Engadget

Sneaker speakers kick out the jams

Donald Melanson — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:56:00 EST

We've seen homemade speakers crafted from all sorts of unusual objects, but these new sneaker speakers built for a design competition by professional sneaker customizer Nashmoney might just be the new king in town. As you can see, they started out as a regular pair of Nike Air Force 1s, and all of the speaker components are built right into the sneakers, including the amplifier and the controls. Of course, they're also one of a kind, but you can find some pictures and details of the build process at the link below if you have an old pair of kicks you'd like to try to retrofit yourself.

Sneaker speakers kick out the jams originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hard drives quit their day job to pursue new life as a speaker system

Ross Miller — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:02:00 EST

We know what you're thinking, why would you ever turn two decent hard disk drives into tinny speakers when it's much more logical to use them as storage and buying cheap speakers instead... but if you're the kind of mad scientist who likes to see doohickeys function outside their intended use, or have friends who'd be really impressed or amused, you might want to consider recreating this classy speaker set complete with transparent glass case and the requisite blue lights. All the instructions lie beyond the read link, and if you're not quite convinced, we think the video after the break is likely to change your opinion for the better.

[Via Hack a Day]

Continue reading Hard drives quit their day job to pursue new life as a speaker system

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Hard drives quit their day job to pursue new life as a speaker system originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paper desktop speakers rock you like a handcrafted hurricane

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:21:00 EST

Like my grandmother always says, sometimes the best gadgets are the ones you build yourself -- with kits imported from Japan, purchased at places like Fred Flare. Princeton's Paper Speaker kit comes with a pair of 1W stereo speakers, a USB connection, paste, and a paper template for building a retro desktop sound system. Three designs are available -- take your pick from a cabinet record player, a component stereo system, or an old school boom box. Check 'em out below, and then get yours when it becomes available in early July for ¥1,980 (approximately $21).

Gallery: Paper desktop speakers rock you like a handcrafted hurricane

[Via Akihabara]

Filed under: Peripherals

Paper desktop speakers rock you like a handcrafted hurricane originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Teensy Weensy eggshell speakers, perfect for all the king's men

Laura June — Sat, 30 May 2009 01:11:00 EST

This is one waste not, want not, DIY project that caught our eye. Tiny little speaker housings made of carefully cut (and, we assumed, cleaned) eggshells, with small stands of clay. The final product apparently has "narrow" sound, but they sure look cuter than any homemade speakers we've ever seen before.

[Via Wired]

Filed under: Portable Audio

Teensy Weensy eggshell speakers, perfect for all the king's men originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 May 2009 01:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How-to guide breaks down 7.1-channel audio setup procedure

Darren Murph — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:14:00 EST

Blu-ray player? Check. An AV receiver? Check. Loads of cables? Check. Knowledge of how to hook everything up for maximum impact? Uh, not so much. BigPictureBigSound has hosted up a nice how-to guide for making the most of the multi-channel audio that's just waiting to ooze out of your Blu-ray player. The writeup covers both HDMI and analog approaches, and it breaks it down in five easy-to-digest steps so that you don't get all overwhelmed. Go 'head, give it a look -- it's not that difficult, we promise.

Filed under: DIY, Misc, Blu-ray, Receivers, Speakers

How-to guide breaks down 7.1-channel audio setup procedure originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cuckoo clock loudspeaker kicks out the jams, you out of bed

Darren Murph — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:43:00 EST

And you thought The Shining cuckoo clock was terrifying -- imagine waking up to this. Designed by French artist Stephane Vigny, the loudspeaker clock does exactly what you'd expect it to. When the time comes, the doors flip open, the bottom woofer extends out and a cacophonic emission of sound is heard as you angrily wake from your slumber. We can't imagine that outstretched woofer surviving too many mornings of you waking on the wrong side of the bed.

[Via MAKE]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Household

Cuckoo clock loudspeaker kicks out the jams, you out of bed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Russian fire extinguishers converted into speakers

Darren Murph — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:38:00 EST

Converting wine jugs and thinking men into speakers is one thing, but transforming nearly archaic Russian fire extinguishers into front towers is another thing entirely. Due to the entire how-to guide being penned in Russian, we'll confess that we aren't entirely sure what went on during the construction process. The good news, however, is that the guide includes a plethora of photographs that can be understood regardless of your native tongue. Now, how to go about finding a few of those canisters...

[Via Hack N Mod]

Filed under: DIY, Speakers

Russian fire extinguishers converted into speakers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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$1 million home theater install is heavy on the McIntosh

Darren Murph — Tue, 20 May 2008 09:56:00 EST

Though not nearly as extravagant as the $6 million Kipnis Studio Standard, Ivan Messer's AV lair is quite impressive -- particularly for fans of McIntosh. This installation tallied up to a cool million when all was said and done, and a staggering 100 McIntosh components were used in the build. Aside from that, you'll also find a heavy reliance on wooden cabinetry and a real touch of class overall, but we won't spoil it for you. Head on down to the read link to take a look at what seven figures can net you.

