Sound Systems Design Portfolio (pg29)

Evaluation

How well does the final design meet your specifications?

My first specification was for my sound system to have adjustable volume because my neighbours had a baby. On my PCB I made sure to include a potentiometer. So yes I would say that I have met this specification.

My second specification was for my sound system to be portable. When designing my sound system enclosure I made sure to have this specification incorporated into my design. I came up with a small compact enclosure that can still produce good sound. The reason that I wanted a portable sound system was so I could carry it around with me where ever I go, since I love Music so much.

My third specification was for it to look part of my room. I achieved this expectation by painting my enclosure black since black goes with anything and it also looks sophisticated rather than having a bright coloured enclosure. 

My last expectation was for my sound system to have a good amplifier which it does have but if the volume goes to loud it begins to distort, so I think it can be improved by using a different chip. The chip we are currently using is TDA2822M. So the sound can definitely be improved on this design. 

How can the design be improved?

I think next time I'd like to have more space inside the enclosure for all my PCB'S to go.
And I'd like to have a different shaped enclosure, instead of the boring old square I'd like to go for an odd shape, but i know it couldn't be done this time because of the little resources we had. As said above a better TDA chip might be useful in good sound, otherwise than those things I like my design and I wouldn't change anything else.

Sound Systems Design Portfolio (pg 11)

Concept ideas

I think this is a really good design. It has good dimensions which is what I wanted because one of my specifications were for it to be portable and I think this design does that. I think it is balanced because the speaker is in the middle and the LED window is at the top of the enclosure. In one of my research pictures it showed that one of the enclosures had a phone cover on the top, so I incorporated that into my design.

This design is possible to make in our workshop at school, because I think it has a simple shape which would be easy to create with all the resources we have at school. It will also be easy to put together.

I think this design will work well because it is portable, which will benefit me. It will also have a phone cover on the top, so you won't have to place your phone down on a wet or sticky surface. The LED window is in the right place because on the inside I'd like to place the LED circuit on the roof of the enclosure, which will allow the light to be seen easily. The grill on the enclosure will prevent people from touching the speaker or even spilling cool drink on it. It will get less damaged if it has a grill.

What I like about this design is that the word "fun" is written across the back LED window, which shows a bit of my personality. I think this design is balanced because the two speakers are on the either side of the front and the LED window is vertically down the middle, which makes it look very professional. This design looks strong and durable, like it could last forever but one of my specifications were for it to be portable and this design doesn't look like it would be easy to carry.

I think it would be possible to make this deign at school because once again its a very simple shape, which anyone can create. I could print the word "fun" with our 3D printer at school,and make the panels from wood and cut it with a saw, but if we use wood with chemicals in we would have to get it laser cut.

Sound systems Design Portfolio (pg24)

Design Development

The above picture is my finished design of my speaker enclosure. Still in progress on programming the LEDS.

Sound systems design portfolio (pg23)

Planning for practice

Sound Systems Design Portfolio (pg 22)

Planning for practice

I need the following tools and equipment to make a PCB
- Etching tank
- Photo sensitive board
- UV box
- Chemicals
- Soldering Irons
- Drill Press
- Side Cutters

I need the following tools and equipment for my enclosure
- Laser cutter (wood being used we can't saw it)
- Wood
- Plastic
- Glue

All the tools and equipment in the electronics room
- Etching tank
- UV box
- Drill Press
- Profile cutter
- Vacuum former
- Saw
- Side cutters
- Soldering Irons
- 3D printer

Would I be able to make a high quality speaker enclosure with tools and equipment at my disposal? If not what will I do.
I will send the wood to be laser cut so we don't breathe in harmful chemicals that are in the wood

Sound Systems Design Portfolio (pg21)

Diptrace circuit design

Sound systems design portfolio (pg20)

Soldering mistakes

1. The wires are sticking out all over the place.
Thread the wire through the hole carefully to avoid the wires from sticking out in all directions

2. The solder isn't on the board (not attached)
Make sure to heat up the board and then solder. This will allow the solder to stick to the PCB.

3. Two solderings are touching.
This could be avoided by soldering carefully and by heating up the area around the individual wires at different times, not at the same time.

4. Wires touching.
This could be avoided by cutting the ends of the wires off until only the solder mountain is left. So as soon as you finish soldering that component onto the PCB be sure to cut the wires off.

5. Wires sticking out under the solder mountain.
To prevent this from happening twist the wires around each other so this doesn't happen.

Sound Systems Design Portfolio (pg19)

Spot the mistakes.

1. there's no wires or components connected to pad 3 of the IC. it can be fixed by adding components to it and connecting it to one of the rails.

2. the wire of pad 5 doesn't connect to anything, it can be fixed by connecting it to the positive or negative rail.

3. the negative rail is to thin so the current won't be able to flow well. it can be fixed by making the rail on diptrace thicker.

