[smcmillan2]

...was my response when my wife asked "You didn't just build a subwoofer for the end table base, did you?"

I could have gone with a veneered cab to blend better with the existing end table top, but this build was quick and dirty. Needed to augment my earlier UM12-22 build at the other end of the couch in our family room, not the ideal location but gave me the space needed for another UM12-22 in a ~4.2 net cuft box that models around 19Hz.

This is what I was dealing with. Look at all of that wasted space.

This cab will be 19"W x 23"D (total, with 1/2" outer baffle) x 22.5"H. It will replace the legs/shelf of the end table. Port built and attached (remembered to hold it 3/4" from the front this time ), back and first side attached to bottom.

Bracing, front and other side all in place

Mounting hole and port opening cut out, top attached. Almost there

Used a piece of 1/2" thick ply for the front baffle. Cut outer driver hole and rounded over that edge with a 1/4" bit. Applied to front with glue/clamps and 18 gauge brad nails, routed out port hole with a flush trim router bit and shot driver edges and port with rattle can black paint. Rounded all outer edges with the 1/4" bit, filled all edges and nail holes and sanded . Rolled on Duratex after this.

Removed legs, cross supports and shelf from the existing end table, and placed some of those self-sticking felt strips on the underside of the top

Easy-peasy, just place the existing top over the Big Black Box (as my wife has come to call them )

Not sure how long before she tires of the look, but I have no issue with it. I have always liked very contrasting textures/colors in builds, so this will probably stay this way for quite some time. The legs and shelf are stored in the basement so I can move this at any time, and put the end table back together as it was.

The 2 UM12s flanking the couch sound great in the MLP. I still have work to do to get them dialed in, but so far I'm really liking them. They hit hard on the lows but lack mid-bass punch, but I'm replacing the front L/R with something that should provide some of that. Like I said, this is our family room, so nothing crazy.

Figured I would give others that may be in a similar situation some ideas. The space is there, sometimes we just have to look hard for it. Have fun!

 

[Russdawg1]

Nice! Now I gotta figure out a way to do that with my parent’s ottoman

 

[jpmst3]

Nice work! I prefer the furniture approach as well.

 

[kennyandersen]

you might could put a grill cover on the woofer...

You could always cover it with 1/4" plywood with a nice veneer if you get tires of the black. I sometimes cover it with the 1/4" plywood and then route out the corners and put a hardwood roundover on it, if the WAF goes south. If it's oak, be sure to get plain sliced rather than rotary sawn.

 

[BassThatHz]

The tape will come off, best to use embedded neo magnets. Won't take many, maybe 4-8.

 

[kevings]

Looks great / very creative.

 

[jpmst3]

The tape will come off, best to use embedded neo magnets. Won't take many, maybe 4-8.

That's how I did my last grills. Works great!

 

[eriksells916]

Nice job smcmillan2! Thanks for the post, that is almost exactly what I am in the process of building and the exact location where mine is going (also living room theater). Sadly I moved my rear ported 10in klipsch sub to that location last night just to test it during Venom. It sounds like total ****. It's boomy, totally localized and I can hear some wall reflections behind it, if thats a real thing? It must be the fact that its rear ported, even though it was 2 ft away from the wall.

How does yours sound with the rear wall that close? Does the second sub now even out the bass in your living room?


Thanks again!

 

[Zarkoff500]

Nice work. I like how you did the top. I am also in the finishing stage of an end table build (Marty Cube). You guys are inspiring and constantly remind me I have a lot of woodworking skills to gain

 

[jcmccorm]

Nice work. I like how you did the top. I am also in the finishing stage of an end table build (Marty Cube). You guys are inspiring and constantly remind me I have a lot of woodworking skills to gain

That looks great! Is that stained ply or venneer?

 

[Zarkoff500]

That looks great! Is that stained ply or venneer?

Thank you! Mahogany veneer and Danish oil with satin poly for some extra protection.

 

[smcmillan2]

(WARNING: Giant quote post coming!)

Nice work! I prefer the furniture approach as well.

Thanks. Not exactly furniture grade as I wanted to put this one together quickly. But it serves the purpose.

you might could put a grill cover on the woofer...

I haven't put grills on any of my speakers/subs, I like the way they look without. And if I do go with veneer I would just take the belt sander to the cab, that will easily get the Duratex smooth enough to apply veneer. Maybe round over the front edges and leave the front Duratex'd.

The tape will come off, best to use embedded neo magnets. Won't take many, maybe 4-8.

The tape on the felt strips? Probably not, the top doesn't move and weighs enough that it keeps them compressed against the cab a bit.

Looks great / very creative.

Thanks Kevin, although I wouldn't describe the build as very creative! More like cheating...

Nice job smcmillan2! Thanks for the post, that is almost exactly what I am in the process of building and the exact location where mine is going (also living room theater). Sadly I moved my rear ported 10in klipsch sub to that location last night just to test it during Venom. It sounds like total ****. It's boomy, totally localized and I can hear some wall reflections behind it, if thats a real thing? It must be the fact that its rear ported, even though it was 2 ft away from the wall.

How does yours sound with the rear wall that close? Does the second sub now even out the bass in your living room?

Thanks. It is further away from the rear wall than any of my other subs, and being front ported to boot I get no reaction from the wall (that I can tell). The 2 subs sound great from the MLP, can't localize either one, but in different seating positions you can so I still have some work to do integrating them. As this is the family room I'm not too concerned however, our living room is the "real" HT room.

Nice work. I like how you did the top. I am also in the finishing stage of an end table build (Marty Cube). You guys are inspiring and constantly remind me I have a lot of woodworking skills to gain

Thanks. Yours looks terrific, and keep in mind I just used an existing table top, so no special woodworking skills required here!

Build on people!

 

[LTD02]

looks nice!!

kind of hides that outlet too, so overall waf has gone up with this one.

 

[smcmillan2]

looks nice!!

kind of hides that outlet too, so overall waf has gone up with this one.

Thanks John!

Yeah, kind of. I'll have to be sure to mention that to her

 

[tatumjon]

I like it.

 

[smcmillan2]

I couldn't get decent response in other listening positions with this build and the other UM12 build at the other end of the same couch (https://www.avsforum.com/forum/155-diy-speakers-subs/3036962-um12-22-build.html), so I built a duplicate of this one and placed it in the corner behind the TV - Diagonal from each other.

So much better! I'm sure everyone here already knows how important placement is for subs. I now get almost exactly the same FR from the subs in all the listening positions.

BTW, if anyone in the metro Detroit area wants the box in the above build, let me know. Would rather give it away than throw it away...