Lego Speaker Vs SCARLET FIRE: Can It Handle The Heat?
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- Опубликовано: 4 май 2023
- Patreon: www.patreon.com/user?u=122597865
See my latest experiments and behind-the-scenes footage!
You all wanted to hear 'Scarlet Fire' on one of my latest creations - a speaker made almost entirely out of Lego Technic.
You can view the making of video here: • Powerful Speaker Made ...
Scarlet Fire is notorious for pushing speakers to their limits. Will my Lego speaker be able to handle the heat?
I've made a couple of minor upgrades to see if that'll help performance a little, but I know this speaker is in need of a complete overhaul, including a box and splitting the signal to separate high and low frequency speakers. But I'd appreciate any more thoughts from you on how I might improve its overall sound and performance, while keeping it mostly Lego.
This work contains the music track 'Scarlet Fire' by Otis McDonald that is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license.
#lego #speaker #music #moc #toys 
Наука
It has evolved. We are no longer listening to JUST a lego speaker. We are listening to a Lego Dingus Speaker
😂
This is a very special nugget
І read your comment in aussie!
Scarlet Fire needs to become the standard of audio testing
·No bass.
·No highs.
·Only mids.
·Doesn't use the PKCells.
·Frank says nothing.
I love how the song scarlet fire has become synonymous with Dank Pods.
Only just heard of him - love what I've seen so far!
@@JamiesBrickJams also I have a suggestion for a new membrane: why don’t you use on of those big base plates. They’re thin and fairly light.
I actually wanted to do that but struggled to find something to mount the coil. But I now have pieces that might actually work - good suggestion, thanks!
@@JamiesBrickJams It would be absolutely amazing if you made a 24 in subwoofer 🔊, also see if you get 2 semicircle magnets to go around the wheel instead of instead of inside half the wheel. Just a thought good content as always.
Dank Pods made Scarlet Fire in GarageBand on a green iPad 2 IN A CAVE
It's just wrong to not hear Wade screaming over this song. But this is actually really, really impressive!
Cheers, appreciate it 😄
@@JamiesBrickJams next time you play it you need to yell BOOF and make a fist
This sounds so much better than I thought it would.
Glad expectations started low 😉
At max power, it sounded like what I would imagine a lego would sound like, but at normal volume it sounded like a cheap speaker so above expectations.
I'm an audiophile...and I'll be honest...for what it's made from, it doesn't sound bad all things considered man, be proud that this creation works as well as it does!
the highs are still terrible because of how heavy the membrane is, but it has a decent resolution at reasonable volume, and doesn't go whack on the lows, pretty impressive for legos.
Aw thanks, appreciate it! The next version with a crossover and tweeter (and box) should improve things a lot
@@JamiesBrickJams if you want to get real nerdy with the box using something like the DATS system from dayton audio to measure the driver's T/S may be useful! (And just interesting for us audio nerds)
Though of course this does cost money so totally understand not doing that for a silly little Lego speaker.
One other thing I will say is that when you put them in a box make sure that the different drivers are in their own isolated space (a big thumping woofer tends to move the mid range around and so one I'd not isolated acoustically). That and seal the enclosures, should improve the sound when you haven't got the waves from the back side destructively interfering with the front as can happen when just out in the open.
+1 on this
The amazing part is that for someone with a paradoxical like for the crappy but not dogshit speaker sound (nostalgia of old childhood), it's great
Honestly for something made out of legos this is frickin impressive. Still better than dollar store earbuds, it’s at least got bass and some high ends.
Ha that's some high praise considering it's Lego, thanks 😄
Dollar store earbuds, aka dirty buds
this is honestly one of the most high quality dinguses i've ever seen. props to you for managing to make this make noise at all!
i guess "but can it play Scarlet Fire?" is the new "can it run Doom?"
Aw thanks a lot! It was honestly very surprising to hear it work at all
1grit didn't get food today😢
I'm not sure I can fully judge how this sounds without a comparison to some hur dur six hungeos. Seriously though, as a (mostly retired!) studio engineer, this sounds a million times better than I was expecting, haha.
