Post by: fishindogwood on January 31, 2017, 02:34:42 PM
Jim
Post by: TwinStar on January 31, 2017, 02:56:50 PM
I'm installing speakers today in fact. In the past I've used Rail Master, RailFlyer, and a few other odd brands. I've replaced the factory speakers in my Proto 2000 and BLI E units with iPhone 6S speakers and use the narrower iPhone 4 speakers in my GP7/9's. I have not been disappointed. I just finished installing two 6S speakers in a P2K E7 that I'm about to post a different question about.
Jacob
Post by: KPack on January 31, 2017, 03:21:45 PM
Either get some iPhone speakers like Jacob said, or get some "sugar cube" speakers from Digikey: http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/knowles/2403-260-00071/423-1200-ND/4376274 (http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/knowles/2403-260-00071/423-1200-ND/4376274).
At ~$2 per speaker for the above you can't get much of a better deal. Build your own enclosure using styrene. The small size makes it easy to install multiple speakers in most locomotives.
-Kevin
Post by: William Brillinger on January 31, 2017, 03:55:53 PM
You can buy a 4 pack of iPhone 4S speakers from PDC.CA for $6 US including shipping:
http://pdc.ca/rr/catalog/product/railpro-and-accessories/51
Post by: nodcc4me on January 31, 2017, 05:17:05 PM
Kevin, can you post a picture of one of your baffles?
Post by: KPack on January 31, 2017, 05:49:38 PM
I basically take strips of 0.030" stryene that are ~5mm in width (we dentists work in millimeters). Cut pieces that are just longer than the sides of the speaker. CA the strips to the speaker, and trim off the excess with a sharp blade when dry. Use a file or sandpaper to smooth off the edges and the open bottom so it is flat. Then use styrene cement to seal the corners from the inside and glue the open end down onto a piece of 0.030" styrene. When dry, cut it off of the styrene sheet with a sharp blade, use a file to clean the edges. Done. I usually will make batches of 2-4 when I do this.
-Kevin
Post by: nodcc4me on January 31, 2017, 07:48:33 PM
I'll be ordering some sugar cubes and styrene.
Post by: fishindogwood on February 01, 2017, 07:18:47 AM
Jim
Post by: KPack on February 01, 2017, 11:07:40 AM
The sound comes off of both sides of the speaker so it really doesn't matter which side is in and which is out. It's just easier to have the back of the speaker pointing out.
-Kevin
Post by: Josephbw on February 01, 2017, 03:49:52 PM
Post by: nodcc4me on February 03, 2017, 03:10:26 PM
Post by: KPack on February 03, 2017, 05:04:14 PM
When I install four speakers I do the same, but with two separate speakers up front and two separate speakers in the back.
-Kevin
Post by: nodcc4me on February 03, 2017, 06:11:08 PM
I received my sugar cubes today and made my first baffle. It's solid and sounds good, except that the prime mover makes a crackling sound as it starts up and when running at high revs. The horn and bell sound very good. Any idea why it's crackling?
Post by: KPack on February 03, 2017, 07:47:59 PM
-Kevin
Post by: nodcc4me on February 04, 2017, 01:47:22 PM
prime movers. Each one had varying amounts of crackle but the 710 sounded the best. I had the speaker velcroed onto the only spot under the cab of the H16-44 that had room. I removed the Velcro and glued it in place, avoiding getting glue on the wires that passed under the center of it. Now it sounds much better.
These sugar cubes sound quite good for their size. I understand why you make them up in batches. Thanks for your help Kevin. :)
Post by: Pilar Valley Railway on May 01, 2017, 08:11:00 PM
iPhone 4s speakers sound great, but they will not fit in many diesel engines without some serious modification. Those sugar cubes look good.
Kevin, can you post a picture of one of your baffles?
Al, what do you mean that the 4s speakers will not fit in many diesel locos?
I have installed a quite a few of them now without out problems and usually 2 in each engine. There is no serious modifications other than cutting off the long end of the case just outside of the circle part of the speaker. Then just gluing on a tiny piece of styrene to close the hole back up.
Post by: nodcc4me on May 01, 2017, 08:53:25 PM
On another note, I just had my first 4s failure. The speaker just stopped working. I checked the wiring for shorts, etc. and finally replaced it with another one which works fine but now it is crackling. I think I have to seal the cut end a little better.
