35 replies to this topic

[ubernoob]

I have just bought a tiny USB powered amp off eBay to have a play aroud with- http://www.ebay.com....=item3f0fd936cd

I don't expect it to do much but I want to see what it will do with my 4" kicker splits that I have lying around, 2 or three watts should be enough to make some sound.

Has anyone made their own computer speakers from DIY drivers, if so did you use a 240V powered amp to run them?

I'm not wanting to spend a fortune I just want to see what can be done with minimal power.

Edited by ubernoob, 29 December 2011 - 05:04 PM.

[Pulse-R]

bought some philips 3-way bookshelf speakers and a "Jorgen" integrated amp from a garage sale - $10 total for computer speakers.

[ubernoob]

That is extremely cheap, I have a spare amp and some bookself speakers but I want something slightly more portable.

[D34M0N.inc]

Due to usb not really having that much power all you can do to get the most out of them is use the most efficient drivers possible.

[ubernoob]

I need to do some more hunting but it seems 88db is about the best efficiency for a small driver, thinking something like this may be the go-
http://www.commonsen.../an3cfspecs.jpg

I think I might grab another amp board so I can use two USB ports for power for a massive 3db gain, ha ha.

I already have some of these which are pretty awesome for what they are but they sound best when there are no hard objects behind as they are sort of omni directional, they can be difficult to get sounding nice on a desk. I ended up using a 7.2V RC battery to power them as 4 AAAs didn't last all that long.
http://portables.abo...igen2review.htm

[ubernoob]

Well this turned in to quite the traumatic experience for my computer, clicked a random speaker page in a Yahoo search and bam Windows Security pops up and shuts the page which isn't normal. My computer is saying it can't read avaliable HDD space, the RAM reliability is low and the HDD is damaged, I'm guessing it is all bogus but I now have no desktop which is a pain.
Spybot found some registry changes and Malware but it didn't fix anything so it is getting a full Microsoft Security scan now, I'm still not great with computers so no doubt it will take forever for me to sort.

Anyway I did find some Boston OEM 4.5" drivers that supposedly had an efficiency of 96db for a stupidly cheap price but they were in the US and the freight would be double the value of the speakers.

[D34M0N.inc]

Try do a system restore by pushing the f8 button before windows loads, and select the directory service restore mode option.

Then do a system restore back to before you got the issue see if that quick fix works.

Maybe sus out some tangband drivers?

[ubernoob]

My computer is up and running, I had this- http://www.bleepingc...indows-recovery

I also cam accross perfectkeylogger and some Russian porn sites links were showing up in the Spybot scan, so I have almost got all my folders back to being visible again.

Well by accident I found my Audax 4" speakers today, I was going to use them in the shed but used some bookshelf speakers instead. I made a temporary baffle up and connected an amp that is good for 1~2Watts and to my suprise you could actually see some cone movement and it was louder than expected.

So I'm just going to use tweeters from my old Kenwood Dual Mags and the Audax mids but I don't know what to do in regards to the crossover, I think the mids are 6Ohm, I might be lazy and just run a cap to the tweeter instead of going for a proper passive crossover, that way I can bi amp them and just use the natural roll off of the mid.

[ubernoob]

Okie dokie, going to build(God knows why?) two 2.5L downward ported boxes, I am going to run the mid at the top so I can have the port right in the centre of the box for maximum bass output, ha ha. Hopefully loading it onto a hard surface will help the non existent bottom end a little.



The green line is the box I went for, the boxes will look like a brick as they have to pack in to my laptop bag so size is an issue, these will fit and my port replicator and other goodies will still fit.

[fuddbutter]

http://www.logitechs...k-speakers.html

$25...

[ubernoob]

Geez the Logitechs' were cheap, I slapped a mock box together today to see how it would go off one watt, it seems the tweeter is quite a lot more efficient than the mid and is still a bit bright when set at -4dB on the crossover.

Loading it off the desk seems to work well as there is more midbass than I was expecting, I'm pretty sure it sounded nicer than the front stage in my car which is quite annoying, the midbass is lacking compared to my car but that is to be expected.

I know I can get cheap computer speakers but I have a bunch of random drivers around the place and all of the plasic computer speakers I have heard sound crap unless you spend big dollars.

[D34M0N.inc]

Sounds awesome man

[ubernoob]

My little amp turned up today, had a quick play with it and it seems to do quite well for the amount of current avaliable to it. On more simple songs like Laura Marling it plays quite loud but when something more complex like Marylin Manson it will go from being nice and clear to clipping in no time.

I started work on the boxes, I am dropping them back to around 1.7L ported boxes as I am going to use my two Earthquake SWS 8's in a small desk top isobarik vented box, I am also going to add terminals to the outside of the enclosures and put two bypass switches in to bypass the USB amp.

I also need to make a suitable crossover as the one I am using is too large and is designed for four ohm drivers.

Mock up-






Lots of routing, I stuffed one panel up so still lots of routing to go, also I seem to have misplaced lots of tools, lost a router bit and an arbour(sp?).

Edited by ubernoob, 28 December 2011 - 08:18 PM.

[ubernoob]

This is retarded, why did I start?

Beer and bits, doing small pieces is not fun at all, big boxes are so much easier.


Nice and even on the other sides too



Doof doof.


Damn they look huge, I was going to put a slope on the front panel but they would have to been taller or wider to get the volume.

Edited by ubernoob, 29 December 2011 - 05:00 PM.

[syd-monster]

cool!!