Prices Effective 7/10/15 – 9/10/15 Speaker Builders, A/V Enthusiasts, Contractors, and Techies FREE SHIPPING Visit parts-express.com for details BUILD SPEAKERS WITH THE BEST! HELPFUL TIPS FOR YOUR NEXT PROJECT SURROUND YOUR ROOM IN SOUND How to pick the right speakers for your space page 6 PLUS! ALL NEW SPEAKER PROJECT: THE DIYRM-A THE GREAT CROSSOVER DEBATE: BUILD IT OR BUY IT? page 30 page 26 HAVE A PARTY ON YOUR PATIO page 4 NO MATTER THE SPACE, IT’S ALL ABOUT THAT BASS! Car audio for any vehicle, page 40 Find 17,000 electronic components in stock at parts-express.com! Parts Express – Your Electronics Connection! W elcome to our brand new Sound Solutions themed flyer! If you are a longtime Parts Express customer, you will notice we have made a number of changes to the format of our flyer. We trust you will enjoy reading the “solutions” based technical articles and projects our team has included inside. We plan to feature more customer contributed projects and commercial sound installations in future issues, so stay tuned! For now, check out Tom Zarbo’s Micro-B Plate Amp Project on page 20, and Scott Hinson’s Monitor Speaker Project on page 26. Both Tom and Scott have been regular contributors on the Parts Express Tech Talk forum, and we are excited to share their ideas. As always, we feature the best products at great prices backed by our industry-leading customer service and technical support. I invite you to browse inside and imagine all of the possibilities. And be sure to shop our expanded clearance and buyout section for lots of great deals! Thank you for your business and enjoy! What you’ll find inside... 4 Indoor/Outdoor Systems 6 Home Theater Speaker Setup 8ATS1200 3.1 Channel TV Stand 9Receivers 10 HDMI Cables and Accessories 11 Top 5 Reasons to Wall Mount Your TV 12 Mini Amp Revolution 13 Portables and Headphones 14 Infrared Repeater Systems 15Surveillance 17 Wire & Cable 18 Basics of Soldering 19 Mini Amp Boards 20 Build a Plate Amp with Tom Zarbo Jeffrey Stahl President / Founder 22 Exciters 23 Tablet Cinema Project 24 Dayton Audio Loudspeaker Drivers parts-express.com EDU Sales 25 Perfect Bass for Every Place Detailed product descriptions, user product reviews, diagrams, and a do-ityourself resource area are online at partsexpress.com – along with over 18,000 products! Orders placed before 4:00 PM ET are shipped the same day. Sign up on our site to receive our catalog and latest sales flyer! Universities, Colleges, K-12, and Technical Schools – please contact our EDU representative at 1-866-366-4909 ext. 137 or email edusales@parts-express.com for assistance. 26 Speaker Project Government Sales 34 Why 70 Volt Systems Make Sense PE Wholesale If you are a local, state, or federal government buyer, please contact our Government Sales representative at 1-866-366-4909 ext. 137 or email govtsales@parts-express.com for assistance. 36 Pro Electronics / Mixers Are you an OEM, installer/integrator, retailer, or in the gaming or amusement park business? We offer personal­ized service, exclu­sive discount pricing, out­ standing tech support, and more. Go to parts-express.com/wholesale or call 1-866-366-4909. Showroom 725 Pleasant Valley Dr. Springboro, OH 45066 937-743-3000 30 The Great Crossover Debate 31 Dayton Audio Speaker Projects 33 Pro Drivers 38Microphones 39 Pro Lighting 40 Car Subwoofers 42 Add a Car Subwoofer with 3M Wire Taps Customer Support Call, email, or chat live with our trained and professional Customer Service team for prompt help in processing an order or to obtain price and availability. Contact us at 1-800-338-0531 or sales@parts-express.com or parts-express.com. Our highly regarded technical support team has hands-on product experience and technical electronics knowledge. For assistance with your audio/video projects call 1-800-338-0531 or email tech@parts-express.com or visit our website to chat live with our techs. Come visit us at our showroom: 28 Speaker Design and Measurement 43 Car Audio Head Units / Receivers 44 Clearance Center and Factory Buyouts Product Headliners... 3Neutrik 16 CAIG 32 PRV Brazil 37Yamaha Industry Affiliates: Free shipping on most orders. Visit parts-express.com for details. Connect with us: We Accept: Parts Express 2 @Parts_Express Home Audio/Video parts_express Parts Express Parts Express parts-express.com parts_express CUSTOMER FORUM Distributed By: PROJECT Enjoy the Sounds of Summer By Josh Wickersham ADDING A SOUND system to your outdoor space is easy, with a little forethought and these three main ingredients: the Dayton Audio APA100 amplifier, Dayton Audio IO665W outdoor speakers, and the newest 4.0 Bluetooth receiver from Parts Express. Our goal with this project was to create an outdoor sound system that provides maximum convenience to the user. The volume and track selection are both controlled from a smartphone up to 30 ft. away, eliminating any need to keep going back into the house to make adjustments. It starts with the right combination of components The APA100 and Bluetooth receiver make this system super convenient. Because the APA100 has an auto-on function when a source signal is detected, the Bluetooth receiver effectively acts as the on/off switch once a device is paired and music is streamed. So, you can fire up the system just by pairing your phone and playing music…it’s just that simple. When you are done, the amp will go into standby mode after approximately 10 minutes of inactivity. A. Dayton Audio APA100 Class AB Stereo Amplifier 60 Watts Per Channel #300-590. . . . . . List $149.99 $99.80 (1-3) $95.90 (4-UP) B. Bluetooth 4.0 Receiver with aptX Decoding and NFC Pairing #320-340������� List $60.99 $48.80 (1-3) $45.50 (4-UP) C. Dayton Audio IO655W 6-1/2" 2-Way Indoor/Outdoor Speaker Pair White #310-010. . . . . . List $116.99 $86.65 (1-3) $79.74 (4-UP) (Also available in black #310-012) A B 4 Home Audio/Video parts-express.com C Plan ahead This installation took place in a newly built home less than two years old. The owner knew he wanted outdoor speakers in the future, so the structural speaker wire was added at the time of construction. The wire run travels from the living room through the walls and exits the soffit on the patio outside. There is a break in the wire near the backdoor, where we show you how to add a volume control wall plate. Terminate like the pros We connected the amp to a binding post wall plate with 14 AWG speaker wire and banana plugs for a nice finished look. Next, we terminated the in-wall wires from the binding post wall plate to the wires that lead to the outside of the house using the volume control. This volume control comes with removable Phoenix style screw terminals making it easy to hook up. Once that was installed, all that was left to do was to mount the speakers to the soffit and play some tunes. D. Banana Plug Pair Compression Type D #091-330������������ List $7.99 $3.98 (1-9) $3.50 (10-UP) E. Wired Home VRS100 Impedance Matching Rotary Speaker Volume Control 100 Watts E #300-552........ List $54.99 $39.75 (1-5) $38.00 (6-UP) 1 2 Install a binding post wall plate for a clean professional look Next, add a volume control wall plate 4 3 Mount the bracket, but be sure to use washers if you’re installing them in the position shown Finally, insert your speakers and tighten the end nuts most of the way. Aim your speakers and finish tightening Impress your neighbors Mounting these speakers is easy. First, mark the position of the mounting slots on the bracket and drill pilot holes. Next, secure the bracket with the hardware included with the speakers. If you plan on hanging the speakers from a soffit or ceiling, be sure to pick up some washers from your local hardware store to safely lock them into place. Thread the speaker wire through the large hole in the center of the bracket and plug the wire into the spring terminals on the back of each speaker. After the brackets are installed, position the speaker between the mounting tabs and screw down the adjustable nuts on either side of the speaker. These allow you to point the speakers precisely where you need them. After your speakers are successfully mounted, it’s time to relax and dial in all your favorite music from the comfort of your outdoor oasis. Josh Wickersham is the Home A/V Line Manager for Parts Express. Visit parts-express.com for New Product Arrivals, Specials, Buyouts and Clearance Items Home Audio/Video 5 PICK THE RIGHT SPEAKERS, GET THE BEST SOUND SO MANY QUESTIONS arise when investing in an audio system — a person could spend thousands on speakers alone. Dayton Audio makes this selection easier. Our home audio speakers are designed to include a high price to performance ratio, and all of them offer incredible value. A T652 T652 A D Left and Right Speakers B652 B652-AIR Handles more power, and plays deeper bass than the B652 speakers. #300-653� List $154.99 $118.50 (1-3) $112.20 (4-UP) C B652 B Our classic 2-way bookshelf speaker features punchy lows and smooth mids. #300-652..... List $51.99 $39.80 (1-3) $34.45 (4-UP) CCS-33B Unique 3-way design provides full detail and brings clarity to dialogue. #300-674. . . . . List $64.99 $49.77 (1-3) $47.95 (4-UP) B652 -AIR Upgraded Air Motion Transformer (AMT) tweeter produces a sparkling, more refined upper range. #300-651..... List $77.99 $59.80 (1-3) $56.90 (4-UP) 6 Home Audio/Video parts-express.com Center Speakers Surround Speakers C SAT-BK SAT3 B SAT3 B452 Perfect where space is limited or a minimalist appearance is preferred. Available in black or white. #300-675. . . . . List $59.99 $29.80 (1-3) $28.50 (4-UP) SATBK B452 D Equally suitable indoors or outdoors — attach them to walls or place on any flat surface. #300-670. . . . . List $56.99 $43.75 (1-3) $41.90 (4-UP) A miniaturized version of the B652 speakers. #300-452. . . . . List $45.99 $32.80 (1-3) $31.25 (4-UP) Subwoofers SUB-1200 BS36 A creative solution for left, right, and center channels, with three sets of spring terminals. #300-684�������������������������� List $259.99 $149.98 EACH SUB-1000L Don’t forget about the bottom end of your home theater. No set up is complete without a subwoofer, and these subwoofers from Dayton Audio really deliver bang for your buck. Six styles are available, so you can be sure to get the right amount of bass for your specific room. List Price Part # Model Driver Amp Price Each 300-625 SUB-650 6-1/2" 60W $129.99 $89.00 300-627 SUB-800 8" 80W149.9999.00 300-628 SUB-100010" 100W 179.99119.00 300-629 SUB-120012" 120W 229.99148.00 300-634 SUB-150015" 150W 299.99198.00 300-639 SUB-1000L10" 100W 199.99 148.00 7 Join the Parts Express Tech Talk Discussion Board at techtalk.parts-express.com Home Audio/Video 7 RAVE REVIEWS! “ This thing is freakin awesome for $199 ” –kathnrich, NJ RAVE REVIEWS! “ ” Solidly built with good sound –PhilW66, Long Island, NY RAVE REVIEWS! “ Was very suprised by the sound coming from the subwoofer ” –SteelDo, Georgia Powered Soundbar, Subwoofer and TV Stand DAYTON AUDIO ATS1200 The Home Theater All-In-One Multi-Tool By Josh Wickersham High quality 3" drivers Enjoy fresh, robust TV audio performance Some people don’t know what they’ve been missing Dissatisfaction with TV speakers may not be an inherent notion. If you’ve only ever heard a television through its stock speakers, you may not know what you’re missing. It’s like drinking powdered orange juice all your life and assuming the fresh squeezed version tastes the same; similar elements are there but the finer details are missed. If you pair a well-designed sound system with your TV shows, movies, or video games, then you will immediately understand the importance that sound plays in your media experience. I explained to her that the wires were kept to a minimum since the amplifier and speakers were contained in an attractive TV stand. She liked the looks of this 3.1 system and when I fired it up the bland, distant sound of the TV was washed away by vibrant details and an aural separation she was not used to; she was blown away. You see, my wife is one of those individuals who lived the “TV speakers are good enough” life. Now, she feels bass in the commercials and explosions, and we hear clear dialogue without the need to turn up the volume past our comfort level. When the television was placed on the ATS1200 she thought it sat a little low (at 14-1/2" from the floor), but after a day she realized that our TV was previously too high and that the new viewing angle was in fact more natural. Make bad cable memories disappear My wife possesses a deeply ingrained aversion to the clutter of wires created by home theaters. I suspect it stems from the many years she toiled with her father winding and un-winding cables for his sound and lighting business. So when I told her I was bringing home a sound system for our TV she probably had vivid flashbacks to her childhood and the sore forearm muscles that wire hauling duties created. But when she saw the ATS1200 her attitude changed at once. 8 Home Audio/Video Room-filling sound, from furniture that doesn’t fill rooms The ATS1200 features an impressive array of six 3" mid-range woofers and three soft dome tweeters, which together make up the left, center, and right channels. Rounding out the bottom end is a powerful 6-1/2", 70 watt ported parts-express.com Multiple inputs subwoofer with enough force to dispel any accusations of it being wimpy. The sturdy construction of the 47-1/2" wide stand holds TVs weighing up to 110 lbs. and the locking casters make positioning effortless. My room measures 14' x 16' but insufficient volume has never been an issue with the ATS1200, plus two optical and two analog inputs provide more than enough options for connected devices. I currently store an Xbox, cable box, router, and modem on the two shelves measuring 21-1/4" W x 7" H x 14-1/2" D each. How much would you pay for this experience? $300? $500? More? This was the perfect solution for our living room. Besides replacing our old bulky TV stand, the ATS1200 gave my family a level of sound quality much higher than we’d experienced before. The compact, minimalist design provides ample space for all our media devices, at a price below $200. Anyone looking for a high quality-to-cost ratio should consider adding the ATS1200 to their primary or secondary living space, bedroom, or dorm room. Josh Wickersham is the Parts Express Home A/V Line Manager. #185-3100.. . List $399.99 $199.00 EACH SHIPS FREE! Wireless Convenience meets Raw Power Pioneer VSX-1130-K 7.2-Ch Home Theater Receiver with Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth • Simplified setup and Wi-Fi connection • ESS Sabre 24-Bit DAC for unparalleled sound quality #250-648�������������������������� List $629.99 $599.99 EACH Yamaha RX-V579 7.2 Channel Home Theater Receiver 115 Watts • Cinema DSP 3D for immersive surround sound realism • AV Controller App for easy, convenient operation via your smart phone or tablet • Extra Bass setting provides rich bass reproduction, even with small speakers • Supports playback of the most popular lossless file formats including DSD Onkyo TX-NR636 7.2 Network Home Theater Receiver 95 WPC • Pre-loaded internet radio and streaming apps • Stream high-resolution audio from PC and NAS #312-516�������������������������� List $549.95 $499.95 EACH #252-506�������������������������� List $699.00 $499.00 EACH 2015 Home Theater Receiver Comparison Guide In 2015 we see some newly advanced A/V receiver models as well as favorites from 2014. The updates from Pioneer and Yamaha include additional wireless features that last year were reserved only for the top line models. All of the receivers below offer features like 4K Ultra HDMI pass-through, Bluetooth connectivity, calibration microphones, HDCP 