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Controlling Volume Remotely/Increasing Volume

140.186.17.10

Posted on March 15, 2017 at 11:34:39
Juvie Juke Box
Manufacturer

Posts: 2
Location: South Dakota
Joined: March 15, 2017
Just registered on this forum a bit ago and can't wait to read all the information on here. My name is Josh, I recently started up a company called Juvie Juke Box with a good friend of mine. We produce electronic calling systems that our customers can use during the Conversation Order Season for Snow goose hunting in the Spring as well as in Canada in the fall. We have been absolutely swamped with orders the past month and a half but are coming to a slow down here. We are looking to add a few features to our units and I have not the slightest clue where to begin.

Currently we are using a 400W 2 Channel Amp to power either 2 or 4 100W outdoor speakers. We provide the amp with sound via AUX cord to an MP3 player.

My main questions are, how can we increase the volume of this? There is the option to use the RCA hookups on the amp then manually increase the gain on the amp but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference volume wise. I've tried using something called a Boostaroo and although the volume increased the quality drastically decreased.

Second question is. We are on the hunt for a way to remotely adjust the volume up or down from a decent distance away. Ideally long range but 50-100 feet would be a good start. I've tested amps that come with a remote but they only work to about 5-8 feet tops which is pointless for our use.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

 

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RE: Controlling Volume Remotely/Increasing Volume, posted on March 15, 2017 at 12:36:09
6bq5
Audiophile

Posts: 4366
Location: SF Bay
Joined: August 16, 2001
Welcome to the asylum-

Firstly- "how can we increase the volume of this?"
increasing the volume will require either a larger amp - and it will need to be significantly larger as the dB output - at the speaker - is a logarithmic scale...
-or you can use more efficient speakers- this will convert more of the amplifier's output into sound - if you are reproducing a narrow frequency sound - you can get a speaker and enclosure that is 'tuned' to the sound you are generating
-"There is the option to use the RCA hookups on the amp then manually increase the gain on the amp but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference volume wise. - the output of the MP3 player may well be limited- and may require additional gain to get full power from the amp- this means a step-up device such as a pre-amp - or an amp with lower input sensitivity [ where the voltage required for full output is reduced from the more normal 'line-level' signal ~ 1.5 volts]


second - as to the remote operation- you might try bluetooth - and control the MP3 player ...
Good luck
Happy Listening

 

Find more efficient speakers.. The 'other end' of the way to increase volume., posted on March 15, 2017 at 14:16:16
Finding far more efficient speakers may be a far easier and cheaper way to boost output.

I would start looking at other speaker units which are more efficient. Particularly HORN TYPE.
With a moderate horn type you could easily double the SPL with the current amp you use now.

 

RE: Find more efficient speakers.. The 'other end' of the way to increase volume., posted on March 15, 2017 at 14:23:52
Juvie Juke Box
Manufacturer

Posts: 2
Location: South Dakota
Joined: March 15, 2017
Thanks for all the replys so far.

In regards to the horns we are now offering horns as an option to our customers which increases the volume ten fold. We are the only company on the market that offers units with outdoor speakers which has been a huge selling point. Sound quality is our biggest concern. Our outdoor speakers aren't by any means the most top end so we will try ordering the next step up and see how that sounds.

When you refer to a preamp what kind would you recommend I am not familiar with those. Bluetooth control unfortunately doesn't offer the range we are looking for that I have found.

 

RE: Controlling Volume Remotely/Increasing Volume, posted on March 16, 2017 at 14:50:52
Mr Peabody
Audiophile

Posts: 1109
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
Joined: August 14, 2010
To extend your remotes range, there are IR repeaters but I'm not sure how far the range is or if they can be daisy chained.

The best way would be to get a preamp that has Wyfi or an ap to control the preamp via Wyfi, then use a smart phone or tablet for remote.

400 watts is a powerful amp, but not all watts are created equally. 400 watts typically can drive some very inefficient speakers. I suspect the amp is either lower quality and not really putting out that much power, or, perhaps your wiring is not heavy enough for a long run. More efficient speakers would help. In addition, to looking at horns, the rules of physics apply when trying to cover a large area you will need some large drivers. That's why at concerts you see mostly 15" drivers in cabinets along with horns.

You may need to add a bass cabinet to help with the other speakers. you may need an additional power amp for that.

 

Also, perhaps a high pass filter may help, posted on March 18, 2017 at 13:06:11
The frequencies you want to use may not include very low frequencies.
Low frequencies use the most power from an amplifier.

If you found the 'bottom' frequency your sounds need to be good sounding.. and filter out all the sound below the select frequencies. High pass filters are easy to implement, and not very expensive. It would be before the amplifier.
So the amp would no longer be amplifying low frequency crap (which you do not want, and which muddy up the sound anyway)
This alone would also give you more apparent power, as the amp is no longer amplifying worthless low frequency noise.

 

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