DI Y

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

Make: 131