Stereo2Go Forum Reader

smeats1976 - 2013-04-18 12:53

I said on an earlier thread I was going to build a boombox, I was going to design my own but changed my mind when my dad was not able to get this old valve radio back to life. I bought an amp and 12v power supply off ebay for £25, the Alpine speakers were out my old cortina and cost me £13 (ex display missing grills from Halfords) and the big wooden radio cost £20. The LEDs cost about £2 and everything else Dad allowed me to source from his junk pile! Here's a few pics and a Vid that I hope you like! It was fun to build and sounds pretty good too!

stereo.mad - 2013-04-18 13:18

nice job.....how does it sound?

northerner - 2013-04-18 13:26

Pretty darned cool! Did a similar thing with 3 or 4 Art Deco style radios...got one in the living room with a powerful amp and big bass woofer in it...sounds bonkers!

Congrats on a cool build!!!

smeats1976 - 2013-04-18 14:41

Thanks Guys! Stereo Mad, It's still got its original tweeters on the sides and with Alpine Car speakers and a cheap amp it goes very loud without distortion, I was suprised how good it sounded!

Northerner, I'd love to see the old radios are they like 1930s 40s? Like yourself I like boomboxes from a certain era, the Crown in the last pic is as new as I'd probably go! Love old valve radios too, Had a big old Grundig in my room as a teen thanks to my Dad.

northerner - 2013-04-18 14:51

I stripped out a 5.1 surround sound to use in one, another has a 2.1 pc surround sound in, the best one has the amp, speakers and bass box out of a gaming chair in it...that one goes seriously loud and bassy lol

will find a pic

bison - 2013-04-18 14:55

nice build smeats,would love to have a go at something like that

sitman - 2013-04-18 17:06

Great project! The LED's set it off nicely.

smeats1976 - 2013-04-19 09:28

Originally Posted by bison:

nice build smeats,would love to have a go at something like that

You'll be surprised how easy it is Bison! these litlle T class amps are cheap and make everything very simple and straight forward to connect, it was all done on a Sunday afternoon at a liesurely pace!

northerner - 2013-04-19 09:55

Smeats is right, it's not that tricky especially with a big wooden box...so much easier than plastic!

bison - 2013-04-19 10:29

theres a guy who does a lot of carboots local to me that has atleast twenty radios from that era for sale at any one time,

i might see if he has a dead one that doesnt look to shabby..gonna have a try

northerner - 2013-04-19 11:09

Look for a surround sound system too, the ones without the DVD player. Got scruffy decent ones before for a couple quid and stripped out the speakers and amp and squeezed them into the old radio.

2.1 ones work best but 5.1 ones kick butt if you can squeeze them in

bison - 2013-04-19 11:40

thanks Si i will look for one of those 2.1 units too,i think choosing a decent cabinet is gonna be the tricky bit

samovar - 2013-04-19 11:40

great stuff! and I bet you had a lot fun while resurrecting the legendary Concertina by Telefunken

lav.loo - 2013-04-19 14:49

sorry i'm late here smeats, that's a great job you've done there mate well done gotta love them led's, bet it sounds way better than the crown too

smeats1976 - 2013-04-19 15:41

Originally Posted by Lav Loo:

sorry i'm late here smeats, that's a great job you've done there mate well done gotta love them led's, bet it sounds way better than the crown too

thanks Lav! and you're right the crown is in my collection for looks alone!

mitchelljames - 2013-04-19 15:45

nice work smeats, very cool idea.

driptip - 2013-04-19 18:54

this hobby is great! there is no limits lol, great job man.

superduper - 2013-04-19 21:31

Awesome.

davebush - 2013-04-19 23:26

very vintage

mookbox - 2013-04-24 13:09

Gotta love that!