John Heisz - Speakers and Audio Projects
John Heisz - Speakers and Audio Projects
  • 351
  • 38 568 762
My Homemade Hearing Aid - DIY Hearing Aid
I have moderate hearing loss due mainly to damage done during my years in construction. This device is designed to boost the frequency range that fills in that loss of hearing. Think of my hearing as a hole in the ground and this hearing aid is the dirt that fills the hole.
It is basically an active amplifier, one for each ear. There is a highpass filter and a lowpass filter that limits what's being amplified to specific frequency range
So my ears are hearing what they normally do, but they are also getting the boosted response from this device.
More technical:
I used the Analog Devices filter design wizard to design the filters: tools.analog.com/en/filterwizard/
I configurated the highpass as a 6th order (3 stage) filter that has gain. The 2nd order lowpass follows to limit how much high frequency content is boosted.
Final stage is the output with two opamps in parallel to drive the in-ear receiver. It has much more gain and is adjustable.
I used Microcap to sim the circuit and KiCad to design the PCB. I used REW to measure the response of the completed circuit to ensure it was working as designed. These measurements show the frequency range boost, the low noise and low distortion.
Opamps are the NE5532. I tried the lower power LM6132, but the performance wasn't as clean. I'm using this with a plugin power supply so power consumption isn't an issue. If I wanted to run it from batteries, I'd use lower power opamps.
I've order 3 different mic capsules to try out and may make a followup video if they prove to be better. The ones I'm using work great, even though they cost almost nothing.
The circuit is fairly compact, but was not designed to use outside my listening room (or some other static location). Real hearing aids will almost always be the better option if they are setup properly. They are tiny and have a limiter, but also consume batteries and are quite expensive. But my experience doing this has shown that the expense is (mostly) justified.
I consider my time spent developing this as educational and an act of entertainment - I like doing it. It certainly gave me an appreciation for how difficult it is to do this.
And the device is low enough in cost that I can build additional units to have in other places, like at my desk for editing video. The in-ear receivers are not cheap ($220 per pair), but a lot less than real hearing aids.
You can help support the work I do in making these videos:
Project plans for sale: ibuildit.ca/plans/
Join the ibuildit community on Loacals: ibuildit.locals.com
Support this channel on Patreon:
www.patreon.com/user?u=865843&ty=h
#diyspeakers
#johnheisz
#audio
My "Scrap bin" channel:
ua-cam.com/users/IBuildItScrapBin
My main channel:
ua-cam.com/users/jpheisz
Website: ibuildit.ca/
Facebook: I-Build-It-258048014240900/
Instagram: i_build_it.ca
Переглядів: 7 464