Wow well I'll certainly take a compliment from a professional, thanks a lot 😁🙏
Higher frequencies need lighter membrane and faster actions. I suggest to use crossover and build a mid/tweeter section on top of the bass, using lighter plate. And to improve it more, you can even separate the mid and the tweeter. The higher the frequency, the lighter material is needed.
Some fantastic tips here, thanks for your suggestions man 🙏 I can certainly try some small tweeters. Is it normal to have 3 separate speakers for mids, highs, and lows? I've seen plenty that split highs and lows, but I like the idea of having 3 (if I can find a crossover that can do that)
@Jamie's Lego Jams Yes, 3 way crossover is very common. You can even make it your own very easily. Search the internet, plenty of solutions. I am looking forward to the next upgraded version. I am also going to try to make this myself. Maybe during summertime when I have more time. I would appreciate it if you could share where you get the Bluetooth and the copper wire.
@@rudyang9322 Awesome, cheers for the heads up - I'll certainly give that a try then. And best of luck with your build, share an update if you get around to it!
@@JamiesBrickJams If you split the highs/lows, you could actually try the paper plate speaker again for the tweeter - it struggled a lot with the lows, but actually seemed to have pretty decent response at higher frequencies.
Yeah i had the same thought
From the way you kept warning us at the beginning I was expecting it to sound WAY worse than it did! This sounds significantly better than some cheaper speakers sold online, and it's made out of LEGO! Insanely impressive.
Ha cheers 😄 Lego has no business not sounding like trash!
Unironically, I've owned far worse $30 speakers. Most "affordable" speakers these days suck even worse than the pack-in cube speakers PCs in the late 90s came with.
I agree. It sounds bad compared to ACTUAL speakers. Just being able to compare it to actual speakers is a massive accomplishment! Plus, it sounds way better than any other Legos I've ever seen :p
As an audiophile, the sound of that speaker is absolute perfection.
Aw that's a hell of a compliment, cheers 🙏😁
we gotta get dankpods to review this thing
😂
Honestly, the fact that this is even possible is still way more impressive than the quality.
Aw thanks, yeah it's wild how 'not terrible' it sounds considering it's Lego!
@@JamiesBrickJams I've legitimately heard people blaring Bluetooth speakers that are about that quality lol
😵
This is pretty cool and its sounds "listenable" keep it up :)
Haha that's generous 😁 It plays some songs well enough, but this one is particularly rough!
You might consider this cheating, but you could use the lego sail pieces from the old pirates of the Caribbean line for the membrane. What I'd do is, using two of them, rotate both vertically and mirror them. Keep them in place by sandwiching their edge with holes for pins between two beams on the frame. The hard part here would be mounting the coil/driver so it would stay perpendicular to the membrane...
Hey Lego is Lego so I wouldn't call that cheating! That's a great idea, I'd love to give that a try if I can get my hands on a couple sails - cheers for the suggestion 🙏
...I was going to suggest using a page out of an instruction booklet, myself. :-)
Or the rubber/plastic tarp thing from 1 of the space based sets
@@JamiesBrickJams I was going to suggest the same thing, but using the lego technic sails from the racing sail from a couple years ago in a pinwheel radial symmetry. should let you maintain tension uniformly.
I just hear dankpods's austrailian voice screaming in delight in the background
I can only dream 😄
Honestly this makes for a pretty good practical demonstration of loudspeaker design and functionality. Imagine if they added something like this to the Lego Technic line?
That would be so cool. I never got into technic cause I wasn't into vehicles as a kid but I would've loved to build something like this. Don't think it'll ever happen though, mindstorms is the closest we've got
I'd kill for a set or range this that. But as the other commenter said, it's extremely unlikely
@@JamiesBrickJams Yeah, very very unlikely. But technically not impossible! If you submit something like this to Lego Ideas I'd absolutely vote for it. I'm sure a lot of other people would too.
