Garage Stereo Systems

[Boyd Who]

Here's the system I have set up in the new shop. Everything but the pair of speakers came from my junk hauling job.

Sony GX60ES receiver
RCA DRC212 dvd player for my music (still need to add a small flatscreen)
Bose Acoustimass 5 Series II subwoofer
Acoustic Profiles PSC-7.5 speakers.
The sound is fantastic in my small shop. I will be moving things around a bit once I get the walls finished.

 

[The Wizard]

The subwoofer is pretty much worthless up there. I suggest you relocate it to the ground somewhere.

 

[senlow]

The subwoofer is pretty much worthless up there. I suggest you relocate it to the ground somewhere.

Doesn't matter. No matter what Blose calls it, it's not a subwoofer.

 

[Boyd Who]

Doesn't matter. No matter what Blose calls it, it's not a subwoofer.

Perhaps not but the price was right.
Besides, it's a workshop...I don't need a high-end system in it for tunes.
And yes, it will be moved down to the floor shortly. I just stuck it up there while I was organizing and cleaning.

 

[jgreg65]

Hobie1dog; that is a great setup! I love it!

Here is mine so far. More to be added:

This is the cabinet that has the Receiver, DVD player, video selector, amp and speaker selector. This is also for my outdoor movie setup.

Did you make the cabinet or is it prefab with a clear face? Seems that's what I have to do to keep the dust out.

 

[diggler306]

Did you make the cabinet or is it prefab with a clear face? Seems that's what I have to do to keep the dust out.

Also wondering the dimensions of this unit. All receivers seem to be roughly the same width, and I'm designing my media cabinet for the garage without having a specific receiver in my hands yet.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

My set up is similar to dezigninmotion's except that I used old components I bought cheap through Craigslist. I splurged for 6 flush ceiling mounted speakers, 2 outdoor speakers, a speaker selection switch, and Sirius XM satellite radio. I have a DVD player for a nearby TV in the cabinet. There is also a 50' audio visual cable run through the rafters out to the drive way where I can show movies with a LCD projector I salvaged from a dumpster at a school I used to work at (needed a new bulb and power supply/transformer).

 

[hobie1dog]

I sprayed the bass bins that will handle the low frequencies last week. They will be going in each front corner. Each one has two 15" woofers and they are 105db efficiency. They will cross over to my mid/high speakers at 350hz.
I took advantage of the great weather to spray some good ole black Lacquer paint on them ( boy I love the smell of lacquer )

sitting in its final resting place:

 

[Falcon67]

It's "Back to the Future" in my shop as of last night. Stashed in a closet we cleaned out was a Realistic STA-785 receiver, circa 1988. I have a box with 4 small Radio Shack heavy duty speakers that I bought at a Tandy yard sale probably about that time. So I haywired this thing up with a couple of speakers, dug in the "AV Box" (big box of cables, baluns and misc **** sorta related to AV stuff) and found a small TV antenna (for FM) and a mini-DIN to RCA stereo cord. The iHome box is the charger and I cabled the iPhone into the CD/AUX ports. BOOM - now we're rockin'. Really good sound too. The receiver handles 2 sets of speakers, so I can have a set in the work area and a pair in the main shop. It also has TV/AUX inputs for the Dish setup. And it has tape in/tape out for those that remember things like "tape". Score me an old Akai reel-to-reel deck and I'm totally retro.

 

[PECVD2]

I sprayed the bass bins that will handle the low frequencies last week. They will be going in each front corner. Each one has two 15" woofers and they are 105db efficiency. They will cross over to my mid/high speakers at 350hz.
sitting in its final resting place:

WOW, You owe us a youtube video with full sound on this one.

I would have add a lip onto all my cabinets and shelves to keep stuff from vibrating off.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Mine is in my basement...but, I have:
Mackie 406M powered mixer, feeding 1 DJ speaker and several ceiling speakers throughout the shop.
I have feeds running from the powered mixer to my network rack with an RDL 4 channel mixer. This gives me the L/R audio connection for a laptop or iPhone.
The line output of the powered mixer connects to a smaller mixer/amp, also in the network rack. I wired this amp to a voice activated relay which will mute the music being played through my laptop if I make a page through my phone system.
This was done just because I could, and is by no means necessary. Phones/pro audio/paging systems are a hobby of mine.

