theWhiteNoise.net - Web Log

A while back my older surround sound subwoofer (which is now part of my bedroom system) started making a crackling noise during hard bass hits.  I finally got around to taking the sub cabinet apart to investigate.

Here’s what I found…..a capacitor that popped its top in the amp circuit:

Actually, 2 capacitors went up.  I think when the larger one (10uF) blew, it totally destroyed the smaller cap!  It was so crispified (yes, that’s a word), that it just disintegrated.  I don’t even know what the original cap value was, so I’m gonna have to make an educated guess.  They both run in parallel to the speaker pos/neg leads, so I’m guessing that they are used as a saftey passive crossover (low pass filter).  From what I can tell from some webpages on the subject, the crossover frequency is probably around 1800 Hz (with just the 10uF cap).  The first cap gets the crossover frequency in the right general range.  It can then be adjusted down using a second cap (something < 3uF is what I think I’ll use).  I guess we’ll see if my assumptions are correct.  I’ll post my results after I take a stab at fixing it.

Here are just a couple pics of my progress on the car computer cabinet.  This is the test fitting of the main computer & DVD Rom drive.  These are the only two items in the cabinet that will need to be accessible once in a while.  The cabinet will butt up against the back seat from the trunk & will provide easy access to the controls by flipping down the back seat.

It still looks a little crooked because its just sitting in place right now & the front panel of the cabinet isn’t attached. 

Next Step:  Adding one more shelf inside the cabinet & carpetting. 

Stay Tuned!

Now playing: Monster Magnet - Negasonic Teenage Warhead

I have this saying that I seem to use very frequently:  “Nothing’s ever easy.”  It seems like no matter how much I plan, things never quite work out the way I want.  I think I’m just cursed with bad luck.  The only good thing about it is I end up learning more than most people about a project because I always run into some problem that I have to research and/or fix.

This time, I admit, the problem was kinda self-inflicted.  I was very careful in measuring exactly where I wanted the TV mounted on the wall viewing wise.  The only problem is, I didn’t take into consideration how tall my new dresser is.  I didn’t think it’d really be an issue.  WRONG!  When I mounted the LCD to the wall where I THOUGHT I wanted it, it just looked too close to the dresser and actually limited the dresser top’s usable space.  

The solution?  Easy – just move it up the wall a foot.  This normally wouldn’t be a big deal, but I had already drilled a 3 inch hole in the wall to feed wires into the make-shift A/V room.  This hole would become completely visible by moving the TV up 12 inches.  I had no choice though, so I moved the TV…Oh wait, did I mention this thing weighs like 115 lbs and is awkward as hell to lift - especially by yourself!  I about died putting it up the second time…

Here’s what it first looked like:

After the move, I had to patch up & repaint all of the holes left by the first mounting attempt and drill another 3” hole in the wall (hidden this time):

Annnnnd finally, the end result after much spackling & painting.  I’m pretty happy with it:

The final position leaves room for the surround sound receiver, center, left, and right channel speakers to sit atop the dresser. 

I just installed a Turtle Beach 5.1 Dolby Digital Live surround sound card with optical out into the HTPC that will hook up to the receiver.  Also recently added: a HDTV Wonder High Def OTA TV tuner card for PVR functionality.  I’m still messing with it – I’ll post progress later. 

My bad ass attic exploration outfit.  I was running cables for the new TV today.  I thought I was going to have major issues getting the cable TV cable from the opposite side of the room when there is essentially a doorway in the way on both sides of the room.  I was able to run it through the attic and between a wall, so the cable can’t even be seen!  SCORE!

Also started painting the TV wall today, with the rest of the bedroom to be painted in the near future.

I’ll post pictures once I finish painting and mount the TV to the wall.

Now playing: Dark New Day - Pieces