Very High Quality DIY speakers anywhere? - Page 83

Crazy. 4 years?!

I have been at least an observer for much of that, but did take a siesta part way through and came back to it probably a year later...

I too have followed this thread for years. I used much of the info in all the posts dealing with the construction of the Audax speakers to help me build mine. A great wealth of info here. Let's hope we see another 4 years.

Regards, Bill

I tried the "glazing." I mixed some leftover stain I had with some leftover polyurethane and put a coat on one of the main speaker's bottom panel... didn't change it a bit. The extra poly made the satin finish a little nicer, but no darker. Maybe with more coats it would get darker, but I don't think I want to chance messing these up. So for now, my lone dark surround back channel will have to remain a black sheep.

duane

Yeah it's probably best to leave it alone now after trying a test on the bottom of one to make them a little bit darker, but with no success.

It's great to see this thread's still going. Gotta say that many of you here are responsible for helping me successfully build the speakers that we enjoy on a daily basis. Thank you, the HT works just fine.

Duane,
I built four Audax MTM's (titanium-dome tweeter version) plus the WMTW center as well as four Modula MT's (Seas 27TBFC/G version).
I've run both sets of speakers with music and movies (using the Audax center with the Modula's) and each has its benefits.
I'm no audio expert, but I think the "higher efficiency" Audax MTM's pack a bit more punch in movies. And the voicing does seem quite accurate.

However, the Modula MT's certainly do it for me in terms of SQ.
Instruments like horns, strings and piano are crystal-clear. The vocals of female singers like Sarah McLachlan and Diana Krall have unbelievable clarity and depth (I'm not exactly sure how to accurately describe this etherial quality of female voices).
Guitar and Sax? Played some Larry Carlton Collection (Blues For TJ & Hello Tomorrow) ...and wow! Eagles - Farewell 1 Tour - Live From Melbourne gave these puppies a fairly good workout as well. No problem for the MT's.

Presently I'm waiting for Jon Marsh to complete his design for an RS180-based WMTW center using an RS52 mid with either the Vifa D26NC55 or Seas 27TFFNC/G tweeter. He's also working on another variant (for his own HT system) using HiVi D6.8's instead of the RS180's. All of these would be designed around the stock PE MTM 1.0cu/ft cabinet whose baffle is 22"x9". So this center will be smaller than my current Audax WMTW.

Here's the thread:
http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthr...2&page=1&pp=35

Once I've got an RS180-based WMTW center completed, I'll probably sell the Audax HT system.
Then I might be tempted build another couple of Modula MT's (non-BSC version) for L&R back speaker duty and perhaps a pair of RS180-based TMWW fronts (if Jon gets that design done).

I think I like building speakers!

Oh, if any of you James Bond fans haven't discovered the digitally-remastered Ultimate series yet... they are phenomenal. We've watched a number of these, upconverted to 720P with the DTS 5.1 audio track pumping out great sound....lotsa fun!

Cheers, Bruce

Yeah I'm waiting for that design by him to be finalized also. I have enough RS180's left over to make one even after building three of the Modula MTM 1's, and two of the Modula MT's. And also have one RS52 standing by and ready to go. The HiVi 6.8's look really nice, but that also would be a bunch of money to convert over to them from the RS180's, with them going for $65 each. Not to mention Jon rarely, if ever, takes any shortcuts in his excellent crossover designs.

I'm very impressed with the RS180's and agree that the $65 price X ?? speakers I would use, keeps me in the RS180 camp.

Besides, at 12 mounting holes per driver, the screw cost is double that of the RS180's.

Besides, John Krutke noted in the HT Guide thread that'
"If I were going to use an inset magnet large voice coil woofer, the D6.8 would probably be the one. A nice step above Dynaudio and Morel. I could see them being a choice for a smallish box. But otherwise, I'd take the RS180 myself. I think everyone these days wants to do a TMWW with the RS52 and a couple RS180s, with good reason - nice, cheap combo."

Looks like the RS52 should be back in stock at PE by this Friday but the Vifa D26NC55 isn't going to be at Madisound until April...Sheesh! Check out Zaph's Mini-waveguide mod on this tweeter as reported on his blog.

That faceplate shape or the availability timeline just may be reason enough for me to use the Seas 27TFFNC/G instead. Not that that would be a poor choice.

Oh yes, Jon does create some pretty phenomenal crossovers.

why wasnt this moved to the DIY speaker forum?

Don't honestly know... It certainly qualifies

It did exist WAY prior to the DIY speaker forum...

If it was moved, nobody would know where to find it... Unless a "Moved to DIY Speakers......." was left here as a placeholder.

Joe L.

Joe, if they moved it, everyone would be notified to the proper location next time it was updated, right?

I just find it funny, it still gets replies and pictures. There is lots of action in the DIY Speaker forum. Lots of projects and so on.

I was thinking it must just have its own "cult" following

It's doing OK here. It has a nice home..
Besides, over there it would not be found much if any easier than it is here. Seeing as about 95% of what goes on there is mostly subwoofer stuff.

ohhhh..... Cult?

Is there a dress code?

Yes... you get to wear MDF sawdust every once in a while... and a dust-mask.

I think I agree with Johnla, perhaps I'll make a post in the DIY Speaker forum pointing to this thread. That way, this thread can stay here, live onward, and everyone's bookmarks will be valid.

Too much valuable info to lose track of... that's for sure.

Joe L.

J.L.
A post in the DIY Speaker forum with a link to this one is a great idea.

This cult will need a "secret handshake" too....

maybe with PVA glue-covered hands.