 

[DEEDDUDE]

I'm using this one for now. Two 6 1/2" mb quart and two 6 1/2" altec lansing subs powered by a 6 channel amp. This one is a mobile stereo system.

Once I get the shop wired for power I'll install an old pioneer surround sound system, nothing fancy. It's an old system I've had for 20+ years and it still sounds great. I'll add some bigger subs later. One of the jobs I had in the past was building custom subwoofer enclosures and I'd like to see if I still have the skills. I have too many projects and not enough time.

In the past I've used old car stereos mounted under my work bench using a kit designed for under car dash mounting and the speakers mounted behind peg board, that work very well also.

 

[DEEDDUDE]

I sprayed the bass bins that will handle the low frequencies last week. They will be going in each front corner. Each one has two 15" woofers and they are 105db efficiency. They will cross over to my mid/high speakers at 350hz.
I took advantage of the great weather to spray some good ole black Lacquer paint on them ( boy I love the smell of lacquer )

sitting in its final resting place:

Nice job on the box.

 

[hobie1dog]

These are the second design advancement on the old Klipschorn speakers. The first replacement designed by Paul Klipsch is called the Jubilee with (2) 12" drivers in them, this is the second big brother called the Jamboree(by some people) and it has the (2) 15" woofers. After hearing the Jubilees in Knoxville 2 years ago, I decided that it had the great dynamics/punch I was lacking in all my other audiophile speakers I've owned. Nothing like (4) 15" woofers slamming bass into you at 105db efficiency. I'll also be putting in (2) 18" subwoofers in the loft area to help out with the sub 40hz stuff as the horn loaded cabinets start falling on their face at that frequency.

 

[DEEDDUDE]

These are the second design advancement on the old Klipschorn speakers. The first replacement designed by Paul Klipsch is called the Jubilee with (2) 12" drivers in them, this is the second big brother called the Jamboree(by some people) and it has the (2) 15" woofers. After hearing the Jubilees in Knoxville 2 years ago, I decided that it had the great dynamics/punch I was lacking in all my other audiophile speakers I've owned. Nothing like (4) 15" woofers slamming bass into you at 105db efficiency. I'll also be putting in (2) 18" subwoofers in the loft area to help out with the sub 40hz stuff as the horn loaded cabinets start falling on their face at that frequency.

I'll have to look into that design. I was thinking they were some type of single reflex bandpass enclosure. I was thinking about the 18" subs myself. I have the room now for a transmission line enclosure and that may be the route I go. I just need to figure out what else the enclosure could be used for; large table or hide it behind some cabinets.

 

[hobie1dog]

I'll have to look into that design. I was thinking they were some type of single reflex bandpass enclosure. I was thinking about the 18" subs myself. I have the room now for a transmission line enclosure and that may be the route I go. I just need to figure out what else the enclosure could be used for; large table or hide it behind some cabinets.

Go to the Klipsch site and read about the Jubilee:
http://www.klipsch.com/kpt-jubilee-535

Go to the Obsidian site in my signature line and read about the 18" subwoofer drivers. Building TL design boxes are more difficult, costly, and don't give any appreciable advantages over well designed ported boxes. I use to build TL boxes and quit after hearing very good ported boxes. The TL design does give a smooth roll-off, but hearing the extended output that the ported design gives with a very high sound quality driver in it, I will only be building ported boxes in the future. Here is a pic of the (2) 4 ft long boxes that I'm bolting together to make a 8 ft long sub box for my living room which will have the Obsidian 18" woofers in it, tuned right at 20hz.

bolted together

each woofer will have approx 600 watts going to it. The woofers have great sound quality, built like a tank, and are very affordable. The multiple woofers will all share the load, be more efficient, and coast along down deep as they move their close to 3 inches of excursion.

video of excursion here:


I'll have a 8 ft long Walnut butcher block top, full width black grille cloth panel, with walnut strips on the corners, black plexiglass mirror panels on the ends between the strips of walnut. It will reside right below my 110" diagonal screen.

