fractionMan
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Which amp have you got crispy? Does it have the tone/direct button?
(I'm taking mine to nozstock btw!)
(I'm taking mine to nozstock btw!)
The building your own portable soundsystem thread
- Thread starter fractionMan
- Start date
fractionMan
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Ah. OK. I imagine you can turn it up full without much distortion, right? I think it's a 2020.
My new lepai ends up sounding like that black block sound system on full
My new lepai ends up sounding like that black block sound system on full
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
Ah. OK. I imagine you can turn it up full without much distortion, right? I think it's a 2020.
My new lepai ends up sounding like that black block sound system on full
Yep, I have the knob at max all the time and adjust volume at the source end. No distortion at all (that's with iphones/ipods at max. Haven't fed it anything louder). The case itself has a couple of resonant frequencies, but they're not too bad. The worst thing is the zips rattling around
Inspiring thread this. Been thinking about making a sub out of an old 14" driver I've been hanging onto for a while and this has made me realise I may as well get on with it. Design above is great.
T class amps are easily the best option. Something like this made me think you could use a stackable battery power supply. Either using one 12V or two in series for more volume if you needed it.
Nice choice of speakers too, though I'd go for a stereo crossover design, with two bass drivers mounted in a push pull config (back to back) and sealed back tweeters for HF to take the cabinet resonance out of the equation. Could probably get the whole cabinet down to a pretty tight size.
Those car stereo speakers with the tweeters built in the middle have always appealed to me too.
Any ideas may have to wait till I've got some spare time for carpentry though.
T class amps are easily the best option. Something like this made me think you could use a stackable battery power supply. Either using one 12V or two in series for more volume if you needed it.
Nice choice of speakers too, though I'd go for a stereo crossover design, with two bass drivers mounted in a push pull config (back to back) and sealed back tweeters for HF to take the cabinet resonance out of the equation. Could probably get the whole cabinet down to a pretty tight size.
Those car stereo speakers with the tweeters built in the middle have always appealed to me too.
Any ideas may have to wait till I've got some spare time for carpentry though.
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
Inspired by this thread I'm gonna turn my old Marshall practice amp into a sound system. The plan is to take an amplifier to bits and somehow hook up the volume, tone and power controls to the existing ones on the guitar amp. I'll keep the existing speaker for now I think but I might have to put a new one in. I'm gonna build a guitar preamp into it as well so I can use it as a portable guitar amp for busking 
junglevip
Marijuana leads to heron
Inspired by this thread I'm gonna turn my old Marshall practice amp into a sound system. The plan is to take an amplifier to bits and somehow hook up the volume, tone and power controls to the existing ones on the guitar amp. I'll keep the existing speaker for now I think but I might have to put a new one in. I'm gonna build a guitar preamp into it as well so I can use it as a portable guitar amp for busking
I would buy a constructed preamp from ebay. I bought one for about £6 delivered and I could not pay myself minimum wage and construct it more cheaply, it would cost you more than that in parts.
A home brew soloution would be to pull the amp out of an old pair of computer speakers and use that. A cheap multi effects pedal would do and you could colour the sound that way
junglevip
Marijuana leads to heron
Agreed
sim667
All aboard the 303 bus.
Right I've been looking into doing it in a record flight case but think it would be really cool to build in some kind of bass canon into it to do something a bit different.
I want to make a recipe like fM suggested to me at nozstock. Anyone got suggestions for components I should buy??
I want to make a recipe like fM suggested to me at nozstock. Anyone got suggestions for components I should buy??
fractionMan
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fractionMan
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This is the cheapest and easiest build imo
2x 6.5” full range speakers (£20 inc delivery)
http://www.bluearan.co.uk/index.php?id=EVNL026B&browsemode=category
1x amplifier Lepai TA2020+ (12 quid)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-TA2020-020-Hi-Fi-Stereo-Amplifier-DC-RCA-Cable-/260802541105?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers&hash=item3cb90af631#ht_4015wt_907
It's the older version but I've found these to have more bottom end. Less gain though. It comes with power lead and phono cable!
