[EYEdROP]

I am using Coby CV 180 drivers inside toilet paper tubes to try to beat my laptop speakers performance. The tubes are taped together and are 64 cm long (same as bose wave radio waveguide). I have beat the performance of my laptop speakers in some respects. The tubes give them a suprising amount of bass response and the lack of a box makes the imaging incredible for what it is. On the flip side, Im having problems with bass resonance until about 200hz. The tubes rattle like crazy and make too much noise. Also, my laptop speakers are more accurate sounding. The tubes make the sound very tube like lol. The last issue I have is I don't have an amplifier that can push them loud enough without clipping. 
 
Just sharing one of my first DIY experiences. This is not meant to be serious, just experimenting with my extremely limited resources and funds. Having a lot of fun and realizing the advantages and difficulty of designing something yourself. Really makes you use your ears. 
 
Any suggestions to better the sound of these tubes, without spending money?  I was thinking of using old PVC pipe instead to cut resonance and make a better seal...

 

[nikongod]

Sounds like a fun project.
 
Maybe try rolling off the bass with a blocking cap or in software.
 
You might also want to experiment with different tube lengths. What works for a given driver and set of design goals may not work for another. 

 

[EYEdROP]

I just stuffed the tubes with some acoustic insulation I got from inside an old speaker box, seems to really help the tube like sound. Still have bass resonance issues, the rolls are too poorly taped together I think. More later...

 

[wakibaki]

A few guys on diyaudio have been messing about with cardboard exponential horns for ipods, which I thought was an excellent idea coming out of left field as far as I was concerned.
 
You might like to take a look: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/full-range/199862-something-little-different-quick-easy-ipod-horn.html
 
w

 

[EYEdROP]

Great link, thank you. The old school no cost cabinet for transistor radios was really cool. I need to register to that forum to see some of the pics though...