2.2 copyright protection, remote controls, and internal DACs. Use this handy comparison guide to select the receiver that best suits your needs. *Watts per channel Home Theater Receiver Part # Channels WPC* @ 8 ohms HDMI In/Out Wi-Fi Powered 2nd Zone Price Shipping Onkyo TX-NR535 252-5025.2 65W 6/1 ✔ $399.00 FREE Onkyo TX-NR636 252-5067.2 95W 7/2 ✔ 499.00 FREE Pioneer VSX-830-K 250-6475.2 80W 6/1 ✔399.99 FREE Pioneer VSX-1130-K 250-6487.2 100W 7/2 ✔ 599.99 FREE Yamaha RX-V379 312-5125.1 70W 4/1 279.95 FREE Yamaha RX-V479 312-5145.1 80W 6/1 ✔399.95 FREE Yamaha RX-V579 312-5167.2 80W 6/1 ✔ ✔ 499.95 FREE Yamaha RX-V679 312-5187.2 90W 6/1 ✔ ✔ 599.95 FREE ✔ ✔ Volume buyers—Call 1-866-366-4909 for quantity discounts Home Audio/Video 9 HDMI Cables: Questions and Answers Does it matter which cable type I use? There are essentially four cable types that apply to the A/V market: High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet, High Speed HDMI Cable, Standard HDMI Cable with Ethernet, and Standard HDMI Cable. Since all of these cables are backward compatible, we primarily offer the High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet which offers the most benefits at a great price. What about long cable runs? Of the characteristics that determine if a longerlength HDMI cable will function correctly, the most critical are conductor size, shielding, and manufacturing tolerances. Our HDMI cables use only high quality materials and proven manufacturing techniques, which guarantee our HDMI cable selection will meet your needs. Generally, any cable will do up to 15 ft. For runs of 15 ft. to 25 ft. the cable you use should be constructed with 28 AWG conductors, or 24 AWG for runs up to 50 ft. If you need to make runs past 50 ft. you will need an active circuit cable or additional equipment like signal extenders or baluns. Can any type of cable work equally well inside walls? If cables are to be installed permanently within the walls of your house, you will want to install CL2 rated HDMI cables. CL2 rated cables meet NFPA and UL specifications for in-wall cable installation. Wired Home CL2 In-Wall Rated High-Speed HDMI Cables with Ethernet • Thicker gauge wire for longer runs • Available in 10 sizes: 1 ft. - 50 ft. • Heavy CL2 jacket for in-wall use If you are not going to install the cable in the wall, non-UL listed cables are available for less. Is there a way to connect my TV when it’s just inches from the wall? The physical size of the HDMI interface can make installation difficult, especially with TVs mounted close to the wall. We offer cable and adapter solutions that help in tight installations. If the route between the source and TV is short, we have Super-Slim HDMI cables. We also offer flat HDMI cables that really make installation easier. Keep in mind though, flat HDMI cables are not intended for installation underneath carpet. Parts Express carries more than 40 styles of HDMI cables. Check out our selection today at parts-express.com! Part # Length 181-550 1 ft. 181-552 2 ft. 181-554 3 ft. 181-556 6 ft. 181-557 9 ft. 181-558 12 ft. 181-560 18 ft. 181-562 25 ft. 181-564 35 ft. 181-566 50 ft. Wire Gauge AWG 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 24 24 24 List Price $3.99 3.99 4.99 5.99 7.99 8.99 11.99 31.99 41.99 57.99 Price (1-3) $2.79 2.88 2.99 3.98 5.65 6.20 8.54 23.90 32.20 44.56 Price (4-24) $2.65 2.74 2.88 3.84 5.09 5.89 8.11 22.71 30.59 42.34 Best bang for the buck! Wired Home HDMI Cables with Ethernet and Audio Return • Thinner wire gauge and flexible jacket for close proximity Wire Gauge List Price Price Part # Length AWG Price (1-9) (10-UP) 181-080 3 ft. 28 $2.99 $1.99$1.84 181-082 6 ft. 28 4.99 2.982.58 181-084 12 ft. 28 6.99 3.983.78 28 8.99 5.985.75 181-086 18 ft. Low price, high-speed HDMI cables Problem solving adapters make installation easier! Super Slim High-Speed HDMI Cables with Ethernet • Great for wall mounted TVs or anywhere space is limited • Available in 3 sizes: 1 ft. - 6 ft. • 36 AWG Part # Length 180-686 1 ft. 180-687 3 ft. 180-688 6 ft. 10 CL2 In-Wall Rated No No No Home Audio/Video List Price $8.99 9.99 11.99 #181-344 #181-346 HDMI Adapters Price Price Price (1-3) (4-49) (50-UP) $4.25 $3.87$3.68 4.98 4.624.38 6.25 5.675.38 parts-express.com Part # 181-344 181-346 181-348 180-692 Description Male to female adapter, 90° left Male to female adapter, 90° right Male to female adapter, adjustable Male to female adapter, 90° up #181-348 #180-692 ListPrice Price Price (1-3) (4-UP) $3.99 $2.45$2.33 3.99 2.452.33 4.99 3.563.38 7.99 3.953.19 Reasons to Wall Mount Your TV All too often, the apprehension of wall mounting a TV has left screens hanging low—they sit on their flimsy stock stand while taking up valuable room. The wall of your TV room is the natural habitat of your television… and here are some reasons why: 5|Clean, Neat Appearance 3|Theft Resistance Wall mounted TVs deliver a refined, minimalist look, especially when done right. Running the power and media wires through the wall makes your TV look like it belongs on the set of The Jetsons — clean and futuristic. If you don’t have the skill or inclination to hide your wires in the walls, you can still accomplish that clean look by using molded wire raceways. In a deplorable “grab and go” break in, a mounted TV is less likely to be stolen, especially if it is secured properly to the mount. Discourage the bad guys by wall-mounting your TV! 4|Viewing Angle By mounting your TV to the wall, you’ll experience 100% control over the viewing height — no longer will furniture determine whether or not you’ll get a stiff neck. Several mount styles are available that rotate your TV left and right, as well as up and down. Positioning options vary widely with angled and articulating mounts. Clean up your A/V cables without tearing into your wall #261-230 #261-202 Quest FCL-22411 Raceway Cover Lid 1" x 48" • Can be painted to match any decor #261-230��� List $4.68 $4.24 (1-5) $3.89 (6-29) $3.51 (30-UP) Quest FWH-12411 Surface Mount Raceway 1" x 48" 2|More Space 1|Safety First As the size of televisions increases, so does the furniture designed to house them, and that takes up a lot of precious space. Think three-dimensionally and reclaim your TV room! The safest place for your enormous flat screen TV is actually the wall. Wall mounting prevents accidental bumps and tipping that could be a disaster. Every year thousands of children are injured from fallen TVs, so if you don’t mount your TV to the wall, you should at least anchor it to prevent tipping. Over 80 TV mounts to choose from! Visit parts-express.com/tvmounts DataComm 45-0024-WH Recessed Pro-Power Kit with Duplex Receptacle • Discretely provide A/V cables and power to your TV • Create an in-wall cable pass-through • Rated up to 15 amp/ 125 volts • Includes duplex power receptacle and 6 ft. power cord #261-549. ........... List $66.95 $55.90 (1-4) $53.47 (5-UP) Hangman TV400B Anti-tip Kit for Flat Screen TVs • Bolts directly to the back of your TV • Aircraft grade steel cables • Secures TV to wall studs • For use with TVs over 35" • Weight rating is 400 lbs. • Features adhesive foam tape for fast and easy installation #261-202���������������������� List $7.42 $5.60 (1-5) $5.32 (6-UP) #182-158������������������������������ List $29.99 $19.99 EACH Questions? Contact our Tech Support and Customer Service Reps at 1-800-338-0531 Home Audio/Video 11 CLASS WARFARE and WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU A revolution is taking place in the amplifier industry, and it’s because of a new generation of small, powerful, efficient designs! Class D amplifiers have become increasingly popular thanks to their extremely high electrical efficiency (around 90%), moderate heat output, and solid bass punch. They employ pulse-widthmodulation: the audio signal is amplified at a very high switching rate and then filtered at the output stage to remove unwanted high frequency noise. Class T refers to Class D-based Tripath chipsets that use proprietary techniques to control pulse width modulation, done in pursuit of better performance (e.g., lower noise, lower distortion, etc.). For years, audiophiles everywhere have praised Class T amplifiers’ superior sound quality. IEEE Spectrum magazine named the TA2020 one of the 25 chips that “shook the world.” Unfortunately, Tripath had financial problems and is no longer in business, so the chipset supply is limited! A Born Leader! Dayton Audio DTA-120 60 WPC Mini Amp • The ultimate desktop mini amplifier • Most power with the smallest footprint • Internal headphone amp for listening versatility #300-3800�������������������������������������������� List $139.99 $99.80 EACH Both of these mini amp classes deliver efficient, dynamic, effortless high fidelity audio amplification. For the ultimate compact audio solution, the latest mini amps include convenient features like multiple source options, remote controls, USB DACs, and Bluetooth connectivity. Started the Revolution Parts Express is your mini amp headquarters, with over 40 to choose from! Visit parts-express.com Dayton Audio DTA-1 AC/DC Battery Powered Mini Amplifier • The mini amp that put Tripath on the map • Superior, hi-fi sound quality • AC or DC powered Mini Amp #300-380. . . . . . List $59.99 $29.80 (1-5) $27.80 (6-UP) Free From the Tyranny of Wires! Lepai 7498E 100 WPC Mini Amp with Bluetooth • Freely choose wired or wireless connectivity • Quick and easy – pair up and volume up • Capable of 160 WPC @ 4 ohms! #310-298������������������������������������������������������� List $199.99 $99.90 EACH Arrives Ready to Work! Lepai LP2020A+ 20 WPC Mini Amp • Old school charm exceeds most expectations! • No frills solid performer! • Rich tonal balance #310-300����������������������������������� 12 Home Audio/Video List $34.99 $26.88 (1-3) $25.50 (4-23) $23.80 (24-UP) parts-express.com Our Newest Recruit! Topping VX1 TA2021B 25 WPC Mini Amp with USB DAC • Built-in headphone amplifier for optimum personal listening • Perfect for USB computer and laptop music streaming • Efficient beyond belief #310-336���������������������������������������������������� List $159.99 $119.00 EACH It’s a DAC Attack! SMSL Q5 50 WPC Mini Amp/ DAC with Optical, Coax, and USB inputs • Makes one wonder – does SMSL stand for So Much for So Little? • Includes remote – sit back, control, and relax • A pure digital powerhouse #230-208������������������������������������������������������������������������ List $139.99 $129.99 EACH Lossy or Lossless What Do You Have to Lose? MP3 MUSIC FILES are relatively small—their less than ideal compression minimizes data content while saving space. Less-discriminating reconstruction methods result in imprecise, “lossy” content that comes close enough to the original for some purposes but insufficiently for others. If the source material’s recording quality is unexceptional, or sheer volume of storage is paramount, MP3 files are acceptable. Better-than-CD quality in the palm of your hand! FiiO X3 2nd Gen Portable High Resolution Music Player • Supports lossless formats and native DSD decoding for better-than-CD quality • Expertly designed architecture makes for extremely low noise and phase distortion • Accepts microSD cards up to 128GB Lossless data storage employs sophisticated data compression algorithms to reconstruct unadulterated content rendered from the original compressed information. If you want uncompromised audio reproduction of well-engineered music tracks, and a specific media player has sufficient storage space for your library, go lossless! FiiO’s new players support lossless audio formats and feature a cleverly intuitive user interface. They’re trim, sophisticated, and best of all, faithful to your music. Why settle for less than the original? #230-141���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $199.99 EACH The latest technology for less! Bluedio R+ Black Bluetooth Headphones with aptX and Micro SD Quality crafted in the USA • 4.0 Bluetooth headphones with aptX create robust sound quality • Four drivers in each ear cup for enormous bass and 3D sound • Convenient built-in microphone for phone calls • Built-in media player and DAC plays lossless media straight from microSD card Grado Prestige Series SR80e Headphones • Non-resonant air chamber creates an enormous sound stage • Superior dynamic features from lows, mids, and highs. • The standard in on-ear sound reproduction #232-405���������������������������������������������� $99.00 EACH #240-464 Black #240-466 White #240-468 Red . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . List $149.99 $99.80 (1-3) $89.82 (4-UP) More styles and colors at parts-express.com Connect with us Bluedio Home Audio/Video 13 THE WHY AND HOW OF INFRARED REPEATER SYSTEMS No More Excuses We’ve all said it: “Excuse the mess!” Put an end to your Audio/ Video clutter excuses by installing a clean-looking Infrared Repeater (IR) system. These repeater systems allow you to move all of your IR controlled equipment behind closed doors and out of sight—creating a clean and tidy excuse-free viewing area. IR repeater systems are used most commonly with audio/video systems that distribute video and sound throughout multiple rooms or locations in a home or business. They can enable full control over each component in the system from every distributed location, assuming each component in the system works with an infrared (IR) remote. IR repeater systems are so-named because they simply reproduce the IR code generated by an IR remote. The basic system consists of: • The connecting block that accommodates the power supply and connections • One or more photo diode units (often referred to as the “repeater” or IR target) • One or more “emitter” or IR flasher LEDs Three conductors are required in the hook up wire running from the connecting block: two for DC power and one to carry the signal. The same type of wire used for telephone lines or alarm systems is commonly used in repeater systems, and is generally run in-wall back to the IR connecting block. The emitter LEDs “flash” the code for the audio/video components to be controlled, as seen by the IR target. A target must be installed and wired in every location where control over the A/V system is desired. Targets are usually designed to mount into a standard electrical junction box in a location that offers reasonable exposure to the remote control’s IR commands. When the IR remote is pointed at the target and any button is pressed, the photo diode “sees” the IR emitted by the diode in the remote and creates an electrical pulse equivalent to the IR code. 14 Home Audio/Video This code is transmitted back to the connecting block, which also provides power for the targets and flashers, and then on to the A/V components requiring control commands. Emitters include a pressure-sensitive adhesive that attaches the LED directly over the IR window of each home theater receiver, media player, satellite box, etc. When the connecting block receives the pulsed code from any target, it causes all of the emitter diodes to flash the code. Only the A/V component that “recognizes” the code will respond. Universal remotes are often used at each target location along with that monitor or TV’s remote. Modern universal remotes will operate most functions on home audio/video equipment. Wired Home WHIRK3 Advanced 4-Zone Tube IR Repeater Kit • Control up to eight A/V components from four different rooms • Expandable to 15 zones #182-852���� List $309.99 $249.00 (1-3) $239.75 (4-UP) Visit parts-express.com to see our full line of infrared repeater products. “ RAVE REVIEWS! Easy to set up and use! There is no programing required, it’s simply a “plug and play” item. parts-express.com ” –Andrew330 Wired Home DBIRX Infrared Repeater System Kit Dual Band • Control up to four A/V components located behind closed doors • Easy setup, no tools needed #180-701���������� List $51.99 $29.50 (1-3) $28.00 (4-UP) New Analog High Definition Standard Definition You will see the DIFFERENCE The advantage of Analog High Definition (AHD) Surveillance Cameras AHD is a new analog video signal technology for the transfer of HD video over coaxial cable. Compared to traditional standard definition analog systems, AHD resolution is much higher, producing images up to 720P. Better image resolution creates much more usable video that can be a great advantage in identifying suspects or vehicles. Some of the advantages over other HD video technologies: Advanced color separation and signal processing technology that 1 gives you excellent low light (night time) images. 