 

[RCStocker]

I have the sterio in my office and a splitter. I can turn on the music in the garage, patio and several other places. I have high end small speekers in opposite corners. The dust and dirt don't get into the receiver or other sterio equipment that way. Here in California the air is do damn dirty that you need to wash the bushes off. They get gray with soot and the drive way water looks black when you hose of the cement. Damn I hate California.

 

[rshadd]

I hung my old set of Bose 901's from the ceiling.

They're connected to my multizone Marantz receiver in the house. I leave the garage zone on the classic rock station that Dish Network offers for hours of commercial free music.

I can adjust the the volume with a control in the garage.

Still on the fence as to whether or not I want a TV in the garage.

 

[volaredon]

What do you guys have for your tunes in the garage? I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to use so any feedback would be great also.

I never liked the sound of "feedback" in my stereo speakers

 

[Terbronco]

I have found several nice old school receivers here at our local goodwill and various yard sales that work out perfectly, in my opinion these are some of the best sounding receivers ever made not to mention the awesome power some of these have to offer, I currently am using a Pioneer sx-1980 in my garage paired with a pair of vintage Pioneer CS-88 speakers and boy does it pack a punch (279 watts per channel) and the sound is unbeatable. The only draw back with these vintage receivers is that they are tanks, my sx-1980 weighs in at 80 pounds but the sound quality has no equal.

 

[jgreg65]

Your absolutely right! I ran an old pioneer for years and swapped to a Teac that has a dead channel but got it for $25 on eBay and now upgraded to a Yamaha just for the HDMI switching and its ok but the power doesn't seem to be there even though its rated more per channel. Ah old school, and a mix of new tech is sometimes the best.

I run an iPhone and an iPad for my music in the garage. And use the Sirius XM app on them also. I haven't touched the FM tuner in years. Except when I was using an fm broadcaster from the home computer in the upstairs to the stereo down in the garage. But then I didn't have any control over it remotely.

 

[Higgins]

Ditto!

Had an ole Akai that gave up the gost! Now I'm just using a P3 computer and run tunes live from jukebox. Speakers are some med priced PC speakers. Sounds OK since I cant hear well, and who can hear the music when your running all your tools asnway!

 

[Fastbird]

Bose sound dock and Ipod. Filled my (old) 3 car garage with full spectrum tunes quite nicely.

 

[Soupcan]

I got these. http://www.audiobuys.net/Cables%20Unlimited/2620.htm

 

[powerhound]

Like someone else said before. the garage/workshop is for working in. The machine noise drowns out the sound system....I pulled the radio / CD player out of my car before I sold it. Put four speakers around the shed. one in each corner. and that's it. Good enough to hear the news and also play some cd's. I miss most radio stuff because the machine noise is drowning out the radio.

I guess that's why there's different strokes for different folks. My shop is/will be a gathering place for buddies, friends and parties that are too big for the house so quality tunes and video make the space a much more versatile part of my property. Some people are audiophiles and if there's too much machine noise, I'll get a bigger amplifier. I'll get pics of my new setup shortly.

 

[powerhound]

Well, problem solved. CL comes through again and now I've got mega sound without mega bucks. Crank up the jams and drown out the sound of the neighbors dog, planes, trains and tornados

 

[trainman1385]

I am using an old Sony system in my garage and it works great for my needs

 

[Oldbear]

Sony Wega, Sony surround sound system, Sony PS2, computer running iTunes and a satellite receiver - most collected from garage sales and helping friends move...


I understand some people don't like music in the garage - but this is where I hang out with my friends - I'm there almost every night - after we put the kids to bed. If I want to watch my shows, i go to the garage... plus it is the Whiskey Club - so tunes are needed...

