Introduction: Beats by Adam, Jockese, and Owen (DIY Headphones)

Materials

  • 9 inches (more or less if needed) of electrical tape
    • Can be purchased at any 99 cent store or convenience store
  • Roll of 28 gauge wire ( 3 meters needed/ 6 feet - cut in half)
      • Can be purchased at Target or Home Depot
    • 2 plastic cups (serves as basket)
      • Can be purchased at 99 cent store, Food 4 less, or Target
    • Wire cutter or scissors
      • Can be purchased at 99 cent store or Target
    • Sticky notes
      • Can be purchased at 99 cent store
    • Glue stick
      • Can be purchased at 99 cent store
    • Sand paper (used for sanding ends of wire)
      • Can be purchased at 99 cent store, Target, Big 5
    • 1.5 mm aux piece (without wire)
      • Can be purchased on Amazon
    • 4 neodymium magnets (2 cm thick)
      • Can be purchased at Amazon
    • Spray paint
      • Can be purchased at Michael's
    • 1 old headphone set

    • Step 1: Understanding the Three Most Important Components of a Speaker

    The three most important components are the magnet, the diaphragm, and voice coil, The magnet provides a magnetic field which allows vibrations. The diaphragm intensifies the vibrations caused by the voice coils and push sound waves outward. The voice coil provides a path for the electric current to travel through, it also intensifies the magnetic field.

    Step 2: Creating Voice Coils

    1. Wrap a stick note on a glue stick, sticky strip facing up, so that the whole glue stick is covered
    2. Grab 28 gauge wire and wrap the wire around the glue stick 50 times tightly together but you can still take it off glue stick (leave 3 inches of wire on both ends)
    3. Grab electrical tape and feed through wire and wrap around so that the wire can't unwind
    4. Repeat one more time

    Step 3: Sanding

    1. Sand the ends of the wire until the copper is exposed (no more red is covering the wire)
    2. Repeat for other coil

    Step 4: Assembly

    ALL THESE STEPS ARE REPEATED TWICE

    1. Drop 1 magnet in the the clear cup
    2. Place 1 other magnet on the outside bottom of the cup (they should hold each other up)
    3. Place coil around the magnet on the outside of the cup
    4. Tape the wire down leaving ends exposed

    Step 5: Connecting the AUX to Speaker

    1. Take AUX piece with 2 terminals and open it
    2. Feed wire through the holes of the terminals
    3. Make sure there's a firm connection between the 2 voice coils by twisting them together, then taping them

    Step 6: Testing

    1. Plug AUX into device and test to see if you hear sound
    2. Press coils down more on cup to make firmer connection if no sound is being emitted

    Step 7: Diaphragm (Optional)

    1. Add a diaphragm by using parchment paper so that it fits on basket with tape or hot glue (for a more secure connection)

    Step 8: Permanent Connection Between Both Speakers

    1. Separate ends of coils and straighten out wires
    2. Grab a piece of excess wire about a meter long and sand both ends (Repeat)
    3. Connect that excess piece of wire to both ends of your voice coil ( twist together then wrap with electrical tape) (repeat for other basket)

    Step 9: Semi-Permanent Connection Both Speakers to AUX

    1. Estimate the average head height then connect both wrapped long (leave about three inches without tape on end) wires by putting them together and wrapping with more tape
    2. Connect left side of long wire to left terminal
    3. Connect right side of long wire to right side of terminal
    4. Make sure both wires are going through terminals but aren't touching for sound to be heard

    Step 10: Testing Pt.2

    1. The connection between AUX plug and speaker should be strong
    2. Listen for sound

    Step 11: Decorating

    Do whatever you want with design whether it be spray painting, bedazzling, writing, etc. Make it yours and make it fun

    Step 12: Why Do Voice Coils Vibrate

    Voice coils vibrate because the magnets cause a magnetic field. What causes the vibrations is when the magnetic fields switch (north to south, south to north). This is caused by polarity or the switch in poles.

    Step 13: Understanding How the Quality of Sound Is Effected by Magnets and Number of Coils?

    At the beginning of the experiment Adam, Owen and I thought 30 coils should be sufficient enough to get good sound quality out of, but after our first trial we realized our headphones sounded like regular headphones turned up to 1 third volume. So we decided to try 50 and 60 coils. 50 worked the best. I believe 60 didn't work because how much we had to compress it to the basket. 50 served the perfect size and had the best sound quality.

    We didn't test different magnets but you need strong magnets such as the neodymium or stronger, smaller magnets. This is because you need a strong magnetic force to give off the best vibrations. 2 magnets per 1 headphone provides good sound quality.