Відео

Speakers Buying VS Building VS Upgrading
Переглядів 7 тис.3 місяці тому
Long story short, build if you like doing that and have the facilities. Buy if all you need are the speakers and don't want to wait or work at it. Upgrade an old pair if you like to tinker. But the takeaway is that each of these isn't going to give radically different results. Working within a price range will make all of these options come out pretty much the same. You can buy really good spea...
My DIY Preamp
Переглядів 5 тис.5 місяців тому
The preamp design I used is based on this one from Rod Elliott: sound-au.com/project97.htm I made a few small changes and also designed my own board layout. I strongly recommend Rod's site if you are looking to get into audio electronics. The preamp works splendidly and will be the heart of my control box project. I used high quality parts and that includes the opamps (OP275). It has controls f...
Most important Cable in a Hifi system?
Переглядів 6 тис.5 місяців тому
Find me a cable, Mabel! Where did I put that cord, Gord? Gramps, get your hands off my amps! Take that magic crystal off my dac, Jack! You can help support the work I do in making these videos: Project plans for sale: ibuildit.ca/plans/ Join the ibuildit community on Locals: ibuildit.locals.com Support this channel on Patreon: www.patreon.com/user?u=865843&ty=h #diyspeakers #johnheisz #audio My...
Can We Measure Everything We Hear?
Переглядів 3,9 тис.5 місяців тому
Sound reproduction using electronics is a human invention. We made it - we understand it fully - we can measure every aspect of it. There's no magic involved, despite what the snake oil gurus want you to believe. When you measure sound, there are a number of ways to look at and interpret the data. In this video I point out the difference between the frequency response (what most people look at)...
It's Been a Great Year! Can Next Year Be Better?
Переглядів 4,3 тис.6 місяців тому
I made 50 video on this channel in 2023 and did three fairly large projects. One of those is the 10 channel active amplifier I made from scratch and just recently made some changes to. The changes were to permanently fix a thermal tracking problem I had with the original amp design, and restore the blown channel. Over the course of the year I tried different things in my listening room and have...
You Hurt My Feelings!
Переглядів 7 тис.6 місяців тому
This IS NOT me complaining about comments! I LOVE getting comments, both ones that praise and the ones that criticize or point out mistakes. Please listen to what I say in the video! A bit of a sidetrack into human psychology to look at the unspoken interaction a viewer on UA-cam has with the person making the video. Even though you may not recognize it, there is an immediate reaction to the pe...
The Truth on the Biggest Lie about Open Baffle Speakers
Переглядів 24 тис.6 місяців тому
More! Not less! The open baffle has MORE room interaction than a boxed speaker simply because it's firing out of the back of the speaker as well. Those emissions reflect from the walls in the room almost exactly like the ones from the front. The "figure 8" dispersion pattern is mostly an "on paper" concept that goes out the window in a real room. By real room, I mean YOUR room - any small room....
Why So Much Childish Behavior In Audio? So Much Nonsense in Audio! More On Selling Speakers To You
Переглядів 7 тис.7 місяців тому
Three years ago I changed this channel over to audio projects, and immediately started to notice how seriously guys take this topic. A seriousness that goes well beyond it's overall importance in their day-to-day life. There's an old saying that's pretty much been forgotten these days, and it how you shouldn't discuss religion or politics in polite company because these topic run deep. Well, ap...
Coax Array Speaker Build - Part 1
Переглядів 7 тис.7 місяців тому
Getting started on an interesting speaker design, something I'm calling a "coax array". The concept is to replicate a large dual concentric (coax) driver with a ring of small midrange drivers around a central horn-loaded tweeter. The advantages in using this arrangement are higher power handling, high sensitivity and it sets up a true point source. The array handles frequencies from 300Hz to 20...
The REAL Reason Why Open Baffle Sounds Better Than Box Speakers
Переглядів 47 тис.7 місяців тому
READ ME! My opinion, after thinking on it long and hard and listening to my own open baffle speakers for 2 years is that the main difference is the midrange presentation. The open mid projects the sound back out of phase with the front output and reflects off the wall behind the speaker. It then combines (largely in phase) with the front output and changes what you'd get from the front firing d...
Would YOU Buy These Speakers?
Переглядів 11 тис.7 місяців тому
IMPORTANT! Like I said in the video, this one is all about what YOU want, and whether you would buy a pair of the speakers shown in this video. I need to see a significant number of "yes" answers to that question to go any further with the idea. Up front, the preliminary price for the pair is in the area of $2000US. I would have to develop the project more to pin down the price exactly, but I'm...
How Bass Goes Through Walls like Magic
Переглядів 3,9 тис.7 місяців тому
READ ME!!!! My explanation can sound like a distinction without a difference, but it's the impedance match loss that's the key to understanding it. If the wall is acting like a big speaker cone, like your speaker that's creating the sound, you will have large losses from the impedance mismatch. Speakers are massively inefficient at transferring mechanical energy to the air due to the impedance ...
Debunking Audio "Truths" - Open Baffle Speakers don't Pressurize The Room
Переглядів 13 тис.8 місяців тому
Sound, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the shit disturber John on his 5 year mission to seek out the nonsense and to boldly go where no audiophile has gone before. Sound is energy that travels through a medium. For most purposes, air is that medium, so we need to understand how sound behaves in it. Sound waves are so-called pressure waves that have a high pressure peak and a low pr...
Why Did I Buy This Crap? Room Acoustics Basics
Переглядів 10 тис.8 місяців тому
Sound advice on room treatment: www.youtube.com/@AcousticsInsider The basics of room acoustics are simple - use lots of thick absorbers to reduce the reverb time in the room. Of course you don't have to start off with a lot, but keep adding as you can afford it until you've reached a point where they are working effectively. But don't fall into thinking that you can get away with using more thi...
Horn Design Experiment - Does Shape Really Matter?
Переглядів 9 тис.8 місяців тому
Horn Design Experiment - Does Shape Really Matter?
Simple Trick to Make Speakers Sound like a Live Performance PLUS a Sound-Stage Blizzard
Переглядів 77 тис.9 місяців тому
Simple Trick to Make Speakers Sound like a Live Performance PLUS a Sound-Stage Blizzard
Narrow vs Wide Speakers - Which is Best?
Переглядів 48 тис.9 місяців тому
Narrow vs Wide Speakers - Which is Best?
EQ with Crossovers? Really?
Переглядів 8 тис.9 місяців тому
EQ with Crossovers? Really?
Debunking Audio "Truths" - Cables Don't Make a Difference PLUS the Politics of Audio
Переглядів 24 тис.9 місяців тому
Debunking Audio "Truths" - Cables Don't Make a Difference PLUS the Politics of Audio
Debunking Audio "Truths" - Dr. Floyd Toole
Переглядів 7 тис.9 місяців тому
Debunking Audio "Truths" - Dr. Floyd Toole
Debunking Audio "Truths" - Flat Response = Best Sound
Переглядів 8 тис.10 місяців тому
Debunking Audio "Truths" - Flat Response = Best Sound
Process for Building a 10 Channel Amplifier - Assembly Details Part 3
Переглядів 13 тис.10 місяців тому
Process for Building a 10 Channel Amplifier - Assembly Details Part 3
My Amp Blew Up!
Переглядів 12 тис.10 місяців тому
My Amp Blew Up!
All I Can Say is... Wow!
Переглядів 61 тис.10 місяців тому
All I Can Say is... Wow!
Flame Testing My 10 Channel Amp
Переглядів 6 тис.10 місяців тому
Flame Testing My 10 Channel Amp
Putting the Amp Boards Together and testing / measuring them
Переглядів 7 тис.11 місяців тому
Putting the Amp Boards Together and testing / measuring them
Subjective vs Objective in Audio - Which is Better?
Переглядів 2,8 тис.11 місяців тому
Subjective vs Objective in Audio - Which is Better?
A Rant about Speaker Measurements - They are Mostly BS
Переглядів 7 тис.11 місяців тому
A Rant about Speaker Measurements - They are Mostly BS
What Does My New Amp Sound Like and How I Learned Electronics
Переглядів 10 тис.11 місяців тому
What Does My New Amp Sound Like and How I Learned Electronics

