Introduction: Ghetto DIY Pillow Speaker

A $2 DIY replacement of an $8 radio shack toy. Listen to music in bed without uncomfortable headphones! Free mints too!

Needed parts:
Sour Altoid can
Crap headphones
Chunk of soft foam
Old internal computer speaker

Step 1: Ready the Cheesy Earbuds

1. Grab a pair of cheap 97 cent walmart earbuds (or dollar store ones with free scan radio!)
2. Snip the actual speakers off from the cable. Save them for later use as ninja throwing weapons.
3. Poke a small hole through the side of the altoids tin.
4. Stick the wire in through the hole and tie a knot in it 2 inches from the cut end so it doesnt come out.
UPDATE: 5.Put some duct-tape or electrical tape around the wire that will be going through the hole and around some of the knot so the tin won't cut into it.

Step 2: Foam Chopping

1. Find a one inch thick piece of soft foam. ( I used a chunk of couch foam)
2. Cut a circle that will fit in the tin. Hollow out the middle for the back of the speaker.
3. Cut a smaller peice to go on top of the speaker. Make it very thin.

Step 3: Connect Speaker

1. Find an old speaker from the front of an old computer, Or just use any speaker that will fit nicely.
2. Desolder the red and black wires from it.
3. Solder the headphones wire to the speaker. Both colored wires go to the + side and both copper wires go to the - side.
4. Put the bottom foam in the tin and seat the speaker in it.
5. Pull the extra wire out through the hole so the knot is against it.

Yay! The bottom is done.

Step 4: Make a Grill

1. Find a decently strong cutting device (Steak knife).
2. Make three paralell slits along the lid of the tin. I made them along the logo to make them less noticable.
3. Flatten the lid a bit so the bent metal won't poke the speaker or make scratchy noises.

Step 5: Put It Together

1. Place the smaller foam disk in the middle of the lid so it covers the slits.
2. Put the lid on the tin. Make sure it isn't squishing the speaker too badly. If it is, trim the foam down so its thiner.
3. Give the cable a few small tugs to make sure the knot holds. If it doesn't, take it apart and tie the knot better, or put a glob of hot glue over the inside of the hole.

Step 6: Enjoy!

Plug the speaker into an audio source, stick it under your pillow, and enjoy the comfortable fruits of your labor.


Note: My thinkpad is running DSL 1.4 because the HD is shot. Donations gladly accepted. :)