Tiny enclosures (2 Liters or less)

[Paul Carmody]

When it comes to tiny enclosures, I think there might be a lot of unusual materials to build with that we might not bother with in bigger speakers. 1/4" stock, electronics enclosures... found items? I'd like to see what sort of things you guys have tried for micro speakers. And also any unusual construction techniques you had to use to make them work.

This was brought to the front of my mind after seeing Wolf's "Synchaeta" speakers last weekend, which he made from old beadboard from a kitchen remodel. It was very clever (and very small). But I wonder if he had to get creative in getting the box to hold together, since such thin stock doesn't give you much surface area for glue.

So share what you've done. The tinier the better!!

[tyger23]

Re: Tiny enclosures (2 Liters or less)

My mariposa's, Jeff's Quarks, the Choti's, the Helium's, and a few others use the 0.04cu ft enclosure (just over 1L).

Also, there's my RTBox, which used a pre-made radioshack enclosure (about 1/2L).

[jonasz]

Re: Tiny enclosures (2 Liters or less)

I want to build a pair of tiny speakers out of Lego for my son.

[Chris_Perez]

Re: Tiny enclosures (2 Liters or less)

I can't imagine anything much smaller than this.

I found 4 tiny wooden cups at a garage sale for $1 each... and repurposed them....



Into these....





Vented enclosures... 3.5 cubic inches... tuned to 120 Hz... three 3/16" D x 6" L ports.

[lowpolyjoe]

Re: Tiny enclosures (2 Liters or less)

I'm a fan of tiny speakers.

I built several Choti's, though I think my box size and tuning was a bit different than Kerry's original



I built The Ninetyfives. There was limited 'design' involved ;). I think original volume was near 3L but final build was shrunk a bit and closer to 2L.





Tiny MTM I tried to build that went wrong at every turn - never even really finished them, but there's some good feedback in the thread from people's experience building tiny enclosures




Oh - almost forgot about this powered tiny "no design" design. . I actually get a lot of use out of them listening to podcasts while getting ready for work.

[Paul Carmody]

Re: Tiny enclosures (2 Liters or less)

I can't imagine anything much smaller than this.

I found 4 tiny wooden cups at a garage sale for $1 each... and repurposed them....

I want to build a pair of tiny speakers out of Lego for my son.

Yes! That's what I'm talking about!

[dcibel]

Re: Tiny enclosures (2 Liters or less)

I've used these 1L containers for midrange enclosures:

http://www.amazon.com/Ziploc-Twist-Container-Medium-Pack/dp/B00HXCNNKM

The threads on the top of the container easily cut off, leaving a good lip for gluing to a panel. Works well for a 3" driver midrange chamber.

[Wolf]

Re: Tiny enclosures (2 Liters or less)

When it comes to tiny enclosures, I think there might be a lot of unusual materials to build with that we might not bother with in bigger speakers. 1/4" stock, electronics enclosures... found items? I'd like to see what sort of things you guys have tried for micro speakers. And also any unusual construction techniques you had to use to make them work.

This was brought to the front of my mind after seeing Wolf's "Synchaeta" speakers last weekend, which he made from old beadboard from a kitchen remodel. It was very clever (and very small). But I wonder if he had to get creative in getting the box to hold together, since such thin stock doesn't give you much surface area for glue.

So share what you've done. The tinier the better!!

Here's the Synchaeta build thread for reference, 2 ltrs:

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?246840-I-theorize-Synchaeta-a-Minimus-7-revamp&highlight=revamp

The front and back panels are 7/8" and 1/2" respectively, so I used dowels to join the top/bottom/sides for a better glue joint. Since I was trying to match the size and form factor of the original Minimus7, I had to keep the walls as thin as the original. The depth is longer so I could support the panels. The hole for the midbasses could not be cut completely until the cabinets were constructed, since I had about 3/32" thickness at the diameter of the midbass to the sidewall. I used rubber pads to lower the resonance of the wood paneling since I really couldn't brace it. I also had to use a roundunder bit to remove material from the rear of the baffle for the midbass to breathe- after assembly was completed duu to that 3/32" problem.

My Xenums:


I had to put the xover in the base because the cabs are 1.2 ltr, and they wouldn't fit. The port is down-firing in a rear corner. The xover base actually has a sculpted tray of MDF that allowed the parts to fit in a smaller overall size:


The bases are constructed of a green product, can't remember what it's called, 3/8" EPDM board I think it was. A composite hard grey plastic that is rough to the tough until you sand it down. Cabs are MDF and pine.

The Microtonnes (still uncompleted) are made where a semicircular port wraps the perimeter of the front baffle to aid in diffraction control, and tilt of acoustic lobe toward the listener. The base has a hollow section where the xover components attach into the belly with screw terminals. Volume is a liter. This 2" 2-way is to be my smallest, and presents some challenges....

Lots of unique ways to do these tiny masterpieces!
Wolf

[kbzx35]

Re: Tiny enclosures (2 Liters or less)

I haven't built anything yet with this idea but every time I'm at IKEA in the utensil and plasticware section I only think of enclosures I can make them into.

[john trials]

Re: Tiny enclosures (2 Liters or less)

Minions made from 1/8" Masonite. You can't get much smaller volume or thinner material than these. I glued them with Titebond II wood glue. After five sides were glued together, I used silicone RTV to reinforce the joints, because there wasn't much surface contact at the edges.

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?243499-Minion-IIIs-made-from-masonite

[Paul Carmody]

Re: Tiny enclosures (2 Liters or less)

I think 1/8" material like Masonite would not be too hard to work with if you used battens along the joints.

[NickJ]

Re: Tiny enclosures (2 Liters or less)

One thing that came to mind for me was to take a flat piece of very thin material of your choice (plexi, ply, etc) cross backed strategically with painters tape. Then you could use a chamfer bit to cut through the wood but not the tape, and glue up along the seams to make a topless box (I feel like I have seen videos of this, but have included an example of the general idea). The chamfered edge would be larger and form a more solid joint. Then you could take a slightly thicker piece of material for the front and dado the inside edge (once again giving you more surface area and also some reinforcement for the baffle).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvxLCfnw4YQ

[ksneote]

Re: Tiny enclosures (2 Liters or less)

I saw this on ebay recently, really curious to try it out just for fun. Can't seem to find much information about it online anywhere.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-set-APS-2-Green-Red-LED-Level-indicator-DIY-Kit-3W-3W-Speaker-Kit-new-/231576166097?hash=item35eb03ded1

[chrisn]

Re: Tiny enclosures (2 Liters or less)

I've used these 1L containers for midrange enclosures:

http://www.amazon.com/Ziploc-Twist-Container-Medium-Pack/dp/B00HXCNNKM

The threads on the top of the container easily cut off, leaving a good lip for gluing to a panel. Works well for a 3" driver midrange chamber.

Genius. I have a long term project that needs exactly what you did. I tried using an empty snap on butter container and couldn't get it to stay in place. This is perfect. Have you felt the need to strengthen or dampen the container?

[devinkato]

Re: Tiny enclosures (2 Liters or less)

I've done several builds into cookie jars from Target