Introduction: Old Speaker Conversion to Bluetooth Boombox

Hello everyone! Thank you so much for tuning in with me on this shape! Before we jump in the inside information, delight think ballot for this Instructable in the contest at the very bottom. Support is highly appreciated!

It has been a few old age since I started construction various portable Bluetooth speakers and boomboxes and even though IT is really satisfying to design and build your own portable speaker - one affair that I detected for sure is that it does take quite a lot of clock time, commonly a fewer weekends to build a decent speaker. Thus I thought I would preferably use an already built transaction speaker and attach a "rechargeable amplifier" to it! Not only is it untold to a lesser extent time consuming but also much cheaper since you john get corking quality second-hand speakers really cheap!

This idea of giving yellowed items a brand new life has been with me for quite a while. Therefore I thought to give this old speaker built in the 80's a new life by converting it into a portable Bluetooth + WiFi boombox using the amazing Up2stream Pro audio frequency receiver which can connect to your streaming gimmick via WiFi or Bluetooth 5.0 and with its own app it is a breeze to use. Let's get into the inside information of this build next!

Step 1: Parts and Plans

As always I am trying my superior to provide you with the full parts listing, build programme templates - some metric and imperial and a wiring diagram. All of these you bum find below! Make sure to zoom in for a better view.

Make a point to double check the measurements of the template with a ruler before legal proceeding the anatomy since every printer is different and mightiness shrink/enlarge the template.

COMPONENTS: (Get your $24 coupon: https://a.aliexpress.com/_mPqsYi9)

  • Up2Stream Audio Receiver - https://bit.ly/2WMV3hQ or https://bit.ly/2SUOCs8 or https://amzn.to/2wIEmdK
  • Amplifier - https://tur.ly/2ST2lPS
  • 3S BMS - https://bit.ly/34GigEO
  • LED Voltmeter 4.5-30V - https://bit.ly/37PSIpn
  • 12.6V 1A Charger - https://bit.ly/2P5bqls
  • 3 X 18650 Battery - https://spot.ly/35mzetn
  • Leather Hold - https://bit.ly/3kpcNKn
  • DC Input Jak - https://bit.ly/35s1rxq
  • Audio Stimulation Jack - https://bit.ly/34F8eDZ
  • 12V Latching LED Switch - https://bit.ly/2w2rZss
  • Momentary Button - https://bit.ly/39g9G2r
  • 6x6x6 Push Button - https://bit.ly/2w1QE0e
  • B1205S-2W Isolated Converter - https://bit.ly/3nefFLb
  • M4X16 Screws - https://bit.ly/3jlx8yX
  • Face Standoffs - https://bit.ly/2MrzaA0
  • M3X12 Screw - https://bit.ly/2t2khwW
  • Adhesive Foam Gasket Taping - https://bit.ly/2SRV1nM
  • Carbon Fiber Vinyl - https://bit.ly/2tbmYMY

TOOLS:

  • Multimeter - https://bit.ly/35QJQPN
  • Calefacient Glue Gun - https://bit.ly/37U9CVh
  • Soldering Iron - https://bit.ly/3kndDam
  • Telegraph Stripper - https://minute.ly/2XZ9kI8
  • Cordless Practise - https://bit.ly/2UiMSbL
  • Jig Saw - https://act.ly/35msihg
  • Drill Bits - https://bit.ly/3kgSG0V
  • Step Drill Bits - https://bit.ly/3eM5GtB
  • Forstner Bits - https://bit.ly/35snpjW
  • Pickle Byword Set - https://bit.ly/35lQkso
  • Wood Router - https://bit.ly/3aPdISq
  • Roundover Bits - https://bit.ly/3kkQXYo
  • Center Punch - https://bit.ly/2FWc3xu
  • Solder - https://bit.ly/2XNOUSt
  • Flux - https://snatch.ly/33eXs5I
  • Soldering Stand by - https://bit.ly/2P4QOK7

For the main edifice material of the insertable panel I chose 6mm (1/4") MDF board which is cheap, impressible to thin out and shape. Plywood can be in use also.

Step 2: Speaker unit Choice and Wiring

When choosing the speaker for this spiritual rebirth anatomy the most important parameters would constitute the resistivity and the RMS outturn of the Speaker. Also, since we are using a fireball of an amplifier which can output nearly 50 Watts of clean power in the palm of your hand and costing close to 3$, it is best to use a 3-way speaker consisting of a subwoofer, a midrange driver and a tweeter. Ideally you would want a 3-room 4 Ohm verbalizer rated for up to 50 Watts.

I chose to wont the legendary 3-way speaker - the Radiotechnika S-50B built in the 80's which I got for cheap. It still plays great though it does throw a few dings and scratches and a missing debris cap from the subwoofer just it is a great bargain for what it is. Information technology is an 8 Ohm speaker rated for up to 50 Watts.

The wiring is quite simple, primarily consisting of the bombardment pack, the Bluetooth+WiFi audio receiver and the amplifier. The yield of the amplifier is connected to the input of the crossover that is built in the speaker itself. Observe at number 9 in the wiring plot - two 1k Ohm resistors connect the Left and Suitable channels to produce a mono canalise that is connected to the stimulation of the amplifier. Since we are using treble mental ability 18650 Lithium Ion cells, you can anticipate around 4 hours of playday. It is best to spot-weld the batteries together to form A battery pack simply you canful also solder them - make convinced you watch a few videos on YouTube about safely soldering 18650 batteries first. Important objective would atomic number 4 to keep the batteries as cool as possible when soldering and trying to apply the heat energy for nary much 5 seconds non to price the cellular telephone.

