Has anyone built an alexa powered speaker? I use Alexa echo and such around the house, but the audio quality stinks and don't have battery packs. I want to build a higher powered boombox with alexa capability. There are some tutorials to watch, but figure if anyone has it could be a fun thread to talk about creations, drawbacks, and perks.
The early (puck shaped) Echos have line out, that would be an easy way to add voice to a diy boombox. Early Echos can be found cheap these days. There is also the Echo Input which could work.
Voice systems are sensitive to vibration, THD & speaker placement relative to microphones. How the boombox is designed should try to manage these issues.
Re batteries, power tool batteries provide a great safe replaceable option w/ reliable chargers. Ryobi batteries have built in discharge control, DeWalt makes an adapter for Lithium batteries into Ni-Cad tools that has discharge control built in.
There are a lot of open questions at this stage, you'll have to weigh your options & decide how complex of a project you want.
Voice systems are sensitive to vibration, THD & speaker placement relative to microphones. How the boombox is designed should try to manage these issues.
Re batteries, power tool batteries provide a great safe replaceable option w/ reliable chargers. Ryobi batteries have built in discharge control, DeWalt makes an adapter for Lithium batteries into Ni-Cad tools that has discharge control built in.
There are a lot of open questions at this stage, you'll have to weigh your options & decide how complex of a project you want.
Woah that is awesome, I didn't think about just having an alexa with a line out. I'll look into it, that would be the simplest way. Not looking to make a cool integrated box, just a voice functionality to play through an amazing speaker box by the pool. Maybe having an enclosure with some MLV sort of surrounding the echo to dampen the waves, and/or some memory foam matress bed to eat up the vibrations from the subwoofer. This isn't meant to be waterproof, just proof of concept.
I was thinking KABD4100 going in a 2.1 system, 200w to sub and 100W to mid and high channel (or line array full range BMR drivers), with a battery module added.
I haven't looked at how to mount power tool batteries as an option, that is definitely cool to think about and I'll need to look into that in the future.
I was thinking KABD4100 going in a 2.1 system, 200w to sub and 100W to mid and high channel (or line array full range BMR drivers), with a battery module added.
I haven't looked at how to mount power tool batteries as an option, that is definitely cool to think about and I'll need to look into that in the future.
Keep in mind that the amplifier you've referenced is designed for up to 36Vin & it's rated peak output is at 5-10% THD. Realistically at the 17-20Vin that the batteries I've mentioned would supply the 1% THD output will be 1/5 to 1/3 these peak values.
This shouldn't discourage you, you will just have to design/source a system to meet your SPL & LF goals assuming these lower outputs.
This shouldn't discourage you, you will just have to design/source a system to meet your SPL & LF goals assuming these lower outputs.
Just connect the output to a Class D amp and connect to favorite speaker of your choice. Bookshelf speakers work well. I have found that connecting Alexa via BT to a BT enabled DAC/amp sounds better than 3.5mm stereo plug.