Motorhome HiFi

[mossy]

Right then. I want to set up a decent digital sound system in my motorhome.
Music files will be on a 1TB WDTV player, that works on 12v. (visual display via a TV)

What I need is a 12v amp and maybe a separate DAC?

Is there such a thing? What about a raspberry pi type affair? (I know nothing but do have a highly competent techy son)

Ideas please

Also speaker impedances for a 12v system?

[mossy]

this looks nice enough
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/U-Dimension-U-20VS-amplifier-hi-end-rare-old-school-audiophile-japan-super-/171993722759?hash=item280b9fef87:g:cTwAAOSw7hRWQNI N

[StanleyB]

A couple of people are using one of my DACs in a caravan or boat since they were designed to work of a 12V DC battery. Also look for e thread from WEE TEE CEE in the Artist Pallet where he describes hos battery powered amp setup.

[Ali Tait]

A tripath or chip amp will work from 12v. Loads on ebay, or the Temple Audio amps are good.

[mossy]

So
Would it be best to run an optical wire from my WDTV into a DAC and then thru a T amp?

Also what speaker ohmage would a T amp best feed?

[CageyH]

There are loads of amps that will run at 12V.
There are some decent ones available in car HiFi shops.

[wee tee cee]

A Beresford Caiman 2 or Bushmaster DAC would be perfect. Temple audio bantum amp and depending on space a pair of whaferdale 9s or similar. All run on 12v-the connection is 2.1mm center positive so really easy to get splitter cables.

If you want to go the extra mile sonically add a Capella HPA-It lets you piggy back the DC supply with the DAC. That would give the bantum an extra boost with an active pre in front of it and give you a top notch cans rig.

It will all happily run off a car or bike battery ( a solar panel designed for a camper van will extend the playing time nicely).

The whole shebang can then be carried into the house and used as a main or second hi fi.

The sonic quality of this wee set up is bang for buck outstanding.

[mossy]

Thanks.....sounds the dogs.
I have a huge 8metre van so space not an issue.
Three leisure batteries and a big solar panel.

[StanleyB]

Thanks.....sounds the dogs.
I have a huge 8metre van so space not an issue.
Three leisure batteries and a big solar panel.
That would make for a wicked mancave :eyebrows:.

[mossy]

Not sure any self respecting man would be seen dead in it with the carpet I laid (cost me a tenner mind!)

check out the ultra crappy hifi as well

http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/mossypotty/P1080582_zps11cede70.jpg (http://s1249.photobucket.com/user/mossypotty/media/P1080582_zps11cede70.jpg.html)

[StanleyB]

It has potentials :D.
If you decide to try any of my stuff for the motor home then send me a PM. But you can do quite a lot with careful selection and shopping, and have a listening environment for all occasions. I would be tempted to mount a 32" TV on a bracket that could be pushed out of the way against the roof space, or pulled down for viewing. I can think of many reasons why I would want to do a thing like that.

[mossy]

I have got the TV already, hooked up to the 1tb media player.
Not too big though
http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/mossypotty/2015-07-15%2013.14.13_zpsqcw20oeb.jpg (http://s1249.photobucket.com/user/mossypotty/media/2015-07-15%2013.14.13_zpsqcw20oeb.jpg.html)

[wee tee cee]

Parked up next to a Loch, Sun setting,glass of you favourite tipple in hand and your music playing......I could live with that!!! (any self respecting man doesn't give two hoots about the carpet-perfect for disguising stains).

[Alan D]

I would second a Beresford DAC with a Bantam Gold Amp. (We have this little set up in the bedroom with a squeezebox touch and Rega RS1 speakers).
Regarding speakers, try to choose some with sensitivity above 87dB with this 25W amp, or it may not sound loud enough.

For holidays, we take the Bantam Gold amp, with a pair of "KEF Eggs" (Kef Hts3001) in the hand baggage, with the source being FLAC files on a phone.

[Alan D]

I would second a Beresford DAC with a Bantam Gold Amp. (We have this little set up in the bedroom with a squeezebox touch and Rega RS1 speakers).
Regarding speakers, try to choose some with sensitivity above 87dB with this 25W amp, or it may not sound loud enough.

For holidays, we take the Bantam Gold amp, with a pair of "KEF Eggs" (Kef Hts3001) in the hand baggage, with the source being FLAC files on a phone.

