Soup Cans!

For the purposes of a pun, "cans" are another word for "headphones".

Here's how to make audio-cans from soup-cans, and some other things.

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Step 1: Parts & Tools

I used:

Two large soup cans (Lidl chicken, vegetable & pasta - it's OK)
One Scotch Broth can (Lidl, better than OK)
Two small speakers (4 Ohm)
A wire coat-hanger
Electrical insulating tape
Various bits of wire
Expanded polystyrene foam
PVC tube
Most of the electrical content came out of an old phone I bought a while ago.

Screwdrivers
A knife blade
A drill
Fencing pliers
Pliers
Scissors
A soldering iron

Clayton H. says: Sep 18, 2009. 4:02 PM

The first picture makes you look like les claypool.

lemonie (author) in reply to Clayton H.Sep 19, 2009. 12:51 AM

I wasn't trying, but you mean like this? L

Clayton H. in reply to lemonieSep 19, 2009. 8:38 AM

Yea or like the one at the top of his website.

freeza36 in reply to Clayton H.Feb 24, 2013. 2:26 PM

agreed

zelback1 says: Oct 3, 2012. 3:38 PM

In terms of the 'tinny" sound, have you tried using tapering glass cups? I used this with a mini-speaker plugged into my ipod, and it got so loud that I could hear it in every corner of my house and even outside for 20 feet. I actually had a neighbor ask me "What song is that you've got playing in there?"
Awesome.

Sincerely yours,
Zelback1

zelback1 says: Oct 3, 2012. 3:30 PM

LOVE the first photo, dude. The glasses and the "cans" with the perfect goatee make you look like you should be wearing an aviators scarf and jacket, with the leather chill-cap under your arm as you walk away unscathed from a burning biplane. (Yes, I have an active imagination.) But seriously, EPIC!

blkhawk says: Sep 27, 2012. 4:52 PM

You look like Guy Fawkes!

The Locksmith says: May 15, 2011. 9:47 AM

You look so awesomely hip in the first photo. <3

lemonie (author) in reply to The LocksmithMay 15, 2011. 11:01 AM

Thanks, but I have since shed the hair...

L

The Locksmith in reply to lemonieMay 16, 2011. 11:13 AM

awww, did you at least keep the sunglasses?

lemonie (author) in reply to The LocksmithMay 16, 2011. 11:43 AM

Yes, but I got a new pair.

L

Leemister says: Mar 29, 2011. 12:36 PM

This is clever. But can the sound fill a HUGE room?

lemonie (author) in reply to LeemisterMar 29, 2011. 1:17 PM

No, just your head.

L

Leemister in reply to lemonieMar 29, 2011. 2:17 PM

Oh. Well I think I might try this out. I collect headphones and stuff so, this will make it be alot cooler. THANKS!

power says: Aug 22, 2010. 2:36 AM

great cans! soundstage improved well :D

Dr Qui says: Jul 11, 2010. 9:21 AM

Two large soup cans (Lidl chicken, vegetable & pasta - it's OK) LOL Agreed... Have yet to find a canned chicken product that was more than OK, chicken don't can well does it? LOL Andy.

lemonie (author) in reply to Dr QuiJul 11, 2010. 10:09 AM

It's cheap nourishment and that's about all that can be said about it...

L

MissBetsy says: Apr 25, 2010. 8:07 AM

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
that is just to cool :)
I had to give it an extreme "funny" rating. I wonder if lining the cans with e.g. neoprene would make them sound less 'tinny' Love your project!

Perkinator says: Oct 27, 2009. 3:15 PM

Is that you on the picture?
WOW.

lemonie (author) in reply to PerkinatorOct 28, 2009. 12:21 AM

Yes.

L

brian3140 in reply to lemonieMar 19, 2010. 11:18 AM

Haha sick... I was looking for an instructable with you in it, cuz i see you everywhere on the site, and yur lil icon guy clearly isn't you lol.... I needed a face to go with the name, "lemonie".
Keep up the good work!

lemonie (author) in reply to brian3140Mar 19, 2010. 12:19 PM

I still look pretty much like that...

L

possum888 in reply to lemonieDec 24, 2009. 5:06 PM

Its scary 'cause you look a lot like my Dad!

riverreaper in reply to lemonieDec 13, 2009. 8:34 PM

thats funnie i didnt know of the can term or i might of done my idea difernt , i needed a way to record right an left an contained that i could have room noise not interfearing , i put a mikeheadset with the speakers detached from the headband an the mike inbetween them inside a 32oz espresso cup an muffling stuffing all around them the wire comes out the straw hole , guess i shoulda instru. it befor all that electrical tape went on lol

lemonie (author) in reply to riverreaperDec 14, 2009. 12:26 AM

I like the sound of that.

L

butterflycookies says: Sep 29, 2009. 7:51 AM

i tried to use soda cans. bad idea

lemonie (author) in reply to butterflycookiesSep 29, 2009. 10:39 AM

They're not as stiff are they? L

Punkguyta says: Sep 16, 2009. 8:06 AM

This is actually an interesting idea, I would try mounting woofers the size of the diameter of the soup cans inside the cans, thus creating some potentionally ear damaging cans.

lemonie (author) in reply to PunkguytaSep 16, 2009. 10:50 AM

Yes, I have a pair of those, so I've got long-term plans for "Super Soup-Cans" L

Punkguyta in reply to lemonieSep 17, 2009. 10:07 AM

Make sure they have some kind of vents in the rear of them so they don't act like pressure chambers :-S Btw, did you get my Pm lemonie?

lemonie (author) in reply to PunkguytaSep 17, 2009. 10:51 AM

Hi man, not yet I'm afraid... L

Punkguyta in reply to lemonieSep 17, 2009. 12:04 PM

(removed by author or community request)

lemonie (author) in reply to PunkguytaSep 17, 2009. 12:44 PM

If I had I would have replied by now. I'll PM you with a fix L

Punkguyta in reply to lemonieSep 17, 2009. 1:07 PM

I was gonna say, how bout you try pm'ing me, but apparently you already have, but It still says 0