КОМЕНТАРІ

  • @toddpeterson1673
    @toddpeterson1673 2 години тому

    What if you were to use like a car cabin filter vs. the screen and cloth? Would that cause too much restriction?

  • @user-zx7fb3gh6f
    @user-zx7fb3gh6f День тому

    Do you know how much the room modes and acoustics of the interference patterns generated due to the table in the room V.s how much is the actual response of the crossover? If you move that test to a closet full of clothes the response may look completely different.

  • @markwelch1125
    @markwelch1125 День тому

    Well I'll scratch this extra no good idea when I put my head in the box and I went boom boom I feal like it was deeper without it so I won't treat my suds like they are dumb and go without the polyfill 😅 I love you smart subs you boogers you 😅 let's go go boomin equally together let's go be not fake and dumb. Ok bye 👋 hold the cake bud this vodka and strawberry lemonade is all we need right now 😋

  • @guygranger7894
    @guygranger7894 День тому

    I never thought I`d say I wish I could hear LESS.

  • @andrewgray9663
    @andrewgray9663 2 дні тому

    Doesn't actually offer any advice on how to plan, measure, mark out etc.

  • @francoisbouvier7861
    @francoisbouvier7861 2 дні тому

    An audiophile Buddy gave me a design that mimicked the Radford speakers. The dadoes involved the MDF were quite the challenge. In the end, the speakers imaging was fabulous. The bottom end may have been wanting.

  • @jeffgermain2804
    @jeffgermain2804 3 дні тому

    I think you should be made aware that there is a period of adaptation needed for the brain to relearn. Without daily wearing and a slow weaning of the information you have been missing by gradually increasing the sounds you need for improving communication you will have the same reaction to hearing aids and just go around hearing less than you need forever. It is a bit like physio therapy in that you have to push the envelope slightly to increase create strength. There are very good measurement systems to measure exactly what you are hearing in your ears so that your reactions can be used to intricately work toward a goal of audibility and comfort. But if the practitioner does not explain this go elsewhere.

  • @mannye
    @mannye 4 дні тому

    Holy cow. Audiophile hearing aids. I'm gonna be RICH! Cryo treated silicone tubes baby!

  • @claudio6032
    @claudio6032 4 дні тому

    Very interesting ! Great Insights.

  • @Satch_4_Hogs
    @Satch_4_Hogs 4 дні тому

    It doesn't NOT interact with the room. It interacts with the room differently.

  • @maurahealy2536
    @maurahealy2536 4 дні тому

    What is the limiter

  • @coreygrua3271
    @coreygrua3271 4 дні тому

    Thanks to the UA-cam big shot. Expertise in wood translates to expertise in hearing rather well.

