WTB (US)-~3mm Speaker 20Hz-18kHz +/- 3db (Or really any specifications) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Deadlymush
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 26, 2014, 01:25:44 am
content: For a little hobby project, I'm building an in ear device and I need a VERY small speaker. The output doesn't need to be the best, and it really doesn't need to get very loud (seeing as it will be inside someones ear), but my scouring of the internet for something fitting this description has been unfruitful. I'm fine with any locations and prices, mainly just any suggestions of where I can find one or what I can search by would be most obliged. Thanks!

author: nitro2k01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2014, 01:41:29 am
content: Perhaps you could buy and modify earbuds form your local consumer electronics store? Buy different ones and see which ones are the easiest to modify to your needs.

author: Deadlymush
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 26, 2014, 02:29:09 am
content: I have scrapped a few pairs of earbuds, but even the in ear earbuds all seem to have a speaker on the outside and then a tube that runs into your ear. I have looked for replacement speakers for hearing aids, which would probably fit the bill, but I haven't had any luck there.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2014, 03:35:33 am
content: The smallest I could find are 5x5mm 2mm thinhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/5x5x2mm-Possible-Smallest-Surface-Mount-Speaker-in-the-World-SMD-Tiny-Speaker-/281304738154?pt=US_Speaker_Parts_Components&hash=item417f11a96a

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2014, 03:51:16 am
content: There are at least 2-3 levels of quality, sophistication complexity, and size well above what you find at consumer retail.Check out, for example:http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er4.htmlNote that the more up-scale IEM (in-ear-monitors) use custom-molded ear-pieces, not those flimsy things you get with earbuds.You didn't mention WHY you want to do this when there would appear to be off-the-shelf solutions to your stated requirements?

author: Deadlymush
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 26, 2014, 04:11:55 am
content: Thank you so much miguelvp, that is precisely what I wanted. And I am doing basically a DIY-hearing-aid sort of thing, but its not for any actual use. I just wanted to test my skills with a new project and this is what I came up with. Thanks again for the help!

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2014, 04:14:18 am
content: You are welcome, too bad it's only 4KHz, but at least it has the right amount of pressure.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2014, 09:00:25 am
content: Quote from: Deadlymush on October 26, 2014, 04:11:55 amCurious. What aspects of hearing aid technology interest you?I ask because they push technology in directions that other applications ignore, e.g. very low power DSP and analogue, low voltage mixed analogue/digital, strange non-linear algorithms to counteract the ear/brain's non-linear characteristics.

author: Deadlymush
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 27, 2014, 12:41:16 pm
content: Well, I was still deciding, but I think I'm going after whatever I can make that works like the Phonak Invisity. They are ridiculously expensive, and I have worked with quite a few fm transmitters/receivers, so I figured if I could make something that would work like that but without all of the fancy machinery then it would be mission accomplished. Sorry for any confusion.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2014, 12:53:28 pm
content: Quote from: Deadlymush on October 27, 2014, 12:41:16 pmNo problem. But if you think that's expensive, you should see the cost of hearing aids.Thank god for our National Health Service (or what's left of it now that Merkin corporations have the ear (ho ho) of ministers).