I recently was trying out white rustoleum appliance epoxy and managed to screw up the finish on a set a computer speakers I was building for a while. The speakers were completely sealed, and I wasn't all that attached to them, so I decided to scrap that project and repurpose the components. I may just cut them so that I can make a removable back panel. But anyway...
I'm essentially making a standalone ipod/mp3 system, using 2 3" buyout drivers from PE that I'm now guessing were prototypes or an early run of Dayton's version of the NS3, the ND-90 . I haven't seen them since I made the original boxes for them, but I think they have that same curved terminal thing, and they both have a silver/bronze colored motor. The amp will be one of the little JBL 12w boards that I bought a long time ago. I used it the other day to run my 3" mtms, and it sounded really great. Better than the Ratshack I've been using, even after making some improvements by removing the preamp. If I didn't have an extra it would be harder to let it go.
I think this'll be the first build I do with the intention of selling, although I'm pretty sure I'll be content to keep it if I have to. I'll probably be selling it through Etsy, as I think it'll be most appealing there. And I believe things like this would be more valuable in an artistic setting.
I'm gonna call it Bonsai for obvious reasons. The tree silhouette will be birch ply, probably two layers together, with grooves routed on the inside of each for wires, and a single volume pot near the base. The two 3" drivers will be in mdf "pods" on each side, modeled after the ns3 mtm. They will probably be painted an olive color, with a flat/satin clearcoat. I'm thinking a mix between a dark walnut and a cherry maple(?) for color on the tree.
There will be a single knob in the middle of the base area of the tree, although I may have to add the bass knob that comes on the amp too. I might try to bypass it somehow. I had a friend whose dad turned knurled wood into gorgeous bowls and such. I may try to get some knobs made. I have some beads that he made that are really sweet. I'm not sure if they're actually "knurled" wood, but the wood he uses has veins of black due to some sort of fungus or bacteria in the wood. Gorgeous stuff. I'll have to get pictures.
As of right now I have to run the thing on the router table with the flush trim bit and get the sides all vertically cut. The jigsaw tends to lean on me when i cut curves. I've been playing around with cleaning up the edge of this birch ply and it cleans up nicely. I do have a void to fill, but I think I will do that after staining but before clear so I can match the color.
And so, on to cellphone pics...
I think you can kinda get the idea from those. The amp will be in the "pot," which will be mdf cut with the compound miter. Kinda like this. I think I'll probably do satin or gloss black. I may have feet, but I'm not sure just yet. I don't really know how hot these things can get. I would love to just throw a bigger heatsink on it and not worry about it, but I'd have to buy something or hack up one I have. Which are both possible.
I was also thinking about using casting resin to cement pebbles into a recess in the "pot".
I really really hope that it's balanced. I think I'm going to test the shape with some eights today. I think if I have to I can add weight in the base.
I cut out the second plywood panel with a jigsaw, then attached a bunch of double-sided foam tape. i ran the whole thing on the router table with a big new 1/2" flush trim bit.
I also cut out a few of the circles that will make up the speaker bodies, and mocked them up.
I got a bit done yesterday. I cut out all of the circles for the pods, and this time I decided to route the baffles out and round them over as a doubled up piece. This made the roundover easier, and I was able to cut them cleanly, although I was to the very limit of how deep I could cut with the jasper jig and the upspiral bit. I glued them up with the centering pin in, then removed it after clamping. I had some scary spot where I thought I would be cutting the pin out, as I only had 1/4" to grab sometimes with the vice grips. I had to unclamp one, and move the pin out a bit. Not fun. Gotta move quick with drying glue.
What are you plans for connecting to the ipod? If you are using the Line out dock will you be designing it to charge the ipod? will it be iphone compatible? or is it just going to use the mini jack?
What are you plans for connecting to the ipod? If you are using the Line out dock will you be designing it to charge the ipod? will it be iphone compatible? or is it just going to use the mini jack?
Not really sure. There are probably some points to jump a steady voltage from. Isn't the ipod connection just usb with some extra pin for controllers and interfaces and whatnot? I'm guessing 5v to charge.
It all depends on what kind of cables are available. Can I get rca-level audio out from the plug? Or a standard ipod usb cable?
