Final and major change from experimental prototype to end user product...

From the last posts:

"Final step:

1. Get a correct switch so that I can cover my "DVD" with a cover

2. Getting a LED to light up at its correct voltage as an indicator when the amplifier is powered up

3. Recalibrate the sound of my subwoofer to match with my speakers at desired level (Although its already very good now)

4. If possible, enable a microphone connection to the amplifier as well. Therefore this will become a portable amplifier with mic. Great for small group lectures + music/sound input from CD/computer for presentations! "

After much consideration, I decided to ignore all those objectives first. I repositioned the whole interior first to enable me to cover my portable amp. Well, shifting is a real tiring work as it affects all my initial wiring that I had done.

Before alteration:

Interior placement of stuffs can be seen

Initial prototype under testing

After much alteration until early morning again...

Removing the DVD Player cover

View from front (Added LED!)

Viewing from left and right

Aerial View

Overall view

From the post before:

"Final step:

1. Get a correct switch so that I can cover my "DVD" with a cover

2. Getting a LED to light up at its correct voltage as an indicator when the amplifier is powered up

3. Recalibrate the sound of my subwoofer to match with my speakers at desired level (Although its already very good now)

4. If possible, enable a microphone connection to the amplifier as well. Therefore this will become a portable amplifier with mic. Great for small group lectures + music/sound input from CD/computer for presentations! "

Steps taken:

1. Altered the position of my switch and done!

2. LED lights up after placing a 1000 ohm resistor + soldering to LED. So when it's on, it lights up too!

3. Noticed that the woofer may sound too loud at times, therefore, the switch is brought to front and even placed outer than the cover for easy volume control

4. Microphone project disabled temporary to make way for project progress. I'll get it done later.

5. Interior is fully rewired and tidy upped (Although not much significant difference with before)

6. Added better functionality for easier consumer use. Now all in and out connections can be accessed from the back panel (I'll add output connector for today at the back)

Project progress to be updated. (and lesser progress also)...

Portable Amplifier Project Updates...

Now the project is nearly completed except the final phase. Pictures below shows the 80% completed project. Last pic timed back at 5.08am...

Speaker output connections and the switch from a drill

Interior of a massively modified salvaged DVD player

The "speaker out" to "line in" converter - Key to noiseless subwoofer

Now the amplifier and subwoofer is located at my computer's department for further testing

Current project status: About 80% done...

Satisfactory results gained.

Final step:

1. Get a correct switch so that I can cover my "DVD" with a cover

2. Getting a LED to light up at its correct voltage as an indicator when the amplifier is powered up

3. Recalibrate the sound of my subwoofer to match with my speakers at desired level (Although its already very good now)

4. If possible, enable a microphone connection to the amplifier as well. Therefore this will become a portable amplifier with mic. Great for small group lectures + music/sound input from CD/computer for presentations!

Project to be updated...

Personal Science Project Report

Aim: To reconstruct and re-alter the input and output of subwoofer in able to boost the maximum capability and usage including functions of a true subwoofer.

For past few days (since monday), I had been working to amplify my subwoofer louder.

Monday

A good research till 4am

Tuesday

- Evening: Purchased amplifier @ RM38 at Brothers KJ. Did not buy something expensive as recommended by salesperson, but headed straight to the cheapest amp. Sales person chased me out on my first attempt to get a cheap one. But my persistency in the shop for hours made me chosen a right amp with another salesperson (Who is very desperate to get a sales done that day)

- Midnight to morning : Installed and not working as loud noise overcomed the original sound itself + Found out that need to buy a converter

Wednesday

- Evening: Bought a converter which changed "high-input" to "line input"

- Midnight to morning: Experiment with line converter but does not seemed working as no sound is heard to be output. But later stage found that it actually works with little noise. Tried grounding the amplifier to Earth and got better. Seconds later got worse. After removing the Earth wire, it's better now. Therefore will proceed without Earth connections anymore. Very satisfied with capabilities that can be done by amplifier to add the subwoofer volume.

Thursday

- Midnight to morning: Dismantle everything in an old DVD player and prepared to put my amp and converter into it. Last pic taken is 5.36am.