I find it amazing that you summoned an entire subset of the audio community by making a video about building a speaker out of lego
Haha same, I'm both surprised and delighted 😁
What if you used a LEGO baseplate for the membrane? It's all one piece so it might also reduce rattling.
Definitely a good idea if I can find a good way to mount and secure the coil!
@@EnbyEnvy that's awesome man, I'm actually really curious how it turns out. If you get the time pls share an update if you get it working! Best of luck 🤞
@@JamiesBrickJams just finished my first test with a full size base plate. It makes a great sub woofer, or as I've called it, the "bass plate". So I'm gonna try and see if I can get better results with multiple diagrams and maybe a tweeter as well lol
This is awesome
lol dank pods moment, try hooking it up to a big power amp like a PA amp or something
I'd love to, but even this terrible amp is making the speaker walk off the desk... Could be worth seeing what wattage causes this thing to completely shake itself to pieces tho
@jamievancoppenhagen yeah that would be a fun test lol. The coil might burn out before the thing itself falls apart though, and with big power amps and stuff it gets complex fast. I have little experience with them myself but I know from others everything just wants to not work alot of the time and the high voltages you can get from amps are *_not_* fun to deal with.
That all makes me want to play with a powerful amp now 😁 I guess if you just embrace it as something that wants to destroy itself then it's worth trying to really push it to silly levels. Will do some tests and see what it can deal with, thanks for the suggestion!
@@JamiesBrickJams np. can't wait to see the tests!
The microphone is pointing in the wrong direction, that AT2020 is made to pick up sound from the front (the part currently pointing towards the ceiling)
Ha yep, I messed up 😅
@@JamiesBrickJams Well don't let it dismay you, the video was still very interesting!
FYI: the AT2020 Microphone is a side-address microphone, not end-address (you have the top pointed at the speaker)
This would make the capsule ~90° off-axis and will affect the quality of the recording
Absolutely right, I'm an idiot 😅
@@JamiesBrickJams No, you're not an idiot at all! It's very common, I made the same mistake when I bought one 10 years ago
I personally wish the AT2020 _was_ end-address, it would give it a great "broadcast" look and it would look better on camera 🤔
😂 glad it's not just me! Handy to know for future tho
the fact that you got lego to make SOUND is just flat out impressive in and of its self
Ha cheers man!
This is fricking amazing. Never thought that something like this is even possible. Time to bring out the mojo.
Ha thanks, appreciate it 🙏😄
This sounds so much better than I expected. And as a subwoofer it doesn't even sound half bad
Thanks! I was certainly surprised hearing it the first time!
well, one thing that would definitely improve the sound is a stronger magnet, and making sure there is more space between the magnet and the coil, however that will mean having to use more power. another thing that would help, is having more points where the membrane is suspended, i think it would probably work to use elastic, tape, saran wrap, or a sheet or material similar to rubber gloves, which could suspend a smaller weight in the center, if fastened properly. Also, it would probably help to mount the membrane to the magnet indirectly, and have a separate, and less tensioned suspension system to hold up the magnet, allowing it to move more freely, and reducing the amount of weight the actual membrane would need to move, to vibrate at the proper frequency.
Damn those are some great tips, thanks for sharing! Love the idea of using more points of suspension, or maybe even something rubber. That's an interesting point bringing the magnet further away, rather than inside the coil. I guess if I could use thicker wires and then pump in a stronger signal via a beefier amp, that could keep the membrane vibrations cleaner. Your suggestion about suspending the magnet is also an interesting one.. not one I've heard before. Thanks for these - some great ideas to test out! Appreciate it 🙏
@@JamiesBrickJams also i suggest finding anew piece to wrap the coil around because the more space the coul has to move before bottoming out the better. Im pretty sure that tire rim piece was hitting the magned causing less high end.
This is straight-up wizardry, it just needs the lego mp3 player and you'll have a fully armed nugget.