Step 3: Cutting and Gluing the Panel

I have to say - this is a super simple build from the woodworking perspective - the panel that is screwed in to the speaker consists of but 2 square panels and 2 support pieces to hold the weight of the batteries, amplifier and the sound telephone receiver. As I wrote in the former step - earn sure you print come out of the closet the dialog box template and glue it retired on a piece of 6mm (1/4") MDF board for go-to-meeting results. Then mark the holes with a hole punch and practice them out consequently. I extremely commend using a step drill bit for big holes. Altogether the tools used can be base in the inclination in the previous step.

Erstwhile I got the holes trained out and the rectangle cut out for the voltage indicator, I used a give router to engrave a few millimeters into the board connected the inside face of the panel. This helps to tighten the switches and buttons in place amend. I as wel sanded the edges round and smooth for a nicer finish.

When the panels are nice and ready, gum them up! Likewise note that I drilled a few extra holes for the zip ties to book the assault and battery pack in place - an afterthought but works well.

Step 4: Wrapping the Panel

A quite straightforward step - wrapping the fore impanel in vinyl. I chose this carbon fiber calculate which looks great if done properly. Make sure the advance dialog box is rubble-free before applying the carbon fiber vinyl group. A little bit of inflame helps to stretch the vinyl roughly corners. Once the vinyl is in put away, utilization your fingers to push out any air bubbles or wrinkles. Be careful stretching it around corners - it might tear easily with overmuch heat. A sharp hobby knife is your superior friend here (do I penury to mention to be safe with sharp objects) to new-mown out the holes in the panel and the excess vinyl around edges.

Dance step 5: Ascendance Panel Assembly

To assemble the control panel foremost I screwed in the brass standoffs and so mounted the buttons, switches and the voltage index number in situ. I and then involved the battery load down with zip ties and mounted the sound receiver and the amplifier using M3 nuts on the underside. After a bit of soldering later we have a fully impermanent speaker control panel.

Before we mount the panel into the speaker it is a good idea to quiz if it works. Simply connect the amplifier's output to the input of the speaker and discove if it plays. Once turned on it should play a short melodic phras of the audio receiver pairing. You can also trim the amplifier output by victimization a small screwdriver by turning the small pot on the amplifier. That way you can go down the output power limit according to your loudspeaker capabilities.

Step 6: Speaker Disassembly

Now that we accept the board made and ready, we can start disassembling the speaker. Since IT is most likely that everyone testament comprise using a different speaker, the disassembly process may disagree but the chief affair is to pull the the speaker drivers and the crossing from the enclosure. Then you have to solder/connect a piece of wire to the input of the speaker crossover so that it reaches the panel where you will embody mounting information technology. Once the speaker is disassembled to its components, you can drill out four holes for climbing the leather handle if you decide to take in the speaker somewhat "portable". Simply drill the holes stunned so that the included threaded inserts mount in place from the interior of the speaker enclosure.

Once you determine on the location of the control panel, mark a rectangle that is a bit smaller than the satellite dimensions of the front panel so that you potty see where to cut. Once that is finished, drill out quaternity larger holes - one in from each one at bottom turning point. Then using a jigsaw, cut the rectangle out and comprehensible any dust that will live inside of the enclosure.

Step 7: Final Gathering

We'ray almost there!

Now that the rectangle is cut unfashionable, we derriere place the ascendance panel inside and using a cakehole punch mark the holes for the screws. After boring the holes that are a little littler than the screws, apply a pillage of adhesive foam tape around the edge and connect the crossover cables to the amplifier output signal. You can now chicane down the control panel in put down. No motivation to overtighten the bolts, just enough to squeeze the foam tape all around and make an tight seal of approval.

Here we go! The talker is entirely finished and ready to blast just about tunes.

Tone 8: Final Thoughts

I have to be honest with you - I can't get sufficient of this speaker! In spades goes to my ducky project list. It blasts tunes really well and bottom shake the china closet with ease. It is undreamed what a weensy Class-D amplifier combined with a high quality audio recipient can buoy produce. This almost antique speaker has now been brought to a new life.

I am also very impressed aside the sound select of the speaker. By being fit to adjust the equalizer on the app, the speaker system tin can play the way I like it - the sea bass is in depth and on the nose and the highs are not too grainy. It also has great battery life considering the battery size up I have old. The WiF connectivity is tied greater - no worries of cutting unsuccessful the connective if the speaker is moved to another room. Information technology is as wel a amazing how easy the audio telephone receiver can stream audio exploitation Spotify, Deezer,Tidal, Qobuz, Napster, iHeartRadio Oregon well-nig any other audio flowing religious service.

I by all odds recommend this project it was super sport building one and the high sound quality just exceeds my expectations of the sound receiver and amplifier capabilities.

I am over again thankful for tuning in with me on this build and want to kindly remind you to consider ballot for this Instructable down at a lower place! I'll see connected the next work up!

- Donny

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