Driving domestic hi-fi loudspeakers with a car stereo?

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npf1

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Hope this isn't a dumb question ...

I've inherited on my boat a Pioneer tuner/amp (ie domestic hi-fi separate unit) that drives a Bose surround sound speaker system. The Pioneer unit requires the inverter to be used and takes up lots of space. The speakers (two little cubes and a big black box) are neatly fitted so I want to keep them installed. Is it possible to get a car stereo/'in car entertainment unit' to replace the Pioneer unit but still use the same speaker system?

BTW - not looking for anything particularly loud!

Thanks in advance for the panel's wisdom!
 
Thank goodness - an non-boating question I can help with.

Different speakers need different levels of drive i.e. the amp power. However this is not just about Watts.

The speakers you have will have a level of sensitivity measured in Db (i.e. 88Db) The higher the figure the easier they are to drive.

In simple terms if your speakers are fairly sensitive and easy for the amplifier to drive there is no reason why a reasonable car stereo should not power them.


Hope this helps.
 
Hi - no a sensible question!

I have, I suspect, the same speakers as you [Bose Acoustmas 3?]. Connected to them I have a Kenwood car CD/tuner. Cannot remember the model, but it is very standard, about 50W each channel. Works perfectly, without obviously complication of an invertor. I use 2.5mm speaker cable to the Bose bass unit.
 
There should be no problem with what you propose, but you probably will not get the ultimate from the bose speakers. That said it will still be good.
I believe the bose speakers are rated at 8 ohms and car systems are usually 4 ohms.
I had the same system on our Fairline Turbo 36 which I sold about 3 or 4 years ago. I wonder if it's the same boat ?
 
I could be wrong here, but I thought that the car stereo would be 4 Ohms as it would normally drive 4 Speakers not 2. Therefore if the Amp is only driving 2 speakers it will be 8 Ohms. Perhaps that only works on home systems.
 
It works fine for me: I recently fitted a Pioneer in-car CD/tuner head unit and matched it with a pair of Goodmans Maxim2 domestic hi-fi speakers that I had hanging around. The results are great.

As we're ashore at present, it pays to hammer the props back in after a good session though.. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
No, car audio would be 8 ohms, as each stereo leg has two 8 ohm speakers in parallel = 4 ohms seen by amp.
 
Replaced the standard speakers....

... non descript pods being seriously over-driven by our Panasonic 4X 50watt car type stereo with a pair of Mission M30s.

Result?

Superb!

Steve Cronin
 
Re: Replaced the standard speakers....

Excellent news. Thanks guys. Off to buy one of them then!

AndyHythe - in response to your question about possiblly being your old boat. No way! Wouldn't catch me on something without rags!! Although I do have a mobo YachtMaster by 'accident', long story but one for another time!
 
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