4. pad 4 doesn't have wire connecting the resistor to the negative rail.

5. there is no pad connected to the end of the negative rail. on diptrace you could just add a pad to the end of the rail.

6. the writing is too big. It can be fixed by making the writing smaller on dip trace.

7. the wire isn't connected all the way to the negative rail which is a problem. before you make your PCB you should just check if everything is connected right.

8.1 the wires are crossing over each other, it can be fixed by separating them and putting pads at the end of the wires.
8.2 the wires aren't in line so the current won't flow, it can be fixed by moving the wire to the side.

9. once again the track doesn't connect to anything, it can be fixed by joining it to the negative rail.

Sound systems design portfolio (pg16)

Sound systems design portfolio (pg15)

Subsystems

Sound System Design Portfolio (pg14)

How can I improve the design?

Suggest any changes that you could make that will improve the sound quality.

8 Ohm speaker with a 9V battery, this will give 1000W output.

Electronic Circuit
-Draw a circuit diagram of your amplifier design.

Sound System Design Portfolio (pg13)

Modelling

This is a picture of our test circuit for a stereo amp. This picture is of Savannah's circuit because I was away when they completed the circuit.






Test your Design. How well does it work?

The speaker didn't work well at all. The quality of the speaker was horrible. The sound was muffled and not clear, at some points it would buffer and the device would interfere in the connection. You could only control the volume on the device that was playing the music but the speaker doesn't allow it to be played loud. As the volume grows the distortion increases and creates a horrible vibration sound.

Does this Design meet your specifications?

No it doesn't meet my specifications, because one of my specifications were that there needed to be a good amplifier so it could have clear sound and sound really great but this design doesn't do this. It has poor sound and bass. A problem could be that we used the wrong speaker for this circuit and that's why it didn't work well. There was also no speaker enclosure therefore the sound couldn't be absorbed and reflected well.

Sound System Design Portfolio (pg10)

Research the TDA2822M (IC)

1. What is the purpose of a TDA2822M chip? (what it does)

 It is used as an audio power amplifier in portable players and radios.

2. What is the maximum voltage that this IC can handle?

  15V

3. How many pins does the TDA2822M have?

  Eight pins

4. What is the maximum power dissipation of this IC?

  1.4 W of power

5. Create a list of all the components that will be needed to make this stereo amplifier.

Component Name	Value	Quantity
Speaker	3W , 8Ω	2
Capacitor	0.1µ	2
Polarised Capacitor	100µ	3
Polarised Capacitor	1000 µ	2
Fixed Value Resistor	4.7 Ω	2

Sound System Design Portfolio (pg9)

Research: Product Analysis
(Video: DIY Portable Stereo Amp)

-Aesthetics
The design of this sound system is balanced but not eye-catching because it was made from an old case but it works for the people who designed it.

-Function
The speakers have clear loud sound which is good. They amplify well and is great for where and what its being used for.

-What electronic device does it connect to?
It connects to a phone or tablet.

-The speakers (rating)
Good sound, taking into consideration where it will be used. The speakers have clear, full sound.

-Amplification
200%

-The enclosure
Not the nicest looking speaker enclosure, but he did reuse something that he didn't need. It is a ported enclosure.

-The IC
LM387

-The power supply
9 V battery

Sound System Design Portfolio (pg8)

Research:What design is best for a speaker box?

Sealed speaker box enclosure                                                          sealed
Advantages:
*easy to make
*force generated by the air pressure keeps the driver exactly where it’s supposed to be.
*sound that’s produced is tighter and more precise
*improves bass
*can be used in different installations.

Disadvantages:
*amplifier must constantly increase the electrical signal in order to handle the air pressure.



Bandpass enclosure                                                                       bandpass
Advantages:
*high efficienccy
*provides good bass
*used for increasing gain in bands of frequencies
*increased power handling in the band

Disadvantages:
*large enclosures are hard to design and build
*errors in construction process of making this enclosure
are likely to happen.

Ported enclosure                                                         
Advantages:
*high bass out out                                                                                                           ported
*less amplifier power needed
*high frequency
*low distortion

Disadvantages:
*larger than sealed boxes
*errors are likely to happen when making this enclosure.
*complex 

Sound System Design Portfolio (pg7)

Research

1. I think the materials used in making this sound system are great for strength and durability because it is wood and a type of metal in the front. The wood would be great for amplifying the music. The balance of the features on the front isn't really good, I would probably make the volume control smaller and maybe instead of having the speaker at the top i'd put it on the front of the sound system and remove the dial that's on the front.
2. It might be possible to make with wood because we have wood at school but i don't really think we have metal so I would have to make the front out of something different, taking into consideration  the resources that we have.
3. This design would definitely work because of the materials used and how big the speaker is. I would just change a few things like put the speaker on the front and reduce the size of the volume controller but for this design it works well it just isn't how i'd place speakers and other components.


