Easy speaker mod - LOUD!!! (no Solder!!)

[califrag]

okay for those of you who have been daring enough to open your PSP for whatever reason (I had to fix my analog stick) while I had it open and was cleaning it, I took an x-acto knife and right where the "speakers" on the front of the psp are, I cut the little plastic backing off the back of the faceplate. This opened up the little speaker holes which set ALL the noise from the internal PSP speakers free!! YAYAYYY But I was worried about dust getting in my PSP now that it was "exposed" so I took one of the little wind-covers off a set of headphones (you know the soft black cushioning that covers speakers/headphones/etc) and cut little 2mm rectangles and superglued them over the new holes on the back of the faceplate!!! Now from the front they look like actual speakers and not just dust collectors!! and on top of that, I constantly have people telling me to turn my psp volume down when the volume is only at 6 or 7 clicks haha!! I took pictures during this (though they are hard to see) but have not been able to get them uploaded to the computer or anything. If anyone wants more info let me know pm me and i'll help you!

[RocSqualie]

I always wanted to open my PSP to see what it looks like inside and if there's anything to change up but once I get the guts to, I'll give this a go.

But I want someone else to do it first

[califrag]

It's VERY EASY just don't strip your screws (I've almost got all of mine stripped out from opening it up so many times!) As long as you are VERRRRyyyyy careful! I've only gone so far as taking off the faceplate and opening the analog unit. I thought I had broke it until I realized you can't navigate the menus with the analog stick durrr. but once I started up a game it worked fine except the twist from the worn piece, but that should be fixed soon. I followed the instructions on www.decalgirl.com for their asterix faceplates (because I ordered one for myself for christmas haha)

[Macca]

upload ur pics to www.imageshack.us/

[califrag]

I would but it's not uploading them to the internet I'm having problems with it's getting them off my camera and onto my computer.

[modcase]

mod overboard i would definately want to see pictures before encouraging anyone else to proceed with this mod. Are you familar with what a port is and how it is effective in reguards to speaker boxs (bandpass)?

The speakers aren't that loud I guess I can agree,while driving in the car with the windows down, but thats what they made headphones for :P (illegal in some states).

[Joseph Stalin 2]

Very nice , I have always wanted my psp to be loader.

[Ibanez32]

Iteresting, I've actually been looking out for speakers to replace the existing ones.
Just few questions.....
Is the difference noticable?
Doe effect the sound quality or general sound of the speakers?
As I thought about this but then I wasn't sure if i did this you would loose some of the deepers sounds and end up with it sounding quite tinny.

I might try this if not i might get the ones off my old phone (they're not perfect but for the size they are they're quite impressive at higher volumes)

[califrag]

I haven't gone so far as actually digging through the psp's internals to find the actual speakers. All I am doing is removing a little bit of the plastic from the front faceplate.

Modcase, yes I do know how ports are used for speakers, however the only time it usually affects anything is when you are dealing with large speakers or speakers in a sealed box.

The difference is VERY noticeable. Before it was hard to hear many of the extreme ranges (highs and lows) and I could only really hear the mids. The highs and lows were distorted/muffled. After cutting the tabs off, the sound is crisp and clear and I can hear all the sounds that I never knew were in the games (or other media).

I got the pictures onto my computer but only put one out on the net:


here you can see where I removed the plastic tabs... I superglued the black speaker cushion/cloth over those holes. (i might take a pic of the final product, but i'm sure you all can imagine what those holes look like covered up) ;P

edit: here's a picture showing the soft cushion stuff I used to cover the holes up after I cut them. You can find it on the end of microphones, headphones, and earbuds. I actually used some from a cheap pair of earbuds. but I'm not sure where you can but this cushion stuff by itself. It's like a soft foam material...

[Nytrix]

this is quite a good idea..i think i might even do this to my white psp.

[califrag]

Thanks! After I done it I wondered why the heck $ony had designed it that way and couldn't spend the two extra cents to make it like I did. Be careful with your white psp though!! :shudder: I would hate to see the x-acto knife touch the back of the screen like I accidentily did with my black one (it made a little scuff mark on the underside of the screen.. oh well that's why I ordered the asterix faceplate) ;D

[dracule]

you have one dirty screen.

