PLACE: Onl'Fait, Geneva
DATE: 07/01
PEOPLE: Cristina

STEP 1

OBJECTIVE

I built a fabric loud speaker.

MATERIAL

• earplugs
• USB cable
• 2 crocodile clips
• conductive fabric and thread
• mini amplifier breakout board 2 x 3W Class D PAM8403
• 3 small neodymium magnets
• a spiral made out of Sheldex Kassel

CREDITS

Wemake Milano for building the spiral

Kobakant for theidea

STEP 2

The spiral was made using conductive fabric lasercut and fused to normal fabric. I completed the speaker by sewing conductive thread and conductive fabric connectors.

The other option was to use a speaker with thick copper embroidery thread. However it was probably covered by a patina as it wasn't conductive anymore. I plan to look into it for the next speaker model.

STEP 3

PROCEDURE

• I cut, stripped and soldered a USB cable to the alimentation of the mini amplifier
• I cut, stripped and soldered 2 crocodiles wires to the left output (+ and -) of the mini amplifier
• I cut, stripped and soldered earplugs (1 cable) to the left input and mass of the mini amplifier

ISSUES & NOTES

• I used a USB cable because the mini amplifier requires 5 V.
• It would be interesting to have a stereo amplifier by building a second electromagnet
• It took some time to make the correct connections with the earplugs internal wires because they are insulated. I had to quickly burn them to strip the cover and leave only the metallic wires. To find the mass, I used a multimeter

STEP 4

RESULT

The speaker worked pretty well when a magnet approached the spiral (here the video). It worked better if the tissue was hanged vertically and could vibrate more freely.