  • @radew83
    @radew83 4 дні тому

    that is Xmax?

  • @rothgartheviking858
    @rothgartheviking858 4 дні тому

    Red oak is a beautiful wood. I really enjoys these videos. Thanks.

  • @peterh.8931
    @peterh.8931 5 днів тому

    I got one Question about the open Baffle Sub: How does music sound when you walk into another room with the door open?

  • @rothgartheviking858
    @rothgartheviking858 5 днів тому

    What does a Tweeter wave guide do in this scenario?

  • @kazinix
    @kazinix 5 днів тому

    Can't tell the difference :/

  • @chuckmaddison2924
    @chuckmaddison2924 5 днів тому

    I think it Sheldon said, " You can change the laws of a country, but you can't change the laws of physics "

  • @snowball600
    @snowball600 5 днів тому

    I had a similar experience recently. Awful. Consider going to an audiologist that uses Audio Scan measuring equipment - it actually measures how your ear (s) is / (are) receiving the input, allowing the audiologist to fine tune your measurements - the result is crystal clear hearing. I'll never go to an audiologist without the audio scan technology.

  • @Chinhnguyen0497
    @Chinhnguyen0497 6 днів тому

    same volume and config? you did not mention anything about it

  • @mamadontteach4202
    @mamadontteach4202 6 днів тому

    Thank you @IBuildIt ! You saved the day for me.

  • @AlaskanMissions
    @AlaskanMissions 7 днів тому

    In most states when you go for an eye exam they are required by law to give you your prescription. You can take that anywhere and have glasses made. Wish that were the way with hearing aids. Get your test results and buy over the counter hearing aids and have an app to program them. That would save the hearing impared thousands of dollars and give us controll over what we hear.

  • @CashGravel
    @CashGravel 7 днів тому

    Lrs plus w a sub

  • @janeanson8520
    @janeanson8520 7 днів тому

    Wow!! Makes you not want to go to the hearing doctor!

  • @johnmarkzimm
    @johnmarkzimm 7 днів тому

    Can you use any driver for a DIY open baffle speaker? Or are they different?

  • @RogierYou
    @RogierYou 8 днів тому

    It’s a high profit margin business

  • @RogierYou
    @RogierYou 8 днів тому

    I did not want to spend €4500 for a pair plus whatever I would need to pay for follow up appointments. Choose Jabra Enhance Select 300 and can change the settings using the app on my phone depending on the situation. $1599 including 3 years service and replacement in case of damage or loss.

  • @sarreqteryx
    @sarreqteryx 8 днів тому

    that's not OSB, it's plywood.

  • @user-ll8hn6dz2j
    @user-ll8hn6dz2j 9 днів тому

    I got mine free pair from widex. Kind of them help me I'm 60 great to have good people in life help me like wise very expensive

  • @davebutler3905
    @davebutler3905 9 днів тому

    I built a pair with 9 small cheap drivers on each side. They don't sound good at all. May be the drivers or that the guesswork box i built.

  • @budekins7779
    @budekins7779 10 днів тому

    No riving knife and no guard, what is it about American woodworkers that they think this is ok. See it all over UA-cam. It's equivalent of getting in your car and driving with your eyes shut and your hands tied behind your back. I've worked in a professional shop for thirty years in UK, never seen anybody do a through rip cut without riving knife in place. It's actually illegal in a commercial shop.

  • @CarlosNMLobos1996
    @CarlosNMLobos1996 10 днів тому

    I don’t know if these comments are still being watched but I have a question. Can I use an iso-baric setup to replace a dual coil speaker?

  • @QUIX4U
    @QUIX4U 10 днів тому

    3:59 Well the missus just woke me up. What a brilliant politician he is. Got the givt of the forever chatter, without a break. That drone sent me flying deeper into unconsciousness that I have ever slipped.z god bless him as I shure don't/

  • @user-es3hq5zk4e
    @user-es3hq5zk4e 10 днів тому

    its called science...well said

  • @kieranhynes9072
    @kieranhynes9072 11 днів тому

    Thank you for your time. There was some useful explanations there. One thing I would say though, is that if you're starting on a project like this, do absolutely everything you can to avoid using a perfectly square room. I know some times there's no choice, but this is absolutely the worst room you could have.

  • @marceloarenas5486
    @marceloarenas5486 11 днів тому

    Great!! That's it, plus the harmonic waves that travels from one side of the stylus to the other, creating a more "sourround" feeling throughout both channels;

  • @davebutler3905
    @davebutler3905 11 днів тому

    Wisdom!!!! People lie to us because make it clear that we want them to. So glad politicians never lie!

