Dynamite Samsonite Boom Case

Dynamite Samsonite Boom Case


Designer:
Greg T

Project Category:
Portable Speakers

Project Level:
Beginner

Project Time:
1-8 Hours

Project Cost:
$100 – $500

Project Description:
I have several old Samsonite luggage pieces that i have not used for years. They are also not as great for travel compared to a modern bag so I decided to upcycle them to be boom boxes. This was the first attempt.

Design Goals:
I wanted a portable Bluetooth setup that I can use around the house.

Driver Selection:
267-4327

Enclosure Design:
Small vintage Samsonite suitcase with some egg crate foam to deaden the walls a bit.

Enclosure Assembly:
I removed the inner pant bar and one of the pouches for small items like socks. I left the other and use it as a cubby for the ac adapter and cables so it is always ready to go. I cut the holes for the speakers and mounted some egg crate foam inside. The holes for each item on the side were all various diameters of drill bits so simple to setup and prepare.

Tips & Tricks:
I chose to use the KAB-INT for the USB charger, and I used an extension cable to connect it to the outside of the cabinet and avoid the odd cutout of that board. I extended the AUX input as well but do not use either. In the next project I may not use either.

Conclusion:
The frequency results using the IMM-6 mic and an Android app show an acceptable mid range response for the application. Bass response is limited since I used car audio speakers and enclosed them but it does fine overall. It is also not a large suitcase so i knew it was not going to go exceedingly low. I have a larger case for the next project that will focus more on a wider response curve. Battery life is 18-20 hours on background listening levels in my home as I work on projects. Less of course if I am pushing the volume, and I can always add another battery board later if I feel the need.

About the Designer:
I am a Technical Adviser for Parts Express for nearly 5 years.

Project Parts List:

2.5mm Panel Mount DC Jack
Universal 70W Laptop Power Supply 8.4~24V DC with 5V USB Charging Port
18650 2600mAh Li-Ion Flat Top Battery 3-Pack
Dayton Audio KAB-BE 18650 Battery Extension Board for Bluetooth Amplifier Boards
SPST Miniature Rocker Switch
Consolidated Stranded 24 AWG Hook-Up Wire 25 ft. Red UL Rated
Consolidated Stranded 24 AWG Hook-Up Wire 25 ft. Black UL Rated
Dayton Audio KAB-INT Interface Extension Board for Bluetooth Amplifier Boards
Dayton Audio KAB-LED Red/Green/Blue LED Package for Bluetooth Amplifier Boards
Dayton Audio KAB-AB L-type Aluminum Bracket for Bluetooth Amplifier Boards
Dayton Audio KAB-FC Function Cables Package for Bluetooth Amplifier Boards
325-105 Dayton Audio KAB-250v3 2x50W Class D Audio Amplifier Board with Bluetooth 4.0
Acoustic Eggcrate Foam 2 Pcs. 2-1/2″ x 12″ x 12″ for Speaker Enclosures Only — Non-UL
Consolidated Stranded 24 AWG Hook-Up Wire 25 ft. White UL Rated
USB Extension Cable for Car Audio 3.3 ft. (1m)
3.5mm Stereo Panel Mount Jack
3.5mm Stereo Plug
Kenwood KFC-1665S Sport Series 6-1/2″ 2-Way Speaker Pair

1 comment

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  1. 1
    Daren

    I love the vintage look of this box. I built a similar “suitcase boom box” with some help from the technical folks @ Parts Express (Blaine and Troy). It came out cooler than I expected and plan to build another one with my son. I hope to post some pics from this project soon.

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