OK not sure if this should go in Audio and Visual or in Modding, mods please move. I was hopeing on making an amp! I've got a really old bugger and its heavy with an old analog radio in it. I want to make a smaller one and put it in my computer. I was wondering if anyone had any links to making or modding an amp to fit in a PC or a guide on how to make one? >>GiGo<<
If only I had a scanner. I have a few schematics of an amp next to me. Sounds like a good idea though. Everyone gets a nice system for their car, just wait until they see our computers . And this should probably be in the electronics forum... But eh, what do I know?
Um... electronics make sense. Cant you draw it out unless its really really complicated (no doubt it is). I agree why can't PCs have a decnet amp and speakers like cars, I've got 2 wall mounted 150w Warfedales in my room and I want a nice amp in the back of the PC so its a complete unit.
It's not that the schematics are complex, they just aren't suited for what your wanting to do. Maybe if the mods will move this to the electronics forum cpemma, Zap, acrimonious, or one of the other electronic guru's can help ya.
Could you not just use a car amp?? there fairly small (well some of them) if you look around I'm sure you can find one anadized blue to look pretty and the just run on 12V dunno how much power they draw but I'm sure someone in electronics would know.
Um.. thats an idea, I'll have a look in my local motor world tomorrow, that could be fun going in and askin them if it will work with a PC
Moving this to electronics ...and I know for a fact that RTT has just built a 'lil amp, he might be able to help... Rob.
3 problems with an amp inside your case 1. HEAT!!!! HEAT!!!! HEAT!!!!! 2. Heavy current draw from 12V to make an amp output... To make an amp that is 50W per channel (pretty small) you are going to draw around 15 AMPS from the 12V, HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY draw. 3. did I mention HEAT!?!?!?!? ... No really, RMF, or noise generated inside the computer (Spinning magnets on fans/Drives, plus the VERY noisy PSU (most switching Power supplies are HORRIBLE for audio circuits) will generate more noise on the signal end of the amp then amplify the noise with the signal, therefore, you will have VERY LOUD HUM, BUZZ, etc... It can be done, but you will have to find a different power source (Large linear Power supply) and encase the thing in a "faraday cage" to lessen the outside noise. better to keep it out of the box, imho.
If you are going to use a car amp use a seperate PSU (so much safer and easier). Mounting the amp on the top of you case sorts all the heat problems and can look cool if you get a small neon/CC inside it too
for faraday cage read box made from chicken wire seriously tho ive never had probs with noise on either my live drive or the small amp i had in a 3.5 inch bay for my earphones before i got the livedrive though that was in an older system with slower fans. . . my delta interfears with my audio amp on my desk tho so it will probably depend on your fans really (deltas could just suck )
do brushless fans interfere (??) that much? i can understand that the PSU makes noise.. but the fans...??
For a good cheap amp to run from a soundcard or portable, a couple of ICs like the TDA2050 will give you 25W into 8R, plenty if the speakers are fairly close, or similar chips will go to around 50W. 50W IC amp at Rod Elliot's site along with plenty of traditional amps. Do a search for Gainclone, there's a cult going building them.
