Speaker muffling - or something drastic?

[mikmas]

My wife and I are presented with something of a pressing dilemma requiring expert advice from any experienced speaker builders or modifiers out there.

Yesterday while shopping at the local gardening supplies emporium we happened across a most charming item in the form of a dancing reindeer. On shaking hands with this 'Rudolph' he bursts into a resoundingly seasonal song (Jingle Bell Rock) and performs a most marvelous and entrancing dance perfectly in time with the rhythm - and somewhat 'funky'. Our pleasure was however somewhat marred by severe problems with the frequency distribution and volume of the emanating sound best summed up by my better half’s observation that ‘it made her ears ring’.

On examination, whilst there has clearly been some thought in the design of a reasonable amplifier stage (given the confined space available) and there is definitely potential there for a satisfying if limited SQ, there is no volume control and the enclosure in which the speaker is mounted leaves much to be desired, being entirely made from cast plastic with a few random holes to allow soundwave dissipation.

Our initial thoughts were that some form of muffling material (my wife suggested felt) taped over the speaker orifices would provide enough defense against the shriller of the higher frequencies and reduce the volume to almost acceptable levels. This would of course provide a quick and easy palliative measure but one wonders if a more radical approach is recommended.
I am currently not au-fait with the power output of the amplifier but the speaker in question is approx 2cm in diameter and could possibly be replaced with a suitable better grade alternative. Power is supplied by on board batteries so mains conditioning will not be necessary.

(I do have a Dremel and can use a soldering iron should major reconstruction be required)

[Firebottle]

Well I would say try a bigger transducer to start with, let us know how you get on.....

:)

[awkwardbydesign]

Now this is a thread after my own heart.
But this thread is worthless without pictures.

[mikmas]

Now this is a thread after my own heart.
But this thread is worthless without pictures.


Your wish is my command:

Firstly Rudolph in situ to give some idea of the context (the sideboard is in a room approx 3.5mX 6m)
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/568/23362252309_b4dd783b76_z.jpg

With his gracious permission I have lifted his coat for a view of the speaker mount - should be clear from this the scale of the problem facing us !!!
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/609/23102089374_096c5cfa7d_z.jpg

[awkwardbydesign]

Thanks for the pics. I'm puzzled by the midrange prominence; small holes usually act as a low pass filter. But Alan's suggestion has merit, perhaps a subwoofer would improve the balance?
http://cdn.freshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/17-cool-speakers-designs-that-look-better-than-they-sound-image-3.jpg

[mikmas]

Thanks for the pics. I'm puzzled by the midrange prominence; small holes usually act as a low pass filter. But Alan's suggestion has merit, perhaps a subwoofer would improve the balance?
http://cdn.freshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/17-cool-speakers-designs-that-look-better-than-they-sound-image-3.jpg

Hmmm ... not sure decapitating Rudolph would go down well in the Mikmas household - but sometimes drastic measures mean the kindest cut..
Also one can only hope he doesn't get called out on Christmas Eve should fog prevail, explaining the lack of red nose (and head) could prove awkward ... definitely not best the time to be on the wrong side of Santa

[Macca]

Take a line level feed from Rudolph to your PC and from there to your main system. That way you can apply digital room correction and parametric EQ.

I don't know, I have to solve all the problems around here....

[mikmas]

Take a line level feed from Rudolph to your PC and from there to your main system. That way you can apply digital room correction and parametric EQ.

I don't know, I have to solve all the problems around here....

I wish it were that simple ... unfortunately Rudolph's funky little dance number includes a number of pirouettes and these would require some form of commutator in the base to prevent his lower half being strangled with wire or the connection simply wrenched out. A Wifi sender strapped to his torso might be realisable I suppose :lol:

[Macca]

Now your thinking out of the box.

Or in this case, Reindeer.

[Arkless Electronics]

Wow! This is one of those special "solution looking for a problem for a long time" dilemmas now solvable, instantly, and just by thinking outside the box! Who would have thought Santa could have helped solve this hi fi conundrum :D
Why SET's of course! Need to really round of the edges of a severely harsh, tinny sounding faux-reindeer? Jobs a gud 'n. Nowt above 8K to offend the festive ear and, if you use a big directly heated triode, it will serve as fairy lights, providing a Christmasy ambience whilst maintaining a tropical indoors temperature against the winter chill!

[Marco]

Don't forget to upgrade the mains lead! :thumbsup:

Marco.

[RichB]

Don't forget to upgrade the mains lead! :thumbsup:

Marco.

I've heard there's an SQ improvement with external batteries.

Stan Beresford might be able to help.

[Macca]

The whole unit needs to be cryo-treated before any serious work can commence.

Although since it is from the North Pole that might already have been done. A quick phone call to the manufacturer would seem advisable.

[mikmas]

The whole unit needs to be cryo-treated before any serious work can commence.

Although since it is from the North Pole that might already have been done. A quick phone call to the manufacturer would seem advisable.


Have emailed Santa twice already over this issue but am getting no response, will probably come up with the old excuse of 'being snowed under at the moment'...
...usual problem with 'one-man band' outfits (although I have heard tell he has an army of unpaid elves doing the donkey work for him, but this is just hearsay)

[mikmas]

Don't forget to upgrade the mains lead! :thumbsup:

Marco.


I've heard there's an SQ improvement with external batteries.

Stan Beresford might be able to help.

Useful suggestions chaps but already considered at the design stage; Rudolph has a neatly concealed door in his back for the insertion of AA batteries.
Might try rechargeables though to see if this lifts the SQ ;)

[walpurgis]

Have emailed Santa twice already over this issue but am getting no response, will probably come up with the old excuse of 'being snowed under at the moment'...
...usual problem with 'one-man band' outfits (although I have heard tell he has an army of unpaid elves doing the donkey work for him, but this is just hearsay)

Didn't they tell you? Santa has been laid off. Part of Cameron's austerity drive.

They've got Grant Shapps filling in temporarily, as he can't be trusted with anything else.

[Rothchild]

This is an engineering problem, so it needs an engineering solution:

http://www.nitelites.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Gaffa-Tape.jpg

;)

[Hipper]

Shoot bloody Rudolf so he doesn't deafen others.

At the same time if you can muffle supermarket speakers, carol singers and all those other singing do-gooders that surface at this time of year it would be appreciated.

I hate Christmas!

[Macca]

I did have a look this year to see if there was some sort of cruise that gets you away over Xmas. Doesn't matter where it cruises to, just out into the ocean would do, but the deal is there is no Xmas on the boat. At all.

There doesn't appear to be anyone doing it but I think there is a gap in the market there.

[RichB]

I did have a look this year to see if there was some sort of cruise that gets you away over Xmas. Doesn't matter where it cruises to, just out into the ocean would do, but the deal is there is no Xmas on the boat. At all.

There doesn't appear to be anyone doing it but I think there is a gap in the market there.

Did that last year.

God I wish i were doing this year.

[Rothchild]

Shoot bloody Rudolf so he doesn't deafen others.

At the same time if you can muffle supermarket speakers, carol singers and all those other singing do-gooders that surface at this time of year it would be appreciated.

I hate Christmas!

http://www.nitelites.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Gaffa-Tape.jpg

also works, with stunning effect, on carol singers and do-gooders......

[legb4rsk]

All this talk of upgrading Rudolf sounds like it could end up a 'little dear' to me.;)

[Macca]

Time to rein it in