That'd be amazing 😄
This sounds immensely better than it has any right to considering it's a big slab of plastic for a membrane, I was expecting it to sound more like the vague suggestion of the song not be this recognizable. Extremely impressed
Aw thanks a lot! And ditto, I was astonished the first time I heard it
to be honest i am suprised on how bassy you this lego speaker is, also for me it's not that bad the sound is pretty clean albeit pretty bassy. Awesome works man keep it up
Cheers man! Yeah it's surprisingly good. Even when it's not bouncing around like crazy, the bass is still reasonable. Next step is to separate out a tweeter driver so it doesn't sound like it's underwater
Honestly, the treble sounds great. And the fact that you're getting any bass response at all with how crunchy this song is... CRAZY
Haha thanks yeah it was hella surprising! Bass is actually very strong at higher outputs.. though the highs get very muddy
Another way that you can artificially boost high end frequency response is to add a "Whizzer Cone" to the center of your membrane. If you have a Lego dish or one of the top or bottom circular panels from those sets that came in a small ball, one of those would work great!
Huh thanks for the tip, I hadn't heard of a whizzer cone until now - looks like I've got some studying to do. Cheers!
“Well, we gotta play Scarlet Fire on it… Whoa! It’s getting warm!”
Ha yeah, this thing got TOASTY
This is absolutely hilarious and I'm glad this video exists lmao. For improving the membrane, this version should be paired with a LP filter around 100-200hz. It works great as a midbass/sub. If you're aiming for good high frequency response then using a thin plastic sheet or paper would be much better. There's only so much weight reduction you can do with lego haha.
Also, I use the AT2020 (XLR version) as well, and idk if you know this but just in case you don't, it's a cardioid mic, so it should be loaded side on, not straight forward. The "Audio Technica" print should face the source of the audio.
Very true, I've learned my lesson for the mic 😅 And yes agree - next version will have crossover for a separate tweeter and may even a separate woofer!
It's not because it's cardioid (though it is), but because it is side-address. Cardioid mics can be end-address too of course.
Someone get Dank Pods on the horn
Jamie has inadvertently summoned many DankPods viewers, and I love it
I sure have! 👀
Awesome video!!! It was definetly better than last time, i love the thought experiment and creativity. Keep it up :)
Thanks a lot - appreciate it 😄🙏
Suggestions? You could make it extra LEGO by using rope pieces and clipping them to the base. Also, the pins could have been replaced with ball joints to reduce damage to the pins. Using a different part to hold the wire is advised, as it seems somewhat shallow. It could hit the magnet which we don't really want. You can also make the frame wider to prevent the membrane from hitting it, and/or make the membrane a singular piece. Or, you can be NUTS and say "Screw it" and use a planar magnetic system.
Yeah I was desperately trying to find a way to allow the magnet to travel all the way through the coil, but Lego really don't have many pieces that allow that. Interesting idea about making a planar system. I have a bunch of tiny magnets lying around, so it might be possible - need to do some reading!
What if you just used big build plate for membrane? It'll probably have enough flex, weight less and will not ratle or try to fall apart plus mounting is easy especially with normal legos, altho I much preffer the technic version. You could also build the build plate into a box with legos, making an enclosure and could try experimenting with different ports. Aim for a 4-8 ohm coil for maximum power output and a bigger magnet. Great video as always, keep up the work.
Thanks man! And a big thanks for your tips here, appreciate it 🙏 My original idea was actually to use a thin base plate but I was struggling to mount the coil and to suspend it. But I'd still like to try use one for a tweeter! Also definitely making a box for the next iteration. Handy tip on the resistance of the coil - I'll tune that a little better once I get a better amp 😁
I'm so happy Scarlet Fire has become synonymous with not just dingus speakers but testing audio equipment in general
And I'm delighted you guys are getting a kick out of it 😁 It's a great tune for testing - I can see why it's gotten so popular!
outstanding as always, can't wait for the next version
Appreciate it! Next version should be interesting 😄
As it is, it sounds like the current speaker is pretty good at the low end and not terrible at the mids. You just need a lighter tweeter with a crossover and that'll bring in the highs.
rigidity is the key to low frequencies, membrane lightness is the key to high, this is why it's hard to make a single speaker full range
Too true, I'll be sending higher frequencies to a tweeter in a future video!
