Popular Post Dzlchef Posted July 4, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted July 4, 2019 (edited) Okay, so the Nikola is loud but sounds like a tinny hot mess. I found speakers with a better sonic range and did a simple swap. The sound is much more full and natural with mid bass that had been missing. I’m sure it won’t stand up to the subwoofer on the 16X but now I can listen to music without it sounding shrill. The existing speakers are a Bose design but intended to have subs as part of the array. I chose a speaker with a wider range and more power handling capability. The range went from 270-19k, to 118-20k, and the sensitivity of the speakers decreased some. That means that the start up chimes are softer but you can still over crank the tunes. Link to the speakers I chose, due to the exact same dimensions and better quality. I’ll post pictures if I feel up to dealing with it today. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CWMCMQR/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Edited July 5, 2019 by Dzlchef 6 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrelwood Posted July 5, 2019 Share Posted July 5, 2019 Aren’t the speakers pointed to the motor, inside the wheel cavity? I’d think that the location would require water resistant speaker elements, of which the new ones does not have a mention of. It might even be that water resistant speakers are bound to be lacking in bass due to a stiffer cone design. Still, a nice upgrade! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzlchef Posted July 5, 2019 Author Share Posted July 5, 2019 2 hours ago, mrelwood said: Aren’t the speakers pointed to the motor, inside the wheel cavity? I’d think that the location would require water resistant speaker elements, of which the new ones does not have a mention of. It might even be that water resistant speakers are bound to be lacking in bass due to a stiffer cone design. Still, a nice upgrade! Yes, but the others weren’t either and an all paper cone. This is much better! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 (edited) Something that @Dzlchef doesn't stress enough is how his speaker mod muzzles the very annoying startup sound. I've heard his speakers and they sound great. But maybe even the bigger selling point for me is that annoying screechy startup sound becomes a softer more mellow tone that's much more acceptable. P.s. I wonder how your speakers fared with all the water crosses from Friday? Edited July 7, 2019 by Marty Backe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h3X Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 You could always cover them in hydrophobic speaker cloth. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 2 minutes ago, h3X said: You could always cover them in hydrophobic speaker cloth. Fantastic suggestion. I just ordered the speakers for my wheel. I figured maybe the speakers had to be made from a special material. I didn't know of the existence of this cloth. Looks like for the cost of the speakers I can buy enough material for a 100-Nikola's. But I may pull the trigger. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrd777 Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 Fantastic! Can’t wait to do this @Dzlchef ! Thanks for posting this. The speaker sound is lousy, and when I turn it on in a public nyc train station ... I get serious looks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h3X Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 14 minutes ago, Marty Backe said: Thanks Not all heroes wear capes... 😂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzlchef Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share Posted July 7, 2019 58 minutes ago, Marty Backe said: P.s. I wonder how your speakers fared with all the water crosses from Friday? I haven't checked the physical condition but the sound is still very good. I've been cranking this morning on the plaza as we're setting up the restaurant. This is a must do mod IMO and super easy. Well, except you will need to solder the wires to the speakers, but that's simple enough that even a complete novice should be successful. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 1 minute ago, Dzlchef said: I haven't checked the physical condition but the sound is still very good. I've been cranking this morning on the plaza as we're setting up the restaurant. This is a must do mod IMO and super easy. Well, except you will need to solder the wires to the speakers, but that's simple enough that even a complete novice should be successful. Yeah, I'm getting all the parts in place so when I (someday) get my working control board, I'll do this at the same time. P.s. I hope you didn't loose too many "Work Points" for Friday's escapade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzlchef Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share Posted July 7, 2019 31 minutes ago, h3X said: You could always cover them in hydrophobic speaker cloth. Great suggestion on the cloth. If it's thin enough you could lay down the cloth over the speaker holes and use the spacer ring from the new speakers to hold in place while you screw everything down. The spacer ring on the new speakers isn't attached. Maybe Marty will have the new and improved speaker mod? If so, I'll correct when swapping out my board. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzlchef Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share Posted July 7, 2019 2 minutes ago, Marty Backe said: P.s. I hope you didn't loose too many "Work Points" for Friday's escapade Nah, it's all good. My team is amazing and my boss much more understanding than my wife. She wasn't very happy to not have heard from me. I just stayed out of the dog house! