Buyout Bluetooth Radio build for Racetrack Speaker Module...

[tomzarbo]

Hey Guys...

Quick writeup of my latest project. I also just put up a video of the Bluetooth Radio Build-off.
I think some of you may find it interesting, maybe even entertaining...

The radio uses PE's buyout racetrack speaker #289-2378, link here: https://www.parts-express.com/242226...32-34-289-2378

I hack it up a bit to make it work, it's a cheap project too, the drivers are only $1.98 each, and I though it would be a good candidate since PE has over 4,000 of them at this point in time.

Have a good one, here is the link to
Part 1 of the video: https://youtu.be/LQY22Zt7KOE and
Part 2: https://youtu.be/0c6SxGZirmw

TomZ

[tomzarbo]

This started out as a fun Bluetooth project to build for the children of a good friend at work. As I fleshed it out, it seemed like a good opportunity to contrast and compare two different modes of construction... One using any and all of the ‘fancier’ woodworking tools an experienced woodworker would have, and another using a minimal toolset... things like drills and jigsaws. I stopped just short of using ‘hand’ tools for this... I’m not a masochist after all.

It turned into an idea for a competition of sorts to see which one, if any would be better. Not to ‘spoil’ my own project, but they both came out basically the same... I just mumbled under my breath a few more times with the ‘Basic Tools’ build, but it performed and indeed, looked just as good as the ‘Pro Tools’ build in the end. I think the take-home is if you want to build a Bluetooth radio and you don’t have the “table saw,” “miter saw,” and “drill press” kind of tools in your workshop, you can still get it done, and it can still be fun to build it.

Here are a few pics and notes from this comparative build. It doesn’t need a ton of explaining... I’ll put links to the products that can be used from PE at least.

TomZ

Buyout Speaker: https://www.parts-express.com/242226...32-34-289-2378

Switch: https://www.parts-express.com/SPST-A...ED-12V-060-770

Power Supply: https://www.parts-express.com/12V-DC...3A%20AC%20Adap ter%20Power%20Supply%20with%202.1%20x%205.5mm%20Ce nter%20Positive%20Tip&custcol_ava_item=129-1203&custcol_ava_incomeaccount=General&custcol_ava _upccode=848864065144&custcol_ava_pickup=F&custcol _disableshopping=F

DC Input Jack: https://www.parts-express.com/5-Pack...Mount-090-5044

The VU meter was purchased from Aliexpress and the Bluetooth amplifier was purchased from Banggood, search for TPA 3110.

[tomzarbo]

A few more pics...



It sounds decent, there is no real bass of course, and the highs drop off a bit, but for a fun bluetooth speaker project, it's totally listenable. The single dancing center VU meter is just cool as heck if you ask me. I've always loved dancing lights, and with the tall-oriented nature of this cabinet, the tall light string just fits right in.

TomZ

[DeZZar]

Cool project Tom and great videos. 👍

[tomzarbo]

Thanks sir! This was a lot of fun... basic box... simple paint finish... a bit of a departure for me... not a curve to be found on these.

TomZ

[3rutu5]

nice mate, always like to see these small builds, something a little different to the passive loudspeakers

There was a good series of videos on youtube with a guy building some decent Pelican\BT setups by getting a heap of buyout Phillips TV speakers which had their matching passive radiators and now there are your good vids doing something similar with a funky VU meter

[tomzarbo]

Thanks man
Yeah the cool thing about the Vu meter is since it's tied into the Bluetooth board the lights dance no matter where the volume is so even if you turn it almost quiet the lights are still going into the Red Zone just as they would if you had it turned up loud.

TomZ