speakers/audio on your toolbox

[drewvdw]

I'm considering adding a small audio setup to my toolbox, just wondering what everyone else has done and whether or not you like it.

My thought has been to steal a pair of 6x9's out of my car and mount them to the top or bottom of my riser and using a marine radio to power them, maybe add an amp of it doesn't perform well enough.

Anyone else have any ideas?

 

[mjoekingz28]

12v?

 

[Mastermind]

I had played around with different car audio setups for years, and wanted to build something professional looking, most of the time I had just thrown something together to test pieces, and a buddy gave me some decent computer speakers. They were simple and clean and free. Worked good. Then I got an itch. And some best buy gift cards. I ended up with klipch thx certified computer speakers with a subwoofer and warranty. They are awesome. Just plug in my laptop, tablet or phone. t least one is on my box at all times anyway. Also picked up a Google chromcast audio, hasn't made to the box yet. But is awesome in the man cave. Whenever I build a hutch I will have a tv with chromcast on it as well.

 

[Mastermind]

If you are stuck in the 12v stuff I used a laptop power supply for mine.

 

[drewvdw]

Yes, 12v, figured I could find a converter.

I hadn't thought about computer speakers. I have an older set of them too. The problem would be the sub, I don't want/have room for it, that's why I was thinking 6x9's. A bit more bass without a dedicated subwoofer.

 

[PoorOwner]

If you use in wall or ceiling speakers it will work better
And 12v can get costly once you get over a few hundred watts

 

[Mastermind]

Yeah, it's a 6.5 sub, but the box is about 12 inches square. The 6×9 boxes are big too. And without a box they sound like ****.

 

[Sine Swept]

I've used computer power supplies at 15- 20 amps, cheap to come by as well.

 

[drewvdw]

Gotta be mobile and at work, otherwise I would do in ceiling.

 

[lugnut71]

I got a radio shack 12v power supply if your interested send me a pm

 

[drewvdw]

Here's the head unit I'm thinking about. Biggest thing is the size, I want to mount it within the upright for my riser. I have no idea on how much power it will draw though.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_822PRV175/JBL-PRV-175.html

 

[Al Borland]

BestBuy Insignia powered laptop speakers and Sony Walkman MP3 player.

 

[Gotmayhem]

Here's the head unit I'm thinking about. Biggest thing is the size, I want to mount it within the upright for my riser. I have no idea on how much power it will draw though.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_822PRV175/JBL-PRV-175.html

This is starting to look way too expensive. Unless I'm misunderstanding something here, what is wrong with a set of bookshelf speakers?

Grab a pair of Micca's off of amazon, wire them to any old receiver, and run an aux cable to a laptop or phone.

 

[drewvdw]

The reason is Bluetooth. The price doesn't bother me. Any old receiver would take up valuable space, that head unit would mount within my box riser and take up no space at all. I've already got speakers, no need to get more.

 

[PoorOwner]

Just so you know you can buy a Bluetooth audio receiver for under $30

 

[Mastermind]

Chrome cast audio. No need for bluetooth, uses wireless. Pandora, YouTube etc. Direct cast. Or cast anything from phone via chromecast app. As long as you have access to Wi-Fi they are great. I have the regular on all the tv's at home and the audio for speakers in the man cave. Soon going to toolbox speakers.

 

[drewvdw]

No Wi-Fi at the shop.

And sure, I can buy a Bluetooth receiver, but if I have to buy something to run the speakers anyways, why not get it with Bluetooth built in so I can have a clean install? I don't think you guys are getting that I want nothing exposed but the speakers and faceplate of the head unit.

 

[DUSTIN@STI]

With the wireless Bluetooth speakers out now days there is no need to sink the money into a 12v car audio system. These speakers are small and most are 100% portable. JMO.

 

[bart1]

I would not use car audio equipment in this application.

 

[panknuckshovel]

Currently setting up 2 JBL Clips in mine. Bluetooth or 2.3mm hookup for streaming or MP3 player, incredibly loud and good bass, 6 hour playtime on charge and can be daisy chained. Just a bit bigger in size than a hockey puck and if you dont mind a color like red or blue you can find them for $24 apiece.

 

[drewvdw]

I would not use car audio equipment in this application.

Why not?

 

[mjoekingz28]

Yeah. It is cool! A car audio system for his toolbox that he uses to work on cars!


Back in the day, I knew a guy who had a nice system in his ride and he used it to play radio while he worked, thing was, is it was his car stereo so he found a way to plug an extension cord into the wall so it wouldnt kill his battery.

This ingenuity and fabrication is, IMO, what built this country back in the industrial revolution/age in the mid 1800s.

 

[Gotcha640]

Why not a cell phone/tablet and a/some bluetooth speakers? A jambox, bose soundlink, ue boom, any of these will be loud enough for a small shop.

I've done a car stereo in a cooler for beach and river, you need to put the battery somewhere, and even a small amp will make a big difference. You'll want to make a mast for the antenna if you intend to use the radio. If no radio, again, see bluetooth speakers and cell phone.

You'll also either be plugging in to the wall to charge a battery, or to power a converter, either of which take up space. Bluetooth speakers go home at night for a recharge, or plug in when available.

 

[drewvdw]

Well, I decided to try a different route first, I bought a set of plugfones, basically ear buds with earplug ends and a Bluetooth receiver. I'll update tomorrow on how I like them, but I'm still going to do something with my box.

 

[popparoach]

this is what i settled on.am/fm ,aux,bluetooth,portable and loud.

 

[azhatchback]

This thing is small and amazing if your into putting music on your phone. I bought a extra memory card for my phone and have my entire music collection on it and just bluetooth it to everything, car, home set up, portable speaker, etc...

http://www.amazon.com/Bose-SoundLink-Bluetooth-Speaker-Carbon/dp/B00WK47VEW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1453879716&sr=8-5&keywords=bose+soundlink+bluetooth

 

[bart1]

Why not?

It's not a car . Audio is a big hobby of mine and i have pretty particular thoughts on it. I dont even get car audio for my cars anymore. My garage system is an old tube integrated amp and some nice bookshelf speakers - it's not rolling around on a toolbox though. One of the portable Bluetooth rechargeable units sounds like the right thing for you. Do you have any cordless tools? Maybe the manufacturer of them has a good option. e.g.:

(It's not showing for some reason but pretend there is a pic I a Milwaukee M12 radio right there)

 

[ScottsGT]

I've been real happy with my Milwaukee M12 blue tooth speaker. If there is no wifi, download music to your phone.
I remember seeing Snap On boxes with built in car stereos years back. Not sure if the are still offering it though. Also saw a Kobalt box at Lowes a few years back.