Well, here is my latest contribution:
So, I built a new subwoofer for my home theater and it is designed with a nice flat response down to 19hz. But the amp I have been using for it so far is only 250 watts (into 4 ohms) and has a stupid bump in the frequency response right around 29hz as well as being a plate style amp made to mount to the box, which I didn't want. Hey, I was borrowing the amp from another sub, what can you do?

So, I finally made my decision and bought my new amp. Stable to 2 ohms, rated at just under 1100 watts at 4 ohms and almost 2200 watts at 2 ohms. It can sit in my rack and not stand out, has auto turn-on, will not get hot as I won't be using anywhere near the power it can punch (and it is a digital switching amp which works great for subwoofers) and has a nice flat response itself. I will actually hook it up either after dinner tonight or tomorrow when I get home, no big deal.

Here are some pics:






This amp is made by Buttkicker and is actually designed to drive their brand of tactile transducers (shakers) that you mount in seats, couches, or complete platforms and hook up to the LFE channel (the .1 on the audio). They take a lot of power, so people in the past have had to use pro audio gear, and used adapters to make it work with the home audio gear, this was the solution.

Like I said, these work great for subwoofers as they don't have any audio problems below something like 300 hz, but will not work for full range speakers. But, dollar for dollar, they are a great bargain for what you get. I got mine from Amazon for $280 with free shipping.

Since Im still so damn excited about my IB sub that I built in my new home 2 months ago I will post the finish pics of it here too Gotta be in a thread with 83 pages



Can you spot them?

4 Q18s, 2400 Watts. total cost under $1500. Moving a 100LB mdf board (2 mdfs thick, 20x80" long) to fit snug between two trusses in an attic without falling through is a miracle.

penngray, I assume that the drivers are mounted in the attic and fire into a cabinet and then out through those "vents" into the room? Or did you make it so that they are just barely above those "vents"? Also, do you get much vibration from it?

The Drivers are mounted into a board (2 very sturdy MDF boards glued together) with 18" holes cut through it. The board is then mounted between the trusses and then re-inforced perpendicular with 4 2x6s running out 10 feet for vibration support.

This is an IB Array so there is no cabinet, those speaker covers actualy cover each 18" driver. The attic is essentially the subs box.

So far I have not seen any vibrations or problems with the sub, ceiling or the attic.

Yeah, I understand about the IB and everything, but some people will make a plenum of sorts for the drivers to fire into (opposed drivers to eliminate the vibrations caused by the movement of the drivers) and then port that into the room that's why I was asking.

Either you are not playing your IB sub very loud, or the nick-knacks on the entertainment shelf unit are epoxied in place...

Otherwise, I can be certain you would be on a rattle hunt. I went on my first when I built a sonosub with a single 15" drive with a displacement of 2.5L or air. I had a second hunt when I replaced it with a sub with two 18" drivers displacing a total of 13L of air. I ended up weatherstripping closet doors and even had to silence doorknobs rattling in the doors.

There's no way you have turned your 4 18" drivers up very loud, and not had at least one rattle. Unnless you used very low xmax drivers, they have to displace more air than my sub and be more than capable of shaking your structure.

How much power are you feeding your IB sub? (Very nice install, by-the-way. guests will not suspect it is there until the LFE effects begin.)


Edit: I just re-read... 2400 watts... Nice...
Joe L.

J.L,

no on, there is rattle and shake These 4 drivers produce the biggest displacement each on the market. From driver comparison charts they are tops in huge performance vs $$$

I was talking about vibrations causing actually damage, I already had to deal with lots of cabinet glass vibrations.


Yeah, its an incredible feeling.

OK... Now I understand... your IB sub has not caused any structural damage to your (or any neighbor's) home that you know of, but you have rattled a plate or two. (my faith in basic physics has been restored)

I know...

My Proscenium Sub...
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/...ght=proscenium

Joe L.

Hey Scotty V,
You got a great deal on that amp! It's now $350 at Amazon.

You talking to me Jeff? I just checked and it's sitting at $272 right now. You have to click to see the price. BTW, I watched an auction on Ebay and one went for $180!

Hey Guys, since it's been over two months since anyone posted here, I thought I'd share a new project. I have just received my new box-o-parts to build a TMWW 3-way floorstander for 2-channel. These will use the Dayton RS drivers. I also posted this over in the main diy speaker forum.

I hope to get started on the Marsh design WMTW sometime soon, I may even spring for the HiVi 6.8's instead of the RS180, and try to sell some of the RS180's that I have stockpiled to help cover their higher price.

Johnla,
What center channel speaker are you using now? These sealed floorstanders will be the first 3-ways I've built since the Audax CC. These will be for 2-channel only, not the HT.

Right now I'm using the Marsh design MTM's with the Seas tweeters for the fronts L/C/R, http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=11321

And the Modula MT's also with Seas tweeters, for the rears in a 5.1 setup. http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=13154

But for dedicated two channel use which I have in another room, I still use my Klipsch LaScala's. Along with a old Carver C-4000 preamp and a Carver M 1.5t power amp. And I don't foresee changing any of the two channel stuff for awhile though. About the only way I would, is if somebody came out of the blue and gave me a real good offer on the LaScala's. I am shocked to see what the MSRP is on them now, when compared to what I bought them for about 20 years ago. MSRP for them now is around $2500-$2800 each for new a-stock, and about $1600 for b-stock/irregulars. I had to special order them at the time back around in 1979, and paid $612 each for them new. What I paid back then for a new pair, would not even cover the cost just one now.

Actually the LaScala's are the perfect movie theater type speakers, seeing as how they are actually still used in many real theaters.... But for H/T use by most people there is one 'minor' problem with using them that way, and that is they are huge!! You'd need a really big room, to setup 5 or 7 of them for a 5.1 or 7.1 system.