Modular 3D printable Sound Bar / Center Speaker

thingiverse

I've done a couple of projects with speakers so far - the Two Way Tube Speaker and the 2 Way Orb Speaker. I recently stumbled upon some attractive-looking, full-range speakers on eBay at an unbeatable price. What could I possibly do with these tiny speakers? The answer is the 3D Printable Modular Sound Bar! I ordered ten of them for about twenty-five dollars Australian and began designing, resulting in this innovative creation. Each speaker gets its own individual enclosure that attaches to the next one using three small screws. Depending on the type of speaker you use, you can switch between two different fascias - one allows you to mount it to the front, while the other lets you position it between the fascia and the enclosure. The fascia is secured with four small screws. I printed my sound bar in red PLA for the enclosures and black for the fascia, which turned out a great combination. You can combine multiple speakers into your own unique sound bar - I used ten and arranged them in series-parallel to achieve about four ohms impedance. My sound bar is seventy-two centimeters wide (nearly two and a half feet or twenty-eight inches), giving it a sleek appearance. You can also use two or three units, turn them on their side, and instantly have left/right and surround speakers that match the sound bar. When it comes to connections, you can simply drill a hole in the back of one speaker and connect it directly to your amplifier. Alternatively, you can build an amplifier into the sound bar - I used the tried-and-true KEMO 12 Watt amplifier module, which works perfectly in this setup. For the speakers themselves, you should be able to print all parts without any supports. I printed mine at a resolution of 0.2 millimeters and a speed of six centimeters per second, resulting in a smooth finish. If you want to add an amplifier as well, you'll need to use supports for printing the brackets. **Please note that this project requires some experience with soldering and electronics to complete successfully.