  • @davebutler3905
    @davebutler3905 11 днів тому

    Scientific experiment entered the chat! Esa Merilainen (author of current-driving of loudspeakers) Also ran some tests. He concluded that cotton cloth performed best at converting sound energy to heat. He also said tissue paper worked. I think he packs his enclosures with these quite tightly.

  • @dannyc9784
    @dannyc9784 12 днів тому

    Here's the problem with transmission lines..... Once you hear a properly implemented one, you cannot go back to other inferior designs :(

  • @chinmeysway
    @chinmeysway 12 днів тому

    glad ya like those Elacs. been liking them too for normal non ocd listening

  • @Le10White
    @Le10White 12 днів тому

    Isnt the back wave 180 deg out of phase, or anti phase. Anti phase is anti room node, is it not?

  • @gordondyer6310
    @gordondyer6310 13 днів тому

    Hi, I always enjoy your videos. Can you tell us which accelerometer you use and where you buy it? Thanks

  • @NickyNiclas
    @NickyNiclas 13 днів тому

    With how affordable 3D printing and CNC milling has become, I feel like that diminishes the negative aspect of complexity. I've heard really simple speakers sound amazing but those aren't fun to build because, it's just too easy. The "magic" that makes it interesting is not there. Less is often more, but not always. I appreciate your thoughts on the matter!

  • @ryansemplexyz
    @ryansemplexyz 13 днів тому

    Speaker fill has two purposes: to increase the relative internal volume "seen" by low bass frequencies, and to absorb mid to high frequencies. That being said, there's not a situation where speaker fill will dampen the side panel resonance, unless you use an enormous amount of fill. If making a 3 way design, the mix woofer should be sealed in a separate enclosure, and densely stuffed. The reason to densely stuff the mid woofers compartment is to eliminate internal reflection, which would otherwise interact with the woofer and cause resonance in the frequency response. For the bass section, if ported, then an "ideal" amount of fill should be used based off the internal volume. Since the crossover will limit mid and high frequencies, the main purpose of this fill is to increase the relative volume, and therefore the bass output. In a two way speaker design, ported, a hybrid approach can be taken. Dense fill behind the driver, loose fill everywhere else. There's plenty of online documentation demonstrating the best method to fill your speaker based off the speaker design.

  • @offthecuff6352
    @offthecuff6352 16 днів тому

    Ihave beenr unning an open baffle 4 way now for 12 years and love them. !5" woofer and 3 compression driver horns ineach panel. These do not have the shouty character at all as I designed a network dampening the horns. The wow factor has been exceeded ! I only run 40 watts per channel and hardly use 1/3 the volume control.

  • @michaelkaliski7651
    @michaelkaliski7651 18 днів тому

    Open baffle speaker systems clearly work but for 100 years audio designers have been enclosing speakers in cabinets. Now the extra materials and work involved all add to the cost, so this wasn’t done for no reason. Correctly designed speaker cabinets improve the overall efficiency of a speaker system in terms of converting electrical power into audio power. For the majority of listeners a ported cabinet system is more convenient and easier to drive for any given volume level. Cabinet systems can use smaller drivers which also is a consideration in crowded domestic situations.

  • @larrygaines7462
    @larrygaines7462 18 днів тому

    I use vifa 2in vertically 2 drivers and 5.5 in x5.5 in baffle on top of cabinet. Summed to 8 ohm and the youtube eq cut the 2k slider 3db

  • @kaylasmusic
    @kaylasmusic 18 днів тому

    Ok first of all, the forst step os you must do real ear measurements where they program it precisely to your prescription, if that’s not done, theres no way for for them to know how much you’re getting out of the hearing aids and thats probably the whole thing that you were having

  • @PandorasFolly
    @PandorasFolly 18 днів тому

    I wonder if different types of wood finishes could affect the noise? For example a hard artificial shell like finish vs some oil that leaves the wood exposed

  • @michaelkaliski7651
    @michaelkaliski7651 18 днів тому

    Kind of reminds me of a time in the 1960’s where speakers were fitted into solid walls to provide an infinite baffle. The only sound was that created by the front of the speaker cone and the wall was open at the rear so there was no restriction at the rear of the speaker. In theory the perfect set up. The reality was that the lack of any rear reflection made the systems sound flat and uninteresting. Sound needs to be tailored to a room and personal preferences and a technically inferior system can sound absolutely great when properly set up, compared to a top spec system that is just dumped up against a wall.