Amazon Basics Speakers Modding

Amazon Basics speakers? There are not many useful audio tools you can get a hold of these days for twenty bucks, but you can build some. This little project can be done by anyone old enough to use a soldering iron. It’s a simple modification with a lot of opportunities to do your own thing as you see fit. You can start with almost any basic set of desktop computer speakers. In this video we’re using the Amazon Basics Computer speaker set, because they are always available at a good price.

The goals for this project are twofold. First we want to turn a boring, clumsy stereo set of computer speakers into a couple of useful test speakers. A usb powered speaker that sums a stereo 1/4″ TRS input to mono for spot checking. And if we do that, we’ll be left with a passive speaker we can terminate or leave bare wires for spot checking all sorts of amplifier outputs.

Second is dealing with the incredibly bright LED power indicator that these come fitted with. We’ll use some very simple and easy to install binding post terminals for this part. Breaking one leg of the LED between them to make a continuity tester that you will absolutely use. There really should be a way to turn front facing LEDs off on this type of product, but manufacturers don’t seem to care enough to bother.

There are tons of other ways to deal with annoying LEDs though, so let us know in the comments if you’ve done something similar of totally different with yours.

Parts & Tools

In this video we used the following basic parts, linked below. For tools, an xacto knife and an entry level soldering kit should be most of what you need. Don’t put off doing projects like this because of your tools, you don’t need anything fancy.

• Amazon Basics Speaker Set – https://amzn.to/3aTxnml
• Binding Post Terminals – https://amzn.to/3QcuRI2
• Test Leads – https://amzn.to/3MDgA4c
• 1/4″ TRS Neutrik Connector – https://amzn.to/3MGvO8n
• Rapco Continuity Tester – https://amzn.to/39jKlt7