im new in this field, but i really want to learn more about it...here's 
basically what i know...if you have something to add or see something wrong 
with what i have written, PLEASE let me know...Thanks a lot
first, you need a reciever, a good one (like a CD player or tape player for 
those of you technophobes...) it has something like 30x4 which is 30 watts to 
4 speakers...i think...then a .5 to 2 volt pre-amp (i'm not sure what this 
does...or what it matters)...that will either run straight to your speakers 
or to an amp...the amp, say 50x2 will put another 50 watts to 2 
speakers...(presumably now the total to two of the speakers would be 80 
watts...)  the speakers are woofers, mid-ranges, and tweeters, i think...like 
6x9's would be 6 inches by 9 inches i think...say for the woofers....then you 
have sub-woofers that would usually take another amp (or you could take the 
one off your speakers to power the subs..., say 8', 10', 12', 15', or 
18's...) the higher the watts, the louder the hit of the subs....(if you like 
that sort of thing...) now, i've heard of a 'cross-over' but don't really 
know what it does...please help me out on this one...if i left anything major 
out, please let me know...thanks a lot...
     type at you later...
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** A related thread FOLLOWS this message.

FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 183 AUDIO         Ref: DBL40351 Date: 07/17/96
From: MICHAEL SUHM                                          Time: 04:05am
\/To: TYLER SMITH                                         (Read 5 times)
Subj: R: CAR AUDIO...NEED A LITTLE HELP, I'M NEW!22:30:1907/14/96

Tyler Smith wants to know everything that there is to know....
-
Hi Tyler,
  What you have asked here would take me a couple of hours to
explain it in person, and the BEST thing for you to do is to
stop at a stereo store in your area and get some of the basics
down first.
But very briefly:
-
The "head unit" or "deck" (CD player, etc) usually has both a
pre-amp AND an amplifier in it.  The pre-amp portion connects to
an equalizer, an electronic crossover, or a larger amplifier, or any
combination of these.
The "head unit's" amplifier section (30x4, etc) hooks directly to
the speakers, as long as you don't have a separate amp for those
speakers.
**You can NOT hook your deck's amp and another amp to the same speakers!
A separate amplifier might be used if you want better quality, or
more power to the speakers, or if you are going to use subwoofers.
-
Note--If your deck is rated at 30 watts, and your amp is at 50 watts,
this does NOT give you a total of 80 watts to the speakers.  The
speakers will get the power ONLY from the piece of equipment that
they are directly wired to.  (In this case, they would get 50 watts.)
-
I hope that this helps,
Mike
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>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> LAST Message In Thread <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 183 AUDIO         Ref: DBK00001 Date: 07/14/96
From: TOM MOORE                                             Time: 11:19am
\/To: MATT ION                                            (Read 3 times)
Subj: RE: CAR AUDIO