Post by: KPack on May 01, 2017, 10:14:47 PM
-Kevin
Post by: TwinStar on September 12, 2017, 12:35:04 AM
Either get some iPhone speakers like Jacob said, or get some "sugar cube" speakers from Digikey: http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/knowles/2403-260-00071/423-1200-ND/4376274 (http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/knowles/2403-260-00071/423-1200-ND/4376274).
-Kevin
Kevin,
These are out of stock and look like no longer produced. Is there a newer version you've been using?
Post by: KPack on September 12, 2017, 09:49:46 PM
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/pui-audio-inc/AS01808AO-WP-R/668-1517-ND/5958415 (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/pui-audio-inc/AS01808AO-WP-R/668-1517-ND/5958415)
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/soberton-inc/SP-1511S-3/433-1127-ND/6099101 (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/soberton-inc/SP-1511S-3/433-1127-ND/6099101)
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/soberton-inc/SP-1813S/433-1136-ND/6099110 (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/soberton-inc/SP-1813S/433-1136-ND/6099110)
They are each slightly different. The last one will require that I wire in parallel so that I don't exceed the max power rating of the speaker. All these speakers have a higher db rating than the old Knowles speakers I used. Frequency response is different in all of them.
I'll be changing out my old Railmaster speakers in several of my older locomotives, and I'm looking forward to trying these out. Should be by early next week I hope.
-Kevin
Post by: PatP on September 12, 2017, 11:49:48 PM
Jacob, I have been looking around at different options and have decided to try a few different ones:
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/pui-audio-inc/AS01808AO-WP-R/668-1517-ND/5958415 (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/pui-audio-inc/AS01808AO-WP-R/668-1517-ND/5958415)
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/soberton-inc/SP-1511S-3/433-1127-ND/6099101 (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/soberton-inc/SP-1511S-3/433-1127-ND/6099101)
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/soberton-inc/SP-1813S/433-1136-ND/6099110 (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/soberton-inc/SP-1813S/433-1136-ND/6099110)
They are each slightly different. The last one will require that I wire in parallel so that I don't exceed the max power rating of the speaker. All these speakers have a higher db rating than the old Knowles speakers I used. Frequency response is different in all of them.
-Kevin
Kevin, I've got some of the first ones (668-1517-ND). They've got a metal plate over the speaker which seems to give them a sharp metallic sound, for lack of better description. I had to glue sides on them to keep them from rattling. I'll be waiting to hear how they work for you.
I also bought Digikey #CMS-25148N and CDS-25148-L100, the only difference being the second ones have wires. They're about just a little bigger size, also 8 ohm and 90+ db. I made a little plastic box and they work pretty good.
PatP
Post by: TwinStar on September 13, 2017, 09:01:50 PM
Post by: MustDecide on September 26, 2017, 08:11:58 PM
Since I am so new to this I do not even know what engines I have and how well they will even fit, or how much trouble I will have to get them installed. All I know is that some of them are "DCC ready" but do not have any modules in them. I have just purchased, somewhat at random, engines from flee markets and used engines. I now need some speakers. It looks like the 'sugar cube' is the way to go, at least that is where I will start. Based on what I see this is a nick name for this kind of speaker since I cannot find them by searching for sugar cube speakers. Can anybody just give me a manufacturer and suggest a model number to order, or are there too many different varieties to suggest just one. The link I see in a previous email seems to indicate they are no longer manufactured.
I will also most likely need some adapter cables but will not know until I open up the engines. I will most likely have many questions in the future so please be patient with me and my lack of knowledge especially at the beginning.
Post by: TwinStar on November 09, 2017, 03:00:39 PM
Post by: TwinStar on November 10, 2017, 11:11:42 PM
Speaker https://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&itemSeq=243505627&uq=636458363979802605
Box https://www.shapeways.com/product/ST28SN2K2/433-1136-nd-box?optionId=64040773&li=shop-inventory
I intend to test this next week.
Post by: KPack on November 13, 2017, 10:44:56 AM
That is also one of the speakers I have been testing. I bought three different ones and I think this one sounds better than the others. I still like the old Fox Knowles better, but this new one isn't bad.
-Kevin
Post by: TwinStar on November 13, 2017, 10:49:39 AM
I'll let you know. I think these are really going to be handy when I get into my GP7 fleet and need something custom built to hit that 1 CC of volume in such a small hood. It only takes a few minutes to draw these so if this works I'll probably go this route for all of my future boxes.