Original placement of DVD parts after removing the case

Removed the main power supply

Removed the DVD player dock

Removed the last DVD processor

Placed my Proline GP-118 amp+converter in. Wired it up. Stripped the connectors of my converter and its 5.36 a.m.

Project updates to be continued...

Revival of 2 posts...

Both last post are really old and unfinished...

14/08/08

23/05/09

Just don't want to keep it as draft anymore, so i just post it....

Yay! Holidays.... Sure boh?

Daily Digest of first day of holiday....

First day of holidays!

Yea, so basically a supposingly "long" holidays started. For this holidays, planned to do a project. So lets do it on first day of holidays!

I have a old Sony TV Woofer (Still sounded very good from an old 29" CRT TV). 15 Watts, at least better than any cheap speakers on LCD or Plamsa TV on market. It does really pump up some good low frequency sound (Bass). Initially, I opened up the whole woofer to tap the speaker's positive and negative connections with wires. And it's connected to my Micro Hi-Fi, which also served as my computer speakers.

The woofer on top of micro Hi-Fi.

View from front

However, the woofer sounded disappointing. The sound generated is considered inaudible from far / on top of my micro Hi-Fi. Unless you put it in front of you, then you can really get some good bass of it.

So? My TV, which is just opposite my computer... Yo, a really old 90's 14" CRT TV, not LCD / Plasma k? If not then happy till no need blog dy la... Sanyo CAP4012L, which still can be seen on some TARC busses.

Picture: still nice as its seldom used after it "migrated" to my room.

Sound: Mono-speaker system (That's really ok in the 90's but now = disappointing)

Sounded quite bad in terms of bass as it used only a "toy-speaker". So I decided to add this woofer to it. Hoping it will have an audible bass though.

After getting some simple tools, I opened the whole back cover of the TV. Just 4 screws! (TV nowadays = 2 screws but prepared to break open other connectors).

Obvious enough, the humungous space at the back is for the picture tube.

After giving the circuit board a good vacuum (Very free), realized a sticker patched on top right of TV tube. Sanyo - Warning!... (Not important) and...

Made by Samsung, Korea. Wow! A Japanese brand took their main stock from Korea? Funny but true. 90's wei, Japanese technology is the best at that time... Korea? Not heard before until today

With enough of exploration, I headed straight to the speaker. As expected, 2 wires popping out from the speaker. But what's even better is it has 2 long positive and negative plate for the speakers wires to be wrapped around it. Just as wished gua. No need to tap wires! I quickly inserted 2 connectors and screwed tight down to the plate.

Screwed the connectors with identified positive and negative connections

Screwed the wires

Returned it back to its original place

Now is the problem of getting the wires out of the box... I have no drill (Doubt i'll drill perfectly also). So searched for holes behind the TV. Spotted 2 weird shaped but small holes behind the TV. That's great! Just that its too small for my wire to go through. I stripped of the insulator and the core wires got through. Phew! (Notice that the green wire is just an extra). Tested with direct connection to the woofer straight away. It's just wow... The low and mid + high frequency just matched each other so harmonically. At least i'm able to get some bass when watching TV3 Cinema ok? lol. It sounded even better when I played CD with my 1996 Thomson VCD. (Yea, I agree all my media can be sent to museum dy.)

Stripped wires popping out from the back of TV

Perfected it by shortening the wires and inserted a connector to it

Now it's a lot neater now. Quickly secured the woofer wires and Voila! It's just great, great and great! Got my TV cover back to its position and done.

Sanyo + Sony = Twins?

It just sounded like I have a mini theatre system running on this TV. The bass volume is good and just nice. Just nicely sync with the mono 2W speaker tone. The longer I place my eyes on this TV, the more I like how it sounds. Very satisfied with this simple and great invention. Enjoying a 14" TV was never like this before in my life.

Now what? According to principles of GP........ Must always have conclusion le. Since Malaysia Day is around the corner, I shall stress the importance of Malaysia's independance. We shall appreciate what's now. And the easiest way? Supporting people like me! All customly "Made in Malaysia". Well, we shall really be proud of our country... Because...

We're Proudly Made in Malaysia!