🙋 #problem
at this time I’ve already built one bt speaker, which was just a wooden box with some off-the-shelf car speakers
it was hella loud, but the sound quality was thrash at higher volumes.
but the deeper I dug into the topic of custom speakers, the more I’ve realized how much better system I wanna build. I’m talking enclosure resonance frequencies, vents/ports, crossovers, frequency responsiveness, etc.
✅ #solution
step1: order parts, ant let long time to pass
step2: do lots and lots of calculations, pick drivers and based on them calculate inner volume and port volume with its cross-section area
step3: figure out the electronics. I wanted midrange to take care of the base (yes, with that size it won’t be anything special), but I wanted to separate the highs for dedicated tweeters
for that, you need a crossover. coils, capacitors and resistors. I’ve selected the values to perfectly tone down the midrange driver in higher frequencies where it does not shine, and where the tweeter can pick up. unfortunately I don’t have specific details anymore :(
step4: scribe on paper, and then do CAD! at this time I’ve learned autocad. skill I’ve not used since :/
I’ve come up with this idea that all the bluetooth speakers have this flaw that you cannot separate the left and right channel further apart, so the stereo is not that impressive. so I wanted the channels to clip to the center console with the amp and battery
step5: outsource CNC, get finished MDF panels
step6: assembly! at this time I’ve lived in a dorm, first-year at university. but I had some clamps, drill, wood glue and sodering iron.
here you can nicely see the size of that port (the snake part) which is tuned to slightly lower frequency than the midrange is capable of. and it knows how to kick!
throughout the years since, I’ve used it mainly in a single unit. even thought I’ve braided the connection cables (I could have bought cinch extension, but where’s the fun in that)
I’ve also made a compartment to fit batteries inside. initially for a li-po battery. but I put no BMS inside, so after some time, the battery died. that was stupid. ever since I did not really need it. so wall power! few months ago I figured I can make it usb-powered. because “usb-c everything!”
so this is what it looks like today. still without a paint job, held together with tape because I don’t trust the snap-on thingies. it’s ugly, but it plays nice. very, very, nice.