View Full Version : Altec Lansing ACS41 speaker mod
I've got 2 sets of identical speakers.
Actually, 1.66.
I have 2 right speakers, 2 transformers, and 1 left speaker.
So, to put the .66 of the set to good use, I'm thinking of building my own speaker system.
What I've learned so far about these speakers:
It's a 15V, 25W sound system.
There are 2 stereo inputs.
Each speaker is 4 ohm. No idea what the tweeter is. Or if the tweeter is included in the resistance.
The "Sub Output" is actually a semi-amplified direct stereo output.
The sound quality is good, and even on max volume, I have little to no static.
TLHarrell
08-23-2012, 08:06 PM
Use the spare for a center channel. Sub output is usually passed through a low-pass filter at the subwoofer.
Stonerboy779
08-23-2012, 10:48 PM
Is the left or right speaker the one with the inbuilt amp?
If you are missing the channel with the inbuilt amp its not going to be worth the time to make your 3rd channel work.
Use the spare for a center channel. Sub output is usually passed through a low-pass filter at the subwoofer.
Actually, my speakers are kind of strange. There is no filtering done by the sub output. It's all done at the sub. It's stereo because I did the "touch finger to contact, hear fuzz" trick.
Also, I have no rear speakers. That may change soon....
Is the left or right speaker the one with the inbuilt amp?
If you are missing the channel with the inbuilt amp its not going to be worth the time to make your 3rd channel work.
The right has the amp. That's why I'm building my own box for it.
I got to thinking, get a bigger amp, so I don't have 2 transformers hooked up to one unit.
Heck, I may just grab a spare PSU power plug, and grab power that way.
I've got quite a bit of plywood, so that simplifies that. For the sub and speaker.
!!!!!!!
I just got the perfect idea!
Minecraft-themed speakers!
Little creepers as the speakers, and Steve head as the sub. Brilliant!
SketchUp, here I come.
TLHarrell
08-24-2012, 01:08 AM
Use MDF. Takes paint much better.
Minecraft speakers... that'd be interesting. Go for it!
I just had some plywood spare, that's all.
Maybe use the plywood as a template, then move to MDF.
Stonerboy779
08-24-2012, 03:17 AM
Mdf is better to use than ply in speaker building projects due its density.
Try also to keep roughly the same internal volume in your speakers as was originally there. You have no thiele-small parameters so that is the best you can do.
Even if you make your creepers larger just keep the internal speaker cavity the same volume as that of the original speakers.
Do you have any plans on what you will amp them with?
Something cheap you could consider is just a basic car headunit and a spare PSU you have laying around for the power source.
Mdf is better to use than ply in speaker building projects due its density.
OK. Just gonna make one, so I just have a temlate, so I can save money on the good stuff.
Try also to keep roughly the same internal volume in your speakers as was originally there. You have no thiele-small parameters so that is the best you can do.
Even if you make your creepers larger just keep the internal speaker cavity the same volume as that of the original speakers.
Won't be a problem. Creepers were going to end up that size, anyways.
Do you have any plans on what you will amp them with?
Something cheap you could consider is just a basic car headunit and a spare PSU you have laying around for the power source.
The only problem with the power is, they're a 15V system, and cars are usually 12V.
So, if anybody knows of a 12-15V, 25W system, that'll be easier for the amp system.
I'm replacing my CRTs with LCDs, so I can stuff the amp where the right monitor used to hog up.
Stonerboy779
08-24-2012, 05:26 PM
They are just speakers you can power them with any amp as they are just a passive component.
You said you would ditch their amp and their internal amp runs off 15v doesn't mean it supplies 15 v if it did that would mean 15v x 4ohm for 60watt rms speakers and they sure aren't that :P
Well, to power the sub and the 2 speakers For an internal..
I don't really know, but that's what the transformer says.
But, all I can find on the speaker is "A2152", "4 Ohm".
Stonerboy779
08-24-2012, 10:20 PM
Well, to power the sub and the 2 speakers For an internal..
I don't really know, but that's what the transformer says.
But, all I can find on the speaker is "A2152", "4 Ohm".
Just trust me okay :)
You can use any amp. That the original amp ran from a 15v source doesn't matter one bit. Also if you use the car headunit you also have yourself a nice cd player and radio when you aren't using it as PC speakers :P
OK. I am thinking having the two input jacks to keep it easy to switch devices.
I have a spare 250 watt PSU, with 15 amps on the 12 volt rail. 15*12=180. Probably more than enough.
Now, what's the best way to connect the speakers to the amp unit?
Stonerboy779
08-25-2012, 12:36 AM
What amp unit?
For the speakers, I was thinking of just recycling the amp board of the spare ACS41.
Then connect the sub output to the sub amp, shared power source.
*I have already seen a potential problem:
470uF, 16V, brown goo on bulging top.
Stonerboy779
08-25-2012, 01:31 AM
I thought you only had one internal amp?
Also do you even have the matching sub?
No, I don't.
However, I can just, for now, create the main unit, and add the sub later.
Also, I did find out that it is indeed just a direct stereo output on the sub output.
So, I can control the bass cutoff with a dedicated sub unit.
With the power of Google, the matching sub is the acs48.
Teaser pic:
http://ubuntuone.com/1U54jG1ACYl7ghSBHTrH20
Well, it seems that the camera on the phone doesn't like low level light. And that it records video better than still pictures.
And, no, it wasn't plugged into the wall at the time.
OK, any recommendations on 4 ohm speaker pairs?
Stonerboy779
08-27-2012, 06:17 PM
Why are you replacing the speakers all together now?
I only have one, so I need a second speaker. I figured, I can't find another identical one on eBay, so it's a good time to get a new pair.
Ladies and gentlemen....
It is not complete, but I present you thissssssSSSSSsssssssssss......
http://ubuntuone.com/0s9q72FhyTv8ip6GRVMxmZ
Speakers: Fat Creeper Edition.
I had to make it wide. I couldn't figure out how to make it skinny to make it look more like a creeper, without compromising keeping the acoustic chamber identical.
Back feet and finished head to come.
And don't worry. I've got a mom who knows a LOT about woodworking.
What stopped progress? A broken drill bit.
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