1. I think the pattern on this sound system is brilliant. I love the way it has an old retro type of look. The user friendliness of this sound system is good because it looks very easy to use but I don't really think the sound will be good because the enclosure of the speakers is small, so the therefore the speakers will be small and won't be powerful.
2. It will be difficult to make this because I don't think we have the resources to make this project at school and I need a speaker that will amplify well and have good bass.
3. I think it will work well for someone who doesn't need a powerful sound system, so for me this design won't work. I                                                                           just love the rubix cube idea.

1. I love this idea. The proportion and balance of the sound system is excellently done. The two speakers are in the middle next to each other and the handles on top are at equal distances apart so this makes it balanced. The size of the sound system enclosure is perfect. The size of the speakers, the handles all fit on this enclosure which is great. I absolutely love the case for the phone or device to be put in, I like the way it is on top of the enclosure so you can let your phone rest there while playing music and it won't get dirty. This sound system looks strong and durable because of the materials used to make it.
2. I can definitely make this at school because it uses wood and we have wood, its also a pretty easy shape to make and there will be lots of room for the amplifier and other components to go.
3. It will work well because there is two speakers and the sound system enclosure is made from wood, the wood will allow the music to absorb and let it amplify well, the phone is in a phone holder case so this will prevent you from putting your phone down on a wet surface or somewhere it can get dirty. For me, I would make the enclosure a little bit smaller so it can be portable but for this person it most probably works for them.




   

Sound System Design Portfolio (pg5)

Brief Development

The Functional Nature of my design

The speakers will be able to plug into my phone's audio jack and will be able to play music through that. It will have a battery in it that will be able to charge via a USB port and the battery will last for a long time. While playing music there will be LED'S flashing to the beat of the music. The sound system will amplify my music on a huge scale.

The Physical Nature of my design
My sound system will look an old retro type of radio. It will be made from wood in the shape of a rectangular prism. On the front there will be the 100mm diameter speaker and a pattern next to it. The pattern might be a word like FUN with LED'S on that will be flashing to the beat of the music that is playing. By using a word like FUN it will show a bit of my personality on my sound system. At the top of this sound system enclosure there will be a leather type of case where you can put your phone in while playing music so you don't place it on a wet or dirty surface. The audio jack will be placed above the pattern and the volume control will be next to the stereo jack.

A conceptual statement

I'm designing an LED sound system because I need a sound system for home, so I can play music for my friends or family. The LED'S will be in the sound system for a bit of entertainment when at a Braai or Barbeque. It is going to be used for playing music around the house or at a function on the weekend.

Specifications

1. Adjustable volume control is one thing I have to have on my sound system for my neighbours who have just had a baby. They expect me to have it in case the volume gets to loud.

2. My Friends and Family expect it to be portable so we can take it with us where ever we go. Such as on holidays, to a park or to the beach. So I need to make it small but powerful.

3. My Mom expects my sound system to be a part of my room. She wants it to fit in with the theme or colours of my room and it musn't be too big because she doesn't want it to take up too much space.

4. My sound system will need to have a good amplifier so it could amplify my music more than my phone and my sound system needs to have good bass so it will sound more powerful, I will be pleasing everyone with good sound.

Sound System Design Portfolio. (pg 3 & 4)

What will the sound system be used for? 

Around the house at home we listen to a lot of music. We usually listen to the radio through the DVD player but sometimes I don't like the music they play and wish I could just play my own songs. I have a small speaker that takes batteries and connects to your phone or device via Bluetooth. Unfortunately sometimes we don't have batteries and the Bluetooth can take long to connect. I need a sound system that can plug into the audio jack of my phone and it must be able to charge with a USB port. It will be used to listen to music on my phone and it will be used to amplify the music. It will mostly be used around the house and at a Barbeque/Braai.

Stakeholders


KEY STAKEHOLDERS:

Dad: My dad is a key stakeholder because he needs my speakers to have volume control, just in case I play it too loud. He expects it to not take up too much space and he prefers it to be portable because he doesn't want to cart it around everywhere.

Mom: My mom is a key stakeholder because she needs my speakers to look part of my room and expects it to be kept neat. She prefers it to be small so it won't take up much space in my room or anywhere else in the house. 

Brother: My brother needs my sound system to have volume control, in case I play music while he's watching tv. 

Friends: My friends need my sound system to look cool and presentable. They need it to play clear music and they expect it to amplify my music on a huge scale.They expect it to be louder than a normal phone speaker.

WIDER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS:

Neighbours: The neighbours expect my sound system to have volume control because i'm not allowed to play music after 10pm since they've just had a baby. 

Teachers: Teachers expect my sound system to look presentable and neat. It must have volume control so I can turn the music down at any time.