3D Printed Bose Soundlink Mini Clone

Hello everyone!

I’m going to show you to build clone of the most famous and the best sounding in the class Bose Soundlink mini. The last four months I been collecting information about this speaker, trying to find simple, cheap and good sounding hardware. Also, a lot of time took to design enclosure, printing samples. This project is open source, you can download enclosure and print it, all parts are widely available on Ebay or AliExpress.

Step 1: Components

You will need next components:

1. 3D printed enclosure

2. 2x 10W 40mm 4Ohm Bose Soundlink Mini drivers (Clone)

3. Bluetooth Audio Module Sanwu with Yamaha YDA138

4. 2x Passive radiators

5. Li-ion 2S protection board

6. Li-ion 8.4V 2A charger

7. 2x 18650 Li-Ion Battery

8. Adjustable step-up module with XL6009

9. Connector DC 5,5/2,1mm

10. 3A 250VAC rocker switch

11. JST-XH-2, 2pin connector with cable

12. JST-XH-3, 3pin connector with cable

13. Wire about 0,5m

14. 8x M3x50 F-F spacers

15. 22x M3x8 imbus screws

16. 10x M3 nuts

17. 2000uFx16 capacitor

I will add links later.

3D printed enclosure:

Designed in Fusion 360, suppose to take together all component, almost without gluing. Printing in PLA 0,2mm layer about 15 hours.

Clone of Bose Soundlink mini drivers:

10W 40mm 4Ohm driver with neodymium magnetic. It’s really good driver for this size and cost.

It’s wireless Bluetooth speaker, so we need a battery, a big one capacity :) I choose 18650 Li-ion because it’s small battery and have enough capacity for 5 hours of loud music :)

Bluetooth Audio Module Sanwu with Yamaha YDA138:

I took this one from several modules I’ve tested. It has 2x15W on 4Ohm drivers. You will need to solder JST connector on it. To prevent mistakes in the future, you should to fide directions of JST connectors (red wire must be “+”), like on the picture:

Passive radiators:

It’s also clone of Bose passive radiators and they have been designed to work with Bose Soundlink mini speaker drivers. They do their job very well.

Li-ion 2S protection board, 8.4V 2A charger and 18650 Li-Ion Battery:

You need to put together two batteries and protection board with printed brackets. Before we start wiring, it's important to check battery voltages, it should be the same.

Before you start solder batteries I would recommend sanding a little the contacts, where you will solder, put some flux and solder. Do it as quick as possible, do not overheat the battery! Connect batteries with protection board like on the scheme.

Adjustable step-up module with XL6009:

To power our Bluetooth module with amplifier we need to boost voltage form battery pack 7,4V to 13-14V. Connect module to the power source and adjust with the pot output voltage to 13-14V.

Step 2: Schematic

Step 3: Wiring and Mounting, Back Part

Now, when we have all prepared, we can start.

Take the back side of Speaker, put passive radiator to it place, put spacers and screw screws from back side, do not tight much, leave it loosed. Place DC 5,5/2,1mm connector and rocker switch, wire up with step-up module input like on schematic. Solder prepared (pay attention for “+” and ”-”) JST-XH-3 connector to the step-up module output. Attention! Solder minimum 2000uFx16V capacitor to the output of step-up module. Secure wires and step-up module with glue gun to the enclosure to prevent vibrating and making noises.

Step 4: Wiring and Mounting, Battery Pack and Amplifier

Take our prepared battery pack, screw to the bottom and solder to 5,5/2,1mm connector.

Take amplifier adapter, sand it a little bit in guides place, it should be tight in the back part guides. Take amplifier, screw to the adapter and put to the back part. Place 2 bottom spacers and is better to isolate right spacer by adding shrink tube to prevent battery short circuit.

Step 5: Wiring and Mounting, Drivers

Take drivers and solder wires with JST-XH-2 connectors, maybe you will need to make wires longer. Screw drivers to the face part of speaker like on picture. That’s it!

Connect amplifier with drivers and boost module, pay attention for left and right channels.

Step 6: Wiring and Mounting, Screw It!

Better if you try it now before screwing. Turn on the

speaker, take your phone and search for a Bluetooth device called "Xpecial Audio". Connect and try to play a song. Does it work? Great! We can continue!

Add passive radiator and screw back and face parts, switch on and try the perfect sound from your DIY speakers ;) .

PS: to prevent vibrations and run away your speaker, add rubber foot pads.

Comments

[Bose-Fan]

Hoi,

Heb de onderdelen in een toevallig defecte originele Bose Soundlink omhulling geplaatst, met de originele speakers er nog in.
Het klinkt FANTASTISCH, ik denk dat ik hem zelf hou.

[pietropalazzini]

Hi,

I ordered and soldered all the parts exactly the way you do it, but I have a major issue.
When I raise the volume over 70/75% it shuts down (everything it's perfectly fine under 70/75%).
I tried with 3 different capacitor on the output of the step up module (2000uf, 2500uf and 2700uf all 16v) but nothing have changed.
Any advice?

Thanks
Pietro

[adammartin1981]

Hi,

Thanks for the cool instructions - I've just ordered the list of parts - however I'm curious as to the purpose of the capacitor.

Can someone explain this to me please?

[MauroM19]

hi LaskLab!!!
i don't find 3D printed enclosure files, i really would like to replicate your fantastic Clone!!
thanks

[LaskLab]

Hi, thanks. It's first point in the list 3D printed enclosure

[doncore]

Could i use another booster-module to power it with 5 Volt?

I would like to load the batteries with 5Volt (5V/2A smartphone charger).

[patrick panikulam]

Sorry , but that won't work .
You can step up the voltage of the battery from 3.7 volt to 12 volt , but the current drawn from the battery is going to be soo High that it could overload and could even damage the batteries .

[LaskLab]

Don't really understand, what you mean?

[doncore]

Hi,

I would like to load the batteries with a Smartphone loader.

[LaskLab]

If you mean, connect battery in paralell and use 5V/2A phone charger, you need to find 2A lipo charger module. And about boost module, yes thi modul can boost from 3.5V, but eficience will be less

[DennyP5]

Hey can you send me the Fusion 360 files of the box?
I have the original bose soundlink and the Dimensions are different.

I will change the Dimensions like the original one.

My email is [e-mail]

Thanks

[LaskLab]

No, I can't send you Fusion files.

And still not possible to make it smaller, not enough space inside

[patrick panikulam]

Great job!! , just wondering ,how does it perform when compared to the real Bose sound link mini?

[LaskLab]

Thanks, I have no Bose soundlink to compare, but when I'll have time I'll make a video.

[LaskLab]

All components links are updated

[Surajit Majumdar]

Great work

[LaskLab]

Thanks

[doncore]

Got my Vote :)

[LaskLab]

Thanks

[LaskLab]

Sorry guys, I need more time to check. All links will be added.