• We hope you have a fantastic holiday season to close out 2025! Thank you all so much for being part of the Tom's Guide community!

Power requirements for small DIY speakers?

unspeakable

Prominent
Oct 13, 2017
34
0
590
I have no idea, about anything on powering speakers. Information is below.I want to set it up so that is as loud as possible with good-decent audio quality.

I am planning to use Triple A Batteries for this project. These are 1.5v 1Amp
Amp - Output Power: 0.1W-5W ;4-32 Ohms
Supply voltage: DC 1.8-12V
Input Interface: 3.5mm Audio input
Adjust form: volume adjustment

Speakers-
Type: Passive

Channels: 1

Impedance: 8 ohm

Power: 1.0W

Max Power:1.5W

S.P.Z:100dB

FO:
550±20%Hz

Frequency Range:
FO-8000Hz

Distortion:
10% Max at 1000Hz 1.0W.
 
Solution

Even though I'm an engineer, I don't do calculations for projects like that.
With all due respect to my audiophile friends, 1.5 W speakers are not rocket science.

I Just Wing It!

Be brave. Experiment.
What's the worst that can happen? So you lose a few bucks.
But you will have learned something.
You want you build yourself a powered portable speaker? Tripple A batteries usually means "AAA", and these will last you for couple of songs only. And the specs you've listed does not make any sense, either.

CHeck a site like Instructables for DIY projects.
 
Part Express will have everything you need and cheap.
https://www.parts-express.com/

In November I found a Phillips 5-speaker soundbar in the dumpster.
lHfP2fq.jpg

I took it apart to remove the center speaker to make room for the amp.
Rewired the 4 remaining drivers to be in stereo.
Cut a hole in the back so a $10 Part Express 18W amp could hang out
and used the biggest power supply (14.4V - 3A) the amp could take.

My GF loves her new speakers. They are much clearer and louder than the old ones.
 
Ok. I contacted the seller and they said it was 1-1.5 Watts at 1V. That means the amperage is from 1-1.5. Now how much power should I be giving the Amp in Volts and Amps for the maximum on these speakers.
 

Even though I'm an engineer, I don't do calculations for projects like that.
With all due respect to my audiophile friends, 1.5 W speakers are not rocket science.

I Just Wing It!

Be brave. Experiment.
What's the worst that can happen? So you lose a few bucks.
But you will have learned something.
 
Solution