42 replies to this topic

[Kurisu]

So, yeah, obviously in my cleaning and restoration of my 3 6-switch units, I noticed the speaker grill area on the original case design.

My question is obvious: does anyone know any details on these? I mean, it's a little obvious that at SOME point during the 2600's life, the plan was to have the machine itself output sound (possibly more arcade like?). I can think of many reasons it would have been removed (cost savings, design simplicity, what to use and where to place volume controles, if any, etc) but again, does anyone know any details?

And, secondly, has anyone tried to mod in 2 small speakers to the sound portions of the TIA system, thus showing what could have been? I know someone once soldered a combat chip to the unit to re-create the original plan of it as a built-in game, so naturally this kind of a mod seems possible to one of us.

[Rybags]

Supposedly the initial plan was to have inbuilt sound but I guess it was removed a> cost savings and b> it tends to suck more than through the TV speaker.

I would guess that if you wanted to do onboard sound, you'd need an amplifier also which complicates things a bit... although the ideal would be to find a cheap set of PC speakers that runs on 9 Volts and just rip the guts out and use the amp + cone from that.

[Retro Rogue]

Do a search of the 2600 subforum with "speakers". It's been discussed plenty of times here already.

[CPUWIZ]

wgungfu, on Tue Nov 3, 2009 9:33 PM, said:

Do a search of the 2600 subforum with "speakers". It's been discussed plenty of times here already.

+1

[jetset]

Yeah! No starting of conversations is allowed! What do you think this is a discussion forum or something?

[SoulBlazer]

I agree that was a little harsh -- they could have given a link -- but they are right in saying it's been brought up before. Heck, I've seen it twice in the brief time I've been here.

[Kurisu]

Ya know, I run forums, and I totally forgot the obvious "search for it" principle before posting.

*facepalm*

Thanks.

[rmaerz]

Kurisu, on Tue Nov 3, 2009 9:47 PM, said:

Ya know, I run forums, and I totally forgot the obvious "search for it" principle before posting.

*facepalm*

Thanks.

No prob...you just recently joined and I've started new threads on topics that have been discussed a thousand times.

Next, people will bust your chops for resurrecting a thread that has been cold for 7 years like I have.

[SpiceWare]

rmaerz, on Wed Nov 4, 2009 9:10 AM, said:

No prob...you just recently joined and I've started new threads on topics that have been discussed a thousand times.

Next, people will bust your chops for resurrecting a thread that has been cold for 7 years like I have.

Very true.

[atari_envy]

rmaerz, on Wed Nov 4, 2009 9:10 AM, said:

Kurisu, on Tue Nov 3, 2009 9:47 PM, said:

Ya know, I run forums, and I totally forgot the obvious "search for it" principle before posting.

*facepalm*

Thanks.

No prob...you just recently joined and I've started new threads on topics that have been discussed a thousand times.

Next, people will bust your chops for resurrecting a thread that has been cold for 7 years like I have.

+1

[Kurisu]

rmaerz, on Wed Nov 4, 2009 9:10 AM, said:

Kurisu, on Tue Nov 3, 2009 9:47 PM, said:

Ya know, I run forums, and I totally forgot the obvious "search for it" principle before posting.

*facepalm*

Thanks.

No prob...you just recently joined and I've started new threads on topics that have been discussed a thousand times.

Next, people will bust your chops for resurrecting a thread that has been cold for 7 years like I have.

If I necrobump that badly I would ban myself, by force, by smashing my monitor with the rusted heavy sixer I have. Give that staticy thing some use!

[Retro Rogue]

Oh yes, because when someone tries to assist said poster by suggesting they do a search because the topic has been covered plenty of times in the past here, it's: "busting chops", "shutting down a conversation", and "harsh". When the original poster even took it as assistance, then it might just be that said complaining people are: "overreacting", "drama queens", and "out of touch with reality".

[Zoyx]

Never liked the search in forums. Just did a search for speakers in the Atari 2600 forums... very noisy results. If a noob wants to start a redundant thread... let'em.

I personally haven't heard the definitive story behind the speaker slots. Just lots of speculation.

[horseboy]

Zoyx, on Thu Nov 5, 2009 5:57 PM, said:

I personally haven't heard the definitive story behind the speaker slots. Just lots of speculation.

Huh? It is pretty straightforward. They were planned. Then they decided against it. What do you want to see? The memo they sent out when they made the decision?

[Zoyx]

Well, yeah. I would like the complete story. I am getting the feeling that the story has been lost.

[keilbaca]

It was originally designed to have speakers, but due to cost, they just fed the sound to the tv instead.

I have done a couple mods however that have utilized the speaker holes by making a small amp, throwing speakers in the case, using a ton of epoxy so they don't go anywhere, and a switch in the back to turn the sound on and off.

It looks the same in the end, and its really neat when you surprise your friends when you flip that switch in the back, and the sound comes out of the atari.

[Zoyx]

keilbaca, on Thu Nov 5, 2009 7:16 PM, said:

I have done a couple mods however that have utilized the speaker holes by making a small amp, throwing speakers in the case, using a ton of epoxy so they don't go anywhere, and a switch in the back to turn the sound on and off.

You should write up what you did.

[brojamfootball]

[/quote]
You should write up what you did.
[/quote]
Agreed!

[SoundGammon]

Al Heller at Atari told me back in '79 that the sound was going to come out through the panel, but somebody had suggested that it would be more realistic coming from the tv. It wasn't to save money, since they had to add circuitry to the main board to route it to the tv.

[Cebus Capucinis]

Zoyx, on Thu Nov 5, 2009 7:20 PM, said:

keilbaca, on Thu Nov 5, 2009 7:16 PM, said:

I have done a couple mods however that have utilized the speaker holes by making a small amp, throwing speakers in the case, using a ton of epoxy so they don't go anywhere, and a switch in the back to turn the sound on and off.

You should write up what you did.

Yes, and then you should send a bunch of memos to yourself in intricate detail about every single step you take including breathing and thinking so that years from now when someone asks about it for the billionth time you can show them "the complete story".

[Zoyx]

@CebusCapucinis - so snarky

[Cebus Capucinis]

Zoyx, on Thu Nov 5, 2009 10:50 PM, said:

@CebusCapucinis - so snarky

I'm a "cheeky monkey".

[Kurisu]

a mod like that would be fun to do sometime: Odds are I will end up with a good number more consoles soon, and one of them would have to be "the one" to do this with.

[seanhq]

Internal speakers would be pretty cool, especially with the mention above in comment #16 about a switch to turn them on or off. What I really need to know is how to adjust the clock in my 2600 for daylight savings time

Edited by seanhq, Fri Nov 6, 2009 12:24 AM.

[Polybius]

Speakers in the Atari would be cool. If I did that though, I would have a switch so I could switch back to the TV sound. sounds kinda redundant, but yeah.