Using a Car Subwoofer at home??

[ArkiStan]

I'm looking around for a really cheap subwoofer right now and I happened to come acroos some car subwoofer. They're much much cheaper than home subwoofers. Is there any way I could use these at home? I'm pretty suyre they'll sound bad, I mean, home subwoofers must come in a hard wooden case for a reason. But I was just curious....

While I'm at it, anybody have any suggestions on getting a very cheap used subwoofer (under $100)?? Any websites? Or will I be beter off looking for open box deals at stores??

[ufcrusher]

Here is the list of problems with trying to use a car sub for your home sub.
1) No video shielding - thus if it is close enough to your tv, it WILL distort the picture and can damage your set
2) There is no power - home subs all have built in power supplies, unless you are the unfortunate sot who has an old passive sub. These went the way side years and years ago though. So you would still need to buy another amp to power them. Then you would have no way to connect it, because unless you constructed a crossover, you couldnt just run your mains off of it.
3) No enclosure = no bass...even the ones in your car have boxes built for them. You can build them as bandpass, sealed or ported boxes. Home theater subs are designed mostly as ported subs, being either downward or frontward firing
4) Range on the woofer isnt going to be what is designed for the home theater. Therefore, you wont get the deep bass or the quick response time.

Those are the reasons that I can think of, off the top of my head. I am sure there are more, but I am in a bad mood and dont feel like it right now.

You can pick up a cheap powered sub for as low as $150...but its not worth a damn. Most of the subs will start at $249 or so.

Hope this helps

[LPMiller]

hell, you can pick a cheap powered sub for 60 bucks. Bad sounding is totally subjective - your space, and your reciever are pretty important too. If you have cheaper speakers, a cheaper sub will do just fine. Depends what you expect.

Some of those cheaper KLH's aint too bad, as long as you don't crank 'em too high. The low end yamaha's suck; the sony's are actually ok, I really rather like the JBL's.

But...it's all subjective, and I'm tone deaf.

[ArkiStan]

- UFCrusher/Dark Fury
you took the words right out of my mouth. Damn, who's stupid enought to even think of using a car woofer at home. That's just plain old dumb if you think of all those reasons you mentioned (all of which I was about to mention).

- LP
I'm glad you agree that as long as you don't blast them, cheap subwoofers can get the job done. I don't know how many times I've mentioned this but I live in the smallest apartment you'll ever see. I never feel the need to watch my movies out loud. So a very small light-duty subwoofer will be fine for me. And my other speakers aren't powerhouses either, so I think anything above a 8" sub would be overkill. I really don't plan to spend more than $100. So thanks for the suggestion man. I'll definitely check those brands out. I'm open to any other suggestions.

[caddelma]

I think sony has a new sub out w/10-inch woofer running of only 50 watts. I saw it at http://www.crutchfield.com for $99. I am considering it over the yamaha 8-inch. 50 watts seems a little weak but you have to consider what else you have in your system. In my case 100 watts a channel!

[ArkiStan]

The Sony 50 Watter sounds pretty good. And if crutchfield has it for $99, then I must be able to find it at other places for much cheaper... I'll definitely check it out since LP also thought Sony Subs aren't bad...

[caddelma]

Originally posted by ucbstan
The Sony 50 Watter sounds pretty good. And if crutchfield has it for $99, then I must be able to find it at other places for much cheaper... I'll definitely check it out since LP also thought Sony Subs aren't bad...

Don't know where you stand with the sub issue, but I went out last night and bought the Sony 8" sub w/50-watt amp. Best Buy had them for $89. It didn't sound all that great at the store, so I was leary. I was either going to get this one or a KLH 10" w/120-watt amp. The KLH sounded good, but it is not sheilded according to the sales person. I hooked it up along with the sony center I bought for $89 and was suprised at them both. I have never been a big fan on the sound of sony speakers, but both were impressive. The sub was plenty loud for the room (about 14 x 23 in an open floor plan that goes into the kitchen). I didn't play with it much, but it could be deep and tight or loud and boomy depending on the freq. and gain setting and what was playing. For the sound and size I think it is worth the price.

[ArkiStan]

sounds like a great deal. I'll check it out. I just wish I could try these things at home before I buy it, instead of just listening to them in the store.