VOGONS

New Speaker for Monotech NuXT

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First post, by Simmerhead

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Hi folks!

I'm having so much fun with my Monotech NuXT PC playing games from my childhood (We had an Amstrad PC1512 growing up), but the integrated speaker is shit!

So, I've pulled a few speakers from various office PCs over the years (IBM Thinkcentre, HP Elitedesk etc.) and want to use them to get a "high quality" beeping sound, but reading the manual it makes me wonder if this is doable. They all have 4-pin connectors, with wires going to Pin 1 and 4.

I really don't understand what is meant by this warning from the NuXT manual, and I really don't want to damage this wonderful toy:

Speaker connector:
Jumper pins 1 and 2 to enable the onboard
speaker. Otherwise, connect a speaker to
pins 1 and 4.

This is slightly different to most 4-pin
speaker connectors. They usually have +5V
and Speaker output. This has GND and
Speaker output. Take note if connecting to
the “PC Speaker” input on sound cards, to
not cause a short of +5V to GND.

Pin 4: Speaker Output
Pin 3:
Pin 2: Onboard Speaker GND
Pin 1: GND

Anyone know if I can plug in a modern speaker or not?

Simmerhead
¤ VGA-era DOS Gamer
¤ Vintage PC Hardware Collector

Reply 1 of 1, by Ryccardo

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Yes, on the typical full size PC Speaker, the coil is disconnected from the metal frame on either side (in fact, if it wasn't, it would be a problem for the "normal" motherboards!)

A "modern" speaker (generally used for actual integrated audio and possibly requiring power depending on exact design, more on Dells), the flat plastic salami slice kind, may have a pin tied to ground depending on design, in which case just put it on a plastic support or connect that side to pin 1 😀

But don't take my word for it, it's easy to prove with an ohmmeter/continuity tester!

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