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 24 minutes ago, Dzlchef said: Nah, it's all good. My team is amazing and my boss much more understanding than my wife. She wasn't very happy to not have heard from me. I just stayed out of the dog house! I'm happy to hear about your work Regarding the wife, after a couple more of these adventures (there will be, right?), she'll no longer be upset when you disappear with no cell phone coverage for most of the day. At least that's how it's worked for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 (edited) 31 minutes ago, Dzlchef said: Great suggestion on the cloth. If it's thin enough you could lay down the cloth over the speaker holes and use the spacer ring from the new speakers to hold in place while you screw everything down. The spacer ring on the new speakers isn't attached. Maybe Marty will have the new and improved speaker mod? If so, I'll correct when swapping out my board. I'm thinking of cutting out the rest of the plastic too. That has to improve the sound. Of course I'll video the whole operation Edited July 7, 2019 by Marty Backe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzlchef Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share Posted July 7, 2019 3 minutes ago, Marty Backe said: I'm thinking of cutting out the rest of the plastic too. That has to improve the sound. Of course I'll video the whole operation Not sure it would really make that much of an impact to be worth it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Martin Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 Someone figure out a volume control for the startup beeps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planemo Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 Interesting! I am looking to upgrade the sound on the Z10. Of course a small JBL or similar bluetooth pod strapped to my rucksack would work well but I would rather keep it all contained in the wheel. Theres only 1 small speaker in the Z so it will always be limited but if I can better the stock speaker in any way it would be good. AlternativeIy, I am not averse to wiring in a separate bluetooth amp board and its own speaker (as I would like to keep the stock warning sounds too) if need be. I cannot find any markings on the stock speaker to upgrade it so I am pi$$ing in the wind a bit. If the speakers you linked are at least the same size I might give it a go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neurokinetik Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 I "fixed" mine by putting 1/8" rubber mat between the speakers and the holes, and sealing it up with the same white tub & tile caulk that Gotway seems to love. Looks just like factory! Note that I really don't use the speakers, I was more interested in waterproofing this area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjunlee Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 Is there a way to make the speakers more powerful? Or would that require an amplifier? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrelwood Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 4 hours ago, chrisjunlee said: Is there a way to make the speakers more powerful? Or would that require an amplifier? Switching to more efficient speaker elements is a good way to do that, but as Planemo so marvellously said, without details on the current ones it would be a bit of a wind-pi$$ing. Every speaker needs an amplifier, so there is one on board already. Modifying that is one option, but requires knowledge on amplifiers in general. And due to the same wind-pi$$ing, might cause distortion. Furthermore, one could replace the two side-by-side 2” speakers with a single larger one. But the Nikola speakers are already the loudest on any EUC, I have only heard that their harsh tonality is the aspect that leaves much to be desired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neurokinetik Posted September 14, 2019 Share Posted September 14, 2019 Out of curiosity, I decided to see just how waterproof the "hydrophobic speaker cloth" is. I wrapped some around the end of a water bottle, and tipped it upside-down. If I didn't squeeze the bottle, it didn't leak. For our use case, it should do the job, as I don't see the possibility of pressurized water being able to hit the speaker opening. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legend27 Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 For everyone that wants to save some money or is not located in the US; I think I just found the speaker on Aliexpress https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32606794975.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.ca9327b8hXTOUH&algo_pvid=4e3ea253-fe63-4dde-823a-e6dc582fb745&algo_expid=4e3ea253-fe63-4dde-823a-e6dc582fb745-11&btsid=f29edd85-2cb5-46f3-9e82-a003d30c58c4&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2,searchweb201603_52 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Backe Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 2 hours ago, Legend27 said: For everyone that wants to save some money or is not located in the US; I think I just found the speaker on Aliexpress https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32606794975.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.ca9327b8hXTOUH&algo_pvid=4e3ea253-fe63-4dde-823a-e6dc582fb745&algo_expid=4e3ea253-fe63-4dde-823a-e6dc582fb745-11&btsid=f29edd85-2cb5-46f3-9e82-a003d30c58c4&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2,searchweb201603_52 The Amazon price is actually cheaper, and if you have Prime, 2-day delivery. But yeah, if you don't have access to Amazon, China it is 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blicky Te⚡️la Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 Wish someone would do this for a KS 18 XL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michmuch Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 Interesting ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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