2 3 Hybrid 720P AHD/960H DVR technology allows you to use SD analog and AHD cameras. 4 AHD solutions have overall lower project costs compared to other HD video technologies. 5 Supports zero video delay and a transmission distance of 1,600 ft. using RG-59 coaxial cable. 6 AHD technology is becoming the industry standard for low cost HD solutions. Talos Security DRA041PK2D 2-Dome Camera AHD Surveillance System • All in one easy to setup surveillance system package • Two AHD 720P/960H HD dome cameras included • Network and Wi-Fi ready DVR for remote viewing • P2P easy networking setup • 1TB HDD installed video storage • 24/7 or motion based recording • Ideal for home or small office video security #334-294. . . . . List $279.00 $222.00 (1-3) $211.31 (4-UP) AHD can utilize your existing coax cable, making this technology ideal for easy upgrades. Visit parts-express.com for more dome and bullet camera surveillance packages Order by 4PM EST Mon-Fri and we'll ship it that day! Home Audio/Video 15 #341-200 D5 ���������������������� List $16.95 12.98 (1-11) $12.25 (12-UP) #341-225 G5 ���������������������� List $26.95 19.98 (1-11) $19.49 (12-UP) #341-282. . . . . . . . $7.48 (1-11) $6.97 (12-UP) #341-283. . . . $18.87 (1-11) $17.94 (12-UP) GOING TO GREAT LENGTHS! Get the wire you need shipped same day! Coaxial Network Power Cable • Multiple shielding layers reduce RF interference and crosstalk • Ideal for any cable or satellite TV installation • Computer network, telephone, surveillance, video distribution, audio, and infrared system control • Sizes and styles combine convenience with safety • For home, business, entertainment, and automotive systems Speaker Wire • Gauges and construction that suit connection of any loudspeaker • Eliminate power-robbing, inferior cables from your system! Microphone Guitar/Instrument • Flexible, durable connectivity for stage and studio • Prevents show-stopping noise and dropouts • A variety of jacket materials to suit fixed installation or portable use • Premium cable ensures a troublefree performance, night after night Get Connected at Parts Express We offer the largest selection of audio/video connectors in the industry! We offer a 45-day money back guarantee! Parts & Accessories 17 SOLDER LIKE A PRO! Some helpful soldering tips—besides the one that’s on your iron | By Mark Parson Soldering is superior to using connectors because it creates a “gas tight” seal at the point of contact. Excluding oxygen, moisture, and contaminants from the point of contact prevents the possibility of corrosion creating a resistive path to current flow. Modern solder used for electronics is most commonly a mixture of 60/40 lead and tin, melts at no less than about 360° F, and has through its center a “rosin core”— a substance known otherwise as flux. This rosin flux melts and flows onto the metal being soldered, removing oxidation from it. In years past, flux was a separate product that had to be applied prior to melting the solder. Solder intended for plumbing work or other purposes should never be used for electronics! Its flux is highly acidic and will corrode leads and connections very quickly. There are other electronic “specialty” solders such as lead-free or silver-bearing solder for critical applications such as CMOS digital integrated circuits. For the majority of applications, standard solder is more than adequate. Soldering is not at all difficult to do, but it does take a little practice to get a consistent, reliable solder joint every time. Don’t think of solder as a “hot melt” glue — it’s not intended to be load bearing or structural. For a reliable connection, the solder joint should not support weight or hold parts together. Once solder is melted and applied, it transforms from soft and flexible to hard and somewhat brittle. Many different soldering tasks are accomplished using the 5 to 40 watt temperature adjustment. Stahl Tools SSVT Variable Temperature Soldering Station • On/off switch with “power-on” indicator light • Variable heat setting • Cushioned rubber grip • Quality performance at a discount price #374-100........... List $21.99 $19.54 (1-4) $18.57 (5-UP) Allow your soldering iron enough time to reach full temperature, usually about five minutes. Keep the iron’s tip clean by using a damp sponge or stranded brass pad. Start by heating one of the conductors to be soldered while holding solder in contact with it. As the metal reaches the melting point of the solder, the solder will begin to melt into a bead or drop. It’s important to heat the solder via the conductor, not the soldering iron’s tip. When the metal exceeds the solder melting temperature, it will “flow” onto the surface or “wick” into the strands of wire. If it continues to stand like a bead of water, the metal is not yet hot enough for a good connection, or the surface is contaminated in some way. Once the solder has begun to flow, bring the other part to be soldered into contact with the melted solder and iron tip. The melted solder will transfer heat quickly as it contacts the surface of the metal. Continue to apply heat until the solder flows onto the second part and takes on a shiny appearance. Remove the solder and iron. If any portion of the solder joint appears beaded or standing on top of the metal, reheat until it flows properly. When soldering on printed circuit boards (PCB), take care not to overheat the solder “pad” as it may delaminate from the PCB. Do not push or pull on leads. Never attempt to solder together a broken trace on a PCB. The best repair is to use hookup wire (22 gauge solid wire is good) as a jumper around the break. It is always a good idea to test a new solder connection with a continuity tester or volt-ohm meter before moving on. A proper-looking solder joint may not actually be good, and could be very difficult to locate later on as an open or intermittent in the circuit. Re-melting the solder on the connection will usually correct a “cold” solder joint. A pocket of flux or a connection not heated enough is usually the culprit. Mark Parson is a Product Line Manager at Parts Express Find the full version of this how-to article at parts-express.com/sound_solutions_v1 Production grade soldering with precise temperature control Stahl Tools DDSS Digital Display Soldering Station • LCD indicates preset and actual temperature • Variable heat settings between 419°F to 716°F • Super-slim ESD safe pencil soldering iron • Includes base, ceramic-ringed holder and cleaning sponge #374-300����������������������������� PRODUCT VIDEO 18 Parts & Accessories parts-express.com List $129.99 $79.50 (1-4) $75.53 (5-UP) parts-express.com/sound_solutions_v1 Amplifier boards and modules for any purpose! Create your own custom audio systems! All require regulated power supply 2 x 15W at 4 Ohm TA2024 Class D Audio Amplifier Board • Tripath TA2024 Class-D/Class-T architecture • Proprietary digital power processing technology • Audiophile performance • Two channels, 4 or 8 ohm loads • Up to 88% efficiency • Line level analog audio input • Requires 12 VDC 2A regulated 2.1 x 5.5 mm Dayton Audio DTA-2 Class T Digital Audio Amplifier Module • Features Tripath TA-2024 IC • 15 watts RMS per channel • Measures 2-11/16" x 1-5/16" • Requires 12 VDC 2000 mA 2.1 x 5.5 mm #300-385�������������������������������������������������� List $25.99 $19.90 (1-4) $18.90 (5-UP) #320-330��������������������������������������������������������������������������� List $34.99 $16.48 EACH Recommended Power Supply: Recommended Power Supply: #120-052��������������������������������� List $19.99 $15.85 (1-4) $13.75 (5-19) $12.98 (20-UP) #120-052��������������������������������� List $19.99 $15.85 (1-4) $13.75 (5-19) $12.98 (20-UP) Small enough for modern audio applications! TDA7492 Class D Digital Audio Amplifier Board 2 x 50W • Class D amplifier produces 2 x 50 watt @ 8 ohms • Phoenix connectors for easy speaker hook up • 12" stereo wiring harness included • Short-circuit and over-temperature protection • STMicroelectronics TDA7492 chip is priced low but has big power • Requires 10 - 26 VDC 1 - 4A PAM8610 2 x 10W Class D Audio Amplifier Board Class T Tripath TA2024 Amplifier Board • Pre-assembled, pre-tested for easy project integration • Class T fidelity and energy efficiency • 2 x 15W continuous power, adequate for most speakers • Requires 12 VDC 2A 9 $ 98 • Pre-assembled and pre-tested for easy project integration • 2 x 10W continuous power, adequate for most speakers • Built-in volume control, audio input, and power input • Requires 7 - 15 VDC 2.1 x 5.5 mm 9 $ 50 #320-606.......... List $24.99 $16.50 (1-9) $14.85 (10-UP) SALE #320-600. ... . . . List $19.99 Reg. $13.80 Recommended Power Supply: Recommended Power Supply: Recommended Power Supply: #120-056........... List $26.99 $19.80 (1-3) $18.50 (4-49) #120-052. ........... List $19.99 $15.85 (1-4) $13.75 (5-19) #120-052. . . . . . . . . . . . List $19.99 $15.85 (1-4) $13.75 (5-19) 2 x 25W at 4 Ohm TDA7492 Class D Audio Amplifier Board Only • Pre-assembled, pre-tested • Superb sound quality • Perfect Class D architecture • Two channels—each up to 25W • Up to 90% efficiency • Does not require a heat sink for most applications • Requires 14 - 19 VDC 2.5 x 5.5 mm EACH 2 x 300W TAS5630 Class D Amplifier Board • 2 x 300W of Class D power • Great for use as a subwoofer amp and with tactile transducers • Over-engineered protection circuits • Robust heatsink with two-stage fan • Requires 25 - 50 VDC 16A SALE #320-604. . . . . . . . List $15.99 Reg. $11.80 EACH Mini Hi-Fi High Power 2.1 Class D Audio Amplifier Board 2 x 15W + 30W • Pre-assembled and pretested for easy project integration • Mono channel low pass filter at 150 Hz • Requires 10 - 18 VDC 2.1 x 5.5 mm #320-332........... List $39.95 $19.98 (1-3) $18.50 (4-UP) #320-309. ........ Recommended Power Supply: Compare to $20 Recommended Power Supply: Recommended Power Supply: #320-317. .... List $149.99 $129.64 (1-3) $122.93 (4-UP) #120-052����������� List $19.99 $15.85 (1-4) $13.75 (5-19) BUYOUT #129-162���������������� $ 14 80 (1-3) 13 (4-9) $ 50 List $119.99 $89.90 (1-3) $85.26 (4-UP) #320-608. . . . . . . . . . . . List $19.99 $12.25 (1-4) $11.25 (5-UP) ¡También ofrecemos ayuda en Español! (We also offer assistance in Spanish!) Parts & Acessories 19 Build the “Micro-B” 2.1 Plate Amp “Tiny enough to fit where other amps could only dream of going.” Recently, while browsing through the Parts Express website and looking at the new products, I saw a nice 2.1 amplifier board that looked particularly interesting. The #320-608 stated a 15 watt per channel output for the stereo section, and 30 watts for the subwoofer portion. Its small size piqued my interest even more—at just under 2" by 2" square and only 3/4" thick, it seemed to be tiny enough to fit where other amps could only dream of going. Prepping the plate for the components: I decided to use the Dayton Audio #091-602 black anodized aluminum binding post plate as the chassis for this amp project. It’s sturdy at just under 1/8" in thickness, has a built-in gasket, and just plain looks sexy with that brushed aluminum finish— like a real plate amp should! I made a template on the computer and used it to mark the center locations of every hole, which I center-punched, then drilled with a 1/8" bit before going up to the final hole size. This helps keep the bit from “wandering” when drilling the larger-sized holes. Additionally, there were a few tweaks that needed to be done after drilling the holes: the 1/8" signal input jack hole required being drilled out slightly from the back side in order to reduce the thickness of the aluminum plate, since it didn’t have enough threads showing on the front to secure it adequately. Also, the main volume potentiometer on the amp board has a protruding tab for which I needed to make some clearance on the aluminum plate, to allow proper flush mounting. Soldering wires to the amp board: After applying blue painter’s tape on the plate to protect it, it was time for some soldering! I used 24 gauge hook-up wire for all wiring except the speaker connections. The most delicate soldering that needed to be done was to attach three wires to the subwoofer level adjustment pins that are mounted on the amp board. A 3-pin plastic connector socket on the board accepts a plug. No 20 Parts & Accessories By: Thomas Zarbo, Jr. plug was included with the amp board, so I removed the jumper, carefully pried the 3-conductor plastic cover by using a small flat-edge screwdriver, then pulled it up and off with needle nose pliers—leaving the three pins exposed. To attach my wires to these pins, I twisted each around a paperclip to make a type of tube, slipped that tube over the pin, then soldered them in place. I bent them apart just a bit and added some heat shrink tubing. input jack, on/off switch, input signal jack, amp board/potentiometer, and then finally, the LED. Each component had clear silicone caulk applied to the base of its mounting shaft to make an airtight seal when installed in a speaker. I also used blue thread locking compound to prevent nuts from vibrating loose over time. With a Q-tip dipped in alcohol, I cleaned up the silicone and thread locking compound from the front of the amp board as I went. NOTE: I chose the #090-496 input jack as it was the correct size for the 16V power supply I wanted to use. You will need to match this piece to whatever your power brick requires. As extra protection against those areas shorting out, I installed two 3/8" long layers of heat shrink tubing on the part of the binding post shafts that could touch the aluminum plate. I also put some electrical tape on the aluminum Next, I soldered red and black wires to the amp board to get power to it, and then I soldered three wires to the signal input jack on the amp board. At the suggestion of someone on the Parts Express Tech Talk board, I braided the input signal and subwoofer volume wires in an attempt to reduce noise. It must have helped because this final version is dead quiet. Mounting the components: Starting with the most robust and working my way to the more delicate, I installed components in this order: subwoofer potentiometer, binding posts, DC power parts-express.com plate where the mounted amp board could touch, in order to protect against the possibility that any part of the amp board would short to ground. Wiring it all together: Wiring the speaker outputs: After all components except the LED were mounted, I began to wire the parts together. First the three subwoofer level wires were soldered to the subwoofer potentiometer, then the three signal input wires were soldered to the audio signal input jack. Finally, we need to get the amplifier’s output to the binding posts. I made some ring terminals by first stripping 1" of wire from two sections of 20 gauge, 2-conductor speaker wire