They say anything can be a speaker if you're brave enough, but the key is finding the right balance between creativity and functionality. That brings us to SmartTronix's profile on Instructables, who built a Bluetooth speaker using... the shells of two coconuts. While sound quality depends on many factors, the final design definitely deserves our attention and could serve as inspiration for even more unusual designs.
Alright, you want to build your own Bluetooth speaker. Fortunately, technology is at an ideal point to follow the DIY route: All you need is a stereo Bluetooth module (costs less than 10 euros on Amazon), a lithium battery, a charging module like the TP4056 (7-8 euros for a pack of 10), a pair of speakers, and optionally, a small amplifier. The rest is a matter of deciding where you'll store all this... and Instructables user SmartTronix has a rather unusual proposal: a pair of coconuts.
A coconut transformed into a Bluetooth speaker
Obviously, the project offers great flexibility. SmartTronix used the shells of two coconuts (one to house all the electronics, and the other as a base), but nothing prevents us from using a larger coconut. The most complicated part is, without a doubt, creating the holes for the speakers. SmartTronix did them with a hand drill, however, I think it would be an excellent idea to try to "secure" the coconut so it doesn't fly off.
The 1.5-inch speakers were installed with a bit of quick glue (I imagine some variety of cyanoacrylate), and the only 3D-printed pieces are the rings that decorate the edges. The TP4056 has nothing special beyond a switch, but the Bluetooth module seems to have been recovered from another device. Something similar happens with the battery, a standard 18650 cell that can come from anywhere. The TP4056 is responsible for protecting it.
Thanks to the quirks of YouTube compression, it's impossible to determine whether the audio is truly good or bad... but it looks great, and these designs help us escape 3D printing, at least for a while.
Official site: Click here.