 >TM> I myself am aware of what might be involved in the creation of a
 >TM> "competition" mobile audio rig.  
 > 
 > "Might"?  You probably don't realize the half of it :-)
I sure don't claim to know it all, but I do a lot of reading and have set up 
many fine car audio systems over the years.  Perhaps not 'competition' 
systems, but I know a tad about wiring, connectors, capacitance, headroom, 
placement, etc.  I was an Acoustics major, though the vast portion of what I 
know was aquired via doing things for myself and learning the hard way.  I 
still end up using my ears for the final judgement.  "Does it sound good" is 
my creedo.  IF YES THEN GOSUB FINISHED  IF NO THEN GOSUB BACK_TO_DRAWING_BRD.
 > 
 >TM> Great sound, however, rocks my boat every time.  Competition car
 >TM> audio, for the most part, is ONLY concerned with loud.  
 > 
 > *Ahem* not quite.  As far as IASCA (International Auto Sound 
 > Challenge Assocition, *the* car-audio competition authority) is 
 > concerned, SPL counts for only a very small part of a competitor's 
 > total score.  Maximum score is given for 140dB SPL, with points 
 > deducted for levels below that... so in essence, going beyond 140dB 
 > is pointless, at least as far as competition is concerned.
As far as -I- am concerned, going beyond 140db is pointless as well.
 > 
 > Other sanctioning bodies, such as USAC, do have their "Outlaw SPL" 
 > categories, but even those are just one of the many categories in 
 > their competitions, none of which place a very high priority on SPL.
 > 
 > Most of the points are based on such criteria as installation safety 
 > and quality (running 500W worth of amps on 16-gauge zip cord that 
 > comes out the hood and through the door hinges is an automatic zero 
 > :), sound quality (subjective to individual judges' ears and, to 
 > some degree, tastes), imaging and sound stage, and RTA measurements 
 > (they do pink-noise RTA at around 100dB SPL).  There are even points 
 > for presentation (the car's owner has to give a brief speech on his 
 > system :) and car detailing (a rusted-out '74 Plymouth that you used 
 > for mud-racing immediately before the sound-off is a definite 
 > liability! ;-)
 > 
I do not mean to cut down the whole field of competition car audio.  It is 
just that every one of these shows I have attended, and admittedly, I have 
only been to a few, have had a bunch of folks (mostly male except for the 
bikini or thong clad beach babes that seem to be added for color) standing 
around gawking at some great looking ride FROM A SAFE DISTANCE as the thing 
goes through it's earthquake immitation.  The heads of these guys bob up and 
down knowingly and they occasionaly turn to one another and grin with teeth 
clenched as if it is somehow ecstasy inducing and painful at the same time.
Hey, if they are getting off, cool.  If it's a hobby that is rewarding, more 
power to 'em.  I used to be into race cars - another pursuit of aimless 
torque, speed and power.  Of what use is a 510 HP super trick Chevelle that 
will do the quarter in record time when it spends most of it's driving time 
on streets with at best, a 45 MPH speed limit?  Not much, but I did it.  Did 
I think it was macho and would get me woman?  Truthfully, I guess I did and I 
got off on the acceleration.  I was not into top end - torque and 
acceleration flipped my switch.  In retrospect, I had a ball, got a lot of 
tickets and very few of the dream babes I thought I would.
I know you are a pro at this stuff and I do not mean to appear to demean the 
hobby or the pursuit of happiness.  Also, if I am not mistaken, you make a 
very comfortable living installing fine car audio.  Truth is, I would MUCH 
rather these mobile detonators compete than sit next to me in traffic or bum 
out my trip to the beach.  It all comes down to people and their level of 
responsibility.  To have massive power does not mean one must wield that 
power without thought.
 > 
 >TM> I have heard a couple of these 'competition' rides that did sound
 >TM> pretty good, but that was when they were turned down and I could
 >TM> sit in the car and listen.
 > 
 > Tom, you of all people should know how critical system headroom is 
 > to proper audio reproduction.  Just because a car's system could 
 > blow out the windows doesn't mean that it HAS to, or that the person 
 > normally (or EVER) listens to it at those levels.
 > 
Yes, I know about headroom and it's importance.  While you are likely correct 
that these guys don't listen to it that loud for the most part, some do and 
it's those I'd rather not have to deal with.  Maybe it's fate, but somehow, 
the ones that do always seem to end up next to me at stoplights and my entire 
Toyota van resonates with the might of their horrible wrath - and they 
usually look over at me with a nod and a leer I guess I am supposed to 
knowingly return.  I don't like anything that is forced upon me.  I love 
music.  I love chocolate cake.  The first time anybody trys to ram a hunk of 
cake down my throat without my permission however, is a very different 
tter.
 >TM> I don't think Bonnie needs anyone to come to her defense - I've
 >TM> seen some of her excellent retorts, but you should know that not
 >TM> everyone agrees with YOUR viewpoint that competition audio is a
 >TM> thing of beauty.  
 > 
 > For some, it's a hobby.  For others, it's a job, an occupation... a 
 > living.  Hey, some guys put on funny rubber outfits and stand 
 > waist-deep in ice-cold water, waving a magic wand in an attempt to 
 > attract smelly, slimy water creatures, as a hobby... whatever turns 
 > your crank, dude :)
 > 
 >TM> It requires a fat wallet, skill and devotion, but not necessarily a
 >TM> good ear. 
 > 
 > Beg to differ... *winning* at competitions DOES require a good ear, 
 > and not NECESSARILY a fat wallet (although that sometimes helps, I 
 > have seen guys that built their own systems on a shoestring take the 
 > trophy from guys whose greatest involvement was buying the car and 
 > writing checks for obscene amounts of money to the stereo shop).
I have yet to hear of a winner of one of these shows get the prize without 
cranking it up and at those levels, only a fool would sit it the car and 
pretend they are obtaining listening pleasure.  I hear some people get off on 
pain, but I am not one of them.  They call the "threshold of pain" on the db 
scale that for a reason, no?  I don't see anyone winning at competition audio 
shows without spending at least many coins.  IF you built your own amps, 
pre-amps, BBEs, EQs, speaker enclosures, etc., you'd still end up with a 
sizable investment.  I would think most folks build, at most, their own 
speakers enclosures.  To WIN these shows still costs a chunk of change - but 
once again, I dumped mountains of cash into my race car and did nearly all 
the work myself so it comes down to the same thing - if you get off on it, do 
it!
 > 
 >TM> Bonnie gets paid good bux for her good ear (as do I - sometimes). 
 >TM> Do you see why there is a rift?
 > 
 > No. :-)  Hey, Bonnie's heard my car system (the old one, anyway) -- 
 > for a $300 AM/FM/CD player and a pile of speakers I got for free, it 
 > sounded quite decent (right, Bonnie? :)  
 > 
 > I get paid good bucks for my ears from time to time as well.  For 
 > mine, the car environment is just another challenge... and a 
 > necessary one, given the amount of time I spend in the car.  I could 
 > never have survived that trip to visit Bonnie, driving from 
 > Vancouver to Sacramento, without good-quality sound in the car!
Hey, I'm all for that.  I used to work for Tupperware as a computer geek.  I 
commuted 4 hours a day to work there and without cool sound, I would have 
never been able to do it.  BUT - I never cranked things to crushing levels, 
and for several reasons: I value my hearing highly, my system won't do those 
levels any way and I just don't like levels that high.  I'd have been a real 
zero by the time I showed up for work had I either listened too loud or not 
at all.  I LIKE car audio a lot.  I do not take anything away from those that 
do it for fun or profit.  It takes lots of talent to achieve reasonably 
decent audio in a moving vehicle.  I have found it also takes money 
proportional to the quality of the vehicle the equipment goes into.  Easier 
to get good sound in a new Lincoln than in a 72 Duster.  It seems the owner 
of the Lincoln likely has the money to invest in the higher end stuff, but 
it's the owner of the Duster that will be booming and rattling away next to 
me in Tampa traffic. Go figure!
Please do not take umbrage with me over this.  I have read this echo for a 
while and you are certainly one of the "authorities" here based upon the 
intelligence of your audio discussions.  I am certain you know what you are 
doing and know of what you speak.  I was generalizing over the way I view car 
audio and many of it's contests.  Volume IS an issue but not the ONLY issue I 
am sure.  It is the one issue -I- take umbrage to, however as it's the one 
that most annoys me when I am out in public.  Back again to the people and 
their actions.  The audio only gets loud if the person twists the knobs - but 
to sound GOOD, it takes much more than that.
                                                Tom Moore
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