Bluetooth Speaker Question

[FocusST]

Hey everyone, I've got an interesting issue I've run into and hopefully someone here has some experience in this area, as it's kind of an odd setup that I've got. So I recently installed a 1000w Pure Sine Wave Power Inverter in my 2016 Ford Focus ST and it's powering my Sony GTK-XP7 Bluetooth Speaker to give my car audio some extra mid range and bass, as well as providing lighting effects. It's kind of silly but I thought it would be an interesting project. Anyways, I've ran into the same problem that I had with the last car I installed it in: it lacks bass/power. When I use it indoors off a standard 120v outlet it plays just fine, with lots of bass and full sound. But in my car it just sounds weak. I don't think it's the car battery because I replaced it in my last car and it didn't fix the issue. I wasn't sure where to ask this question as it's car and electrical related so I thought I'd start here. Here are some stats on the bluetooth speaker:

Power Output = 260 w

RMS Output power

Left/Right Channel = 470 w

Power Consumption = 60 w

So looking at the numbers the power inverter should have no problem powering the speaker. I'm thinking either I need a better car alternator possibly or there's something else I missed. Total wire length is about 10' (trunk to engine bay). I used 2 gauge wire from the power inverter to the fuse and then 4 gauge from the fuse to the battery (a little over a foot in length). I realize I could of used a thinner gauge wire and been fine. I also realize I probably should of stuck with the same gauge wire from start to finish. I will probably fix both of these issues once I figure the lack of power dilemma.

Side note: I used a modified sine wave inverter before my current one and it had the same issue. Not sure if that helps at all but thought I'd mention it.

Click to read more...

 

[Jimi77 5,000+ posts]

I think the inverter could be filtering out low-end. You could eliminate the inverter by running an extension cord into the car.

Another possibility is that cars produce alot of low-end noise, which can "cover up" the lowend from the speaker so it sounds like it lost its low-end when in the car.

 

[FocusST]

It's not just lacking bass, it's as if the volume it's producing has been cut in half. If I turn the volume up to about 75% on my phone for the bluetooth speaker it sounds similar to about 30% volume if it was plugged into a standard outlet. It's VERY noticeable.

 

[SlugButter]

The bluetooth speaker probably actually runs on DC power with a power inverter. Youre taking 12 volt DC power, turning it into 120 volt AC power, then the Bluetooth speaker is turning it back into DC power again. You’re losing a ton of amps in this process. You’re probably running at half power. I made a stereo for my daughter EV BMW using 5 18650 lithium ion batteries and a bare amplifier board. In the house it runs on the 24 volt DC inverter. The 150 watt RMS amp I used requires a 24 volt inverter at 3.2 amps to run at the full 150 watts RMS.

 

[Jimi77 5,000+ posts]

It's not just lacking bass, it's as if the volume it's producing has been cut in half. If I turn the volume up to about 75% on my phone for the bluetooth speaker it sounds similar to about 30% volume if it was plugged into a standard outlet. It's VERY noticeable.

Cars are loud environments. Have you tried the speaker in the car in a garage plugged into an outlet? Start isolating variables.