Ok, this is getting absurd, 60KW of subwoofers in a truck.

[NiHaoMike]

The Mythbusters built a mechanically driven subwoofer and managed to set a world record with it. I wonder if it might be possible to do even better with a pulsejet or a bunch of firecrackers going off in sequence.

I wonder why voltages around 12V is still the norm for extreme car audio. Do they not realize they can go 48V and still be within the low voltage safety limit? Or just accept the fact that working with high power requires safety precautions and go straight for 400V or so.

[rx8pilot]

This is not really the sport for critical thinkers.

If I was trying to set a record - I would at least go with 240VAC and use pro audio amps. It would be easier to wire up for sure.

With that said, I used to own a generator rental business with 60Kw and 120kW mobile plants. The 60Kw weighed about 3500lbs on a trailer so maybe about 2000lbs for the plant itself. Cummins 4BT at a little over 100hp and a Marathon alternator.

So pulling the 60Kw genny on a trailer connected to the truck with 4x Cam Lok connectors on #2 type W cable. No problem - anyone can go deaf if you put your mind to it. 

[basinstreetdesign]

Did anyone notice that in the video they never actually played any music? 
I just hope that sort of contraption never comes around my neighbourhood.  I might just have to do something about it.

[langwadt]

I'm not doubting it's a lot, but still I remain cautiously sceptical. For starters I'd like to see all the wiring and connectors. My experiments trying to run a couple of kW off 12V have shown me how hard it is pushing around hundreds of amps.

once you start adding piles of alternators and batteries you might as well go for a high voltage DC system

[Alex Eisenhut]

I think this guy parked his van under my window last night...

[Scratch.HTF]

In the movie "Mad Max: Fury Road", does anyone have an estimate on audio output power on a vehicle fitted with a large array of speakers which was depicted in the movie?

[mikeselectricstuff]

I thought all the higher powered car amps used boost converters, though running direct from 48v or more would be more efficient

[BrianHG]

I thought all the higher powered car amps used boost converters, though running direct from 48v or more would be more efficient

They do.  As for 48v, remember they want to mass produce these amps and the majority of users will only have one of them, if not, even smaller ones.  All auto outlet centers are geared and knowledgeable with the 12v system and alternators and 12v batteries in cars.  You don't want to make something fancy and efficient and cool if you can only sell to a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of users who would setup a 48v alternator in their car with 48v batteries.

Me personally, put me in the fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of 1 percent as back in the late 80s & early 90s, I has a 120v inverter in my car and even a HiFi VHS with 8 hours of uninterrupted music on 1 cassette at basically full CD quality transferred from my home CD player, and it could never skip when playing back like car CD players of the time as well as me having to buy 2 copies of each CD I liked.  It was kind of funny that I had a 'Sony' VCR remote in the frot of my car to select and play music.  I used the VHS tape index functions to allow me to skip to any key album or son on the 8 hour tape.

Tell me, who here has seen or even used a Sony SLV757 VHS HiFi VCR in the rear of the trunk of their car for hiss free perfect sound 8 hour tape playback with seekable indexing?

And yes, when I crossed the border to the US as I used to on many road trips, you bet the odd time they looked in the trunk, I was questioned and had to demonstrate it was my audio playback system.

[oPossum]

There are car audio amps that run directly from a high voltage DC supply. Typically an EV battery pack or equivalent.

http://www.stetsom.com.br/en/produtos/high-voltage/

Taramps also makes them, but their website is currently dysfunctional, so I can't provide a link.

[BrianHG]

There are car audio amps that run directly from a high voltage DC supply. Typically an EV battery pack or equivalent.

http://www.stetsom.com.br/en/produtos/high-voltage/

Taramps also makes them, but their website is currently dysfunctional, so I can't provide a link.

With a few one those 'Force Ones' and 16 to 32 huge woofers, you can decelerate a Tesla with every bass boom, both electrically and with the breeze... 

[drussell]

I thought all the higher powered car amps used boost converters, though running direct from 48v or more would be more efficient

Anything except the smallest automobile amplifiers most certainly do have switching power supplies in them.  That's where I learned about TL494 and SG3524s and stuff...    I built my own 1000 watt car amplifier decades ago once I realized what a TL494 was... 

It is just far more efficient when drawing insane power to use something higher than 12 volts.  The input currents required at such low voltage are a hindrance at such high power levels.

[drussell]

Tell me, who here has seen or even used a Sony 57SLV7 VHS HiFi VCR in the rear of the trunk of their car for hiss free perfect sound 8 hour tape playback with seekable indexing?

Not a 57SLV7, but I used my Mitsubishi HS-U55.   

I thought I was the only one to do "crazy" things like that.

For long road trips, I used an inverter made from a really crappy, early Pyramid amplifier that used a 12 volt transistor circuit with step-up transformers (egads!) that was unfit for audio, so I added another step-up transformer, added a sine wave generator and ran my little DJ source PA rack that had the 2 CD players, my Sony TC-WR820 tape deck (very nice deck) and the Mitsubishi HS-U55 HiFi VCR (which also has index search, very handy)... 

Ahhhh...  Good times... 

[BrianHG]

Tell me, who here has seen or even used a Sony 57SLV7 VHS HiFi VCR in the rear of the trunk of their car for hiss free perfect sound 8 hour tape playback with seekable indexing?

Not a 57SLV7, but I used my Mitsubishi HS-U55.   

I thought I was the only one to do "crazy" things like that.

For long road trips, I used an inverter made from a really crappy, early Pyramid amplifier that used a 12 volt transistor circuit with step-up transformers (egads!) that was unfit for audio, so I added another step-up transformer, added a sine wave generator and ran my little DJ source PA rack that had the 2 CD players, my Sony TC-WR820 tape deck (very nice deck) and the Mitsubishi HS-U55 HiFi VCR (which also has index search, very handy)... 

Ahhhh...  Good times... 

OMG.  The fact that it's around 25 years later and I find another wacko like me! 
However, it's been clearly established at the time, though not the loudest sound system in my Acura Integra, it was noted that I did have the best refined sound in town... (I like and select quality over quantity)  I guess a 1k$ VCR blows away any car audio junk at the time.  Home made inverter too for the VCR.  My first full wave mosfet bridge rectifier design with a transformer.

Ooops, typo, the VCR was a Sony SLV-757.