Help! Need input for my next project

[Shpoop]

Hey,

many of you may have seen my wine-bottle speaker I posted: My new unique (i think) DIY project (pics!!)

Well for my next project, I'm going to pick a small, full range driver and wine bottles that have the same diameter, so its perfectly flush with no wood visible. I'm then going to have four of them on top of each other in a wine rack to create a cool, vintage looking small line array type project.

I'm looking to buy the wine rack, not build it. But it's hard to find the one I want. I will post what I've found so far, and if you guys would be so kind as to give me your input, I would really appreciate it.

1)


This is my first choice. I think it is perfect. The only problem is that I think the website where I found it is a wholesale manufacturer and only sells to large scale resellers.

2)

http://www.wineracksplansandmore.com/010034.html

I like this one, I like the style. Only problem is that the four speakers would be off axis. How terribly would I regret that decision? The speakers will consist of two groups placed in series, with two speakers in parallel per group. I know this is not like a full line array, but will I see a very marked sound improvement if the four speakers are on axis?

3)


This one looks a little bland. Also, it holds five bottles, so I would have to have an empty slot on the bottom (or fill it with a normal wine bottle). But, they'd be on axis.

4)


This one is a little less bland, but holds 6 bottles, so I'd have to leave two empty slots.

5)


This one also holds five bottles. Also, the wicker siding blocks out most of the bottle, so it might not immediately be apparent what I've done to guests. Also, in the picture the bottles are not horizontal, which is bad. But, it looks like they chose to put them that way and that I could probably also put them horizontal.

6)


This one holds five bottles, but I think it would look less awkward to have the bottom empty. My only problem with it is that it looks less like a vintage wine rack and more like a modern piece of furniture. I guess I could live with that, but that's not what I'm going for.


So there they are. Please tell me which you would pick (excluding #1, because I don't think that will be an option). Or if you can find a different one that is better post that here too.

Thanks a bunch!

[Cal Weldon]

I like them all except the last one with #2 and #5 near the top for me. I also really like your creativity. Please keep us abreast of this project.

[Shpoop]

Thanks.

Definitely will keep the board updated.

Do you not see the curviness (i.e. off axis) of #2 to be a problem?

[Cal Weldon]

Could be, but not so much. If you're worried, use #5. It looks great as well. Have you thought about how you will fasten the bottles to the rack? What about the feet? Are you planning to isolate them from the substrate?

[Shpoop]

do mean substrate of the enclosure? (i.e. glass?) If so...what do you mean isolate the feet from the substrate? Do you mean so vibrations do not translate?

[Cal Weldon]

Yes I was thinking about the between the feet and the table or whatever you plan to sit them on.

Also the bottle where they sit on the rack. I think you would want to damp that area as well.

[CeramicMan]

I say go for number 2, and if it needs to be more vertical you could try cutting the legs on one side. Or even just bear-hug the damn thing until it's the shape you want.

Exterior resonances: you could use felt cloths for cushioning under the bottles. It would be a shame to "mummy-wrap" the metal - the radiating area is very small anyway, so hopefully ringing won't be too much of a problem.

Interior resonances: what I would do is build 8 long wedges (2 for each bottle) out of balsa or cork or something like that, and arrange them in a cross-hair configuration. Hopefully that would eliminate the problem of parallel surfaces, and if my thinking is correct, the "reverse horn" design would gradually absorb the back-wave as it approaches the neck of the bottle, while minimizing reflections.

[Shpoop]

Thanks for the advice. I could be missing something, but I don't quite see how that shape can be obtained with only two wedges. I could see like four "inclined plane" type wedges, or one arrow type wedge with two inclined plane ones....you see what I mean? Or did you mean something entirely different?

Also, most of the small speakers I'm looking at recommend > 1-1.5 L. Champagne and wine bottles peak at just a little over 1 L. With all that wood in there, I think the volume will be cut about in half. But are standing waves a bigger problem than insufficient volume?

And even if I seal the bottle with a cork and stuff it with insulation, is it still important to break up the parallel surfaces?


Thanks a lot guys. I clearly don't know as much as you all, and all these visions would remain visions if it weren't for you guys.

[CeramicMan]

Originally posted by Shpoop
[B]Thanks for the advice. I could be missing something, but I don't quite see how that shape can be obtained with only two wedges. I could see like four "inclined plane" type wedges, or one arrow type wedge with two inclined plane ones....you see what I mean?[b]

Yup, the end result would look like two overlapping wedges but you'd actually need 3 or four smaller ones, or use two and cut a gap into one of them, depending on how you want to connect them together.

Also, most of the small speakers I'm looking at recommend > 1-1.5 L. Champagne and wine bottles peak at just a little over 1 L. With all that wood in there, I think the volume will be cut about in half. But are standing waves a bigger problem than insufficient volume?

Ummm... I'd probably focus on EQing the bass (or adding a woofer) and making sure that the midrange is clean and resonance-free.

-Balsa wood has lots of hollow fibres, so if it's cut at an angle, that should allow it to soak up some of the sound pressure. You could even drill small holes into the sides to increase its effectiveness.

-And a single wedge would probably be enough if space is at a premium.

And even if I seal the bottle with a cork and stuff it with insulation, is it still important to break up the parallel surfaces?

I'd say yes, but nothing beats experimenting to see what works best for you

[Cal Weldon]

Originally posted by CeramicMan
nothing beats experimenting to see what works best for you