Slightly insane micro boom box Help!! Please?

[Oddpixel]

Odd micro boombox

Hey all!

Excellent forum!! Treasure trove...

I have this slightly crazy micro boombox project in mind...and I have never built any speakers before or done any such calculations...that said, I do understand the need of filters, curve charts etc do get the gist of it but still very much a newbie.

I'm good at building things, soldering etc so that part should be fine...so here goes...

I'd like to gut this little innocent looking vintage radio...(see images)

http://db.tt/BW3e7Cvi
http://db.tt/vFftWasC
http://db.tt/9y76Gi4p

..add a lepai tripath ta2020 amp into it...

http://db.tt/zZxdUnvR

..along with a 6400ah lithium ion cctv battery that can do 5v 9v and 12v...

http://db.tt/5DaICvlu
http://db.tt/94MopGsp
http://db.tt/F8SYCtAv

..then two 3" full range speakers...OR one full range and one subwoofer...

I was thinking I could use two Tangband W3-1401SD OR two Aurasound NS3-193-8A 3" OR one FULLRANGE + one SUBWOOFER running on one channel each as mono...or maybe you have a few other wild suggestions??

Then add an ericsson mw600 Bluetooth receiver so I can pair up my iPhone to the thing and play house music via spotify

I'll probably buy four bolts that goes through the corners of the radio to keep it open-able yet not rattling to pieces...with some rubber sealant...and clean it up of course.

I know the box is too small...I know I may not get the speakers and the amp and the battery in there...I know this is all pretty insane...but hey have a chuckle over my insanity and hit me with some feedback??

Worst case I'll just put the amp&battery outside...but would prefer having a go at taking apart everything, remove anything that isnt needed like casings etc and cram it all into the box hehe

Internal measurements of the radio is 73mm x 207mm x 50mm
Amp ta2020 board is 70mm x 110mm x 20mm
Battery (w case) is 70mm x 125mm x 25mm

..so hardly space for speakers or damping or reason etc...I know...I know...

What I need help with is:

1. Is there any chance getting any bass out of a box that small?

2. Any chance I can run these drivers full range without filters?

3. Any advice you can give me before I go and buy drivers & just try it out?


Any feedback is good feedback (!!)

//O.

[mickeymoose]

You will not get any "useable" bass out of this, no matter what you do and....
the god-protectors of antique radio will haunt you to the end of your time on this earth (I know, because they are after me!) E

[sreten]

Hi,

You must have got the internal dimensions wrong, 8" and 2" is fair
enough but the other dimension is more like 6" than 3"(70mm).

House music ? Not a chance unless you know severely what you are doing.

And that I would suggest is sensibly gutting a portable speaker system.

No expert on the subject, but the features built into them are needed.

rgds, sreten.

[dangus]

I agree; that's too nice a radio to rip apart. How about finding a small suitcase or making a plywood box? Fabric stores sell vinyl cloth like that. Places that cater to fans of vintage and DIY guitar amps have all kinds of grille cloth and covering and trim and knobs.

A small house speaker (or pair) from a thrift store or yard sale would be cheap and sound good.

[Oddpixel]

Originally Posted by mickeymoose

You will not get any "useable" bass out of this, no matter what you do and....
the god-protectors of antique radio will haunt you to the end of your time on this earth (I know, because they are after me!) E

Haha I know...but can't help myself...already done the deed too so will be roasting in the same hot place as you

I am realistic about the bass...it won't be much, I know!! ..but it will (hopefully) sound better than most of the sad plastic ones on the market...and look better to boot...

I've had a few crazy months at work but will post the results here and face the flames...

Cheers

[Oddpixel]

Great feedback! All of you!!

(and you do make a good argument but I'm too stubborn for my own good)

So sorry for the silence...I've had a few crazy months at work...I'm freelance so have to do the work when it's there...

..but I'm going ahead with this, partly built it already, have all parts working and just need a bit of plywood, some screws and a free day in the weekend.

I'll post the results and face the music, promise

Cheers

[Oddpixel]

Hey guys,

Time flies...F16 style...but finally I got my act together and finished vivisecting the poor little hacker radio...

Hacker Radio Getting Hacked.... on Vimeo

Slightly lengthy video but hey edited on an iPhone that can make anyone borderline insane...anyways, thanks for the comments & support!!!

Bass as expected not awesome...but overall pretty good sounding considering horrible lepai treble/bass filtering and total ignorance on damping, sealing, box size, physics and general common sense...I had fun tho!! (and it DID get wife approval lo and behold)

I may have contracted the speaker building bug...next time I'll be less vintage and more scientific about it...

THANKS ALL for the feedback!

Cheers
//O.