Filed under: DIY, Misc, Speakers

$1 million home theater install is heavy on the McIntosh originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 May 2008 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Electronic House picks Home of the Year 2008 winners, we drool

Darren Murph — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:14:00 EST

Here it is: the hotly anticipated list of best homes as selected by Electronic House. Interestingly enough, this year's winners are quite different than the champs of 2007, and we suspect all that talk of green these days has something to do with it. Yep, for the first time ever, an "energy-efficient, sustainable" home snagged the highly-coveted gold, but make no mistake, this domicile is packed to the gills with electronic goodness (some of which actually helps keep energy waste down). Even if that doesn't pique your interest, EH has selected a plethora of other swank abodes to highlight, including the best home theater, a pimped out yacht and cribs with hidden treasures. Go on, get lost in the pages upon pages of snapshots and descriptions below -- and feel free to brag in comments if your pad wound up a winner.

Filed under: DIY, Industry, Displays, Media streamers, Other hardware, Players, Receivers, Recorders, Speakers

Electronic House picks Home of the Year 2008 winners, we drool originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 May 2008 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Empty wine jugs make a fine 6.1 surround system -- who knew?

Darren Murph — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:04:00 EST

Ever had the itch to construct a surround sound system of your very own? Do you have an embarrassingly large stockpile of four- to five-liter wine jugs? If you answered yes to both of the aforementioned inquiries (and you're at least halfway sober), Carlo Rossi has just the thing for you. Apparently, it felt the need to dish out DIY instructions for converting a number of its Sangria containers into a 6.1-channel surround system, and as with most projects, we'd also recommend you not take this one on while under the influence -- ironic though that may be. Ready to get started? Put down (or pick up?) the brown bag and hit the links below.

[Via UberReview]
Read - The Sangria Surround Sound System [PDF]
Read - Carlo Rossi's JugSimple

Filed under: DIY, Speakers, Others

Empty wine jugs make a fine 6.1 surround system -- who knew? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Empty wine jugs make a fine 6.1 surround system -- who knew?

Darren Murph — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:04:00 EST

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Empty wine jugs make a fine 6.1 surround system -- who knew? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JVC's build-it-yourself speaker set, but why would you?

Conrad Quilty-Harper — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 13:09:00 EST

A self-assembled speaker set that costs $370 isn't the best value proposition we've ever seen, but we're sure a few of you could figure out why to opt for an unbuilt set of speaker components. Maybe you just need a little more control over the build quality, or maybe JVC's just trying to pass off putting together a box full of speaker bits as a bit of fun. Either way, you'll have to head to Japan to pick up the set of 85mm cones and cherry wood cabinets: yeah, it's get-it-yourself too.

[Via Gadget Lab]

Filed under: Portable Audio

JVC's build-it-yourself speaker set, but why would you? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Nov 2007 13:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spherical speaker array provides blaring ball of sound

Darren Murph — Sun, 06 May 2007 05:22:00 EST

Granted, we've seen some oddities in our day when it comes to creating music makers, but the Spherical Speaker Array ranks pretty high up there in terms of sheer peculiarity. The overriding goal of this DIY project was to keep costs at a minimum regardless of quality, which means that the creator opted for speakers that would probably make even a casual audiophile weep. Nevertheless, taking a dremel tool to a number of IKEA bowls, wiring up a multitude of speakers, and finding an amplifier to power your new dangling ball of sound just about takes care of it. So if you're anxious to one-up the almighty 7.1-channel surround sound smartphone, or you just need a sufficient (and noisy) replacement to the dusty disco ball hanging in your pool hall, be sure to tag the links below to get to rockin' (but mostly rolling).

[Via HackNMod]

Filed under: Portable Video

Spherical speaker array provides blaring ball of sound originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 May 2007 05:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michigan Tech students craft 20,000 watt snow horn

Darren Murph — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 02:33:00 EST

While we've seen water-based, cement cast, and speaker-shaped speakers make their respective debuts lately, this Michigan Tech project might just take the proverbial cake. Seeking to becoming kings of university's annual snow statue building contest, a few zany students crafted a monstrous snow horn, fully equipped with tweeters, mid-range drivers, and subwoofers. The horn was unfortunately disqualified from the competition due to using "materials other than snow," but how can you not hand over a gold medal to a team that braved the freezing cold in order to craft a 20,000-watt megaphone? You heard right, powering this immense array of drivers were nine Behringer EP2500s and a Crown XLS602, and while we've no way of confirming, we have every reason to believe that folks have "called to complain from miles away." So if you've ever wondered what (is probably) the loudest speaker to ever be constructed primarily from snow looks like, be sure to hit the read link for a bevy of in-progress and finalized snapshots.

[Via Audio Junkies, thanks Lukas G]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Portable Audio

Michigan Tech students craft 20,000 watt snow horn originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Feb 2007 02:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Austrians build concrete cast 5.1 speaker set

Darren Murph — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:39:00 EST

We've seen a bevy of interestingly designed speaker systems come our way, and we've even caught a few glimpses of concrete-based gizmos, but a few crafty Austrians decided to create their own nearly immovable 5.1 surround set by casting each speaker in pure cement. By measuring out the dimensions and constructing molds using wood and wax, the speaker enclosures were then placed in a wire cage and doused with concrete. After solidifying, the internal molds were removed and a custom etched logo was carved on the side, only to be further decorated with a few dashes of paint. Eventually, the electronics and drivers were all installed and sealed up, leaving a surround system that would be quite a burden if any thieves tried to relocate them. While there's no specific step-be-step guide available, the entire process was fairly well captured in photographs, so be sure and hit the read link if you're interesting in killing gobs of time creating a very bizarre set of speakers, or click on through for a few more snapshots.

[Via HackADay]

Continue reading Austrians build concrete cast 5.1 speaker set

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

Austrians build concrete cast 5.1 speaker set originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Jan 2007 21:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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