then twisting the exposed wire over a small Phillips screwdriver—making a ring terminal. I soldered a piece of red (+) power wire to the center pin on the DC input jack, then I soldered the other end to the bottom terminal of the switch. I soldered the black (-) power wire from the amp board to the outer terminal on the DC input jack along with a 2" piece of black wire that will later run to the LED. Next, I soldered two 470 ohm resistors in series closely together. I bent and clipped the positive (longer) lead of the LED and soldered one end of the two-resistor bank to that positive lead. I applied heat shrink tubing over the bare wires and resistors, leaving the resistor bank’s end exposed and ready to be soldered to the switch. Then, using silicone caulk, I mounted the LED and pressed it down into place. I soldered the resistor’s exposed end to the top (“On”) terminal of the switch along with the red (+) power wire from the amp board. I then soldered the extra black (-) lead from the DC input jack to the other shorter (-) end of the LED and put some heat shrink tubing over that. Since I had a set of 10 blue LEDs with voltage dropping resistors already (PE part number #073-118) I decided to use these. One included 470 ohm resistor will reduce 12 volts DC to an acceptable voltage for this LED, but since I intended to use 16 volts to power this amp, I decided to double the same 470 ohm resistors in series so the LED wouldn’t burn out with the higher voltage I intended to use. I flowed some solder onto the exposed wire to secure it, then attached those ring terminals to the binding posts with the included nuts. All that was left to do was attach the wires from the binding posts to the appropriate places on the amp board, using the handy built-in screw-down terminal. After removing the protective tape, I had a professional, un-scratched plate amp… that aside from the absence of the usual white lettering looked quite a lot like a finished product PE might sell. Lastly, I added two knobs that I fashioned out of a few pieces of 1/2" painted oak dowel. The documentation on PE’s website regarding this amp board suggests an 8 ohm load for both left and right speakers as well as for the subwoofer, but in my tests using a 16 volt 4.5 amp power supply powering 4 ohm speakers, the amp’s heatsink barely got warm. This little amp board appears fairly durable and seems to run cool. Conclusion: After listening to this project for several days, I’m very happy with how it turned out. I had a few struggles early on with ground/noise issues, but with the help of my fellow DIYers on PE’s Tech Talk forum I was able to virtually eliminate any noise. This amp is capable of generating some reasonably loud and very respectable sounding output... and when it finally does start to distort, it seems to do so rather gracefully. I think this project would likely be more than powerful enough for a computer system or small room setup, especially with the added low end boost of the “.1” bass channel. Finally... there now exists a truly tiny but still powerful 2.1 plate amp that can be installed in even the smallest of speakers. Let the little speaker revolution begin! NOTE: A printable PDF of the exact layout of all the components is available at the Parts Express website — it includes an actual-size template that can be printed and taped to the aluminum plate. The locations of every hole can then be center punched to clearly mark its exact location on the aluminum plate for easy drilling. It also provides detailed step-by-step instructions with numerous pictures to make it easy to duplicate this project. See more on this project at parts-express.com/sound_ solutions_v1 Parts list: Part # 320-608 091-602 090-496 090-317 060-526 090-475 023-610 073-118 100-050 080-726 101-860 101-864 101-870 101-878 101-716 101-868 Description Qty. Amplifier, 2.1 mini hi-fi 1 Binding Post Plate, black anodized 1 Panel DC power Jack 2.5 x 5.5mm 1 3.5mm Stereo panel mount jack 1 SPST Mini Toggle Switch 1 Dual Binding Post 2 10K Audio Taper Potentiometer 1 Super-Bright LED with resist 10 ct. 1 Zip Speaker Wire, 18 gauge 2 ft Heat Shrink Tubing kit 1 Wire, black, 24 gauge1 Wire, red, 24 gauge1 Wire, green, 24 gauge1 Wire, white, 24 gauge1 Wire, blue, 24 gauge1 Wire, yellow, 24 gauge1 About the designer: Thomas Zarbo, Jr. Tom’s been interested in quality sound and building speakers since childhood, starting when he and his father gutted the speakers from an old stereo console unit and mounted them in a few old wood boxes. Since then, he’s built dozens of speakers, subwoofers—and more recently—a few amplifiers. Tom finds it enjoyable to push himself to learn new things and make ever more challenging speaker cabinets! Visit parts-express.com for New Product Arrivals, Specials, Buyouts and Clearance Items Parts & Accessories 21 GOOD VIBRATIONS! Turn virtually any surface into a great sounding speaker How a Sound Exciter Works Unlike a loudspeaker that uses a frame and cone to couple vibrations to the surrounding air, exciters use the inertia of their own physical mass to apply force from the voicecoil to the mounting surface, which is usually flexible enough to be set in motion to provide sound. Coin Type and Bone Conducting Extended Mount #295-214 Multipurpose, perfect for thin spaces #240-614 Attach behind ear or on thin substrates #295-228 Enhanced audio performance with extended legs 1 Why select an exciter over a small speaker or conventional transducer? Exciters work by vibrating the surface to which they are mounted, creating a high-quality invisible speaker. Because the substrate/surface is being vibrated to produce the sound, there is no need for grills or openings in the surface, which makes the system more resistant to vandalism or weather ingress. The exciter’s thin profile makes it perfectly suited for applications where there are space and depth limitations. In addition, the wide-angle sound dispersion from an exciter often exceeds standard loudspeaker performance. 2 Can two exciters on a single panel create stereo sound? Yes! It is possible to use a left channel and right channel exciter on a single panel 22 Speaker Building #295-210 Ideal for versatile surface mounting Specialty and High Power #295-230 Capable of producing amazing sound to achieve stereo sound. The quality of the stereo image will be determined by the distance between the left and right channel exciters, and the symmetry of their placement on the panel, just like the distance between conventional loudspeakers affects their stereo image. Groups of exciters can also be used for the left and right channels. 3 How can I increase the low frequency (bass) sound being produced by the exciter? Bass and low frequency sound are enhanced greatly when using larger panels or increased areas of substrate. Additionally, using a heavier substrate will See more, learn more! Visit parts-express.com parts-express.com #295-238 Intended to move heavy mass #295-232 Perfect for indoor/outdoor applications allow deeper bass to be achieved, but at the expense of reduced treble output. 4 Will the vibrations from an exciter be visible or “shake” the device or substrate the exciter is mounted to? Because the vibrations are small and “fast”, and propagate over a larger panel area than a typical speaker, the movement of the surface is usually not visible to the listener. As an example, should the exciter be used on video displays, the visual impact of sound being generated from the panel is unseen. Also, most electronic devices will be unaffected by the vibration of an exciter. Dayton Audio Exciters Tablet Cinema A little something you can work on! | By Chris Perez Like most people I use my tablet to watch movies, which prompted me to create a small, affordable multimedia speaker that would be big on sound and small on footprint and space. I selected a tiny 2.1 channel amplifier board that is rated at 15 WPC and 30W on the sub (#320-608). This was used to power two Dayton Audio ND65-8 (#290-206) as the sub, and the small and efficient Aura Cougars (#296250) for the left and right channels. Inside my Tablet Cinema, the Aura Cougars each have their own tiny sealed enclosure and are mounted to a slightly curved baffle to improve dispersion. The Dayton Audio drivers are wired in series (16 ohm load ) in a vented enclosure tuned to about 50 Hz. The woofers (can I really call a 2" a sub?) are crossed over around 150 Hz and are mounted on the bottom protected by using modified wire fan guards (#259-135). The bottom panel is removable for easy access to everything. A. AuraSound Cougar NSW1-205-8A 1" Extended Range Driver 8 Ohm SALE #296-250����� List $24.99 Reg. $17.80 • NRT radial neodymium motor for extremely low distortion • Small frame size for reduced center-to-center distance and reduced comb filtering when used in arrays • Extreme ventilation for great power handling • Great for modern audio applications including sound bars and ultra-thin tower speakers 1250 $ EACH B. AuraSound NS2-326-8AT Whisper 2" Extended Range Driver 8 Ohm SALE #296-252����� List $29.99 Reg. $23.55 $ 15 C 50 B EACH SALE A C. AuraSound NS3-193-8A 3" Extended Range Driver 8 Ohm SALE #296-258����� List $29.99 Reg. $22.88 See the entire project and how it was built at parts-express.com/sound_solutions_v1 $ 1650 EACH Dayton Audio HARB252-8 1"x 5" Dual Motor Full Range Driver • High Aspect Ratio transducer • Dual neodymium magnet motors • Amazing off axis frequency response • Great for use in line arrays and low profile bar speakers #295-246�������������������������������������������������������������� List $17.99 $13.70 (1-9) $12.90 (10-UP) Dayton Audio CE Series Engineers, designers, and integrators will benefit from how effortlessly these speaker components satisfy the diverse demands associated with consumer electronics and audio-enabled projects. These versatile yet economical loudspeakers are available in sizes from 28 mm (1-1/8") to 90 mm (3-1/2") in diameter, and with power ratings from 1.5 watts to 5 watts continuous RMS power. All feature neodymium motor systems. #285-103 See full specs for the CE Series at parts-express.com Part # Model 285-103 CE32A-4 285-109 CE46P-4 285-119 CE70-30P-8 285-121 CE70-40P-8 285-123 CE90-50P-8 Frame Style 1-1/4" square 1-7/8" square 1-1/4" x 2-3/4" oval 1-5/8" x 2-3/4" oval 2" x 3-1/2" oval Diaphragm Impedance Material (Ohms) Aluminum 4 Paper 4 Paper 8 Paper 8 Paper 8 #285-109 #285-119 #285-121 #285-123 Frequency Power Handling (Watts) Sensitivity Response (Hz) RMS Peak (2.83V/1m) 240-20,000 2 4 81 dB 150-18,000 3 6 81 dB 310-20,000 2 4 85 dB 420-20,000 3 6 83 dB 320-20,000 5 10 87 dB Join the Parts Express Tech Talk Discussion Board at techtalk.parts-express.com Regular Price $3.65 4.97 4.10 4.76 4.97 Sale Price $2.95 4.45 2.79 4.25 4.05 Speaker Building 23 Dayton Audio Loudspeaker Drivers— AWESOMELY AFFORDABLE! Deep bass from a shallow driver Dayton Audio Low Profile Subwoofers • Innovative low-profile subwoofer—less than 4" thick! • 10 mm Xmax for uncompromised bass performance • Dual 4 ohm voice coils, 6 layers total, for high BL force and multiple wiring options • Rigid flat honeycomb fiberglass cone maintains its integrity under severe conditions • Low distortion ferrite motor with dual aluminum shorting rings keeps the bass clean and powerful LS10-44 10" Dual 4 Ohm LS12-44 12" Dual 4 Ohm Specifications: • Power handling: 250 watts RMS/500 watts max • VCdia: 2" • Le: 5.2 mH • Impedance: 4 ohms per coil • Re: 7.4 ohms • Frequency range: 30-300 Hz • Fs: 34.3 Hz • SPL: 85 dB 2.83V/1m • Vas: 1.09 cu. ft. • Qms: 5.14 • Qes: 0.47 • Qts: 0.43 • Xmax: 10 mm • Dimensions: A: 10.25", B: 9.375", C: 3.32". Specifications: • Power handling: 250 watts RMS/500 watts max • VCdia: 2" • Le: 5.3 mH • Impedance: 4 ohms per coil • Re: 7.5 ohms • Frequency range: 28-300 Hz • Fs: 33.6 Hz • SPL: 86 dB 2.83V/1m • Vas: 1.99 cu. ft. • Qms: 4.94 • Qes: 0.56 • Qts: 0.5 • Xmax: 10 mm • Dimensions: A: 12.375", B: 11.125", C: 4". SALE #295-251........................................... List $159.99 Reg. $119.20 SALE #295-253. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . List $169.99 Reg. $129.20 $ 8990 EACH 9990 $ EACH Dayton Audio DCS165-4 6-1/2" Classic Subwoofer 4 Ohm • Rigid treated paper/Kevlar cone with rubber surround • 4-layer VC for high power handling • Copper pole piece cap minimizes inductance • Vented pole piece and bumped back plate • Great for home and automotive applications Specifications: • Power handling: 100 watts RMS/200 watts max • VCdia: 1.5” • Impedance: 4 ohms • Frequency range: 36-500 Hz • Fs: 36 Hz • SPL: 84 dB 2.83V/1m • Vas: 0.42 cu. ft. • Qts: 0.34 • Xmax: 6 mm • Dimensions: A: 6.5”, B: 5.62”, C: 3.25”. #295-198��������������������������������������������������������� List $55.99 $43.00 (1-3) $41.00 (4-UP) 24 Speaker Building parts-express.com THE PERFECT BASS FOR EVERY PLACE Here’s a handy SPEC AND FEATURE COMPARISON DAYTON AUDIO SUBWOOFER AMPLIFIERS #300-811 #300-807 #300-809 Part # #300-803 #300-802 #300-813 300-809 300-807 300-803 300-802 300-811 300-813 Chassis type Plate Plate Plate Plate Stand alone Stand alone Power 4 ohm 1024 watts 540 watts 252 watts 100 watts 950 watts 233 watts Power 8 ohm 512 watts 273 watts 156 watts 75 watts 497 watts 156 watts None None 6 dB @ 35 Hz, Switchable None 3 dB @ 25 Hz, Switchable 0-12 dB @ 25-50 Hz, Adjustable 18-80 Hz 18-80 Hz No No 18-80 Hz No Switchable Switchable Switchable Switchable Adjustable Adjustable 30-200 Hz, 24 dB/octave 30-200 Hz, 24 dB/octave 40-180 Hz, 24 dB/octave 40-180 Hz, 24 db/octave 30-200 Hz, 12 dB/octave 40-180 Hz, 18 dB/octave No No no No Yes Yes 11-15/16" x 11-15/16 x 5-1/4" 11-15/16" x 11-15/16 x 5-1/4" 9-13/16" x 9-13/16" x 5" 8-11/16" x 7-1/2" x 3-3/4" 4" x 17-1/2" x 13" 3-3/4" x 17-1/4" x 13-7/8" Cutout Dimensions (H x W) 10" x 10" 10" x 10" 8-1/2" x 8-1/2" 7-1/2" x 6-1/2" NA NA Regular Price $365.80 $285.50 $139.80 $94.80 $398.60 $234.80 Sale Price $329.00 $258.00 $127.00 $79.00 $350.00 $217.00 Boost Parametric EQ Phase Crossover Subsonic filter Dimensions (H x W x D) Chassis Type Chassis type is somewhat straightforward. Plate amplifiers are designed for installation directly into the subwoofer enclosure. Stand alone amplifiers are built into their own chassis, designed to be installed into an equipment shelf, or rack mounted. Power This is the amount of power the amplifier can provide to a given load (4 ohm or 8 ohm). It is not necessary to match amplifier output to a driver’s power handling, but generally a good rule if you want to get the most possible output. Boost Bass boost is a simple equalizer circuit that provides increased output at a certain frequency. Bass boost is useful for systems that lose output in the lowest octave. For example, if you have a sealed system with a response of -3 dB at 25 Hz powered by an amp that has +3 boost at 25 Hz, then the overall system response will be flat to 25 Hz. A switchable boost has a fixed amount of boost at a set frequency, which is turned off and on with a simple switch. An adjustable boost allows a little more flexibility in that you can adjust the boost frequency and/or the amount of boost to custom tailor the amp to work best with your system. View our full line of subwoofer amplifiers and their complete specifications Subwoofer Amplifiers at parts-express.com Parametric EQ A parametric is similar to a bass boost, but it will generally give you even more flexibility to allow the amp to work with your drivers and room. A parametric EQ allows you to change the target frequency, the amount of boost (or cut), and the Q (or bandwidth) for the frequencies affected. Crossover The crossover removes the high frequencies from the subwoofer, allowing it