Earbud speaker drivers for DFRobot DFPlayer Pro

Uncategorized
1

I bought basic wired earbuds from a supermarket, took them apart, and connected them directly to the DACR and DACL (and GND) connections on my DFPlayer Pro. They worked well.

I would like to buy the bare earbud speaker drivers (without the earbud housing) for this, but need to know what to look for, as I don’t know what specifications to search for. There’s very little info on the packet of the ones I bought.

Is anyone able to assist?

2

Hey there, @CHRISTOPHER332060,

For earbud drivers, or “bare dynamic earbud drivers”, then narrow it down by diameter and impedance.

Since your existing pair works, I’d measure a driver’s diameter and, with it disconnected, its resistance using a multimeter, which that should help identify a similar replacement ((although resistance isn’t exactly the same as rated impedance but its close enough for this)). Let us know what diameter and resistance yours measure?

3

Hi Christopher
I could be wrong here but don’t be surprised if the ear bud drivers (if you can get them) sound quite different when used on their own in an open air environment.

They are really designed to sound good when in their ear bud housing and in your ear. Open air could sound like anything.

Cheers Bob

4

Hi Jane, thanks! I am not worried about the diameter: I actually want them to be as small as possible, smaller than the ones that I got from the supermarket.

I measured the impedance and got 19 ohms. The (smaller) speakers that don’t work, but I am trying to make work, have an impedance of 16 ohms, which doesn’t sound like much different.

I am going to re-solder the smaller ones that don’t work as I suspect a problem there.

In the meantime, is the number of ohms the most important thing I should be looking for in this area, or is there anything else I should be checking?

Thanks, Chris

5

Hi Robert, thanks but that’s not a problem for me, I am just wanting to use them to make noise (pink noise to be exact) for a project I am doing. Cheers, Chris

6

Hi Christopher
Thanks for that. Just thought I would throw that bit of trivia in in case you wanted good fidelity.
Cheers Bob

7

Hey there, @CHRISTOPHER332060,

Technically, a driver’s rated impedance is usually a little higher than its DC resistance. Impedance describes the opposition to the changing audio signal and varies with frequency, whereas your multimeter measures resistance using DC.

Beyond impedance though, you’re really looking for sensitivity. Essentially how loud the signal needs to be for driver to read a given input. That and the continuous power rating.

Before resoldering, check each driver directly across its terminals, disconnected, and check for open circuits.