Wires with croc clips (£2)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-Double-ended-Crocodile-Alligator-Clips-Wire-Test-Lead-/320570639716?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item4aa37fc564
(you can find better deals than this - I got 10 for the same price on ebay somewhere)
8 nuts and bolts
========== battery
1x 12v 7ah lead acid battery (£14 inc delivery) - you'll need a charger.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YUASA-LEA...atteries_SM&hash=item1e65f698f5#ht_500wt_1156
or
6.8ah li-ion with charger (14 quid)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-12V-6...atteries_SM&hash=item2eb6cf7f48#ht_7411wt_907
==========optional
1x battery charger (£18)
http://www.batterymasters.co.uk/Product-Ansmann-SLA-Charger-2-24V,-Battery-capacity-2.4-24Ah_485.aspx
female connector spades for hooking up battery (100 for 5 quid or something - you'll never run out!)
These can also be used with wire to hook up speakers instead of the croc clips above. In absence of these you can simply use electrical tape to connect up battery.
fractionMan
Custom Title
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Excellent components. I've been looking myself for drivers that'd let you get really low bass but it's a trade off against portability and cost. I can't find any specs for those drivers otherwise I'd suggest a cabinet size, or just work with what you've got.
Personally, if I had the spare cash and time, I'd get two of the amps and drive 2 large bass drivers and two horns, using the tone controls on the amps as a crossover. The bass drivers mounted on the front and back of the unit (reversed in phase, cancellation wouldn't matter if you sat it near a wall or something, and you could always swap it back if it was a problem) and both horns on the front or sides.
I'd also love to stick them in something musical like an old tom or guitar, for aesthetics, though probably not that practical for getting the battery in and out.
Something old and beautiful like this.. old broken conga
sim667
All aboard the 303 bus.
Right so the speakers, amp and battery are all bought....
I went with the second battery as it came with a charger, is it best to fix the battery in permanently to the box, or fashion some kind of sleeve inside I can put it in, so i can remove it for easy charging?
Obviously the amp will need to be screwed down inside, and then I was planning on soldering the speaker wire to the speakers so it cant all come off as im wandering around with it.....
Im not sure what i need the connector spades and crocodile clips for, the connection on the back of the amp are normal amp connectors and dont need any fitting to clip in, and the battery to amp wire just looks like a double ended ac adapter plug, which i think comes with the battery itself.
I've also got a bluetooth headset adapter to use inside instead of leaving my phone in there, so i can control the music from outside.
If this works out, im gonna be asking for some advice on building a big one in a wheelie bin or something
I went with the second battery as it came with a charger, is it best to fix the battery in permanently to the box, or fashion some kind of sleeve inside I can put it in, so i can remove it for easy charging?
Obviously the amp will need to be screwed down inside, and then I was planning on soldering the speaker wire to the speakers so it cant all come off as im wandering around with it.....
Im not sure what i need the connector spades and crocodile clips for, the connection on the back of the amp are normal amp connectors and dont need any fitting to clip in, and the battery to amp wire just looks like a double ended ac adapter plug, which i think comes with the battery itself.
I've also got a bluetooth headset adapter to use inside instead of leaving my phone in there, so i can control the music from outside.
If this works out, im gonna be asking for some advice on building a big one in a wheelie bin or something
fractionMan
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The croc clips/spade terminals were used to avoid soldering (it's the easy build!)
Personally I take the battery out to charge. Note you can't charge and discharge the li-ion battery at the same time.
Tell me more about the bluetooth though. Sounds interesting.
gl!
Personally I take the battery out to charge. Note you can't charge and discharge the li-ion battery at the same time.
Tell me more about the bluetooth though. Sounds interesting.
gl!
fractionMan
Custom Title
I used sticky back velcro to secure the battery btw
sim667
All aboard the 303 bus.
Ah i see....... Im sure i can just pop to a car hifi shop and pick up the clips if i need them.....
I didnt think I'd be able to use it plugged in...... bit of a bugger, but ill cope, how long do you think that battery will run the set up from a full charge for?
I've got one of these I never use, so was gonna use it inside the soundsytem, can control the music from my pocket
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jabra-BT3030-Bluetooth-Stereo-Headset/dp/B000XSXZVU
fractionMan
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The battery should last days even if played continuously.
