Hardware mod - Replace internal speaker with something better

quarryman

Bought a Dell Vostro 1310 recently. The speaker in is *CRAP*. I mean bad. You can barely hear dialogue in movies.

Rather than me having subtitles on all the time, would it be easy to solder in a more powerful speaker?

I'd like to avoid buying a separate plug-in USB powered speaker if possible.

AlmightyCushion

I'd take the lazy option and just get a set of headphones.

You should be able to do it though. You might have trouble finding speakers that you find powerful enough able to fit into the laptop (I'd doubt there would be much room in there). Getting power to the speakers may be an issue as well. You might have to splice the existing power connection with the one on the new speakers. How well that will work I don't know. Same will have to be done with the audio input with the speakers.

Best of luck with it though. If you do go ahead with it, could you post up a step by step guide to it with pictures as I'd love to see it.

Overheal

Youd want to have a fair amount of knowledge in circuitry/electronics... or know someone who does. Exactly what the Cushion said, theres a lot to consider beyond just getting them to fit in (which is also an issue)

the safest bet is good headphones or some portable USB speakers - preferably ones that can be augmented with a DC jack or batteries, as you can only get so much wattage out of USB.

kaizersoze

It's not possible to do. The speakers and casing are moulded to fit exactly into a tiny space within the chassis. You won't get third party speakers that will fit. No room to move anything around.
Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever seen third party internal laptop speakers for any laptop.

Overheal

youd have to be a skilled modder/solderer basically, and pretty much construct the piece yourself from scratch. very tricky. very complicated.

dr.bollocko

Maybe ask the guys in music production. They always use laptops from what I can see of their kits.
I think an external sound card with speaker outputs is popular.

Overheal

dr.bollocko wrote: »

Maybe ask the guys in music production. They always use laptops from what I can see of their kits.
I think an external sound card with speaker outputs is popular.

I was considering this myself but the tradeoff is youre aiming to use an AC-powered sound system, circumcizing the laptops mobility if you want to use the speakers.

You might want to look at any of these usb/battery powered substitutes:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-0327537-6736628?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=laptop+speakers&x=0&y=0

dr.bollocko

Overheal wrote: »

I was considering this myself but the tradeoff is youre aiming to use an AC-powered sound system, circumcizing the laptops mobility if you want to use the speakers.

You might want to look at any of these usb/battery powered substitutes:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-0327537-6736628?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=laptop+speakers&x=0&y=0

Docking station for home with the external HDDs, sound cards, Meeces, keyboards and USB powered rocket launcher/ George Foreman grill?
Maybe mobile speakers for out and about, but they would probably be a little bit crappy anyway being battery powered no?

Overheal

Depends. My brother used to keep some loud battery powered fúckers for his iPod a few years back. Just depends what you buy.

TerrorFirmer

I got portable iKool speakers for my Mp3 player for 4.99 in Zhivago. The sound is fantastic, especially considering the price - miles better then the onboard in either my 1500 or Sony Vaio, and better the most cheapish dc powered labtec/pc line/whatever speakers you'd get for <25 euro.

AlmightyCushion

You can get usb powered speakers. Not sure how good they are though.

Overheal

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

You can get usb powered speakers. Not sure how good they are though.

ive used dell ones before (the ones that come with desktops) but those arent great - I found them only about as good as my internal speakers on my pavillion.

problem with USB is the maximum draw is 0.5 amps - a battery operated speaker can give you up to 5 times that (average rechargable AA outputs 2000mA but this can be more), for admittably shorter periods (but at least the length or more of your laptop battery), and rechargables are handy in that regard.

Common sense tells me theres got to be some portie-speakers out there that do both: USB and battery draw.