Lighted Speaker Enclosure

Hello all and welcome back to one of my instructables, this is going to be a simple project that creates a quite an impressive show. This project all began when I realized how much extra stuff I had around, so here's how it started I originally got the amp to make a speaker system for a hometheater but a friend gave me a much newer one that he didn't need, then I was able to get the speakers quite cheap from a pawn shop and the two black ones I had from previous project, then after my most recent project, an interactive LED table I had a ton of LEDs left over so I got to thinking and here is the beginning part of the contest I hve made the LED installation will be in a later post.
Here is a link to a video of it in the dark:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l419QejRLJs

Also here is a link to my previous instructable about an interactive LED Table.
https://www.instructables.com/id/Interactive-LED-Table-The-Simple-Way/

So here is the basic parts list. (everything I used to complete the project seen before is in parenthesis) 

Necessary:
1) 4 Speakers (Boston Acoustics DSi 455)
2) 2 Smaller Speakers or the same as above. (Sony XS-T1641)
3) Amplifier capable of running your speakers (Yamaha RX-V757)
4) Solder
5) Plug in Soldering iron (30 Watt)
6) Wire Cutters
7) Pliers
8) Rubber Bands
9) Speaker Wire (20 and 16 gauge)
10) Wire Strippers
11) 14 gauge wire (about 10 ft)
12) 3.5mm Music Cable Or whatever size plug your audio device has.
13) TIP31 Transistor (TIP31AC     i think)
14) 90 LEDs (Blue) Color is up to you
15) Hot Glue and Gun
16) Cabinent Material (24" x 48" x .5" Particle board from Homedepot)
17) Wood Glue
18) Disposable Camera
19) Table Saw or Circular Saw
20) Jig Saw (or dremel wood cutting bit)


Optional
1) Assorted color LEDs.
2) A second TIP31 transistor
3) Tin Foil
4) Brad Nailer or finish nailer
5) Towels or soft foam
 

So first you need to construct your cabinent or box, you want it to be big enough to accomodate your speakers in my case it is 18 inches deep 8 inches high and 36 inches across. This gives me enough room to fit the smaller speakers on the front and it is deep enough to mount any other speaker in the future. (i.e. Subwoofer). Also be sure to measure out the lengths so when you piece it together all the edges are flush and you don't get any gaps, I neglected this but it turned out perfect because there is a gap on the top back edge to run all my wires through, then the front is held in by pressure from the sides and top, I had a brad nailer on hand so I nailed it together instead of gluing it but gluing is preferred because the nails can split the wood easily fortunately that didn't happen. Also assemble the sides, back side, and bottom and hold off on the top and front face, we'll deal with that later.

The best way I can think of to do this is to use a dremel with a hole jig, but I used a jig saw and had good results. With the dremel you get a perfect circle, but I didn't have one, so first you need to lay out your design on the back of the board and if you want you can cover the front to keep it clean, then draw out your speaker circles. Next if using a jig saw drill a hole large enough for the blade to go into inside the circle but near the edge then insert the blade into the hole and carefully cut along the line you made for the speaker. Once done test fit the speaker and trim if necessary also sand it a little to remove any jagged edges. Do this for all panels containing speakers.

You will need a drill and bit that is the size of the lens but smaller than the lip on the base of the LED (this can be tricky).
Once again you need to lay out your design totalling 74 on whichever sides you want, be sure to measure it all out and make everything even so it all looks nice and not just thrown together. Once your done with that its time to drill you want to drill from the front to the back of the board because when the bit punches throught it will tear a little bit of the board and you don't want that on the front, once they're all drilled its on to the next step...

Ok now you need to mount and wire in you speakers simply follow the manufaturers directions, or you can probably figure it out on your own, just be sure to mark which wire on your speaker wire is positive and which is negative, then run the wires out of the box through a small hole in the back or through the opening in the back if you went with that option. Then it's on to the next part of this instructable which will is below.

https://www.instructables.com/id/Lighted-Speaker-Enclosure-Continued/