I play mine on and off for a few hours a day and it lasts two or three weeks easily.
With lead acids you can play and charge at the same time, but unless you have a posh charger you get a god almighty huuuum out of it.
Liking the bluetooth thing! Bit pricey for me right now. I've got the mp3 player external to the box and the amp controls mounted so you can turn it on/off and adjust the volume without opening the case. The only reason to open it now is to change the battery. Luckily I have two!
I play mine on and off for a few hours a day and it lasts two or three weeks easily.
With lead acids you can play and charge at the same time, but unless you have a posh charger you get a god almighty huuuum out of it.
Liking the bluetooth thing! Bit pricey for me right now. I've got the mp3 player external to the box and the amp controls mounted so you can turn it on/off and adjust the volume without opening the case. The only reason to open it now is to change the battery. Luckily I have two!
sim667
All aboard the 303 bus.
Awesome..... Will 50 watt speakers be loud enough for a park etc? Or festivals? Ive no idea how watts translates to volume.
Ive been donated a case to put it all in a bit like this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silver-Squa...22/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1314716035&sr=8-13
the donator wants me to give it a bash, then look at helping him do one
Im all excited bout getting it done now
Ive been donated a case to put it all in a bit like this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silver-Squa...22/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1314716035&sr=8-13
the donator wants me to give it a bash, then look at helping him do one
Im all excited bout getting it done now
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
The telescopic handle broke on mine 
The lead acid I got from that UPS lasted from Thursday evening till Sunday morning being used at full volume at a festival campsite (so not all hours of the day), which was damn good going IMO. Just that little bit extra volume visibly make the drivers work a lot harder, which can't be kind on the battery.
The lead acid I got from that UPS lasted from Thursday evening till Sunday morning being used at full volume at a festival campsite (so not all hours of the day), which was damn good going IMO. Just that little bit extra volume visibly make the drivers work a lot harder, which can't be kind on the battery.
fractionMan
Custom Title
Awesome..... Will 50 watt speakers be loud enough for a park etc? Or festivals? Ive no idea how watts translates to volume.
Ive been donated a case to put it all in a bit like this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silver-Squa...22/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1314716035&sr=8-13
the donator wants me to give it a bash, then look at helping him do one
Im all excited bout getting it done now
watts don't directly translate into volume. You can push huge amounts of power through inefficient speakers and get the same result as a small amount of power through efficient ones. One of the reasons the amp and speaker combo I recommended works is that both are very efficient for the price. It's def loud enough for the park ime. If you have a bbq and it's nearby you have to turn it down or it will piss you off by being too loud when you're trying to talk. It does depend on the input source. You may well find some players are much louder than others. ipods are louder than crappy mobiles for example.
Also, note that the amp is 50 watts into 4 ohms or 25 watts into 8ohm. The speakers are 8ohm so you're only powering them with half the capacity of the amp, 25w. You could link another pair of identical speakers from the same amp if you wanted it louder. The thing is, even though you've doubled the speakers that doesn't double the perceived volume. Volume is funny like that.
Anyway, suck it and see imo
fractionMan
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yeah, screws worked for me. On that box though the walls might be too thin, so use glue.
sim667
All aboard the 303 bus.
watts don't directly translate into volume. You can push huge amounts of power through inefficient speakers and get the same result as a small amount of power through efficient ones. One of the reasons the amp and speaker combo I recommended works is that both are very efficient for the price. It's def loud enough for the park ime. If you have a bbq and it's nearby you have to turn it down or it will piss you off by being too loud when you're trying to talk. It does depend on the input source. You may well find some players are much louder than others. ipods are louder than crappy mobiles for example.
Also, note that the amp is 50 watts into 4 ohms or 25 watts into 8ohm. The speakers are 8ohm so you're only powering them with half the capacity of the amp, 25w. You could link another pair of identical speakers from the same amp if you wanted it louder. The thing is, even though you've doubled the speakers that doesn't double the perceived volume. Volume is funny like that.
Anyway, suck it and see imo
I could however possibly fit 2 speakers on the other side, and have a double sided one, there's only four channels for the speakers on the back of the amp though, which would only power 2 no? Unless ive got that completely wrong, I'm working of my basic knowledge of home amps though
