TC Sounds Custom Pro 18" Driver (Ferrite Magnet) with Dual 18" VMP Passive Radiators

I am proud to say I have started the process to build my dream sub! Here are the preliminary specs...

TC Sounds Custom Pro 18" Driver (Ferrite Magnet)
Dual TC Sounds 18" VMP Passive Radiators each with 2200 grams of mass
9.042 Cubic Foot Box tuned to 16.03Hz (25x25x25 Internal Dimensions, double thick 1.5" baffles for the driver and passives)

I was originally planning on using a Pro 5100 driver and doing a 7 cubic foot box, but came across a DEAL on 2 Custom subs, so I jumped on it. I also bumped the box to 9 cubic feet. The short of it is that the subs are a Pro 5100 top assembly with a Ferrite Motor instead of Neodymium.

Attached are the WinISD files. I have one with less moving mass on the passives... Still trying to decide, but that is the beauty I can play with it! These were done with the Pro 5100 driver but I will be updating these files with the specs of the Custom subs soon.

Let me know what you guys think of my plan and any insight would be great.

Don

 

TC Sounds Pro 5100 with Dual TC Sounds 18 VMP - 7 Cubic Feet.zip 2.4677734375k . file

I just got the passives last night! Very excited. Going to pick up the drivers Sunday!

Don

Yes I will, eventually. Right now, I will just hold onto the second driver and in a few months or so, I will build the second one.


Don

They were actually hand built by Thilo Stompler himself! He built them custom for Michael Singer, he is a fairly well know car audio enthusiast and is famous for his band pass designs. These were in his station wagon and he has promised me they were never bottomed out, over heated, or anything overly stressful on the drivers! These will bring down the house when they are done.

Don

I will be powering them with a Crown CE4000, 1800 watts per speaker.

Don

Here is the enclosure design It is very heavily braced and has dual speakons so I can daisy chain the 2 subs later if I want to, or I can just run a dedicated wire to each, at least with 2, I have the option.

Don

Agreed the braces are "pretty" but they they do tie all 4 panels together and support both the woofer and the passive very well. There should be zero flex and should help cut down on resonance. Granted, good cross bracing accomplishes this too, but hey, what's wrong with saving some weight and looking good while you're at it!

Don

Time for more pics. These aren't much better, but they are mine Thats a 2 Liter!!!! Please excuse the mess We are getting ready to finish half of our basement and things kind of exploded!















Don

I just free aired them to make sure everything was working properly. They worked well I can't wait to get these things in a box with the passives and really let them shine! The nice thing is that they are dual 1 ohm coils so it presents a 2 ohm load to the CE4000 which gets me 1800 watts per channel on a 220v circuit :yikes: I will be pushing the CE4000 about as hard as it will go!

Don

Tower of TC Sounds! These are all 4 passives for the home theater subs, and the LMS Ultra 5400 I accidentally ordered. I will be using it in a music sub for my 2 channel system. The 2 custom drivers are sitting assembled in the basement. My youngest is almost as excited as I am! He knows when I am getting ready to build something and he is always right next to me with a screwdriver!





Don

I really did accidentally order it It was in my cart when I ordered the other 2 passives and I made the purchase and didn't realize it until it was too late. So I decided to build a sealed enclosure for my music system It just seemed like a better idea then sending it back on my dime.

Don

Questions on cabinet construction. I would like to avoid screws as I would like to stain these in the future. Is there a particular type of wood glue I should use? I will be getting plenty of clamps to make sure things are glued up tight, but I wanted to ask questions here to avoid any gotchas. This is the first one of these I have built Also, anyone who has mounted the LMS Ultra Drivers, or even the Pro 5100, is there a particular wood screw I should use, or should I get hurricane nuts or something like them?

Don

I had not planned on sealing the box from the inside. I suppose I could if I had too. The PL Premium, what is messy about it? How hard is it to work with? I plan on staining these boxes later, so would the PL stain the wood or cause any problems aesthetically? I have used the Titebond previously, and cleanup isn't too bad. How is cleanup with the PL Premium?

Thanks!

Don

Well... 2 of the drivers I have I purchased used and I did not get screws. Is there a place I can buy them?

Thanks!


Don

Sounds like Titebond is the way to go. I am using 13 Ply Baltic Birch. It is pretty high grade stuff... I had planned on just staining it directly...

Don

I should also mention that all of the pieces for this project are being cut on a CNC router, so the edges should be pretty straight

Don

OK I found the TC Sounds screws on Parts Express and ordered several sets. I am going into 13 ply Baltic Birch, do I need to pre drill pilot holes? I wasn't sure with this large and powerful of driver if it would affect their holding power...

Thanks again for answering all my crazy questions!

Don

Hmmm.... dropping them down the stairs was on my short list, but now I might have to rethink that

Thanks for the info. I just got a call back from TC Sounds, and they are sending me out some screws for free!

The cabinet was going to be ready this weekend for pickup, but it has now been bumped to next weekend I guess I will just have to be content with building the sealed sub this weekend and the ported subs next weekend....

Don