How can I build a rolling sound system for Critical Mass? And on the cheap too!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Primitive Don on February 6, 2010 at 11:09pm

That's cool Alvin! Compact but effective.

Permalink Reply by Fat Tire Frank on February 7, 2010 at 7:21am

Oh, Just give up - it'll never happen unless you find a pro.

Permalink Reply by Ken Gray on February 8, 2010 at 5:34pm

Frank, I think you must be trying to fire me up so that I will really do this... or are you right? Giving up just sticks in my craw! I've got to try. Seems there is help out there! Thanks!

Permalink Reply by GP on February 9, 2010 at 11:22am

There are 3 things you need for a sound system:
1) Battery
2) Amp
3) Speakers
... and a music source (any MP3 player will do, read:iPod) would also help.

First determine how powerful you want the system to be. I got a 240W stereo amp (120W per channel) which is pretty loud, but in a mass will only be heard by people within a 10ft radius, which is fine with me.
Then, determine how long you want the system to run for on the battery. According to the amp's manual (which I looked up before buying the product), it draws a maximum of 5 amps of power at any given time (has a 5A fuse). I want the system to run for 3 hours. Therefore, I needed a minimum of 15 amp-hour battery (abbreviated 15ah).
The cheapest way to get a high capacity battery is to buy a lead-acid battery, commonly known as the car battery. I have a jet-ski battery for mine that has a capacity of 14ah.

I used two old computer speakers for the output - they don't sound great, but they get the sound out. That's my sound system.

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on February 9, 2010 at 12:24pm

Garrett,
Definitely sounds like your speakers are your weak spot-- with a 14 aH battery and an amp that can do 120 WPC you should be able to carry at least 1/2 a block.

Ken, get in touch-- I have everything you need.

Garrett Padera said:

There are 3 things you need for a sound system:
1) Battery
2) Amp
3) Speakers
... and a music source (any MP3 player will do, read:iPod) would also help.

First determine how powerful you want the system to be. I got a 240W stereo amp (120W per channel) which is pretty loud, but in a mass will only be heard by people within a 10ft radius, which is fine with me.
Then, determine how long you want the system to run for on the battery. According to the amp's manual (which I looked up before buying the product), it draws a maximum of 5 amps of power at any given time (has a 5A fuse). I want the system to run for 3 hours. Therefore, I needed a minimum of 15 amp-hour battery (abbreviated 15ah).
The cheapest way to get a high capacity battery is to buy a lead-acid battery, commonly known as the car battery. I have a jet-ski battery for mine that has a capacity of 14ah.

I used two old computer speakers for the output - they don't sound great, but they get the sound out. That's my sound system.

Permalink Reply by Alan Ortiz on February 9, 2010 at 1:35pm

Here's a previous discussion on the matter, perhaps incomplete and/or parallel to yours, but maybe informative as well. Hit the link and scroll down to the bottom of the first page and start from there, the entry labeled "Reply by Lee Diamond on August 7, 2009 at 11:58pm".

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