Hey
Great video as usual. Maby try building a frame similar to the first version but instead of having it fixed have it suspended with rubberbands like this one. The tremble of the old version was probably because it was fixed and made the entire speaker shake.
Good luck!
Thanks man! Yeah I'll definitely give that a try. Someone suggested using Lego instructions for paper so it's still Lego. Genius idea, so I'll try suspending that 😁
We can really REALLY make anything out of Lego, that's wonderful!
The classic "Play Scarlet Fire until the speaker pops" test.
Next time it'll shake itself to pieces!
ahhhh a classic dankpods video.
😄
You could reduce membrane weight by using a baseplate (those that you can mount bricks on top of but not below) because those are pretty light.
Definitely going to give that a try!
I'm just impressed it worked!
I think Dank would be proud. I hope someone shows him this.
You should make more and then connect them to a surround sound system
Might actually try that with a bunch of smaller ones, cool idea!
Hey, I’m an audiophile and Lego fan, and I really want to build this, do you have instructions anywhere?
I'm afraid this was just me tinkering around so no instructions.. though it's super easy to reverse engineer. Might make a tutorial at some point if folks are interested
i can’t believe you made this, it’s insane! how cool is that??!!
Appreciate it 😄🙏 It was a lot of fun to test!
Awesome! This sounds way better than expected. If you are looking to make an improvement, maybe consider making a 2-way speaker, and adding a tweeter for the higher frequencies.
For sure, I'll definitely be using a crossover and building a separate tweeter in the next version!
I'm pretty sure there are legitimate nuggets with similar sound quality.
This is insanely impressive, incredible job.
Thanks a lot! 🙏
Wow! That’s pretty awesome!
Cheers, was very surprised to hear it sounds ok!
Great videos, instant sub!
Thanks, appreciate it 😄 and cheers for joining
Yooo, this is so cool! Looks like a really interesting project. I dont really know much about building stuff like this so I cant give any advice, but I just want to show my support for this thing and sub to you. :)
Aw thanks a lot, really appreciate your lovely comment 😁
It's fascinating to think about- sound is really just a way to detect Movement which the eye can't [usually] pick up on. Neat video!
Too true, it's wild. Especially considering how simple it all is. Cheers!
i was not expecting it to sound so good
Thanks a lot 😊
Honestlt, I think this would be fun to use as a reverb effect. I think if you mix in some if the dry signal it'd might be something cool.
Sounds astronomically better than I was expecting
love the bass to it.
Still better sound than the "emergency replacement headphones" I've bought when my usual ones broke on the road, lol. So like yeah, this DIY thing is surprisingly good and outcompetes low-end soundware!
Thanks, it was really surprising!
Very *Dank* video, mate. I love me some Scarlet Fire.
😁 Dank is a damn fine compliment, I'll take it
This is beautiful
Aw thanks 😄
I'm amazed how "good" it sounds for such a thick membrame, hope to see any improvements or aditional tweeter or something if you make it.
Me too! I'll for sure create a separate tweeter in an update
Nice video, Glad to see RUclipss algorithm showing good content from smaller channels.
Appreciate it, thanks a lot 😄
Actually, the rattling and filtration makes an interesting effect. I really like the dimension it adds to the kookaburra bit, like it's even more lofi than it is and is trying to sing along.
That's a great comparison to the kookaburra 🤔😄
Never thought I'd see a lego speaker, let alone see it play Scarlet Fire 😂 Cool stuff!
Cheers! Fortunately it fairs much better with less demanding songs
This sounds weirdly good, I really like the sound of old radios, and this sounds just like it (not at the higher volume)
I'm impressed with the volume!!! You should put the mic in the same room as the speaker next time though, it's pretty muffled.
Haha yeah, loud but muddy 😅 Building a separate tweeter next time should work much better
Fun project ! I like it !