to play only bass frequencies. With the crossover you can tailor the subwoofer to match your main speakers by adjusting the cutoff frequency. As a rule of thumb, the smaller the speaker the higher the crossover frequency needs to be. Subsonic Filter A subsonic filter is just a high pass crossover set at an extremely low frequency. A subsonic filter is generally more important on subwoofers using vented enclosures. Vented enclosures are tuned to a specific frequency. At the tuning frequency, the enclosure provides excellent control of cone excursion. However, below the tuning frequency the enclosure offers little to no control of the driver; the lower frequencies mean less control. Therefore, a subsonic filter cuts out the lowest inaudible frequencies, usually below 20 Hz, so the driver’s cone excursion is not wasted attempting to play notes you cannot hear. Volume buyers—Call 1-866-366-4909 for quantity discounts Speaker Building 25 SPEAKER PROJECT DIYRM-A (Do It Yourself Reference Monitor Model A) By Scott Hinson Introduction When I begin a new speaker project the most important question I have to answer is: Why? Why am I making this speaker? Is it something I need? Is it something I’m doing for fun? If I’m getting paid, is the work worth the effort? Sometimes the compensation doesn’t really add up on commission designs, but the opportunity for something new is too good to pass up. After multiple go-rounds with DIY Synergy Horns, Paralines, Tapped Horns for my house and Diffraction Lenses, Tractrix, Exponential and other esoteric horn designs … I decided something a bit more traditional was in order. And that is the design I’m introducing to you now, the “Do-It-Yourself Reference Monitor Model A (DIYRM-A)”. Check out the complete 11,000 word, 60 page, 70 figure document describing the design process and construction of the speakers in far greater detail at parts-express.com/sound_ solutions_v1 Design Goals For my wife’s craft area, I needed a small speaker that would be placed on a bookshelf where the proximity to boundaries boosting the low end would be useful. Hmmmm … sounds a little like the classic British LS3/5a studio monitor. The original design specs are published on the BBC website, and after I read them I thought, “After all these years, this is it? This is the spec? It’s not as detailed as I thought!” But there’s really solid engineering inspiration in those documents. Those guys knew what they were doing! Is my design an LS3/5a? No, absolutely not. It’s a paper coned, fabric tweeter 2-way. It’s similar but definitely not the same. I specifically designed this speaker and voiced it to represent more modern music choices and tastes. I also wanted it to be easy to build; you can buy all the wood from a hardware store and get it home in a sedan. You don’t need a truck for full 4x8 sheets of MDF or plywood. Unlike the BBC specification drivers, the woofer and tweeter are readily available. Driver Selection I considered quite a few drivers from several sources before deciding to go with the Dayton Audio Reference Series RS150P-8 and the RS28F (with truncated faceplate) tweeter. I’ve always had pretty good experiences with the Dayton Audio brand of drivers, and the value is always very high. I’d used the tweeter before and some of the aluminum cone RS drivers, but never the paper. I wanted to give the paper version a try in hopes of a simpler crossover. 26 Speaker Building parts-express.com Special Design Features There are some unusual choices in the design. First, the drivers are not flush mounted into the baffle; the grill design helps flush mount them. The grill fabric itself is wrapped over absorbing foam to help with diffraction. The foam is attached to a 1/4" MDF backer board that helps simulate flush mounting the drivers. Additional foam is attached to the faceplate to reduce diffraction even more. The end result is a smooth sounding midrange and high frequency response. I also used a length of 12 AWG solid copper wire to create a 1" diameter precision weight that is glued to the woofer cone. The weight lowers the sensitivity without changing the frequency response. Crossover The crossover is a bit more complicated than most 2-way bookshelf designs. There is a lot of frequency smoothing, notch filtering and phase correction. The electrical crossover point is 2 kHz, with an acoustical crossover at 1.6 kHz. Construction Cabinet construction is relatively straightforward. The completed speaker uses 3/4" x 3/4" oak battens, 1/2" plywood and 1/4" MDF. It can be made in a long weekend with a little effort. Battens are a hardwood board used in the corner joints of a loudspeaker to improve strength. For this design the battens are red oak, again purchased at a big-box home improvement store. The original LS3/5a design specification calls for beech, but it is significantly more difficult to get in some areas of the USA, requiring a trip to a specialty store. The red oak isn’t that expensive and does a very good job. The result is a speaker with high power handling and very low distortion through the 1 kHz to 5 kHz range. Do not use pine or plywood; they aren’t stiff and dense enough. The “thin-wall” BBC cabinet design is awesome in its simplicity but doesn’t handle changes well. You need a dense hardwood (poplar need not apply), and any substitutions for softer materials just don’t result in a successful knuckle rap test. I use a table saw for cutting plywood. I try to lay out the pieces so I cut as many parts as possible without having to move the table saw fence between the cuts. Never, and I mean never-ever-notonce have I been satisfied with the quality of an enclosure if I didn’t go to the trouble of ensuring that the cuts were all square by using a miter gauge which I spent quite some time truing up. The plywood won’t be exactly square coming from the factory, so take some time to trim things up. If you don’t it’s easy to have a box with unsightly, performance robbing gaps. Sound A small monitor/bookshelf speaker like this won’t blow you out of the room. What it can do is fill the room with super high-quality, detailed sound. Acoustical instruments and human voice are reproduced exceedingly well. There’s a bit of a sparkle to the high end, but it’s never fatiguing. Both drivers do an amazing job, and while they were a bit tricky to blend into this application, the end result is well worth the effort. I’m quite pleased and have started making a second set for work. Parts List Part # 275-140 295-363 091-1245 260-530 260-520 260-317 260-332 027-428 027-410 027-430 027-420 027-356 027-418 255-024 266-552 003-1 003-2 003-300 004-2.4 004-20 Description Qty Dayton Audio RS28F-4 1-1/8” Silk Dome Tweeter 2 Dayton Audio RS150P-8 6” Reference Paper Woofer 8 Ohm 2 Dayton Audio BPA-38G HD Binding Post Pair Gold 2 Sonic Barrier 3/4” 3-Layer Acoustic Sound Damping Material 1 Sonic Barrier 1/2” Acoustic Sound Damping Foam 1 Acousta-Stuf Polyfill Speaker Cabinet Sound Damping Material 1 Mellotone Premium Black Speaker Grill Cloth Yard 64” Wide 1 Dayton Audio 10uF 250V Polypropylene Capacitor 2 Dayton Audio 1.0uF 250V Polypropylene Capacitor 6 Dayton Audio 12uF 250V Polypropylene Capacitor 4 Dayton Audio 3.3uF 250V Polypropylene Capacitor 2 68uF 100V Non-Polarized Capacitor 2 Dayton Audio 3.0uF 250V Polypropylene Capacitor 2 Jantzen 1824 0.20mH 20 AWG Air Core Inductor 8 1.5mH 18 AWG I Core Inductor 2 1.0 Ohm 1W Flameproof Resistor 10 Pcs. 2 2.0 Ohm 1W Flameproof Resistor 10 Pcs. 1 300 Ohm 1W Flameproof Resistor 10 Pcs. 1 Dayton Audio 2.4 Ohm 10W Audio Grade Resistor 2 Dayton Audio 20 Ohm 10W Audio Grade Resistor 2 About the Author Scott Hinson is an electrical engineer with several patents and over 30 completed hardware/software development efforts including space-rated electronics. He’s been an avid DIY audio enthusiast since college when he ran the now defunct “The Bass List” out of the UNIX Servers at The University of Texas at Austin. He would like to thank his patient wife for putting up with all of the speakers he builds. He can be contacted through the Tech-Talk forum (username SpeakerScott) for any questions. DISCLAIMER – Parts Express posts customer projects as a community service. Featured projects have not been tested or evaluated by our staff. We make no warranties whatsoever in regard to the projects’ fitness for a particular purpose. Claims of performance or fitness are those of the contributor and not of Parts Express. Project reproduction for commercial resale may be a violation of United States patent or trademark laws. Copyright 2015 Parts Express See more projects online at parts-express.com/project-gallery Questions? Contact our Tech Support and Customer Service Reps at 1-800-338-0531 Speaker Building 27 Why Optimum Isn’t Necessarily the Best By: Chris Perez Parts Express Product Line Manager IN SPEAKER DESIGN and building, optimum is a word you hear quite often. For example — optimum enclosure size, optimum tuning, optimum crossover point, etc. It has become generally understood that optimum means best. However, this is not always true. For this discussion, I am going to address sealed enclosures only. To start off, what is the definition of optimum? Optimum: The greatest degree or best result obtained or obtainable under specific conditions. In the case of enclosure design, the “specific conditions” are maximally flat response. Meaning, the flattest response across the widest range of frequency possible. Which introduces the question, is flattest response the best? Answer: Not necessarily. For this example I am going to use the GRS 10SW-4 10" Poly Cone Subwoofer (part #292-482). This driver has an Fs of 34 Hz, Vas of 2.03 cubic feet, and fairly high Qts of 0.63. If you enter those specs into any enclosure design software, the optimum sealed enclosure (Qtc of 0.707, maximally flat) will be 3.43 cu. ft. with an F3 of 43 Hz. Now, 3.43 cu. ft. is quite a large enclosure for a 10" driver. Another issue is that the driver will exceed Xmax and start to lose linearity at 34 Hz with 120 watts of power. However, what other options are there? Try a smaller enclosure. A 12" cube is a little more reasonable, so we’ll attempt that next. In a 1 cu. ft. enclosure the system Qtc will increase to 0.93, with an F3 of 48 Hz. Now the F3 has increased by 5 Hz and there will be a slightly noticeable 1.3 dB peak at 90 Hz. As an added effect of the smaller enclosure, power handling has increased due to lower excursion; in fact with 120 watts excursion never exceeds 5.77 mm. There is always a GRS 10SW-4 10" Poly Cone Subwoofer #292-482. . . . . . . . . . . List $25.99 $19.80 (1-3) $18.80 (4-UP) tradeoff though: this smaller enclosure will have about 5 dB less output at 20 Hz. So, what do all these numbers mean to your ear? Even though the second design is less than 1/3 the size of the original, it doesn’t mean you’ll realize 1/3 the performance. In this case, the difference will be noticeable, but not detrimental. In fact, many speaker manufacturers have found that people generally prefer sealed designs with a Qtc in the range of 0.9 to 1.1, thanks to the slight peak in the low end and “tighter” bass response. Therefore, many people would actually prefer the smaller, less optimum enclosure as opposed to the suggested optimum design. We take the guesswork out of enclosures! Driver and enclosure packages—assemble, apply exterior finish, add an amp, and shake the house! • High quality, precision CNC-cut subwoofer cabinets • Optimally designed for Dayton Audio Reference Series HO, Ultimax, and DVC subwoofers • 3/4" material with double thick front baffle and driver­-specific recess • Unique cross bracing for maximum rigidity Part # Driver and Size 300-7098 DVC385-88 15" 300-7090 RSS210HO-4 8" 300-7091 RSS265HO-4 10" 300-7092 RSS315HO-4 12" 300-7093 RSS390HO-4 15" 300-7094 RSS460HO-4 18" 300-7095 UM10-22 10" 300-7096 UM12-22 12" 300-7097 UM15-22 15" 300-7099 UM18-22 18" RMS Power 600 300 600 700 800 900 500 600 800 1000 Max Output (dB)* @30Hz @60Hz 112 119 101** 104 105** 109 108** 112 113** 116 115** 118 102 107 106 111 111 116 113 117 *Output levels are predicted amplitude at 1 meter **With recommended 3 dB boost at 30 Hz 28 Speaker Building parts-express.com Cabinet Volume 3.0 ft³ 0.75 ft³ 1.0 ft³ 1.5 ft³ 3.0 ft³ 4.0 ft³ 1.25 ft³ 2.0 ft³ 3.0 ft³ 4.0 ft³ Cabinet Dimensions (H x W x D) 19.25" x 19.25" x 20" 13" x 13" x 13.75" 14.25" x 14.25" x 15" 15.5" x 15.5" x 16.25" 19.25" x 19.25" x 20" 23" x 20" x 20.75" 15.25" x 15.25" x 15.25" 19" x 16" x 20" 19.25" x 19.25" x 20" 23" x 20" x 20.75" Compare Package To Price $269.85 $199.88 186.27 149.86 218.59 183.78 244.38 196.67 297.69 234.87 426.78 332.00 254.60 199.68 299.80 239.85 324.80 262.30 444.90354.90 Package includes woofer and knock down enclosure only. Dayton Audio brings you two awesomely affordable acoustic measurement devices Dayton Audio OmniMic V2 Computer-Based Room Measurement System SPL/Spectrum Oscilloscope Frequency Response Reverb/ETC Dayton Audio’s OmniMic V2 is a must-have omnidirectional acoustic measurement system for audio system integrators, acoustic engineers, and residential A/V installers. The OmniMic V2’s new hardware provides fast, comprehensive, and accurate audio measurements. #390-792������������������������������������������������������������������������� List $399.99 $298.00 EACH Bass Decay Distortion Dayton Audio DATS V2 Computer-Based Component Measurement System • Highly accurate measurement of loudspeaker impedance and Thiele/Small parameters • Easy-to-use, fully-featured measurement software with intuitive interface • QC pack included for repetitive Pass/Fail driver analysis (Rub and Buzz test) • Compact USB measurement module with molded test leads and alligator clips included • Software includes signal generator, scope, and measurement of resistors, inductors and capacitors • Data can be saved to create a driver parameter library or exported to popular box design programs • New V2 hardware and software simplify setup and eliminate warm-up/cool-down times #390-806������������������������������������� List $129.99 $99.88 EACH For complete specifications and system requirements, see parts-express.com Connect with us Speaker Building 29 THE GREAT CROSSOVER DEBATE Buy or Build? Driver Excursion Capabilities: Drivers’ moving parts travel through longer excursions in order to produce the same output at low frequencies. Along with increased excursion, distortion also rises significantly. In many cases, a crossover is used to keep distortion to a minimum by limiting the low frequency information sent to a driver. In the worst case scenario, too much excursion can damage the driver. Woofer Peaking and Breakup: See our online crossover selection guide at parts-express.com/resources-crossover-selection-guide Whether you buy a “pre-made” crossover for your speaker or custom build your own depends on your objectives, experience, and even the budget. In many applications, pre-made crossovers can provide essential filtering functions: distributing the correct frequencies to the appropriate speaker components. If selected properly, these convenient crossover networks deliver satisfying sound quality. Audio enthusiasts in search of higher fidelity reproduction can choose to invest in the time and labor to design, assemble, and test their own high-performance crossover networks. Advanced design/ test/measurement tools are now available to hobbyists; there are inexpensive solutions that just a few years ago were the exclusive domain of professional designers and engineers. How Should I Choose a Crossover Frequency? There are many rules of thumb for deciding where your crossover should well... cross over. A designer’s discretion is very important. Below are points to consider when making the decision. Tweeter Resonant Frequency: The greatest source of tweeter distortion occurs at and around the tweeter’s resonant frequency (Fs). For this reason, the crossover point should be chosen to keep the tweeter from producing significant output at its Fs. Classically, the phrase is to keep the crossover “double the Fs", at least when using common 12 dB/octave slopes. An example of this: for a tweeter with a resonant frequency of 1,000Hz, the suggested crossover point should probably not be below 2,000 Hz. Whether your goal is to enhance your speaker hobby, or you simply wish to restore the functionality of an old pair of walnut-veneered 3-ways from the 70s, Parts Express is your resource for the knowledge and components to achieve these goals. 