[cunfyoosed]

but teh sound realy comes outa teh bottom holes...

[xxaznrac3rxx]

Originally Posted by cunfyoosed

but teh sound realy comes outa teh bottom holes...

yea...on my psp..the sound comes out of the bottom holes...how does removing the front holes help?

[Vilinh]

The sound would come out of those holes too I assume.

Is there a way to pull out the covers from the front instead of opening your psp and lifting the face plate?

[tehhunter]

Originally Posted by Vilinh

The sound would come out of those holes too I assume.

Is there a way to pull out the covers from the front instead of opening your psp and lifting the face plate?

I would imagine not. I'll make a guide for doing this in a few minutes, and upload it with pictures. I know all about opening up the PSP, seeing as I had to fix my LCD screen. Talk about a nerve wrecking experience.

[Aythamie]

I wonder why no-one found this trick before :s
nice catch to the problem

[makarman]

Originally Posted by califrag

I can hear all the sounds that I never knew were in the games (or other media).

Haha, brings back old memories of putting my Game Boy Pocket up to my ear and hearing all the notes that I couldn't otherwise hear.

Also reminds me of my idea of pimping out my old Game Boy Color.

Originally Posted by tehhunter

Talk about a nerve wrecking experience.

Not to be a grammar nazi, but it's nerve-racking, not nerve wrecking. Just pointing that out for your knowledge.

[Rockeet]

I have a JAP 1.o version PSP and my speakers also com out the bottom of the PSP

[MasterQ]

i think it actually comes out of both, but more so on the bottom. i would imagine you would get noticable results because if you play music with your fingers over the bottom holes and then take them away, you get double the volume and sound quality you had with them on.

[terios619]

If you do this you have the risk of

1.Playing ''Pump it'' really loud and might blast the faceplate off.

lol Nice tutorial btw

[enixidfrag]

DAMN man i hate you Rockeet. i want an original 1.0 REALLY BAD. man your lucky

[NeroMaverick]

I also noticed that when you open the UMD drive bay, the sound almost doubles... maybe... if i modded my psp to have no umd drive *ripps off drive door* oh ya... i need that >_>;;...

anyways, just finished this mod, its good , i did notice a little difference if i cover up the bottom speaker and the front speaker holes then let go of the front ones just to see if can hear it a little louder than quiet. Thanks!

the mod was easy and painless, i suggest that if you have a peice of microfiber cloth *found in almost every psp travel pack* you can lay it down on the inside of the screen to help you hold it down, it shouldn't leave anything behind on the screen, and just for good measure, use a bit of compressed air on it after you wipe out the inside. i always try to work as clean as possible :P

[xxaznrac3rxx]

i tried it but i dont really notice any difference...and u said LOUD!!
oh well thanx anywayz

[RaiderX]

if u dont wanna void ur warranty, u acn be VERY careful, and punchture holes in the front speakers from the outside and allow a bit more sound to come out

[DrNicket]

Originally Posted by xxaznrac3rxx

yea...on my psp..the sound comes out of the bottom holes...how does removing the front holes help?

The midrange flows through the front holes and the low frequency (bass) pours our the bottom.

Try this: go into a small quiet room like a bathroom and close the door, turn out the lights (humming). Now, crank up your PSP and try blocking first the bottom then the top speaker holes. Listen for the difference.

[sumpaintballer41]

Im going to try just ccutting it out with an exactoknife WITHOUT taking the cover off "Already changed the faceplate, dont want to strip the screws!

But then Im going to try and cut small pieces of the foam and kind of stuff it in there

[DrNicket]

Don't nick the speakers or they'll be toast.

[sumpaintballer41]

do I have to push hard on the film?

[enixidfrag]

Originally Posted by sumpaintballer41

Im going to try just ccutting it out with an exactoknife WITHOUT taking the cover off "Already changed the faceplate, dont want to strip the screws!

But then Im going to try and cut small pieces of the foam and kind of stuff it in there

oh man you are one seriously brave soul. there's no way i would ever try that.