 

[nine4gmc]

I put some 6.5" speakers in the headlight openings of an old Chevy grill and hooked them up to an old receiver with sub hidden behind workbench. Jams

 

[awdblazer]

subscribed

 

[Jsf721]

I installed 2 speakers and hooked them to a separate zone on the reciever and I can stream internet radio or my itunes library on any comouter in the house on wi-fi, Air play music from the ipod.

Pretty neat set up and not too much to add if you have an internet reciever with an open zone.

 

[mike_81]

Jesus, some of you guys have spent more money on A/V in your garage than I have on my entire garage!

I use whatever my wife breaks. Currently a Sony bookshelf system with a broken CD changer...it has a remote, I'm happy.

 

[mudhog]

I was into stereo's big time and have alot of stuff left over from the 80's up in the attic. I have some kick *** cerwin vega's studio monitors D9's that were wore out. horn tweeters blown, foam around the 15" subs was torn up. Bought a rebuild kit and rebuilt the speakers and went through the Harman Kardon PM660 amp and a old onkyo reciever. I can turn it down low and have jam while working in the garage or I can open all the doors and crank it up and enjoy music while working in the yard and it will rattle the whole shop if you want. I'm out in the country so don't get any complaints, but I do have one neighbor that said he can hear it when I crank it and he went and purchase a high dollar DJ system for his shop after listening to mine. I throw block parties about 3 a year and everybody loves the jam while in the yard BBQ. Its old stuff but it sounds better then any new stuff. Party on.

 

[Wingnut65]

I've just got a basic Surround Sound System...

It's that old boom box on top of the Bus. It is close to the center of the garage and so the rest of the garage surrounds it!


Although, I will be upgrading soon... I will be getting the old Onkyo stereo receiver and Bose cube speakers to put out in the shop. We are upgrading our entertainment center and need and A/V receiver and better speakers, so, like many others, I get the hand-me-downs!

 

[ARCTIC_RAGTOP]

I put some 6.5" speakers in the headlight openings of an old Chevy grill and hooked them up to an old receiver with sub hidden behind workbench. Jams

This is a great idea! I dig that !

 

[mrodgers]

Jesus, some of you guys have spent more money on A/V in your garage than I have on my entire garage!

Ha ha! I figure that if you spend any time on forums, then you begin to think that the median income of the US is about $150,000/year. There just doesn't seem to be many of us "poor" folks who have more important things to spend money on like our pathetic matchbox size house payment than on fun stuff.

My radio is so old a digital camera can't even take a picture of it. I would have to go out and find a very old film camera to take the picture. Cool thing is though, I pick up CB on it. I'm only a few miles from I-80, so I listen to the truckers a lot. Most of it though is talk to the dive strip bar at the exit there which you couldn't pay me money to go to let alone me pay to get in. I've seen the girls who are at that place hanging out smoking outside and sometimes hearing the truckers talk to them, I just want to

 

[dreesemonkey]

Terrible picture from a while ago, but you get the gist:

1 - Receiver, some older Panasonic sourced from CL of course.
2 - Sony 10" sub from unused surround sound in the house.
3,4 - Old crappy Dell running ubuntu. Monitor mounted on an arm, keyboard and mouse have their own shelf to get off the workbench. Hooked up to the receiver as well.
5 - Bluetooth receiver hooked to the panasonic, good streaming music from my phone.
6,7,8 - Panasonic speakers that came with the receiver.

Sounds plenty good!

 

[OJ Bartley]

Wow, there's a HUGE range of systems here. From nothing to a simple ghetto blaster, to giant subwoofer enclosures.

I always liked the idea of a vintage receiver out in the garage, and I wanted a project to work on over the winter, so I picked up this little Pioneer SX-424 for $15 from Craigslist. Did a little bit of work on it, cleaned it up, put some LEDs in to replace a few old bulbs, and now I'll use it out in the garage with an old pair of bookshelf speakers. It may be older than I am, but it sounds great!

 

[Strouty]

I have yet to set mine up. I thought it was funny that this thread was started before the iPhone was even available.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Wife got me one of these:




I didn't expect much, but was amazed how decent it sounds in a shop.