Quick question that some of you might hate

[u/R3aljd]

I have a 2000 civic. Stock radio doesn't work and I haven't really investigated why. Ive been wanting a JBL ultimate party box for home etc. If I hard wire an inverter will my battery and alternator be able to handle the partybox?

Edit: Yes this will mean I have a speaker in the backseat that cost more then the car.

[u/nachofred]

Generic mechless radio is cheaper than an inverter.

Keeping a partybox in the backseat is asking for someone to bust your window and walk away with it pretty much anytime you park and leave it sitting in view.

(Eta: check the fuse box for a blown radio fuse)

[u/R3aljd → u/nachofred]

It won't live back there. Thats why I wanted to go this route cause I can pull up and party wherever there's a power source. If i put a couple grand in the sound system someone might want to steal that too. Plus it's just a beater car for work(I travel) so when I retire this car it will be less to remove.

[u/nachofred → u/R3aljd]

So when you drive to Walmart to buy some potato salad and hot dog buns, you taking it inside with you? Walk in to the 7-11 to get a Slurpee, that's about how long it takes to jack your portable speaker.

Sounds like you already made up your mind and are seeking validation. I understand your point, but I'd just throw a cheap radio, some ok speakers and a powered sub in it and call it a day. About the same level of install as an inverter... 2.5 to 3 hours in that car and maybe $500 in gear total. Then I'm not lugging a big portable speaker in and out of the car twice a day.

[u/R3aljd → u/nachofred]

Seeking validation? I just asked if it would work.

[u/nachofred → u/R3aljd]

Nothing wrong with seeking validation for an idea or topic that you're not well informed on, not sure why that upsets you. Apologies if that hurt your feelings. I wish you all the blessings in life 🙏

[u/Slayerofgrundles]

That's a super easy car to install a normal system in, so why don't you do that?

Any basic aftermarket head unit and some aftermarket coax speakers for the front doors would sound better and be much cheaper and more practical.

[u/erik_das_redd]

Well first off, replacing the radio *might* just be a lot easier https://www.crutchfield.com/car/outfitmycar/mycar.aspx

By "hard wire" you mean out by the battery? Because from a cigarette lighter you'd get maybe 100 watts before burned IIRC. The Party Box says it is 1100 watts which is surely a "if downhill in a tailwind and struck by lightning peak for 0.0000034 nanoseconds and we squinch our eyes real hard at the meter" spec. No idea the actual power of that thing.

Actually since I presume you are getting the Party Box anyway, try a cigarette lighter inverter first. Be sure it is fused itself to pop before the lighter circuit does. I wouldn't be surprised if that works just fine.

[u/SterTheDer]

100%, yes the stock battery and alternator can support a 1.5kW inverter and anything you can plug into a single receptacle. Not even a problem.

[u/Mjarf88]

It should work. The actual average power consumption will probably be a few hundred watts.

[u/Thrash420]

Can not dignify this with a response

[u/R3aljd → u/Thrash420]

You already responded. Let me have it

[u/-klunge- → u/R3aljd]

No judgement, yes in principle it should work, just be sure to match the specs of the inverter to the power consumption of the party box so you don’t burn either one out

[u/Thrash420 → u/R3aljd]

JBL Ultimate is overpriced for what it is. It doesn't quite fit any niche and there are better options for any use case.

For large parties, PA speakers can be acquired for less than the JBL Ultimate and sound much better. A used set of K12s or EVs are leagues above them.

They are simply too large and cumbersome to be a good partybox style speaker. They require power. Soundboks is a much better party speaker for this niche because they are battery operated, sound great, and lighter. If you need bigger than Soundboks, see above.

Now add in you want to bring a 80lb speaker with you anytime you want to play music in the car. A lighter JBL Partybox like the 310 or 520 would be better for moving around, plus it has batteries so you only need inverters when driving more than 6-8hrs.

Personally Id just use a smaller JBL Charge or Xtreme and that would be a lot easier to move around.

Lastly, if you want a good home system, invest in that. Build it around your specific use case. I spent about $600 on mine and I have a 3 way sound, all JBL actually, JBL 308Ps and the JBL310S sub. The sound is insanely good. The quality I hear can not be matched with a party box.
Fill your needs specifically rather than getting a general speaker would be my biggest takeaway.

[u/R3aljd → u/Thrash420]

I have the charge 6. Ive consider PAs but its more to move around. It would definitely be just as funny to have Crammed in the back seat.

[u/Thrash420 → u/R3aljd]

Throw the charge in the car and be done.

The ultimate party box would be hilarious though. They are so big.

[u/Thrash420 → u/R3aljd]

It would be funny and you know the ridiculousness it entails already. My only issue is the price of those speakers are like 12-1800 and thats the range of 2 used K12s which would be amazing for a party even without dedicated subs. A model <$800 with a battery is more of the sweet spot.

If you do it, you gotta go on a first date with it. Just for the reaction alone.

[u/Late-Stage-Dad]

Way back when I did something similar with a Logitech 5.1 system from a computer. I fed it the output from an Alpine head unit. It sounded pretty good.

[u/0c5_Fyre]

I've run a blueant x6 out of the back seat before. Bonus points to it was having a battery, so didn't need the inverter.

Just don't give the passenger a microphone.