Building the Nathan 10

[gedlee]

I don' t use lines anywhere, I couldn't see them anyways. I use templates for everything, but getting the templates right takes a little time. Once they are there, then things go pretty smoothly.

I do use modeling clay. It works very well. It seals the gaps and smooths the small variations quite nicely and doesn't harden. If you know that you are not going to change the driver then something more permanent might be better - like silicone or filler putty, but I am never that confident - so I use clay. It takes only a very small amount - less that a finger tip. As I said, the gap in the driver makes this a necessity, but it also fills any other voids and deviations that could be a problem. Fingers are very sensitive to small deviations. You can feel a flaw in a surface that you cannot see.

[kstrain]

Originally posted by gedlee

I am finding serious issues with shipments out of the country as customs seems to want to open them up, but not repack them correctly. I'm not sure how to resolve this. Any ideas? There is no way that I can insure that they will repack the boxes correctly. And I don't understand why they opened them. I mean its not like wood looks dangerous on an X-ray.

Based on recent experience shipping a lot of technical equipment transatlantic, good accompanying documentation helps very much. Minimum would be a packing list that includes photographs of the parts and a statement that these are a kit of parts that go to form a loudspeaker - along with a photograph of the finished item. Basically, the more information provided about the contents, in a form that a customs officer can qucikly check against x-rays at a glance, the less chance that they'll feel compelled to open the package. A couple of photos taken during packing can be advantageous.

Of course the document does not have to be made anew every time. A generic document with embedded photos of the various items and typical packing (assuming you do it reasonably consistently), and a check list of items actually present in a given shipment should suffice. At least that is what we do, and we've had zero problems (going into USA). The quality of the photos/printing/photocopying does not need to be very high.

Ken

ps. I'm happy now that I missed the Thai waveguides: the newer options look much closer suited to my construction skills. Eventually I'll decide what to buy.

[markus76]

Originally posted by gedlee The fact is that the DIY community is a "Beta" test and whats wrong with that? ... Be fully assured that the prices will go up as the bugs are fixed - if you haven't noticed they already have.

Earl, I didn't know that this is a beta test and I'm hoping the prices for the final kit will go up very high because otherwise your statement is a slap in the beta testers faces. I did a lot of software beta testing and all those tests had one thing in common: I didn't had to pay anything.

Originally posted by tomcat9 Earl, do you know why so Markus and other potential buyers are not happy? It is one simple word.

Expectation.

Tom, you're absolutely right but you also have to asks why were those expectation so high? There are several (good) reasons for this that led e.g. Brett to expect this



... and not that



Next question would be: "Who's fault is it?". The vendor not delivering a detailed description of his product or the customer not asking for the details?

Best, Markus

[ttan98]

Hi,

You are showing the RCG H100 horn, I have one of this and I use it with B&C De250 and the performance is very good to excellent.

[ttan98]

Rather than RCG H100 I mean RCF H100 horn.

[auplater]

Originally posted by markus76


Earl, I didn't know that this is a beta test and I'm hoping the prices for the final kit will go up very high because otherwise your statement is a slap in the beta testers faces. I did a lot of software beta testing and all those tests had one thing in common: I didn't had to pay anything.


Next question would be: "Who's fault is it?". The vendor not delivering a detailed description of his product or the customer not asking for the details?

Best, Markus

fault lies with the vendor. All posts revolving around the ip constantly stressed the need for HIGH PRECISION in the design and fabrication of these speakers. The apologists comments are sad, as if anecdotal evidence of poor mfg. in other venues somehow justifies what is occurring here.

Nowhere was any mention of "Beta Testing" at DIY Audio mentioned prior to this thread, much less the "entrance fee" to be enrolled in such a test. This "Beta Test" scenario being spoken of now by the vendor seems insulting to this forum, especially in light of the total lack of precision in the delivered goods.

If this is the result of using templates, maybe the method of mfg. should revert to using lines, eh?

Interesting how the condescension continues... earl just doesn't get it...

As with Shin, I don't have a horse in this race, earl seems to dislike my perspective, so I'll leave those wishing to pursue this to their foibles. Good luck...I hope EG gets with the program, and collaborates to advantage with J. Janowitz, to deliver what could be a superior product. Please drop the attittude, it's highly unprofessional.

John L.

[markus76]

Sorry ttan98 but comparing the performance of the two horns is not the point. I was trying to show what level of workmanship is expected.

Best, Markus

[pjpoes]

I really think that the expectations are unreasonable. For Dr. Geddes to have made horns like the RCF, but to his specification, would have drastically increased the price, or again, stuck Earl in a situation where he could end up losing a lot of his own money. He would have to contact a company that can cast horns like that. They would have to tool up for this one particular horn, which would likely cost in the 20,000 dollar range (and we haven't even made a horn yet). That means that if Earl made 10 horns, each would have to cost 2000 dollars, plus the cost of materials, shipping, and any profit margins. Every time the tooling wears out, he would have to do that again. And those prices are still more typical of Chinese manufacturing than they are of American.

Compare his horns to the wooden horns some companies sell. Clearly designed with a different mounting purpose, yes, they are better finished. However an unfinished basic wood horn with precision machined adapter plate costs roughly 600 dollars each from most vendors I have contacted. Dr. Geddes horns require that you mount them yourself using an adhesive of some kind. Because the way you mount them could vary quite a bit, he leaves the excess flange on for the end user to trim (Which I understand is only true of the fiberglass horns). When you buy an R/C car the body comes the exact same way. This is not an unreasonable or uncommon way of doing things.

[ShinOBIWAN]

Pjpoes, when does your order from Earl arrive then?

[markus76]

pjpoes, that's not the point. Why do you think we (as customers) have certain expectations of a product? In this case a "Speaker Kit" and a "Horn" and not a R/C car?