DIY
MUSIC
STYROFOAM PLATE SPEAKER
Get surprisingly good sound from
disposable picnicware. By José Pino
I’ve built homemade speakers using various materials for the cone. This design is the best. Paper plates
are too soft, and disposable plastic cups vibrate
too much, but stiff, lightweight styrofoam produces
sound quality that competes with commercial
speakers. I really mean it — you will be surprised!
Photograph by Sam Murphy
1. Cut 2 strips of paper, ½"× 11" each. Coil one strip
lengthwise around the magnet and tape it closed,
but don’t tape the paper to the magnet. Roll the
other strip around the first one and tape it closed
as well, but don’t tape it to the first roll. Remove the
magnet (Figure A).
2. Glue the paper cylinders to the back of the plate.
Try to position them at the exact center (Figure B).
MATERIALS
Foam plate
Sheet of regular bond paper
Business cards ( 2)
Copper wire, 32-gauge enameled
Tape
Glue Hot glue works great.
Small neodymium cylinder magnet(s) You can
use just 1 if it’s tall enough, but I used 3 thin
ones stacked together.
Flat piece of wood or cardboard Should be larger
than the plate. I used cardboard, but wood
damps vibrations better.
Audio plug
TOOLS
Ruler
Scissors
Wire cutter/stripper
131 Make:
