Logitech Z623 in a bartop - too much?

AndersHP

Hi, just working on a little bartop arcade, my first build ever.

I'm right about to buy a Logitech Z623 audiosystem for the arcade, since this has been recommended a lot of places, and I always wanted to have a bit of extra focus on the sound, BUT I am having second thoughts.

Does anyone know how crammed it will be inside the arcade (looks like the PSU and amp-part is quite big), and what about the heat dissipation? I mean, a normal stereo amp gets hot even when it's idle, and since I'm going for a setup with no fans, do you think the heat from the amp will make the pi suffer too much inside the cabinet?

I know the question is a bit specific, hoping for a quick answer though, since I'm stalling the seller a bit...

obsidianspider

That sub looks pretty big. I guess it depends on how large your cabinet is. If anything you could have vent holes on the back of the cabinet to let it breathe a bit, but I'd be more worried about the sub being an annoying vibration when playing a game than it being a heat problem. Most games I play with my Pi don't have a ton of bass, even when it's through my surround sound, so I'd say you'd probably do just fine with a good set of stereo speakers.

AndersHP

Really? I thought the sub would give an awesome extra umph. I don't like the idea of only having two fulltone speakers above the screen.

But you're right with regards to the size, it's pretty big. Ofcourse I would take the unit out and make a hole for it in the side or bottom of the cabinet, but It will get pretty crammed, and I'm worried about the heat of the amp...

Anyone tested this Z623?

obsidianspider

They likely have the size of that sub box calculated for maximum efficiency, so unless you make another chamber for it with the same volume you'll be sacrificing on sound, but that said, you could absolutely partition off part of the inside of your cabinet and seal it for the sub. Source: I used to install car stereos professionally.

AndersHP

Allright.

Can you recommend a pair of active fulltone speakers I can disassemble and that'd be perfect for a cabinet?

obsidianspider

@AndersHP Nothing specifically, but it really depends on your cabinet size. I think you're on the right track to look into computer speakers as they have the amp built in so you don't have to go fussing around with building or buying another amp for them. That said, car speakers generally sound very good, but would require a decent amplifier to drive them.

If you have an electronics store near you (I'm not sure where you live) go check out their computer speaker display.

Also, I've heard multiple times that the analog sound from a Pi is noisy, so look into a USB sound card.

AndersHP

I'm from Denmark, but am generally scouting for used speakers, as I will be tearing them apart to put them into the cabinet anyways ;-)

It will be a standard bartop arcade, like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/CABINATO-WEECADE-bartop-MACHINE-MEASURE/dp/B01DF27M3W/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1476966922&sr=8-3&keywords=bartop+arcade

I have a HDMI-> VGA and Jack adapter similar to this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-HDMI-to-VGA-3-5mm-Jack-Cable-Adapter-Signal-Converter-Digital-to-Analogue-/231276998813?hash=item35d92ef09d:g:1m0AAOSwirZTumAd

I hope this will be adequate, I've tried listening with earphones inserted and the sound seems to be fine....?

AndersHP

This post is deleted!

obsidianspider

@AndersHP said in Logitech Z623 in a bartop - too much?:

I have a HDMI-> VGA and Jack adapter

That should be good. You're using the adapter to convert from digital to analog instead of the Pi itself. If you're not hearing noise now, then you shouldn't have too much to worry about inside the cabinet.

As far as the speaker size, I see what you mean. I did some looking around online and many bartop arcade cabinets use a 3" speaker, which generally sounds pretty terrible. Going with a 2.1 solution may work well, but that Z623 sub is BIG.

Height: 11.2 in (284 mm)
Width: 12.0 in (305 mm)
Depth: 10.5 in (266 mm)
Weight: 15.4 lbs (7000 g)