mini speakers for ho scale engines

[rrinker]

 The little square speakers places like SBS call sugar cube speakers (because they look a bit like sugar cubes, you know, for your coffee) are not the same as the iphone speakers. The iphone speakers are thinner but more elongated, and there are several types (and I'm not convinced all the ones sold as such are "iphone speakers") depending on just what phone it is for. I've seen surplus ones that truly are the ones in an iphone - they have en enclosure and more than just the speaker. They may or may not fit in a loco as-is, because they can be oddly shaped. Or rather, the enclosures are oddly shaped. But those match the teardown pictures you find on sites like ifixit. Some of these other ones - maybe it's a similar spec speaker, maybe it's not.

 I really don't care what the source is, if it fits the available space and has good sound reproduction, that's all that really matters. 

                                --Randy

[hon30critter]

SPSOT fan

TWO speakers in ONE TINY switcher, I guess I didn‘t realize how small they are!!!!

They do fill the top of the cab so the view through the windows is blocked, but I could have squeezed part of an engineer in by cutting him/her off at the waist and then cutting the figure vertically. Drawn and quartered so to speak! Not sure why I didn't. Maybe too squeamish!!

Dave

[gmpullman]

hon30critter

"Sugar cube" is just a generic nick name for iPhone5 speakers and similar devices.

My favorite have become the ESU 50321, 11 x 15mm with the adaptable sound chamber:

https://www.modeltrainstuff.com/esu-50321-loksound-speaker-11mm-x-15mm-square-8-ohms-0-5w-with-sound-chamber-set/

You have to have some soldering skill and fine, flexible wire to attach them to the decoder but with a few tricks it goes OK.

In most GP-type HO locos I can easily fit a pair inside and they do sound every bit as good as some of the larger speakers.

Below is an Athearn Genesis GP9-b. No cab so space was tight but I managed a full sized AT-style decoder and two speakers.

GP9b_PRR_Tsunami2b by Edmund, on Flickr

Note that I configured the sound chamber to fit under part of the PC board.

GP9b_PRR_Tsunami by Edmund, on Flickr

The speaker at the other end I used stacked sound chamber pieces:

GP9b_PRR_Tsunami2a by Edmund, on Flickr

I like the versatility and good sound from these ESU wsugar cubes. You have to carefully glue the chambers to make them air tight for the best sound. I use a product for making 3D printing on T shirts as a "caulking" material for my speakers once they are assembled.

Because of the strong magnets I use a piece of double-stick tape and a weight to hold the cardstock in place while I solder the wire otherwise the speaker will jump to the iron soldering tip!

SD_9-decoder-sp1 by Edmund, on Flickr

You can see how the sound chambers go together. I usually wire these in series. They are 8 Ω. I have tried the speakers that are already mounted into the specialised phone housings but, in my experience, they are not easy to try to fit into a locomotive.

Good Luck, Ed

 

 

 

[SPSOT fan]

TWO speakers in ONE TINY switcher, I guess I didn‘t realize how small they are!!!!

[hon30critter]

SPSOT fan

No certain if sugar cube speakers are the same thing but from what I’ve heard both produce some nice sound.

Hi SPSOT,

"Sugar cube" is just a generic nick name for iPhone5 speakers and similar devices.

Here are some iPhone5 speakers at work. There are two of them in this critter.

Try 'em, you'll love 'em!

Dave

 

[riogrande5761]

Very cheap.  I put in an order from one vendor that is out of them but will ship when they get more back in May, which is ok for me.  If you need something sooner go eBay.

[SPSOT fan]

riogrande5761

 The iPhone speakers are thin and compact and you can cut them down with no loss of sound quality.

Yes, exactly the advantage of iPhone speakers. You can glue them to the top of a shell, without taking much space because their so thin, and have excellent sound from the area of the loco sound comes for on the prototype. And did I mention their cheap!

[riogrande5761]

SPSOT fan

 

I have heard on YouTube that some modelers get very good sound out of old iPhone 5 speakers. You can remove them from old phones or I have heard they are available on eBay.

Not certain if sugar cube speakers are the same thing but from what I’ve heard both produce some nice sound. 

There have been hobbyists who have replaced stock speakers with inexpensive Iphone speakers and gotten excellent results.  They aren't square but do they have to be?  The iPhone speakers are thin and compact and you can cut them down with no loss of sound quality.

There is a lot of discussion on the iPhone speaker upgrades at TrainOrders.  For example:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,4764995,4764995#msg-4764995

You need a subscription to see the full size photo's but can still read the text.

[SPSOT fan]

hon30critter

I don't know your level of experience with sound, but have you ever considered so-called "sugar cube" speakers, often called iPhone5 speakers? They are very small and sound amazing! There is usually space in most engines to mount two or even four of them.

I have heard on YouTube that some modelers get very good sound out of old iPhone 5 speakers. You can remove them from old phones or I have heard they are available on eBay.

No certain if sugar cube speakers are the same thing but from what I’ve heard both produce some nice sound.

[hon30critter]

Hi Trainlyne!

Welcome to the forums!!      

I don't know your level of experience with sound, but have you ever considered so-called "sugar cube" speakers, often called iPhone5 speakers? They are very small and sound amazing! There is usually space in most engines to mount two or even four of them.

Here is some information about them:

http://sbs4dcc.com/sugarcubespeakers.html

http://sbs4dcc.com/tutorialstipstricks/sugarcubespeakernotes.html

http://sbs4dcc.com/tutorialstipstricks/wiringmultispeakers.html

Note that the use of baffles (speaker enclosures) is essential!

Dave

[RR_Mel]

 

I’ve been using some 1” square speakers in my BB locomotives and steam tenders for several years.  They are the best sounding speakers for DCC sound I’ve ever heard.  The only problem is they are 4Ω and when used singly need a 4Ω or so resistor in series to equal the output of an 8Ω decoder.

 

 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2pcs-1-inch-4Ohm-4%CE%A9-1W-Full-Range-Audio-Speaker-Neodymium-Magnet-Loudspeaker/331551077718?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

I install two of the 4Ω speakers in series if there is room.

 

Here is a link to a post on my blog about installing dual speakers in a SP oil tender.

 

https://melvineperry.blogspot.com/2016/11/november-10-2016-rivarossi-cab-forward.html

 

The speakers have very powerful magnets and if located close to the track will pickup stray metal particles, on my tenders I use a substantial cover to protect the speaker cones.

 

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[Trainlyne]

Looking for square speakers to fit in old Athern blue box engines.  Thanks