Lightweight Technology

[OrionStang]

We all know one of the drawbacks of big audio is the weight of the equipment and materials. Wouldn't it be nice to build a box out a material that weighs half as much as birch but is just as strong or stronger? How about new battery technology that would allow for a powerhouse like the D7500 to weigh only 20-30lbs? Woofers, neo is the lightest option, but prices are retarded, I wonder what the next magnet innovation will be.

Just throwing this out there to discuss. Who knows, maybe the next new thing will be developed from what we talk about.

[SnowDrifter]

I'm using some caps in place of some rear batteries. Not for reserve (since caps hold less power) but because they work for smoothing out my voltage a bit better. And they are lighter too.

I've always thought it would be cool to do away with permenant magnets for subwoofers and replace them with electromagnets. I'm not too familiar with how much power it would need though. But it's an idea I've had.

For batteries you can get li-ion car batteries.

I wonder if the price of carbon nanotubes will ever be cheap enough that we can use them like fiberglass fabric. THAT would be cool.

You could even replace your copper wire with Aluminum wire. Even though I hate the idea, aluminum will still weigh less even after you factor in the fact that you need more to equal the same conductivity as copper.

And for deadener: I've always thought it would be cool to see how effective a non-newtonian solution of water and microscopic glass beads performs. They are already using it for flexible bulletproof vests. But how cool would it be to have something that will go on easy but once the bass hits it turns rock hard and you get no flex?

That's my brain dump for the day lol

[SnowDrifter]

Here's one of the batteries. Expensive, but it still shows the technology is out there.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Lithium-Pros/403/L3400/10002/-1?parentProductId=1770167

Size of a group 34, weighs 15lbs. Not quite the performance of an equivilantly sized AGM battery from say... XS power. But performance/weight ratio? WOW

[OrionStang]

Wonder how those batts would do in an audio setup, with the heavy draw/recharge cycles. AND, aren't lithium batteries potentially dangerous, as in fire and explosion LOL.

[armykyle1]

yea, lithium batteries make a good explosion.

[DubNDodge]

Xs does have lithium batteries. Or at least they made a case for them. I remember seeing a thread about it awhile back. As far as a box goes, someone had a build where they made a box completely out of carbon fiber.

[Herokight]

I never thought the words lightweight and audio would be in the same sentence around here. lol This would be an interesting concept... I saw your post about possibly racing Tuesday, so I'm guessing you would be refering to that. It would be cool, but then again if the technology was created it may be more cost effective to have a seperate car for speed. Car audio is already pretty expensive...

[OrionStang]

I've always thought about the weight, look at how many members here ask about rear springs from month to month LOL.

[HunterJohnson]

I have an Idea for boxes. We'll see if I can put it into the market.

I've been working on some cool shit...stay tuned

[HunterJohnson]

As for batteries, lithium ion is the way to go, I remember reading that they couldn't take a charge like 300 amps from an alt, you'd have to set up a slow charger which then defeats the purpose...something to that effect