K0DAN
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:19:37 -0800
A build-our-own speaker project is ineed a worthy and interesting project. With that said, I have never had the time nor inclination to do so...for my home theater interests, I buy comercial products. For my ham radio interests, I have gotten VERY good results from visiting Salvation Army, Goodwill, and other thrift stores....they always carry some inventory of stereo tuner/amplifiers, speakers, etc. Some of these are junk, and sometimes you will be surprised when you find pretty decent stuff (I once got a pair of big JBL speakers for $50...woodwrok was a little messed up, but the speakers sounded great). Generally the prices on this stuff are pretty low...and they are plug & play, and with a right/left balance control you can mix two audio inputs. If you don't have great apeakers, the addition of a small subwoofer will make ESSB or plate modulated AM on 75M sound really good. This is not audiophile (audiophool?) quality, but is VERY good for ham applications, and might be another option for FLEX (and other) operators who want to have some decent speakers and audio. It's a case of apples and oranges: are homebrew or commercial speakers intended for the hamshack, or studio monitors, or high-end home theater? Once size does not fit all. BTW, I have two thrift-store tuner/amplifiers in the hamshack...one drives a pair of old Yamaha bookshelf speakers, the other drives a pair of the old Radio Shack "Optimus" bookshelf speakers. Both have a small subwoofer...the audio is really good. Would I use this for my home theater? Probably not, but works great in the hamshack. I use ZIP cord to feed the speakers, I have no idea if theyr are "shielded" or not (what does this mean, anyway?), and ditto with the tuner/amplifiers (both Yamaha in my case)...I have never had RFI with these devices, and I often run full limit QRO and have both coax and ladderline feeders in the shack. As always YMMV! GL es 73 Dan K0DAN----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard W. Solomon" <w1...@earthlink.net>
To: <flexradio@flex-radio.biz> Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010 12:08 AM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Speaker project (was the 'bose speakers')
Radio Shack sold a small Stereo Amplifier that appears on the "evil empire" every so often. I use one with a pair of Bose "Cube" speakers. Works very well. 73, Dick, W1KSZ -----Original Message-----From: Tim Ellison <telli...@itsco.com> Sent: Feb 5, 2010 12:02 AM To: "audio...@charter.net" <audio...@charter.net>, Dudley Hurry <jhu...@austin.rr.com> Cc: 'FLEX USERS' <flexradio@flex-radio.biz> Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Speaker project (was the 'bose speakers') You could use a stereo kit PA. Like one of these http://www.electronickits.com/kit/complete/complete.htm#Amplifier%20Kits%20And%20Modules -Tim -----Original Message----- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Jim Barber Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 11:42 PM To: Dudley Hurry Cc: 'FLEX USERS' Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Speaker project (was the 'bose speakers') Hi Dudley, The time... The 'audioguy' always has the time for speaker projects, but I'll concede that you may not. :-) The size - yes, even the "small" version may be bigger than a pair of micro PC speakers. Once cab I was tinkering with tonight is 6x6x6" internal volume and made from 1/2" MDF. They can get bigger and smaller. Well shielded from RF - That will be attended to in the separate amplifier section. Both for goes-in and goes-out, since the amp module I'm working with is Class D and can generate some hash unless put in a metal box and bypassed/choked. If someone comes up with an inexpensive linear amp module, kit or design that meets spec we can look at that too. Class D is nice because it can be tucked away in a diecast box without heat issues. Sound quality vs size - not sure what you mean there. The point of doing this is to build a first rate speaker. Unless you're talking trade-off, which is a matter of preference. You may prefer small for convenience. I'm a believer that where speakers are concerned, QRO is the way to go, although a 7" cube isn't what I'd call all THAT large. Price - It would be tough to match the $69 you mention, yes. The smaller design may do it, we'll certainly try. 73, Jim, N7CXI (going where angels fear to tread) Dudley Hurry wrote:Jim, There are just a few issues with the speaker project as far as I am concerned, for the Flex. . First is the time. Second the size Third being well shielded from RF. Fourth, guess sound quality verses size. I have been extremely happy with my Boses, mainly for the sound/size, they will fit in a brief case, sound very good for the size, even in CW, and were only $69.. And they are well shielded, and self powered.. Very hard to beat.. Now for my stereo system, I just might do something like that, a good set , even in a kit will be in the $350 range. Good luck in the project 73, Dudley WA5QPZ Jim Barber wrote:Tim, W4TME made some excellent suggestions regarding the speaker project. I'll work up a high quality, medium-size design as a "case study", then provide notes, design details and construction info for perhaps two alternatives - one larger and one smaller, for example. That way those who really want to dig into the details can, while those that just want to build a great-sounding speaker for their great-sounding radio can do that too. Suitable amplifiers will be handled as a separate section, since in some cases it won't be required. 73 and more later, --jim Jim Barber, N7CXI _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/_______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/_______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
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