Thread: home speaker components vs car components?

I've built numerous speaker cabinets for car audio components in the past, and I'm toying with the idea of constructing my own speaker cabinets so I can make them look exactly how I want them to look. But I'm not sure if I want to take on the task of building my own crossovers, so I have the following questions:

-Are car audio components in any way fundamentally different from home audio components? Would car audio components like, for example, midbass drivers work in a home audio tower speaker configuration?

-Do you know of any good sources of home audio components?

Never mind, I found a pretty awesome site. They have basically everything besides the wood.

http://www.parts-express.com/home.cfm if anyone else is interested

You might also want to look here - http://www.madisound.com/index.php and here - http://www.revolutionpower.com/ and here - http://www.speakerbuilding.com/content/1038/


Hope this helps...

Originally Posted by DigitalDoctor

You might also want to look here - http://www.madisound.com/index.php and here - http://www.revolutionpower.com/ and here - http://www.speakerbuilding.com/content/1038/


Hope this helps...

I believe I know the owner of Madisound. Friend of a friend.

Originally Posted by Ntruder

I believe I know the owner of Madisound. Friend of a friend.

Excellent, might be of assistance.

Originally Posted by DigitalDoctor

Excellent, might be of assistance.

Yeah I suppose I ought to swing by there one of these days. I know I've been there at least once a really long time ago. Although we're supposed to be getting 12" of snow today/tonight, and I'm stuck at work with my fiance's car with her crappy tires while she drives my SUV to work today, so I'd probably get stuck if I tried to go there.

These are the shit right here


http://www.madisound.com/catalog/pro...oducts_id=1510

or these


http://www.madisound.com/catalog/pro...oducts_id=1754

Madisound and PE are the best. the Seas tweeters in my car are from Madisound and the Dayton sub in my car is from PE. great raw drivers at great prices.

Seas makes some of the best tweeters on the planet...

Originally Posted by DigitalDoctor

Seas makes some of the best tweeters on the planet...

Hell yea.

This stuff is frickin nuts. I went to Madisound this afternoon and was talking to one of their guys about some of these components that I was looking at, and strongly advised against getting something that isn't in a kit format, because getting the crossovers right is apparently a big deal. I didn't bother trying to explain how much I wouldn't even notice if the crossovers weren't perfectly matched to the speakers, but since he had an excellent alternative, I just ditched my idea altogether.

He showed me these Zaph components that they sell in kits with woofers, tweets, and crossovers that are actually done right for those speakers in the cabinets according to the schematics. The build quality is much better than the previous ones I posted pictures of. Cast aluminum frames with venting all the way down and below the spider... really high quality cone and dust cap



They're pretty sweet. They look great and are apparently really good. I asked him how they compare to the components used in the name brand speakers found in the hifi stores like Paradigm and he pretty much laughed and said the Paradigm drivers don't even compare. I believe him, but it still seems strange that a $40 driver is that much better than whatever a higher end company like Paradigm is using and charging $800 per speaker for... Good business I guess.

who needs crossovers.... run em active. :-)

Originally Posted by Ntruder

This stuff is frickin nuts. I went to Madisound this afternoon and was talking to one of their guys about some of these components that I was looking at, and strongly advised against getting something that isn't in a kit format, because getting the crossovers right is apparently a big deal. I didn't bother trying to explain how much I wouldn't even notice if the crossovers weren't perfectly matched to the speakers, but since he had an excellent alternative, I just ditched my idea altogether.

He showed me these Zaph components that they sell in kits with woofers, tweets, and crossovers that are actually done right for those speakers in the cabinets according to the schematics. The build quality is much better than the previous ones I posted pictures of. Cast aluminum frames with venting all the way down and below the spider... really high quality cone and dust cap



They're pretty sweet. They look great and are apparently really good. I asked him how they compare to the components used in the name brand speakers found in the hifi stores like Paradigm and he pretty much laughed and said the Paradigm drivers don't even compare. I believe him, but it still seems strange that a $40 driver is that much better than whatever a higher end company like Paradigm is using and charging $800 per speaker for... Good business I guess.

I really doubt his knowledge when he says those are better than Paradigm as Paradigm designs and builds each and every driver, crossover and component in their speaker line, including the baskets. That can't be said of many companies as most buy parts and components from others. The Paradigm factory, R & D area and anechoic chambers are something to behold. I am certainly glad I was afforded a chance to tour their facilities.

Those speakers do look pretty nice though but I would think you would want to audition them prior to making any decision...