QuestionHi, I have 2 Kenwood 1500w 12" dual 4 ohm subwoofers and a Diesel Audio 1400w 2 channel amp coming in soon. I don't know much about sound systems, but im trying to set them up in my room for now. I wasn't sure what cables and wires i need to set them up and play them on an ipod or laptop. Also what kind of battery i would need and any other things I would need to do to keep them from blowing. Thank you.
AnswerHi Jimmy,
The best way to run a car amplifier in a home environment is to use a 12-volt power supply. This is a device that plugs into your 110-volt wall outlet, and can produce a high-current 12-volt DC output to power the amplifier. Generally, higher power amplifiers require more DC current, and power supplies with higher current capacity cost much more.
I can't get much information about the Diesel Audio amplifier; the manufacturer's web site doesn't offer owner's manual downloads, or even a complete set of specs for the amp. The 1400-watt "max" rating is, unfortunately, completely meaningless; so it's hard to tell how big of a power supply you'd need. One way to estimate the current requirements would be to look at the fuse on the side of the amp; if it has a 20-amp fuse, then you'd want to look for a 20-amp power supply. This would probably cost about $80-$100.
I don't recommend using car batteries in your house. Automotive batteries tend to vent flammable gasses; they're not really safe for indoor use. I definitely wouldn't do the charging indoors. Also, a typical "starter" battery isn't designed to be fully drained and recharged; a few cycles will quickly ruin the battery. If you want to use a battery to power the amp, and charge it up between uses, then you'll need a deep-cycle or "marine" battery.
As far as the cables you'll need: a typical amplifier power wiring kit should have just about everything required. You might need a 3.5mm to stereo RCA adapter, to connect the mini audio output jack on your laptop to the RCA jacks on your amplifier.
Hope this helps!
Brian
