Haunz, in terms of easy, no, it's not: you just go buy a transformer that steps up the voltage. But then that isn't quite as efficient (heat losses) as just taking the lower voltage and slamming more amps of it into a speaker. Physics gurus, is this correct?

 

Well, I will say, yes it is that easy... lol...

 

Getting 120 volts from 12 involves a lot more than a transformer, since the 12 volt system is DC, and you can't transform DC, as transfromer theory is based on a flutuating electro-magnetic field. so to get 120 volts from 12, you have to "invert" it, to AC, which involves creating a pulsing DC signal, and then reversing half of that signal and offsetting it to produce an AC signal.

both of these processes can induce noise into the signal, because it is very hard to create a perfect sine wave for the transformer to step-up to 120 volts.

the other draw back, is that you havea massive current draw at 12 volts to create anything more than a trickle at 120 volts. especially when you factor in the efficiency of the inverting/transforming process, which is considerable, usually around 60% efficient.

factoring that in, to get 15 amps @ 120 volts out of your 12V system in your car, you'd need 250 amps. not exactly a good way to go.

 

the first answer is correct. thats all i have to say

 

car guys like the number 4 more than the number 8. they can count 4 on one hand rather than needing both hands

[ July 16, 2004, 04:49 PM: Message edited by: noid_19 ]

 

It seems to me that there isn't much of a benifit of jumping voltage way up in order to use high impedance speakers. So why do it ??

But... unless you want an amp that relies on high current to make power you are going to need to step up from 12v anyway.... And I fail to see why it's any harder or less effecient to get say 1000 watts with 89v compaired to 63 v or even 32v... (8, 4 and 1ohm load)...

There just isn't a benifit either..... so why do it ???

 

so basicaly you have more head room in home audio, and there for use 8 ohm speakers to over dampen your amps

in car audio you don thave the same power, so you use 4 ohms, just to make it easyer

so why cant i take 8 ohm drivers and use them in my car, over dampining my amp and getting much better sound, just not as loud, but that shouldnt matter if im using a farly powerfullamp right?

 

FYI, So long as dampping factor is into the double digits, it won't make an audible difference....

 

FYI high current = high heat, which will burn coils.