30 Speaker Building parts-express.com Many woofers will exhibit severe peaking towards the top end of their useable output, resulting in harsh, inaccurate sound. This is often caused by resonances within the cone material itself or in the dust cap. The low-pass crossover point should be chosen to minimize the output at and around these breakup modes. Woofer Off-Axis Response: Any large diameter driver will experience a characteristic called “beaming,” which means the off-axis response begins to diminish with rising frequency. Smaller drivers are useable at higher frequencies. The crossover point should be chosen to maximize off-axis performance—this improves stereo imaging. Expand your knowledge! See the full version of this article and other helpful tips at partsexpress.com/sound_solutions_v1 Subwoofer Crossovers Super duty, 200 watt RMS power handling capability. Designed especially for dual voice coil subwoofer systems, these crossovers feature a 12 dB per octave slope for the subwoofer. Crossover frequency: 150 Hz (#260-220 for 8 ohm systems) or 130 Hz (#260-221 for 4 ohm systems). Includes outputs for your existing speakers which provide a 6 dB per octave roll off at the crossover frequency. Dimensions: 5-1/2" W x 4-1/4" D x 1-1/2" H. #260-221 4 ohm, 130Hz ������������������������������������������ List $49.99 $36.80 (1-5) $33.75 (6-UP) #260-220 8 ohm, 150Hz ������������������������������������������ List $49.99 $36.80 (1-5) $33.75 (6-UP) Complete these speaker building projects and claim BRAGGING RIGHTS Overnight Sensations MT Speaker Pair Kit This kit includes nearly everything you need to build a top-notch pair of speakers in no time flat, including: a pair of knock-down cabinets, drivers, ports, and crossover components. Binding posts and speaker wire are not included. #300-706�������������������������������������List $159.99 $148.00 EACH We picked superb parts—all you have to do is put them together! Dayton Audio BR-1 2-Way Monitor System Kit These high-end 2-way monitors are based on our popular 1-1/8" silk dome tweeters and 6-1/2" woofers. They were designed to provide lowcost, easy-to-build 2-way systems for the speaker-building novice. Overall, the systems are smooth and detailed, with a wide soundstage that belies their smallish size. #300-640������������������������������������������������������������������������� List $239.99 $159.80 EACH Acry-Tech DuraTex Speaker Cabinet Coating TriTrix MTM TL Speaker Components and Cabinet Pair Kit • Low price — proven performer • Assembly made easy via comprehensive manual • How to videos explain it all from start to finish • Kit includes everything you need to construct two complete speakers • The #1 speaker cabinet coating for touring cabinets and road cases • Creates a scratch and weather-resistant finish • Safe, non-toxic formulation dries in 3 hours DuraTex self-priming formulation eliminates the need for a multi-step finish. Simply roll or spray onto your speaker cabinets or road cases, and DuraTex’s water-based, non-toxic, proprietary blend quickly dries to the touch within three hours (completely curing in about seven days), creating a tough, water-resistant finish. Quart-sized kit with 3" textured roller #300-701 TriTrix cabinets only ������������������������������������������� List $149.99 $158.00 EACH Enough to cover 20 to 24 square feet of surface area, about two 24" x 12" x 18" cabinets. #300-700 TriTrix components only ������������������������������������� List $249.99 $149.80 EACH #260-111������������������������������ List $45.99 $36.50 EACH #300-702 TriTrix enclosures and components ����������������������� List $399.99 $279.00 EACH Order by 4PM EST Mon-Fri and we'll ship it that day! Speaker Building 31 Distributed By: Pro Audio FROM AROUND THE GLOBE C Brazil’s PRV Audio is quickly becoming one of the most prestigious loudspeaker manufacturers in the Pro Audio Market today. PRV Audio drivers compete with the world’s best, without the high-end price tag. A B A. PRV Audio 4MR60-4 4" Full-Range Speaker B. PRV Audio TW700Ti High Power Titanium Bullet Tweeter C. PRV Audio 12SW2000 12" Professional Subwoofer Excellent for use in portable speaker systems, line arrays, or even car audio applications. With a 91 dB efficiency and 30 watt power handling this driver produces remarkable output for its size. With high frequency response up to 22,000 Hz and a sensitivity of 108 dB at 1W/1m, the TW700Ti can keep up with even the most demanding speaker systems. Designed for optimum performance in compact enclosures, at 1,000 watts RMS and 6.5 mm of Xmax this woofer can produce remarkable output. #294-2760���������������������������� List $27.98 $19.99 EACH #294-2809���������������������������� List $62.98 $44.99 EACH #294-2734������������������������ List $265.98 $189.99 EACH Add a British accent! B Celestion drivers have become the ‘voice of Rock & Roll’, delivering many of the most memorable performances by guitarists including Jimi Hendrix and Slash, to the current crop of high-octane shredders. A C A. Celestion 90th Anniversary Limited Edition 12" Guitar Speaker B. Celestion Creamback G12M-65 12" Guitar Speaker C. Celestion Ten 30 10" Guitar Speaker This exceptional guitar speaker is sweeter and more natural, it goes deeper yet still sparkles and shines; all with the famous Celestion vocal roar. The Creamback guitar speaker gives you classic British tone, with increased power handling for today’s powerhouse amps. Celestion’s Ten 30 combines warm lows with natural midrange and an articulate top end. Push it hard for a deep and aggressive Celestion grind. #294-2325������������������������ List $225.00 $169.00 EACH #294-2314������������������������ List $240.00 $159.00 EACH #294-2472���������������������������� List $55.00 $35.00 EACH Proudly born in the USA, Eminence has become the world’s largest loudspeaker manufacturing company. The popular choice of some of the world’s greatest guitarists, Eminence continues to refine and develop products that are proven musical performers. C B A A. Eminence Pro 5MRN-8 5" Full-Range Driver B. Eminence Delta Pro 10MR-8 10" Professional Cast Frame Driver C. Eminence Definimax 4012ULF-8 12" Cast Frame Driver Small in size but huge in output this driver is a great choice for compact high output line arrays. A highly efficient 10" cast frame midrange driver for use in professional audio and car audio applications. Provides deep low frequency response, perfect for compact vented and horn enclosures. #290-4004���������������������������� List $94.99 $89.99 EACH #290-4506������������������������ List $134.99 $129.99 EACH #290-4510������������������������ List $229.99 $224.99 EACH For full specs and features on these drivers and more visit parts-express.com We offer a 45-day money back guarantee! Pro Audio 33 WHY 70 VOLT SYSTEMS MAKE SENSE Four Quadrant speakers shown with flying bracket #310-061 High-Impedance Loudspeaker Distribution TYPICAL CONSTANT VOLTAGE SYSTEM Typical 70V70V Constant Voltage System There Has to be A Better Way! Distributed audio systems, especially those commonly used in department stores, warehouses, around race tracks, etc., require that many loudspeakers be driven from a single audio amplifier over long runs of speaker wire. A “constantvoltage” or “high-impedance” audio system offers the opportunity to connect multiple speakers over long distances, while doing so economically and efficiently. These systems are also referred to by their nominal voltage, with “70 volt” and “25 volt” systems being the most common. 70 VOLT AMPLIFIER OUTPUT TRANSFORMER BUILT INTO AMPLIFIER LOUDNESS TAPS 1 Line Matching Transformer (#300-039) Volume Control (#300-046) 2 5 10 WATT LOUDNESS TAPS 12 34 Pro Audio parts-express.com LOUDNESS TAPS LOUDNESS TAPS 1 2 5 10 WATT 1 2 5 8 OHM 8 OHM 8 OHM SPEAKER SPEAKER SPEAKER 10 WATT 8 OHM TYPICAL ATTENUATOR Transform your multiple-speaker audio system The heart of these systems is the impedance and voltage transformation which enables the single amplifier to drive many speakers. Amps designed for these systems are usually monaural (single channel), differing from “standard” audio power amplifiers by employing a large transformer at the amplifier’s output. The amplifier load is the input or “primary” side of this transformer, while the output or “secondary” side of the transformer is connected to all of the speakers in parallel. Wire can be run from speaker to speaker, or can be split off easily to speakers in another area. 5 10 WATT SPEAKER Reduced current flow + increased voltage = happy amps and speakers 70V amplifier transformers are designed so that the voltage from the amplifier is increased greatly in the secondary, usually 70.7 volts at maximum, but the current is reduced. The power output of the amplifier is the same, just transformed from a lower voltage/higher current to higher voltage/lower current. Excessive current flow causes amplifiers to overheat, so it stands to reason that lowering current and increasing voltage in this speaker system would allow one amp to drive many speakers. Speakers, speakers & more speakers Attached to each speaker in a 70V system is another transformer that changes the power back to “lower voltage/higher current” so that it can drive an 8 ohm speaker. The most common speaker found in business offices, classrooms, etc., is a standard 8" ceiling speaker. They often come with a baffle (grill), and the transformer attached, and are designed to be mounted into a drop ceiling, often via Dayton Audio QS204-4 Quadrant 70V / 100V Indoor/Outdoor Speaker Pair with 4 Ohm Transformer Bypass • Quadrant quarter-arc form factor permits circular arraying • 70V / 100V transformer built in for distributed applications • Dual 4" woofers and 1" treated dome tweeter provide punch and articulation #310-060 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . List $193.00 $148.50 (1-3) $135.50 (4-UP) “ RAVE REVIEWS! Last weekend we had a large outdoor party, about 60 people. Just two of these handled the crowd very well. Everyone could enjoy the music and the sound was crystal clear. Although we used them for background music for the party, I can tell you that these will really crank out the volume! Great speakers! ” Big Kahoona, Bellbrook OH #310-060 shown with grill removed a ceiling “bridge” for support. Like all other speakers, ones for 70V will vary in price—and of course, tonal quality. As good as you want it to be To achieve the best possible audio reproduction, 70V systems can be used with any high-fidelity speaker, including in-wall or ceiling speakers. The transformers can be purchased separately and added if not already included. 70V systems provide the efficiency, coverage, and durability required by commercial installations, but their highly specialized performance attributes and feature sets make them generally less suitable for home environments. Your attention, please: this PA system is loud and clear! For outdoor public address applications, horntype speakers are used to direct and focus the sound over the area where it is wanted. This improves efficiency as sound energy is not wasted going where it is not wanted or needed. These speakers are best for the spoken word (dialogue or announcing). They generally do not have the low frequency response to make music sound natural. The horns are built from materials that make them suitable for continual outdoor use in all weather. For the full version of this how-to article, visit parts-express.com/sound_solutions_v1 Choose from over 30 constant voltage amps in stock! Commercial Contractor Power Amplifier Behringer EUROCOM Auto-Mixing 70/100V/4 Ohm Dual Channel Mixer Amplifier • Dual-Drive™ amplification - one 4 ohm channel & one 70/100V channel #247-001 MA6018 180W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . List $459.99 $399.99 EACH #247-002 MA6008 80W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . List $409.99 $349.99 EACH Klipsch IC-400-T 5" 2-Way 70V / 100V Ceiling Speaker Pair - White • Easy to install and adjust settings • Compact design simplifies low-ceiling mounting • Horn-loaded for clear sound in any location • Multi-tap transformer for distributed audio #247-2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $276.00 EACH We offer over 200 different in-wall and in-ceiling speakers! ¡También ofrecemos ayuda en Español! (We also offer assistance in Spanish!) Pro Audio 35 Get Into the Mix and Take Control! By Russ Reed I’ve had my Rolls PM351 personal monitor mixer for at least ten years, and it has never missed a beat. As a gigging drummer, that’s very important to me. When I decided to jump into the world of in-ear monitors, I knew I would need a small mixer of some sort—I need more in my ears than just the usual simple monitor mix. I do some vocals and I also use a sampler and/or sequencer quite a bit, so I needed a solution that would let me mix several signals at once without hogging up the entire monitor board. The PM351’s three separate input channels make it an ideal solution. The line input (mono or stereo selectable) is perfect for the standard monitor mix, including a little bit of everything in the main mix, with all the vocals bumped up. There’s also a mic “thru” channel, so my vocal mic goes directly into the PM351 then out to the FOH or monitor board. I can adjust the level of my individual vocal for my in-ears at any time and as often as I need to, without affecting anyone else’s mix. Pro Audio Amplifiers The new standard in affordable, quality power View more than 80 pro audio amplifiers at parts-express.com. 36 Pro Audio parts-express.com The third input is for instruments; it’s mono/stereo selectable and also includes the “feed thru” circuit that acts as a DI box. The instrument input lets me plug in my click track, keyboard, electronic kit, or what have you, depending on the setup I’m playing. This channel is great for keyboard players, too. Both thru channels feature individual ground lift jumpers, just like any quality DI box. The unit is small and light enough to sit within easy reach on a music stand or goodie table. I even use it sitting right on top of my keyboard workstation sometimes, so I can adjust any of my three channels at any time without moving or having to ask a sound guy. Having a choice of 1/4" or 1/8" headphone outs is a nice option, and the build quality is simply outstanding. All things considered, I find myself often recommending this box to other players. Finding a piece of gear that’s so versatile and reliable is always welcome, especially something like the Rolls PM351 that makes life on stage so much easier! GREAT FOR DRUMMERS AND MORE! Rolls PM351 3-Channel Personal Monitor Station Headphone Mixer The PM351 personal monitoring mixer features a 1/4" TRS stereo/ mono line input, a single XLR microphone input and pass-through, and a 1/4" stereo/mono instrument input with two transformer-balanced and