Sealed Stereo Integrity HT-18D2 [build thread] - Page 2

Thanks. I will likely build one more.

Not done yet. Will take the final clamps off later today.

From the last few days...

Wednesday I attached the 8 dowels to the baffle. Dab of PL, bolted on. When they were all on, I placed it on the box and clamped. Replaced bolts with throw-aways, unscrewing them a half turn every so often. The next day they came out easily. This worked at keeping any appreciable amount of PL out of the inserts.


I think most of this came from removing the bolt.




Yesterday...



Since last night the final glue job has been in clamps. Baffle to box, and the other side of the dowels to the rear. I'm going to give it a full 24 hrs before I open it up. Later tonight I'll start with flushing all the overhangs.

Well, it's complete. Not yet finished, but good for now. The final assembly went smoothly for the most part. A couple boo boos with the veneer... I was leaning toward painting, so it isn't bothering me (too much).

All glued up.


Walls lined.


Gasket.


Installed.


Problem #1: The PAPER THIN veneer on the plywood shaved off when I was flush mounting. The worst of this was at the back of one of the sides. I was leaning toward paint anyway, as my tests with wood finish on this veneer were not satisfactory. So in the end, this is a non-issue, thankfully. My initial test of flush trimming didn’t reveal this problem because it was where the side met the top – and the top and bottom were made from a different plywood with a thicker veneer. Live and learn.


Problem #2: The outer layer of the ply chipped in the upper right corner of the baffle.


I'll be amp-limited until Christmas, but powered by a BASH 500, this thing is already a huge improvement over my previous TC-1K/Passive Radiator box. And it looks a lot better.

Larger pics here.

That's a good point. I had temporarily forgotten about the granite top. What would you suggest for fixing the chip? Cut it out to a square and cut a matching square from scrap, glue it in?

I may be using the same 2cm granite that I used for my L/R baffles. I can laminate an overhanging "skirt" of granite all around. This method is used a little to make granite countertops appear thicker.

Cutting to a square would also work. The spot is really small after the initial scrutiny has worn off. And the other problem area is on the least exposed area. In my room it'll never be seen by anyone other than my cat.

Close Mic - crossover @ 60 hz


Pre-EQ from listening position


Here are the filters I used.


Pre-EQ, Post-EQ Filters above, and a small LT to extend the -3db point from 38 to 33hz


Pre-Audyssey and Post-Audyssey Audyssey was nice enough to tame my 100-250hz hump, but I don't think I want a 10db boost at 10 hz (or 5 if I can trust the graph).


Disabling the LT dropped the low boost by 3db. That still leaves a lot of low boost in place.


I'll be building a second one of these soon, so my goal right now is not to get the deepest loudest extension I can. Once I have two, I might hunt for the limit. Any critique or suggestions on my EQ would be appreciated.

Did some rearrangements yesterday. Since I no longer have a record player, that little record cabinet will move out when the 2nd box is built.

Edited by baniels - 1/2/13 at 6:19pm

Thanks, Scott. A 50 to 70 inch jump (which I've been thinking about) looks like it would be awesome, until I overlay your 120" outside of that. I'll let you write the proposal to my wife.

I think it should start with "Downton Abbey might be great on 50 inches, but just imagine..."

Second verse, same as the first. So far so good.

Should have the second cabinet completed by Tuesday night. Then I'll be sub-free for a few days while I do a finish on the pair.

Second D2 will arrive Saturday. Second box will be finished up tonight. I've decided I'm going to wait on the finish. I can't seem to get a satisfactory result with this veneered ply. I've tried stains, poly (waterborne matte, oil-based gloss), Maloof oil. I'm going to leave them bare for now and postpone that decision. The way they are going to be situated in my room, only a small part of the baffle is exposed. The granite will be covering the top.

Somewhere along the line I got onto email lists for Tree Frog Veneer and Chemetal. I might hold out until I can give one of those a try.

In other news, my granite was cut today. Edge profiles will be finished in the next week or so. It overhangs the box by 1/4" on the back and sides, and the front wave comes out as much as 1.25", just about the same as the surround.

Should be somewhere around 55 lbs each. That ought to keep them in line.

I haven't given that much thought yet. But, yes, I am planning on putting something between the stone and the wood. I won't be adhering them down permanently. If I ever have to transport them, I'd rather take the stone off first. That grippy drawer liner stuff comes to mind. Readily available. Sorbothane would probably be overthinking it.

FedEx is messing with me. First it said ETA for the sub was Saturday. Later in the day it said ETA was Friday (woohoo). Now it says Saturday again. Don't they know I'm ready?