being asked for it's motive!

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 22 Jun 2013, 7:06 pm

#960689

Hi again
if they just have the two wires or connections etc
they are just speakers..
and if connected to a car radio etc shouldn't do any damage..
if the impedance is wrong, the speakers volume will be louder or softer..

newer PC Laptop speakers have a USB plug on the end..
power to the amplifier 5v DC plus audio connections..

cheers

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

h fractals - an ever changing lifestyle

7,671 posts · joined Feb 2005 · 22 Jun 2013, 7:11 pm

#960691

an easy way to check that they will work mate, is hook the speaker wires up to your battery and find out.. 🤓

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vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 · 22 Jun 2013, 8:01 pm

#960699

68AutoBug wrote:Hi again
if they just have the two wires or connections etc
they are just speakers..
and if connected to a car radio etc shouldn't do any damage..
if the impedance is wrong, the speakers volume will be louder or softer..

newer PC Laptop speakers have a USB plug on the end..
power to the amplifier 5v DC plus audio connections..

cheers

LEE

oh no,

don't do it.

PC speakers are totally different, if there is an impedance mismatch big enough you have either blow your speakers or blow your amp on the stereo depending which way.

bad idea Lee 😂

only way to know for sure is open the speaker box up and check the impedance is suitable for the amp, otherwise i wouldn't be using PC speakers on a car.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 22 Jun 2013, 9:06 pm

#960711

PC speakers generally use a 3.5mm mini phono jack and for 2 speakers it'll be a 3 band type and not the 2 band for headphones.

Anyhow, these cannot be used from a car stereo as the car stereo drives a speaker from it's internal amplifier.

The PC speakers use an amp within the speaker casing plus the input to an amp is higher impedance, different voltage etc.

Nice idea tho 🙂

madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 23 Jun 2013, 12:53 pm

#960761

psimitar wrote:PC speakers generally use a 3.5mm mini phono jack and for 2 speakers it'll be a 3 band type and not the 2 band for headphones.

Anyhow, these cannot be used from a car stereo as the car stereo drives a speaker from it's internal amplifier.

The PC speakers use an amp within the speaker casing plus the input to an amp is higher impedance, different voltage etc.

Nice idea tho 🙂

the two "band" mini phone plugs are MONO
and the three "band" are STEREO etc..

not many mono anything about these days.. even headphones..
all stereo..

sounds like Don wanted to use PC speakers because they are portable.??

If You can find any old stereo stand alone speakers Don..
they just usually have the two wires or two connections..
but are larger.. like the old car speakers .. 8 inch was normal?? lol

cheers

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---