isolated XLR outputs. All inputs are routed via individual level controls to a 1/4" and an 1/8" (3.5 mm) headphone output. The ability to personally tailor a main mix along with the musician’s voice and their instrument makes the PM351 an effective and versatile tool. Dimensions: 4.5" x 3.3" x 1.5". #245-1114���������������� List $120.00 $72.00 EACH Russ Reed is the Parts Express Pro Audio Line Manager and a musician. Crown XLi Series Power Amplifiers - NEW! The Crown XLi Series power amplifiers deliver plenty of clean power with all the reliability and great sound that’s made Crown the biggest name in the business -- without cleaning out your bank account! Flexible input/ output options as well as selectable input sensitivity make the XLi Series equally at home on stage, in your home theater, or in your mobile DJ rig. Part # Model 245-5126 XLi 800 245-5128 XLi 1500 245-5130 XLi 2500 245-5132 XLi 3500 Output power (watts x 2 @ 8 ohms) 200 330 500 1,000 List Price $449.00 649.00 849.00 1,399.00 Price Each $229.00 299.00 399.00 649.00 Extend Your Reach. With their tremendous power, Yamaha DXR Series Speakers and DXS Series Subwoofers cover huge audiences with high definition sound, effortlessly expanding your music and reputation. Yamaha collaborated with the king of touring loudspeakers – NEXO – to develop the DXR’s new approach, which delivers high SPL, stunning clarity, and unsurpassed reliability. Extend Your Power. With four full-range DXR Speakers and two DXS Subwoofers to choose from, you’ll saturate rooms with waves of highenergy sound. Extend Your Range. From earthshaking bass to smooth soaring highs, FIR-X Tuning assures that every note strikes the entire audience with maximum impact and precision. Extend Your Control. Loaded with an Intelligent 3-Channel Mixer and a variety of inputs, each DXR Speaker gives you the freedom to play a small room or plug into a large hall’s sound system. Part # Mfg. # Woofer Freq. Range (Hz) 247-6074 DXR8 8" 57 - 20k 247-6075 DXR10 10" 56 - 20k 247-6076 DXR12 12" 52 - 20k 247-6077 DXR15 15" 49 - 20k 247-6078 DXS12 12" Sub 47 - 160 247-6079 DXS15 15" Sub 45 - 160 ListPrice Price Each $829.00 $549.99 899.00 599.99 1,049.00 699.99 1,199.00 799.99 1,049.00 699.99 1,199.00 799.99 Which Mic is Right For You, And Why? One plate of the condenser element is able to move, and sound waves cause the moveable plate to vibrate. Due to its opposite charge as compared to the fixed plate, the moving plate causes electrons to be forced on and off of itself and the other. This creates a very small AC current flow that is an electrical representation of the incoming sound. Coupling capacitors are used to filter the audio signal from the DC phantom power voltage. Condenser mics can offer extreme sensitivity and clarity, with some even including a built-in preamplifier section. Some modern condensers have dual elements, and/or incorporate selectable pick up patterns and response filters to accommodate specific applications. Dynamic vs. Condenser Condenser Microphones • Favorite of critical recording and concert stages • Extremely sensitive, picks up subtle nuances • Transducer principle enables larger formats and extreme miniaturization Found most often in recording studios, condenser microphones are used in certain sound reinforcement applications requiring extreme sensitivity and range. Condenser mics employ a capacitive element to create an electrical equivalent of the impinging sound waves. The element consists of two conductive “plates” separated by an insulative material, which in this case is air. Condenser microphones require an electrical potential difference (voltage) between the plates in order to function: a DC voltage commonly ranging from +9 volts up to +48 volts, depending upon the mic’s design. This power supply is common in mixing consoles (or as an addon device) and is referred to as “phantom power”. It must be highly regulated and as completely free of noise as possible. •Rugged, does not require power •Same operating principle as a speaker—in reverse •The go-anywhere, do-anything microphone By far the most common type of microphone used today is the dynamic, thanks to its convenience and durability. The dynamic mic shares the main structures of a loudspeaker: a moving element or diaphragm, voice coil, permanent magnet, and it usually works from within a resonant chamber. Metalized Front Plate (Diaphragm) Back Plate Audio Output Signal Housing Battery or Phantom Power Dynamic Microphone #242-254 Dynamic Microphone Diaphragm Magnet Coil Cone Audio Output Signal For the complete version of this article, visit parts-express.com/sound_solutions_v1 BETA 87A Electret Condenser Microphone BETA 58A Dynamic Microphone Leads the field for studio quality sound in live performance vocals. Its extended response brings detail, accuracy, and warmth to any vocal. Phantom power only. #242-256�������������������������� List $311.00 $249.00 EACH Top choice among vocalists of touring sound professionals worldwide. Supercardioid dynamic. • Plug-and-play feature for easy setup in seconds • Tight cardioid pattern microphones for trouble free use on narrow stages • Smallest and lightest bodypack transmitters in their class • 30 hours of transmitter operation from a single AA battery saves you money ListPrice Part # Type Price Each 242-5930 Dual Handheld $279.00 $199.00 242-5910 Handheld149.00 99.00 242-5920 Instrument149.00 99.00 *45A frequencies shown. Others available at parts-express.com parts-express.com Condenser Microphone Sound waves move the diaphragm and its attached voice coil within the field of the permanent magnet. This back and forth motion generates an alternating-current signal in the voice coil, at frequencies mimicking those of the sound waves that produced them. Your mixer channel’s preamplifier then boosts this small signal. AKG WMS 40 MINI Series UHF Wireless Microphone and Instrument Systems Pro Audio #242-256 Dynamic Microphones Cut the Cord! 38 Condenser Microphone #242-254�������������������������� List $199.00 $159.00 EACH It’s the Right Time to Raise the Bar Talent BL252 Multi-color 42" LED Linear Strip Lighting Bar • Cool running, high output, low power consumption LEDs • Auto, sound active, DMX, and master/slave modes • Easy programming via pushbutton menu display #244-504.... Modern stage lighting uses more technology and less power than ever! It’s lightweight, powerful, cool-running, and affordable. Upgrade your system or put on a whole new show—the hottest thing about our lighting and effects gear is the great prices! List $199.99 $109.00 (1-3) $99.90 (4-11) $89.90 (12-UP) Talent LP64LED-FLAT Slim PAR 64 LED Light DMX Controllable Talent MINI-ZOT Lightweight LED Strobe Light with Bracket 62 LEDs • Adjustable strobe rate (1-10 flashes/sec.) • Rear-mounted knob controls strobe speed • Perfect for haunted attractions, parties, stages, and dances #244-506........... Talent Sound & Lighting is thrilled to announce the release of their own line of LED lighting fixtures! With or without DMX control, you can achieve the same dramatic lighting effects as “The Big Guys,” at a fraction of the price. List $29.99 $19.74 (1-3) $17.76 (4-UP) Hang your lighting and effects gear with the same hardware the pros use! Stage Lighting Clamps for Pipe or Truss Built for high strength and low weight, these clamps fit standard diameter lighting truss, grid and pipe, and adjust quickly and securely. Save time and money while getting the ultimate grip on your light show. Over 25 styles to choose from at parts-express.com Lighting Clamps #244-500. . . .List $79.99 $58.00 (1-3) $55.00 (4-11) $49.00 (12-UP) American DJ Micro Wash RGBW DMX LED Mini PAR Light Ideal for accents on performance stages, table spotting, and lighting retail stores, the American DJ Micro Wash RGBW is a mini PAR can that can be hung or set on the ground because of its dual bracket system. #244-4114����������������������������������� List $139.95 $99.99 EACH Visit parts-express.com for New Product Arrivals, Specials, Buyouts and Clearance Items Pro Audio 39 NO MATTER THE SPACE...IT’S Kicker Comp Series Loaded Enclosures • World’s best bass value and ready to drop in a trunk • Tough MDF enclosures with dense gray carpeting • Monogrammed carbon fiber look front baffle • Flared ports for reduced port noise Kicker TC104 10" Truck Style Subwoofer Enclosure • 4 ohm subwoofer • 2" aluminum voice coil • One-year manufacturer’s warranty • Slim bass box system and rear vented design are the right fit for any car audio system Dual 10" Non-Powered Car Audio Subwoofer Enclosures • Small size with maximum bass impact • 10" subwoofer with 2" voice coil for high power handling • Durable carpeted enclosure Pyle PL110SS Single 10" Subwoofer Enclosure 1,200 Watt Dual SBX100 10" Subwoofer in a Slot Vented Enclosure #267-7066���������� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � List $173.99 $74.80 EACH #267-5057 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � List $69.99 $57.25 EACH Kicker DC122 Dual 12" Subwoofer Enclosure Pyle PL112SS Single 12" Subwoofer Enclosure 1,500 Watt Dual SBX101 10" Subwoofer in a Ported Enclosure #267-6935����������������������� List $349.95 $269.95 EACH #267-7068���������� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � List $226.99 $99.00 EACH #267-5058 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � List $79.99 $64.73 EACH #267-6933������������������������ List $179.95 $119.95 EACH Kicker VC124 12" Subwoofer Enclosure #267-6936 � ����������������������� List $229.95 $169.95 EACH 40 Pyle Shallow Bass Enclosures Car Audio parts-express.com ALL ABOUT THAT BASS! “WHERE’S ALL THE BASS COMING FROM?” “YOU WON’T FIND IT UNLESS I SHOW YOU!” BOSS Low Profile Amplified Car Subwoofers Dual ALB12 12" Amplified Car Audio Subwoofer Pyle PLBASS8 8" Low-Profile Amplified Car Subwoofer • Built-in 100 watt RMS amp for a quick installation • Ported cabinet design for extra bass • Variable crossover and phase control switch Dual’s powered ALB12 12" subwoofer takes the hassle out of installing an aftermarket subwoofer in your car, truck, or SUV by building the amplifier into the bass reflex, tuned port enclosure. You get all of the bass that’s missing from your stock factory car audio system without having to hire a professional installer! • Low level RCA and high level speaker line inputs • Remote bass boost level control • Remote turn-on soft start/stop delay • Thermal and overload protection circuits • High and low level inputs • Remote subwoofer level control included • Variable crossover and rumble filter • Thorough amplifier protection built in BOSS’ powered, low profile subwoofer easily tucks under car and truck seats for out-of-sight, not out-of-mind bass that adds easily to any car audio system. Pyle’s PLBASS8 8" low profile subwoofer system is suitable for under-seat installations. Features a green LED power status indicator and a red LED protection status indicator. #265-349 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � List $239.00 $140.27 EACH #267-5056 � ����������������������� List $139.99 $117.47 EACH #267-7178���������� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � List $319.99 $145.75 EACH BOSS BASS800 8" Subwoofer 800 Watt BOSS BASS1400 10" Subwoofer 1,400 Watt #265-347 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � List $299.00 $171.45 EACH Join the Parts Express Tech Talk Discussion Board at techtalk.parts-express.com Car Audio 41 Add a Car Subwoofer— Quickly and Easily with 3M Wire Taps Mark Parson, Parts Express Line Manager, explains how to upgrade your car’s audio performance without having to cut your existing wiring How do you connect a car amplifier and subwoofer inside a trunk without having to change your radio? We always recommend hooking up a car amplifier to the radio’s audio output, however, if you don’t want to change your radio, there’s still a way to do it. Start by using an amplifier with a subwoofer crossover and a high-level input. Parts Express has many to offer on our website. If you already have an amplifier without high-level input, you will need the Axxess AX-ADCT2 (#266-005). A crossover is not required, but highly recommended in order to optimize the sound. Next, is a wiring kit. Pyle’s installation kit (#267-7042) is a good example. Since we are not connecting to an audio out, you will also need 3M wire taps (#082100), a screwdriver, wire stripper, crimping tool, and a small amount of 18 AWG speaker wire. Locate the speaker wires connected to your rear speakers. The positive and negative wires from each speaker must run all the way to the radio. Use 18 AWG speaker wire to go between the amplifier and the existing car speakers, and 3M taps to splice into the car speaker wire. The other side of the speaker wire must be stripped and then fitted with a crimp fork. Locate the high-level input on the amplifier, observe the left and right (+) and (–) markings, and make your connections. If you are just hooking up one subwoofer, check your amplifier’s manual for corresponding markings and the location of a mode selection switch. 42 Car Audio parts-express.com 3M ScotchlokTM Connectors Feed Thru Part # 3M # Color Wire AWG 082-100 905Red 18-14 082-105 560BBlue 18-14 Tap Wire AWG 22-18 18-14 Crimp forks onto both the positive and negative conductors of the 12 AWG wire and connect to the amplifier (+) and (–) speaker terminals. The 12 AWG speaker wire’s other end goes to the red and black terminals on the speaker. Now, you will have to run the 18 AWG blue wire and the 8 AWG red wire to the fuse box and battery. The 8 AWG red wire will go from the power positive on the amplifier to the red terminal on the car battery. Crimp a fork on the amplifier side. Locate where your wires from inside the car go to the engine on the outside. This hole is the same hole you run your power wire through. Run your wire either under the carpet down the middle or the side where the hole is. You must insert the fuse holder with the 60 amp fuse somewhere under the hood, close to the battery, yet away from the engine. Crimp the 8 AWG ring onto the wire going to the battery. Attach the ring to the battery. The black 8 AWG hook up wire will need a fork crimped on one side and a ring on the other. The fork goes to the (–) ground Pkg. Package Price Qty. (1-3) (4-UP) 50 $10.29$9.72 100 17.89 16.79 Tools Needed •Crimper • Wire stripper • Long nose pliers • Phillips screwdriver • Adjustable wrench or socket set screw on the amplifier and the ring goes to a metal screw that is twisted into the body of the car. Next, crimp an 18 AWG fork onto the blue wire and hook it up to the remote turn on screw on the amplifier. The other end of the blue wire can be spliced into the radio accessory wire with red wire taps or you can crimp a spade terminal on it and connect it to where it says “accessory” inside the fuse box. Turn the ignition so that the radio comes on; the amplifier should come on also. Adjust the amplifier’s volume to the desired level and turn the frequency screw to adjust high frequency cutoff. Your upgraded sound system is now ready to go! Pyle PLMRAKT8 Amplifier Installation Kit • 20 ft. 8 AWG red power wire • 4 ft. 8 AWG black ground wire • 20 ft. 18 AWG blue remote turn-on wire • 20 ft. 12 AWG stereo speaker wire • 20 ft. stereo RCA audio cable • 6 ft. black split loom cable conduit • Water resistant fuse holder, gold plated 60 amp fuse • Miscellaneous hardware #267-7042�������������������������������������� List $44.99 $15.86 EACH To the Moon and Back Over the course of your life you will have driven the distance to the moon and back 3 times—or approximately 1,433,130 miles! Enhance your travels by upgrading the sound in your automobile, starting