Thanks 😊🙏
I am astonished at how well it sounds
Cheers!
I love unique ideas. 10/10
Aw big thanks, appreciate it!
This is so cool
So awesome!
Thanks 🙏😁
As an irish person, its really cool to see more irish youtubers.
Your content is so original i love it!
Aw thanks a lot, I'm surprised the accent comes through. But appreciate it 😁
I love that half the recommended videos to the side are DankPods
Haha 😂
It may not be the sexy voice speaker but it does the shrekpod proud!
AUXILIARY MODE
the main issue with such a high moving mass is your impedance matching between the air and your driver and while adding more tension will bring up your resonant frequency it also reduces the sensitivity.
so I would recommend making a horn type enclosure like a ''JBL 4512'' to improve your impedance matching and then make the driver as tight and powerful as possible to rase the frequency and overcome the now lower sensitivity.
also consider making your driver face smaller with the better impedance matching of a horn design you might benefit more from lower moving mass than more surface area.
3:02 Woah the bass really made the sides of the front shake 😂
Yeah this is a wobbly one!
Congrats on 8K Jamie
Big thanks, I appreciate it! 😄
Ooooh it's getting warm!
😁
Maybe you can add an enclosure behind the membrane to increase the bass. But it already sounds quite decent for something made out of LEGO
Will definitely try an enclosure in the next version!
thats actually so cool and impressive.
Thanks! 😁
hey, sounds great!
Big thanks!
Something like this has real promise for a lego educational kit
I wish Lego had sets like this!
If you were to use a flat plate as the "cone" and supported it on all 4 corners with rubber bands, you'd get a cleaner midrange sound. If you can find a way to make a more uniform coil and support it better so it doesn't contact the magnet, that will also help. You could also use a small flat piece and a second smaller coil with less wraps to make a tweeter that would improve high frequency output. You'd want to restrict it's movement to a very small space and use rubber to stop it so it doesn't chatter. As far as a box, if you made a Lego enclosure that fit around the flat plates with a vent on one of the sides, it should work pretty well.
All fantastic suggestions, thanks for sharing! I'll definitely be trying out a crossover with separate tweeter unit in a future video. And a box for sure 😁
When played through the Lego speaker, it sounds like you're living upstairs to a night club playing Scarlet fire
Haha very true 😅
I'm amazed!
Cheers 😁
For something made out of a controller board and Legos. This is fucking insane. Great work man !
Appreciate it - thanks a lot! 😁
This sound much better than i expected it to.
Cheers 😊
Well first, I'm a dankpods fan so many "die hard" audipholes have said we're no audiophiles and second, I'm a dankpods fan so I love listening Scarlet Fire played in the most fringe ways possible.
Aw well delighted by your endorsement fellow dank pods fan 🤜
It sounds ok ... I'm amazed.. the fact any sound comes across comprehensible
Haha yeah surprised me too!
Oh lord how I want Wade to react to this, this is so cool!
Haha that'd be class
That's very interesting! Now i want to hear some metal through it, maybe Clayman by In Flames or something with a similar tightly packed punchy mix
Ooooh good idea, I haven't tried much rock or metal on it yet
as someone who has dabbled in surround setups id say that would be a serviceable sub woffer in a low to mid end setup... given its made mostly out of LEGO it really impressive for mid frequencies id look at larger single piece plates vs interconnected and perhaps adding some kind of buffer between the rim used for the coil and the plates to reduce rattle
Cheers for the advice, yeah a buffer would be good. And in the next version a crossover should help the highs a lot!
This doesn't even sound that bad, it actually sounds acceptable if you can push it hard enough
I don't think you'd want to push it any harder 😅
If you glue the pieces for the membrane together space it farther from the frame and add more support to the frame it should improve sound quality as well as maybe make the coil longer ie add a second wheel to it to reduce it hitting the magnet. Might also improve if you add rubber bands in the same configuration as it is now on all 4 sides
I’m amazed that it sounded that *good*!
Aw thanks!