[mossy]

Just bought a Temple Bantam Gold jobbie:lol:

Next on the shopping list is a Bushmaster DAC;)

Already have some spare speakers, 6ohm 88db Lake Audios

For those mountaintop moments
http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/mossypotty/P1080926_zpsbinsm63i.jpg (http://s1249.photobucket.com/user/mossypotty/media/P1080926_zpsbinsm63i.jpg.html)

[mossy]

also bought a Bushmaster II

How easily led I am:lol:

[struth]

Used to have a motor home..... well I say motorhome, it was more of a shack really ;) an old Bedford cf... good van though

thats a cracker...love it

[Ali Tait]

Aye, nice van.

[mossy]

Will be even better when it has an engine....last one died.

[Firebottle]

Concentrating on the important things first then Steve :thumbsup:

[StanleyB]

also bought a Bushmaster II
I hope you got a good deal, whoever you bought it from. But I did ask you to PM me before you bought one. I got a couple of silver ones without power supply and mainslead. You wouldn't need those if you are going to run it on 12V. I'll probably bang them on my list of things to offer forum members on Black Friday :eyebrows:.

[Andrei]

used to have a motor home..... Well i say motorhome, it was more of a shack really ;) an old bedford cf... Good van though

thats a cracker...love it

luk shurry!!

[mossy]

I hope you got a good deal, whoever you bought it from. But I did ask you to PM me before you bought one. I got a couple of silver ones without power supply and mainslead. You wouldn't need those if you are going to run it on 12V. I'll probably bang them on my list of things to offer forum members on Black Friday :eyebrows:.

Doh.
Don't think you were explicit enough with your sales pitch.
I do believe I got a good deal, and I may use the thing indoors if I slim down my system so the mains lead will be useful.

[mossy]

Bushmaster arrived today.

Will have to sneak it into the mass of devices when the wife pops out:lol: Amazing what we can get away with. Once in there she would never notice.

Looking forward to seeing how it performs in the lounge through my Audiolab and Rogers

[mossy]

Clean, crisp and bright after a very short music run....Anais Mitchell.

Hooked free view box direct to Bushmaster via optical.

Question. Should free view box output PCM or bitstream signal?

[Jac Hawk]

FFS, IT'S A MOTORHOME, so has limited space, limited power and i would guess the walls wouldn't take kindly to having holes drilled in them so that you can hide cable, mount speakers etc. i'm not saying it's possible but something like the Sonos speakers would be perfect, they are compact, built in amps and stream the music from your laptop of phone the only thing is that they need to sit on a network and you would have to stick an inverter in your motorhome to swap the DC to AC to power them, apart from those issues which must be able to be overcome looks quite easy.

[mossy]

It is a big motorhome and all the stuff I have got runs on 12v.....tv, DAC, amp.
Plenty juice from 3 batteries and solar.
The Bushmaster DAC and especially the Bantam amp are tiny and will be easily hidden away.

Plan to take it round Scandinavia for two months next summer so need some luxury

[Jac Hawk]

It is a big motorhome and all the stuff I have got runs on 12v.....tv, DAC, amp.
Plenty juice from 3 batteries and solar.
The Bushmaster DAC and especially the Bantam amp are tiny and will be easily hidden away.

I'd still invest in an an inverter, it'll make your life so much easier when it comes to buying anything electrical, you won't be forced to choose the 12v option

[StanleyB]

Running 12V DC equipment on batteries will give you a far superior and cleaner sound than running it on mains, let alone an inverter. Those things produce some nasty noise spikes, which will affect the sound quality.

[Ali Tait]

+1, better off sticking to DC.

[mossy]

Motorhome has an inverter already.
I can run a domestic hoover off it.
Conversion to AC is very power inefficient though.

[Jac Hawk]

cool, i wasn't suggesting running any hifi off of it, more for domestic appliances which either aren't available in DC or cost a fortune and aren't as good as their AC equivalent

[mossy]

Here we go

Installed and sounding as good as can be expected

http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/mossypotty/DSC_0828_zpspzdql0ds.jpg (http://s1249.photobucket.com/user/mossypotty/media/DSC_0828_zpspzdql0ds.jpg.html)

http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh501/mossypotty/DSC_0822_zpsgp33zdyt.jpg (http://s1249.photobucket.com/user/mossypotty/media/DSC_0822_zpsgp33zdyt.jpg.html)

Off to the far north for a couple of weeks. Will now be sorted when it rains.

Room for bigger speakers as well

[wee tee cee]

Looking good....dare say it sounds more than respectable-enjoy!

[StanleyB]

I would look for a small subwoofer instead of bigger speakers. The subwoofer could fit inside a cabinet and still give loads of bass experience.