with the in-dash receiver. Parts Express stocks a variety of quality, affordable, reliable receivers and our technicians have the expertise to assist you in selecting the best product for your vehicle. So strap in, buckle up, and start your newly enhanced lunar journey today! The Ultimate Choice in Function and Price BOSS BV9356 6.2" Touchscreen Monitor In-Dash Receiver • Up to 320 watts of power output You CAN get touchscreen technology AND powerfully clean sound for under $200! #265-3021. . ............... List $243.00 $150.30 EACH Let the Good Times Roll BOSS BV7345 3.2" Monitor DVD MP3 CD AM/FM In-Dash Receiver This in-dash receiver from Boss has all the bells and whistles at a no-frills price! #265-3016���������������������������������������������������� List $155.00 $94.19 EACH With or Without Bluetooth BOSS BV7260B 3.2" Monitor Mechless MP3 CD AM/FM In-Dash Receiver This amazingly affordable in-dash receiver offers you the choice of having Bluetooth connectivity or not, whatever your budget allows. #265-3015 With Bluetooth ����������������������������������� List $122.00 $78.48 EACH #265-3014���������������������������������������������������������� List $99.00 $62.76 EACH Loaded with Built-In Features Kenwood KMM-108U Mechless Digital Media Car Stereo Receiver with USB & Aux-In • 3.5 mm audio input for use with most smartphones FLAC support for audiophile sound quality #267-4024������������������������������������������������ List $100.00 $79.98 EACH Pure Performance, Pure Pioneer Pioneer DEH-150MP CD MP3 WMA Receiver with Aux-In It’s hard to beat a Pioneer. Feature packed and less than $80! #267-1800������������������������������������������������� List $80.00 $77.54 EACH Questions? Contact our Tech Support and Customer Service Reps at 1-800-338-0531 Car Audio 43 CLEARANCE CENTER & FACTORY BUYOUTS Makes music and games sound great Portable battery powered speakers Sound Force 800 2.1 Computer Multimedia Speaker System with Subwoofer Sound Force 200 Powered Mini Computer Speaker Pair Compare to $7 1820 $ #319-120 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $480 (1-3) $390 (4-9) (10-UP) #319-126 ........................................................................... $2180 (1-3) $1920 (4-9) Sound Force 680 Powered Computer Speaker Pair • 2-way design featuring a 4" woofer paired with a 1-1/2" soft dome tweeter Save money on long cable runs Talos Security VB01VPD Passive Video + Power + Data Balun Pair 1150 $ (10-UP) Compare to $28 #319-130 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1590 (1-3) $1320 (4-9) 1045 Discretely provide A/V cables and power to your TV (5-UP) List $15.75 #334-459 ................................. ........................................................... $1100 (1-4) Was $95.50 DataComm 45-0028-WH Recessed Pro-Power Kit with Duplex Surge Suppressor and Straight Blade Inlet - White $ $ 12999 EACH Was $169.00 Lavolta Submersible Waterproof 3 LED Button Light 12 Pack Impressive sound from dual woofers Newcom NC300 Powered Computer Speaker Pair FiiO Andes E07K Portable Headphone Amplifier with USB DAC • Rechargeable lithium ion battery makes this amp as good on the go as on the desktop • Dual-color OLED screen is bright and EACH easy to read #230-123 89 00 iPad Desk Stand with 360 Degree Rotation for iPad 2 Format Your choice #073-092 Red #073-096 Blue Was $13.92 #073-100 White ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 1188 $ $ 00 6 (10-UP) EACH Compare to $25 #319-038 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1500(1-3) RCA D771 6-Device Universal Satellite and Cable Box Remote Control 1200 $1350(4-9) Get in the game Compact Multimedia Headset with Microphone and Volume Control 2 $ 50 $ 97 #182-007 #182-202 #130-100 Was $18.80 Was $17.89 Was $4.95 $ 44 EACH #334-470 Get the most from your music on the go $ 7900 #261-550 Replay XD 1080 Mini Sport Video Camera System Package RPXD1080M-CS • Rugged, lightweight, and waterproof sport video camera • Includes a variety of mounts to capture the action (10-UP) 3D effect adds separation Compare to $35 $ 3 $ 25 EACH Clearance Center parts-express.com EACH EACH CLEARANCE CENTER & FACTORY BUYOUTS Brilliant sound for your backyard Hi-Fi sound at buyout prices New Wave Audio Speakers Garden Speakers • • • • 2-way design delivers smooth full range sound Quality crossover: Quasi-second-order Linkwitz-Riley crossed at 2,550 Hz Ported and braced wooden enclosure maximizes bass output 5-way binding posts allow for versatile hook up options • Sold individually • Sturdy weather-resistant enclosure and components ensure years of operation • Sealed cabinet with 2-way crossover delivers rich full-range sound • 40' burial wire lead makes installation simple 8" 2-Way Garden Rock Speaker - Lava $ New Wave Audio BK-62B 6-1/2" 2-Way Bookshelf Speaker Black New Wave Audio BK-52B 5-1/4" 2-Way Bookshelf Speaker Black 4800 EACH #309-600 Compare to $97 8" 2-Way Garden Rock Speaker - Granite Compare to $75 #309-622 White #309-620 Black ........ 4800 (1-3) $ 42 $ 00 #309-626 White (4-UP) Compare to $120 #309-624 Black ... . . . . . . $6400 (1-3) 58 $ 00 (4-UP) Compare to $97 Specifications: • Power Specifications: • Power 9 handling: 15 watts RMS • VCDIA: 1" • Le: 0.40 mH • Impedance: 4 ohms • Re: 3.42 ohms • Frequency range: 90-10,000 Hz • Fs: 98 Hz • SPL: 83 dB 1W/1m • VAS: 0.051 cu. ft. • QTS: 0.91. $ 50 Compare to $32 #299-345 ............................................. (36-UP) 10 $ 50 EACH #309-610 • VCDIA: 3" • Frequency response: 50-3,500 Hz • Fs: 52 Hz • SPL: 98 dB 1W/1m • VAS: 2.7 cu. ft. • QTS: 0.25 • XMAX: 3.2 mm • Dimensions: A: 12.3", B: 11", C: 6.5". 8990 $ (4-UP) 10 Compare to $14 $ 50 (1-35) #299-360 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 $ 00 Electrolytic Non-polarized Capacitors 4 $ 50 (1-9) (10-UP) EC-26 1" Titanium Compression Driver 8 Ohm 1-3/8"FREE 18 TPI Horn included! 4590 $ #299-183 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4990 (1-3) Stock up on crossover parts now (4-UP) Ferrite Core Crossover Inductor 2.5mH 21 AWG 125 Watt Electrolytic non-polarized (bi-polar) capacitors are perfect low-cost solutions for use in passive speaker crossovers. These capacitors are rated at a 63 VDC working voltage (220uF rated at 50 VDC/100 watts). Sold individually. Price (1-9) $0.29 0.29 0.29 1.25 (36-UP) • Light, well damped paper cone for natural response • Large flat spider keeps cone linear under high excursion • 80 watts RMS and 105 dB efficiency • Low 550 Hz resonant frequency • Large 2" voice coil on polyimide former increases power handling • Includes free horn— Compare limited time only! to $80 Compare to $155 $ #299-182 ....................................................................................... 9990 (1-3) Compare To $1.00 1.00 1.00 3.00 9 $ 50 #299-346 ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1-35) Specifications: • Power handling: 350 watts RMS Dimensions Dia. x L (mm) 10 x 21 10 x 25 10 x 25 18 x 32 6800 MAX3.5 3-1/2" Paper Cone Full-Range Driver 4 Ohm Compare to $32 EC-25 12" Cast Frame Professional Woofer 8 Ohm Value (uF) 4.7 6.8 8.2 220 $ Compare to $115 WFR0400215 4" Cast Aluminum Frame Driver 4 Ohm Part # 269-309 269-304 269-305 269-306 EACH #309-604 • Cast aluminum frame with cooling fins for better heat dissipation • Dimensions: A: 4.44" square, B: 3.875", C: 2.5" WFR0400211 4" Cast Aluminum Frame Driver 4 Ohm handling: 15 watts RMS • VCDIA: 1" • Le: 0.41 mH • Impedance: 4 ohms • Re: 3.46 ohms • Frequency range: 80-10,000 Hz • Fs: 83 Hz • SPL: 82 dB 1W/1m • VAS: 0.066 cu. ft. • QTS: 0.92. 4800 5-1/4" 2-Way Garden Rock Speaker Pair - Sandstone Perfect for a low cost line array 4" Neodymium Full-Range Drivers • Powerful dual neodymium magnets for precise control • Under spider venting improves power handling $ Price (10-99) $0.25 0.25 0.25 0.99 Price (100-up) $0.19 0.19 0.19 0.78 • Ferrite core can be removed, making this a 1 mH air core inductor • Compact 1.25" diameter by 1.125" tall allows use in tight spots • Center hole through core permits screw mounting • 0.88 ohm DC resistance minimizes signal loss $ 50 to $5 #269-303 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Compare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 (1-9) Connect with us 1 $ 95 (10-UP) Clearance Center 45 CLEARANCE CENTER & FACTORY BUYOUTS Grab these loaded terminal plates for less than the cost of parts! Speaker Terminal Plate with Tweeter and Mid High Pass • 1.2 µF and 100 µF capacitors •15Ω, 5 watt resistor 1 • Attractive and highly conductive nickel-plated posts with full insulation • Accepts banana plugs or directconnected wire up to 8 AWG $ 75 Compare to $5 #269-011................ $200(1-9) (10-UP) Back Front Speaker Wire Terminal Plate with 550 Hz Low Pass Filter • 2.22 mH iron-core inductor • Polyswitch speaker protection Compare to $10 #269-012................ $300(1-9) 2 (10-UP) Back Speaker Wire Terminal Plate with 550 Hz High Pass Filter • 3.32 mH iron-core inductor • 27 µF capacitor Compare to $10 #269-013................ $4 48(1-9) 4 $ 00 Back Speaker Wire Terminal Plate with 225 Hz Low Pass Filter • 6.02 mH iron-core inductor • Polyswitch speaker protection Compare to $12 #269-014................ $448(1-9) 4 (10-UP) Back Peerless SDS-135F25CP08-08 Gold SDS Series 5-1/4" Subwoofer Driver 1450 $ Clearance Center Waffle Style Steel Speaker Grills • Perforated steel provides maximum protection • Rubber edge damps vibration • Mounting hardware not included #269-106 #269-108 Flared Port Tube 3" ID x 11" L with 5" Flared Ends 3 $ 45 (6-UP) Dayton Audio Maple Speaker Cabinets #299-016 46 Compare to $5 $ 00 #269-165. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Compare . . . . . . . . . . . . . .to . . . .$10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 (1-5) 1" Black Mini Speaker 8 Ohm • Small 1.18" (30mm) diameter housing fits almost anywhere • Reliable Mylar cone with 0.5" voice coil Compare to $3 Compare to $3 #299-009 2-7/8" Square Frame Mini Speaker 16 Ohm • 1/2" voice coil with Alnico magnet • 2-7/8" square frame, requires 2-1/2" diameter cutout • Manufactured by Regal #289-112 EACH #269-301 (approximate) inside diameter • Front flare: 6-1/8" outside diameter, 5-3/4" cutout diameter x 3/4" depth • Rear flare: 5" diameter. Your Choice $1 Each 2-1/4" Mini Speaker with Wire Harness 8 Ohm NMB 006-1010870-000 57F505N-1 • 8 ohm impedance to work with most amplifiers • Micro-sized for small #289-128 applications and projects • Moisture resistant polypropylene cone 1 $ 75 Dimensions: • Overall: 11-1/4" length x 3" • Coated paper cone EACH • Vented voice coil and spider #299-125 • Long VC allows for 6 mm of excursion • Sculpted and reinforced steel frame Compare to $24 2" Full Range Speaker 25 Ohm • Unique 25 ohm impedance for use as a headphone element • Minimum frame for use in line arrays • Remarkable output from 500 to 3,000 Hz • Insulated binding posts prevent accidental shorts • High power posts accept up to 10 gauge wire • Attached gasket ensures a good seal to cabinets Price Part # Size Compare to Each 269-106 5"$4.00 $1.00 269-108 8"5.00 1.00 $ 00 Front (100-UP) $ 50 $ 25 #269-103. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Compare . . . . . . . . . . . . . .to . . . .$8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 (1-9) 2 (10-99) Don’t waffle on protecting your drivers! (10-UP) Front 1 $ 88 Speaker Terminal Cup with Insulated Gold Plated Binding Posts $ 48 Front Round 4-1/2" Speaker Terminal Cup with Insulated Banana Binding Posts Compare to $2 Compare to $4 parts-express.com • Available in straight and curved sided designs • Finished with real maple veneer • Magnetic grill fasteners • Complete with baffle, hardware, and grill These maple cabinets feature a very lightcolored, tight-grained wood veneer with a semi-gloss finish, making them fit into any contemporary décor. Note: These cabinets use real wood veneers, so some variations in grain and color will naturally occur between cabinets. Dimensions Sale Part # Model Description (H x W x D) Price 302-716 TW-0.38MA .38 ft³ Straight 14" x 8" x 10.5" $90.00 302-717 TWC-0.38MA .38 ft³ Curved 14" x (8", 4.5") x 11.8" 106.00 302-736 TW-0.75MA .75 ft³ Straight 17" x 10" x 12.5" 130.00 302-746 MTM-0.75MA .75 ft³ Straight 20" x 8" x 13" 120.00 302-757 MTMC-1.0MA 1.0 ft³ Curved 22" x (9", 4.5") x 14.8" 175.00 CLEARANCE CENTER & FACTORY BUYOUTS Test your high current 12VDC gear for half the price! Astec 12V 24A 288W Regulated and Filtered Power Supply with Case and Accessories • High output power: 400 watts max instantaneous, (10-UP) 288 watts RMS continuous 5980 $ Compare to $100 #129-004............................. $ 69 (1-4) 67 00 $ 78 (5-9) Cool breezes for tiny spaces JMC 4010-12 12 VDC 40mm x 10mm Brushless 3-Wire Micro Fan Build Your Own Guitar Combo Amp - Components Only In this bundle, you get a 5 watt amp module packed with extras, a quality 6-1/2” speaker with grill and trim ring, and a 9V power supply to power it up! We have a very limited quantity of these components available, so act fast! Compare to $80 #249-400. ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 $ 50 (10-UP) 12 VDC 2000mA AC Adapter Power Supply 5.5 x 2.5mm Center (+) 3-3/4" L x 2-1/2" W x 2 1/8" H. $ 29 (1-3) 27 00 Charge!! (into savings) Compare to $15 (10-UP) Compare to $10 $ 50 $ 19 #129-150................................... . 3 (1-3) 3 (4-9) #129-011���������������������������� $ Talk about handy! (10-UP) 12 (1-3) 11 95 (50-UP) Compare to $2 #329-052�������������������������������� $148 (1-9) $129 (10-49) 5 Belkin AC/DC Universal USB Charging Kit Part # Size 090-495 2.1 mm x 5.5 mm 090-496 2.5 mm x 5.5 mm Light ‘em up! Grip Tools 37227 6 LED Barrel Keychain Flashlight 1 EACH #139-014 Compare to $20 (100-UP) #365-096�������������������� $498(1-3) Super Heavy Duty Swivel Caster • 4" high • Wheel is 3" dia. x 1.88" W • Mounting plate is 4.5" x 4" Padded Nylon Universal Utility Equipment Bag with Strap #249-350�������������������������������������� $990(1-9) #090-496 Reg. Price $2.80 2.80 Clearance Price $1.98 1.98 (4-UP) 9 $ 50 (24-UP) 00 $ 80 to $20 $ #269-003. . .Compare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 (1-7) 10 (8-23) Compare to $30 List Price $3.99 3.99 3 $ 98 Let’s roll! $ 48 ¢ #090-495 (20-UP) #369-012. . . . . 98¢ (1-5) 77¢ (6-19) (10-UP) Compare to $15 $ 50 $ 75 #129-012. ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 (1-3) 6 (4-9) It’s time to upgrade your power supply connection Panel Mount Metal DC Power Jacks • Current capacity: 3 amps (4-9) List $7.99 Compare to $2 49 68¢ Compare to $2 65 $ 95 GB HST-125 1/8" 2:1 Heat Shrink Tubing Black 4" 7 Pcs #099-220... 75¢ (1-9) 66¢ (10-99) $ Random Corp. 9 VDC 2000mA AC Adapter Power Supply 5.5 x 2.1mm Center (+) RDI Piezoelectric Sounder Buzzer Element DMT-09-01-27 97¢ (4-9) (10-UP) Speed Change 9pc Cordless Screwdriver Bit Kit with Belt Case OEM Black USB Wall Charger for Apple iPhone & Android Devices 5 VDC 1.6A 2 95 1025 $ Compare to $8 $ 49 #259-149.................................... 3 (1-4) $298 (5-9) $ 77 $ 2488 $ 8 $ 50 (10-UP) A blast from the past— better get one fast! dbx 223 Stereo 2-Way / Mono 3-Way Crossover Was $149.95 Order by 4PM EST Mon-Fri and we'll ship it that day! 9900 $ EACH #246-100 Clearance Center 47 CUSTOMER ID KEY CODE PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID 725 Pleasant Valley Dr. Springboro, OH 45066 -1158 Phone: 1-800-338-0531 PARTS EXPRESS © 2015 Parts Express E C N A R A CLE S T U O Y U B Y R O T C A F & unted , highly disco w ne learance. ith w s xpress.com/c the seam -e at ts g ar in p st at ur b ls ea e is k out these d Our warehous nic gear! Chec o tr ec el d an audio ! es are limited Hurry, quantiti ss.com parts-expre