I also have to think about the layout. If I used an Ipod plug, I would logically want to use it as a dock. So then I would need about a 1"x4" space in the pot. In front would be logical, but at the cost of putting the single volume knob in the base of the tree. I would have to put it on the pot, which I don't think looks as good.
I also was thinking about using a turned wooden trim piece on the 3.5mm plug (if I go with that) that matches the turned wooden knob on the tree.
Basically it comes down to aesthetics vs function. Not sure how much time I want to spend with the ipod compatibility, as it adds more variables to the design, but I do realize that charging while playing is probably pretty crucial.
If I can figure out how to get audio out and 5v in on a usb plug, I'll have the ipod cable lay loose like the headphone jack.
i'm interested with the setup you're going to use to charge it.
I was thinking about getting a premade dock, gutting the internals, and hooking it up in a custom enclosure with the bamboo TBs.
Something like this:
Or if your charging setup works well, maybe this T-amp:Parts-Express.comayton DTA-1 Class T Digital amplifier 15 WPC | Dayton audio t amp t-amplifier t-amp t amp t amplifier class t amplifier class-t amplifier class t tripath tri-path tri path tripath amplifier stereo amplifier multimedia amplifier bo
Have you got any pics/info on that JBL 12w you have?
i'm interested with the setup you're going to use to charge it.
I was thinking about getting a premade dock, gutting the internals, and hooking it up in a custom enclosure with the bamboo TBs.
Something like this:
That would work well, although you may have to use more of the internals of the clock than you need, if you planned on using a different amp than the one in the clock base. Although, I'm sure just using the TBs with the amp in the dock would be a worthy improvement.
If you can source a cheap dock like that, it may be cheaper than doing something with a separate amp, since you get the power supply with it, it charges, added functions, etc.
The JBL amp I bought from ApexJr's site. He has since sold out of them, but you can find the page with info by googling something like apexjr jbl 12w.
Made some more progress on the bonsai build.
I finally figured out the easiest way to cut and route the back panels w/ usig any of that foam tape, as it leaves a gap when using it with the roundover. I decided to route out a raised circular bit to hold the panel in place while routing. I had to drum sand the inside of the enclosures a bit, but otherwise it worked perfectly.
I also cut out a guide to cut the wire grooves in the tree. I used my new bushing set, and it worked flawlessly.
Now comes the interesting part of yesterday's work. The drivers i am using for this build were in another unfinished project. The enclosures were completely sealed, and were made from 3/4" mdf. Getting them out was interesting to say the least.
And so, I give you: The Extraction
I cut off the back of one, using tape and everything, trying to see if I could just make the backs removable and keep the enclosures.
Wasn't going to work. I remembered I had glued the sides on over the drivers, requiring me to destroy the enclosures. I also have to worry about the fact that the baskets are stamped and not very strong. The best way seemed to be to knock out the baffle in front of the speaker.
The next one was similar, although I didn't run it on the saw.
And done. I clipped the corners, as the pods were a tiny bit too small.
Aaand... I found this little ipod speaker thing amp and a strangely similarly sized bonsai pot. Should turn into something eventually. It actually pushes a pair of NS3s nicely. I can only imagine how some higher sensitivity TBs would do. I like the idea of doing things with otherwise ****ty electronics.
I have also been toying with the idea of using a clay bonsai pot for the big one. They cost about $15 and have a good bit of room. I think it may also be heavier than an mdf base, so that would help stability.
That amp is crazy small! You could do a mini travel bonsai ipod dock dealio, it'd be cool with cougars or whispers huh?
I found that IHome IH8 on eb*y for like 25 bucks, so that would be worth all the internals. That'll have to wait though, I'm buildin tubes with some 3'' TBs for my ole ladys store.
Hey man, all you're work is turnin out great and I'm glad to find someone younger than me that has so much skill. Keep up the good work!
wow, this is phenomenal. i was thinking of doing something like this, but just a tall thin tower with a downfiring 6" woofer and a single mid and tweet. you have truly surpassed my imagination. nice work
Lot's of stuff in a garage awaiting the next install.
"Bonsai" decorative ipod system build
ayton DTA-1 Class T Digital 
Linear Mode
