2-Inch Computer Speakers Cabinet Mod

[Osvega]

Hello from Costa Rica!



I was looking for a project to build and thought I could mod my Altec Lansing BXR1220 computer speakers and make a pair of cool looking cabinets just for the fun of it.

This is the first time I try to create a speaker cabinet and really have no idea how to design a proper cabinet specially because I want to make something along the lines a Hedlund style horn.

Something in this form factor would be fun to build:

I don't care about the size just want them to be the best size for the little Drivers I'll gut from the speakers. As I said this is a mod for the speakers I already have so basically I just want to swap the cabinets and not mess with the speakers more than say wiring to fit the new cabs.

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Ok now lets talk about the project:


Speakers:

Altec Lansing BXR1220 2-Piece Desktop Speaker System

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

-Two 2" full-range drivers
-Sound Pressure 80 dB SPL
-Frequency Response 180 Hz - 20kHz (-10 dB)


This guys are not great but decent enough for the project =P and I want to invest a little money as possible and hopefully make them sound a little better!

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Cabinet:

I figured I will build it out of MDF because its easy to work with and add a vinyl wrap for the finish.


That horn design idea is definitely not set on stone and would rather go for a different design if it benefited the little drivers more, As long as it is something weird or cool looking haha!


If I where to go for the horn design I need to figure out the best size/shape for the inner cone for this little drivers. I guess the picture above with the clear side gives me an idea into what it should look like? but I have no idea how to figure out the best size =\

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So here I am as a noob asking for advise on how to design them or any cool suggestions for a better design!


Thanks in advance!

 

[mondogenerator]

I have these speakers

I have a pair of these altecs.
The drivers are pretty naff sounding.
I replaced them with Visaton FRS5X and this was a great improvement on the standard drivers. Despite this the speakers are still limited and still have a huge midas chesty hump which sounds too warm. However considering the little amplifier in the boxes, it isn't really worth spending out to make better boxes.

 

[TBTL]

First you will have to measure the Thiele and Small parameters for those drivers and preferrably also the frequency response. Then you can simulate various boxes. Vented will be the easiest box to design that might improve the sound. Now the amplifier needs a little modification, because it does not send low frequencies to the the speakers as the original speakers in tiny boxes cannot handle them anyway.

I would suggest for your first speaker to skip the design part. A good and cheap speaker to build is the Cyburgs Needle, with a Visaton FRS8 3.3" fullrange driver. If it must be loud and large, 'das Viech' is an option.

 

[AndrewT]

you could try a sealed box 5litre as a first build.
If you can measure the driver resonance in open air and again when in the sealed box, you will be on the road to seeing how low it can go.

A tiny speaker like that may well suit a long horn. Either back loaded like the Heglund or front loaded.