Beach / Picnic outdoor Blue Tooth Boombox

[dalbert02]

I would like to build an outdoor beach/picnic boombox. I saw a post here about Poplar wood on sale at Home Depot so I picked up a few sheets. My idea is to make a cheap (~$100) boombox that I won't be upset if it gets damaged or stolen. I was thinking:

Speakers:
http://www.parts-express.com/visaton...8-ohm--292-614

Amp:
http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-...odule--300-385

Bluetooth Module:
http://www.parts-express.com/bt-1a-b...gnals--320-353

Battery:
http://www.parts-express.com/power-s...v-7ah--140-366

And then some wall-wart style charger I have laying around. I might take the free Belkin USB charger that comes with the Bluetooth module and adding a cell phone charger cable. Any thoughts or advice?

Thanks!

[Chris Roemer]

Re: Beach / Picnic outdoor Blue Tooth Boombox

I like the battery, can't speak for the BT module, but the Lepai 2020 is almost the same cost but is more complete (includes PS) AND has a proven track/SQ record. I think there could be better speaker choices (in the $20 range). So many of these have been designed, why not copy one instead of reinventing the wheel?

[lorenmjones]

Re: Beach / Picnic outdoor Blue Tooth Boombox

I just built a boombox based in the sprite. I used the lepai 2020 amp which I would favor. It comes with PS as mentioned and it has tone controls which can be nice with a full range design. BT1A works ok, but it seems to have to be powered off and then back on in order to switch which phone etc it is connected to.

[jhollander]

Re: Beach / Picnic outdoor Blue Tooth Boombox

I'm always toying with these designs. I like the T-amp because you can integrate it into the cabinet.

Unless you can measure and design a x-o you're going to have some compromises. Here's an idea, use this pair of speakers, pick a smaller battery, use the T-amp and design a control box that joins the two cabinets together.

I'll probably do this myself, with a few mods.

[dalbert02]

Re: Beach / Picnic outdoor Blue Tooth Boombox

Thanks for the ideas. The visaton speakers are full range, no x-over needed. They'll do 75 -to higher than I can hear and most importantly are water proof. I am really starting to appreciate full range single driver speakers, especially with wee-power amps. I tested my hearing and I don't hear much over 16-17k, oddly it depends on the day. That lepai seems like a winner at the price!
-dave

[dalbert02]

Re: Beach / Picnic outdoor Blue Tooth Boombox

Made a prototype. Different drivers from the first post as I had these lying around from an old Altec Lansing speaker for my first gen iphone.



(edit)

Forgot to mention that with the 12v 7Ah battery it lasted all day. I was at the beach by 11am and we did not leave till 6pm. The whole time we streamed Pandora at full volume and kept the phone charged. I could probably get by with a smaller battery because when I came home it measured 12.20v.