Episode 21 - Installing a 2.1
stereo audio system
I wanted a decent sound system for the front of the bus, to
play music when the bus is in motion and stationary, and to
make the GPS turn-by-turn directions coming from my tablet
loud enough to hear over the roar of the engine. It might
seem that the obvious choice was an in-dash car radio with
an auxiliary input like this one.
But these units include a radio tuner, which I wouldn’t use.
And the only opening on dashboard to install it was to the
left of the driver, making it awkward to use when the bus
was stationary. So I decided to buy a stereo amplifier that
would sit to the right of the driver.
Last fall I installed two satellite speakers on the bulkhead
over the windshield. They were driven by an underpowered
amp temporarily duct taped to the dashboard. (Trashy, I
know.) That amp died recently, and I replaced it with this
more powerful one by Aiyima.
There’s a lot to like about this unit, but unlike the old one, it
requires 24-36 volts DC. The bus offers only 12 volts DC. So I
used this voltage converter to convert 12 volts to 30 volts to
power the amp. So far it’s working fine.
The other issue with the new amplifier (that I would have
noticed if I hadn’t shopped for it past my bedtime) is that it
can drive a powered subwoofer, but not a passive one. So
after a dead end trying to find a way to power the passive
subwoofer I already owned, I gave up and bought this
powered subwoofer.
The installation is now complete. Click the image below to
see the project unfold in episode 21 on my YouTube
channel. And while you’re there, click the Subscribe button so
you don’t miss subsequent episodes.
Update: Below is a link to a short video in which I make a
few refinements to the sound system, including adding
soundproofing to the back of the subwoofer to eliminate a
harsh noise:
Copyright 2024 TheSkoolieLife.com