Fitting a bass reflex speaker

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Improving the sound on a Class 50

I recently installed a bass reflex speaker into a Hornby Class 50.  What a difference and so easy.  Here's the YouTube link.  Regards Charlie

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Here's my Class 47 with the superb EM2 (had to lose a bit of chassis) with Paul Chetters sound file and the excellent Shawplan etched roof grilles to let the sound escape. I've scattered this around the model rail forums that I use. Hope you like it.



Cheers Pete.
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Yes, I found quite early on that putting decent speakers, or combinations of speakers could dramatically improve the sound quality. It started with my earliest sound installations in Heljan class 33, 35 and 47 locomotives, using Howes' sounds on ESU LokSound v3.5 decoders (the then latest available). 

Each had different challenges but even with two of the standard ESU 23mm round speakers in parallel, I noted vast improvements in the 33 and 35. With the 47 I had one 23mm round and one large rectangular speaker. All three of these locos still have the same setups now, as they work well, even by current standards.

Then I discovered bas reflex and slightly smaller bass enhanced speakers, which worked better for locomotives with lots of bass, used in conjunction (where there was sufficient room) with smaller speakers for the treble output.

My very latest installation is with legomanbiffo's sound on a LokSound v4 for a Dapol class 68. Sound tested initially with the supplied rectangular speaker was good, but not great. I tried out, for the first time, a Zimo 'double dumbo' speaker from YouChoos, which is really two sugar cube speakers in a custom sound chamber. The improvement was massive, and I had to turn the volume right down (CV63 = 100 now, and could still go down further). I have posted a slightly shaky video on YouTube, which also shows the speaker installed in the unmodified chassis location provided by Dapol.

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I continue to experiment with speakers, and combinations of speakers to suit particular models and sound projects. It is something of a black art rather than a science, as to what works and what should work well but doesn't.

Jeff Lynn,
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Yes you're not wrong about the black art. The thing is that as you get improvements from better speakers etc, you spoil yourself and end up wanting to cough up more money even when you have to take huge lumps out of chassis'.



Cheers Pete.
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You're not wrong there, Pete!

:mutley  :mutley

 :cheers

Jeff Lynn,
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Hi Jeff,

I've been following with interest. My observation over the last 12 years is the same as yours - it's hit and miss with respect to speaker quality. However, a properly designed baffle is just as important, especially for ported designs. And if required a 100% airtight seal. If there are lead holes plug them with silicone. Attention here will improve a mediocre speaker into a reasonable one. Some acoustic foam inside also helps.

One thing I've found with a lack of space and where some chassis removal is difficult is to forget the baffle, and use heavy duty double sided adhesive foam tape from 3M or similar (used to attach wireless door bell pushes) on the bottom and sides. I attach to the top of the chassis under a grill, opened up with a fine drill bit.

Nigel

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