X61/X62 speaker mod possibilities

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OhneHerren · #1 Post by **OhneHerren** » Thu Oct 19, 2017 3:37 am

Here some has used the speaker from a Nexus 6P phone in an X230. Would something similar be possible in an X62 (or X61)? The X62 has four pins for the speaker input. Does this mean it could support stereo speakers? Has anyone seen any discussion about such a mod on the 51nb forums?

OhneHerren · #2 Post by **OhneHerren** » Thu Oct 19, 2017 4:00 am

There is a topic on thinkpad-forum.de which discusses a number of options:

- Using the speaker from an XPS 13 laptop. Looking at the part on eBay it seems they are sold as a left and right speaker both with two pin inputs. I imagine the modder just used one.
- Using the speaker from an old Macbook 13-inch (although the modder said it was worse than the original loudspeaker).
- Mounting a loudspeaker in the PCMCIA or HDD slot! Obviously the former is not possible on an X62.
- Using the loudspeaker from other Thinkpad models. I don't know which are compatible however. The X301 is known for having great sound.

Does anyone know of any other candidates (small laptop speakers with decent sound)? If no one has any ideas I might buy an XPS 13 speaker and see what I can do.

harryK · #3 Post by **harryK** » Thu Oct 19, 2017 5:54 am

Stereo configuration is indeed possible. The speakers from the X6* dock are a drop in replacement, for instance. People have used the speaker set from a T410 as well

OhneHerren · #4 Post by **OhneHerren** » Thu Oct 19, 2017 9:11 am

I'll ask around about a spare X6* dock or T410 parts. I like the drop-in replacement element of the X60 dock speakers. Thanks for the info.

User 600x mentioned on this forum that they replaced the speaker in their T410s with an XPS 13 speaker (2015 or 2016 model) and were pleased with the results. So if I were to mod a loudspeaker enclosure to fit anyway perhaps they are a better option than the T410 loudspeaker.

You mentioned that stereo is possible. Where might the second speaker go? I can't see a good spot in the X62 (or the X61 for that matter). A possibility is in the bottom right, under the audio daughterboard (seen in this photo). It doesn't look like the bottom sixth of the daughterboard is needed, allowing for its trimming as required (and the old FireWire port leaves a convenient opening in the chassis bottom right which could be expanded). I don't think there is enough clearance for the speaker to be placed upright and flush with the FireWire port however, what with the weird chamfering of the bottom right chassis portion (is that for grip when plugging USBs?). I also don't know how two speakers would sound, when one is placed in the middle of one's auditory field shooting downward and one is placed to right shooting rightwards. Especially if I have to trim the enclosure of the right speaker down to nothing. I'll open my X62 up sometime and have a look anyway.

NonesensE · #5 Post by **NonesensE** » Thu Oct 19, 2017 5:39 pm

On 51nb, someone did a stereo mod on his X62 by placing a second X6x speaker between mainboard and audio/USB subcard. Can't find that post right now.

OhneHerren · #6 Post by **OhneHerren** » Thu Oct 19, 2017 8:21 pm

I suppose it could be an improvement on one speaker. The stereo separation would be minimal with the speakers so close together and there isn't anywhere for the sound to go really. Could be better than hacking at the chassis though.

Thinkpad4by3 · #7 Post by **Thinkpad4by3** » Thu Oct 19, 2017 9:24 pm

You could always go the Compaq route. Just add two LOUD!! speakers on the tip of the LCD assembly

.

fatpolomanjr · #8 Post by **fatpolomanjr** » Thu Oct 19, 2017 9:43 pm

Is the X6* Tablet dock speaker also a drop in replacement?

vavet · #9 Post by **vavet** » Sat Oct 21, 2017 3:08 pm

I have used stereo speakers from T61
https://i.imgur.com/C5wdpVW.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/FhPoBpQ.jpg

The boxes are very easy to modify.
Just two tips on this:
1. Try to keep the box of the big speaker (the one that goes to the area between boards) as big as possible. The size does matter here

2. Once the boxes are cut use some silicone to cover the holes cut.

jaspen-meyer · #10 Post by **jaspen-meyer** » Sun Oct 22, 2017 1:51 pm

I use a pair of speakers, though I'm not sure which machine they came out of. It was maybe a 17" dell or toshiba in the parts bin of a local shop. They are deeper than most (recent) notebook speakers. I put both between the main board and the usb daughter board.

They pair is much louder than a stock x6x and the mid-bass response, for example the lower range of a saxophone, is fuller. The speakers face the keyboard and the high frequencies are muffled, worse than on a stock x6x. I will reverse the speakers to face down, and then drill some holes in the frame to allow the high frequencies to escape.

Also I tried the speaker from either a T30 and it worked great but it didn't fit in the machine.

flyingfishfinger · #11 Post by **flyingfishfinger** » Wed Nov 01, 2017 1:18 pm

User "galloper" on the German forum reported that he used FRU 91P8396 from the T40/41, which apparently fit very well. Both cable lengths and the plug are correct and lend themselves to easy installation without soldering or other modifications, and supposedly it sounds great.

I just ordered a set on the 'Bay for $5, so let's see

R

evil · #12 Post by **evil** » Fri Nov 03, 2017 3:20 pm

flyingfishfinger wrote: ↑
Wed Nov 01, 2017 1:18 pm
User "galloper" on the German forum reported that he used FRU 91P8396 from the T40/41, which apparently fit very well. Both cable lengths and the plug are correct and lend themselves to easy installation without soldering or other modifications, and supposedly it sounds great.

I just ordered a set on the 'Bay for $5, so let's see

R

Don't have X62, but I've took a risk and bought one too for $0.50 + $1 shipping

Anyway FRU 91P8396 is for T40/T41/T42 and T43 according to some descriptions.

flyingfishfinger · #13 Post by **flyingfishfinger** » Fri Dec 01, 2017 2:23 pm

I think I either misinterpreted his instructions or just straight up destroyed the T40/41 speaker bar while cutting the mount apart. Also the mount itself is a resonating body, so once the speakers are removed they no longer sound good at all.

I want to try out these guys...whenever they get back in stock. They're pretty big, but they might fit in the spare space between the motherboard and the sound / USB card.

R

jmill · #14 Post by **jmill** » Tue Mar 06, 2018 10:11 am

Hello friends,

I wanted to provide some feedback as it relates to modding the speakers in the x230, as well as provide some information for those who are skeptical as to the efficacy of the project in general. I apologize if this is the wrong section, but saw someone mention the x230 above, and wanted to provide a first hand account.

The speakers as I measured them were 1 Ohm, 8W. I used Nexus 6P speakers I sourced from Aliexpress, with the foam adhesive on the enclosure. These are quite a bit bigger than the stock speakers in the soundbar. I tried to use a heat gun to open up the soundbar, but found (maybe due to age) that the plastic melted before the adhesive (!!!). I ordered a replacement, and instead used acetone, and was able to separate the bar with a razor. I used the razor to widen the speaker hole to accommodate the new enclosure. I used some formable rubber and Dynamat to adhere the reverse side to the back of the bar. The speakers have a press fit connector bent like a hairpin, and I used magnet wire soldered into the nook where they meet. I used formable rubber on the exterior of the bar to close off any openings (hole is rounded and Nexus 6P are square). The resonant properties of my fix are pleasing generally speaking. Spoken word in particular is much more full and quite a bit louder to my ears. These speakers are quite powerful, but at 95%+ there is some resonant distortion when listening to music, it's not really noticeable with spoken word.