Alternate sound options

[ShadowKatt]

Prophecy or bigger? I've yet to handle an ultrasaber yet, my only one is a force FX construction kit converted by US, but I had plans in mind to get a Standard Issue down the road and install a soundcard myself. Will that not be possible in the hilt due to the size or did I misinterpret that?

[navajas]

The point is, anything that is not MHS compatible will be a DIY. It can be done, as has been mentioned a few times, and there are plenty of examples. I'm not comfortable speaking for Alex and Ultra Sabers, which is why I recommended you contact them directly. As I understand it, any hilt that can not take an MHS pommel can not have sound (econo or otherwise) added by them at reasonable profit. That is a far cry from saying it "can't be done", but, that doesn't mean it makes business sense for them to offer it as an option.

Sound (econo or otherwise) in smaller hilts? Yes, however, Do It Yourself! (youseekyoda crammed it into an Initiate for heaven's sale. He also went through three sound cards, had to drill holes in his pommel, etc...)

Sound (econo or otherwise) in MHS compatible hilts? Yes. Contact them directly.

[ShadowKatt]

Ah, good to know. I haven't held or seen a SI saber personally, so I was unsure of the diameter of the hilt. I had to wonder.

[navajas]

Oohhhhh.....wait, what's the difference? I had one of the bottom ones, ripped it apart and still have the board and LED and all that jazz, but what's the top one have that the bottom one doesn't?

I'd go get one just to rip it apart, but I just don't have the money right now 

Oh shoot, I never read this fully. To my ears, and those of my household, the spring loaded Obi Wan light saber is the aural equivalent of water boarding. In addition, the motion sensor broke almost immediately. Even if you don't have the money now, my advice would be to wait until you do. I shudder to think of that board in a quality item like an Ultra Saber. But, hell, maybe you think it sound's fine. Do what you like!

[ShadowKatt]

Oh shoot, I never read this fully. To my ears, and those of my household, the spring loaded Obi Wan light saber is the aural equivalent of water boarding. In addition, the motion sensor broke almost immediately. Even if you don't have the money now, my advice would be to wait until you do. I shudder to think of that board in a quality item like an Ultra Saber. But, hell, maybe you think it sound's fine. Do what you like!

Oh god no. The sound on that thing is so bad that I removed the batteries and used it as a stunt saber. But it's cheap enough to use as a learning tool since I am literally JUST getting started learning to solder. But the sabers look so similar, and I've never gotten one of the other sabers that weren't the spring-loaded ones, so I didn't know if they had different boards.

[Rintor]

The Eco-Board stood up to my initial testing, but there are some things to know:

• Sound quality is actually very good.  I'd say it's on par with the Force FX line.
• It's not as loud as a Force FX board.
• Motion sensing is adequate. Impact detection is excellent.
• It flashes.  Like the toy, it flashes on ignition, impact, and shut down.  Some may like the effect, some might not. It's the only thing that reveals that the saber has an Eco-Board in it.
• Momentary switch must be used and the board does not have Accidental Shutdown Protection.  Bumping the switch will turn the saber off, but there are ways to help prevent this.
• It will work in an RGB setup just fine.

I went ahead and ordered enough parts to do several more installs.  I'll make some videos and if it's something yall still want, we will likely be able to accommodate.

I would absolutely love an Eco-Board saber. I actually prefer the flash effect. I'd definitely order one (a shock, catalyst, or arbiter) right now, if you had it available.

[Rintor]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know if a eco-board would fit in the Redemption hilt?

[navajas]

As I understand it:

Fit? Yes. See the multitude of posts regarding putting econo-boards in US (non-MHS) diameter hilts. DIY. If you're looking for US to do it for you at custom costs: No. Too expensive / time consuming to be profitable. Not sure how many other ways there is to say this.

[Maslac]

Can't wait till those Ultimate FX sabers come out ! Ill probably get one of each just to ripp em apart, and salvage the sound I feel kinda bad to open up my Anakin ROTS FX since it's (still) in perfect working condition.

I was hoping to start my project of putting sound in one or both of my halfs of the Phantasm i ordered this week \o/

If that could be done it would be just awesome.

One thing tho, i havent been able to find on forums:

I know all Ultrasabers are durable, and made to high specs and all that, but what about ultrasabers with sound boards in them (no matter the quality).  Are the extra exectronics durable too ? Since they were salvaged from a Hasbro FX that is NOT intended to drom from your hands (lol )

How do they perform (durability wise) in dueling sabers ? I have no dueling expiriance, other than extreme light sparing with a dude that allso had a FX, but was wondering if they break up after a cupple of normal hits from sparing, or are they durable like the hilts and blades themselfs ? How does US make sure they dont break up, since their sabers, unklike the FX series, are ment to actualy be usable

Any feedback from you guys with sound in yours sabers would be great !

Thanks alot

[Maslac]

Anyone broke their soundboard from dueling ? Any issues at all ?

[Rall_Kethil]

I don't normally like to break down pricing, but in this case I'll make an exception since it's a valid concern. 

The normal sound option is expensive because the board comes out of a brand new $110 Force FX Replica. Some FX's cost more, some less, but $110 is the average cost after shipping.  The speaker/battery pack combo is a $20 part.  We don't make it, we have to buy it like everyone else.  So we're at $130 in parts.  There's labor involved in taking the FX apart to get to the board, and then there's the installation itself which takes more time.  At this point we're losing money, but we can recoup a little by turning the now empty FX hilt into a Stunt and selling it later.

There are other incidentals which further cost us when we make sabers with sound, like warranty replacements of the FX board should it fail.

When all is said and done, we're lucky to break even with the sound option.  But, yall want sound and offering the sound option helps sell the sabers, so we continue to provide the service.  If we could make it cost less, we certainly would.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for the explanation and break-down of the sound option costs! I'd suspected as much, but seeing it in black-and white drives it home!

[Fallen Jedi]

I believe a eco sound option would be a perfect way to get people to click on the Add sound option. I have seen Hasbro for about $65.00 but that is just the part. I can;t wait to see what happenes