My take on Dennis Murphy's MBOW1

dnewma04 · 17th September 2009, 11:34 AM

First attempt at using raw veneer. They sound better than they look, but the pics do a nice job hiding the flaws. Nothing all that original about using another persons design, but it's a good one and I didn't have time to reinvent any wheels this go around.

The veneer is called cerejiera crotch wood, the finish is lacquer.

algoart · 17th September 2009, 04:44 PM

Nice! If they sound as good as they look, you should be a happy guy!

Now the questions.....How did you glue the veneer?
Lacquer finish looks good, how did you prepare the veneer... sanding sealer or?

dnewma04 · 17th September 2009, 05:19 PM

I used titebond cold press glue and since the panels were small, I was able to do it with a bunch of clamps and some MDF to apply the pressure evenly.

Originally, I started to apply an oil finish and after about 10 coats with almost no apparent build, I got lazy and applied some Deft lacquer.

critofur · 17th September 2009, 08:20 PM

Are you going to be adding the seperate 10 woofer bottom speakers to make them 3-ways?

Can you compare the sound to other speakers / write a review/mini-review of them?

dnewma04 · 18th September 2009, 01:43 AM

I have a similar pair of 10 Peerless that would probably allow me to easily sub them for what Murphy used, but I've got a few other projects I'll tackle before I consider that.

I haven't heard an awful lot of speakers in their class, but a few I have heard are Ellis 1801s, Shamrock Eires, and a host of more commercial designs from NHT, Paradigm, Polk, etc.

The Eires and the 1801s are certainly in the same class and in terms of bass, a step up on the MBOW1s, but with my subs (2 Adire Audio Shivas and a Lambda PB15 based sub), I don't need the extra bass extension. For the money spent, it would probably be difficult to beat them from 100hz up. Very detailed and airy, yet smooth, I can listen to them for hours without fatigue. They certainly aren't high SPL speakers, and attempting to make them do that kind of duy quickly muddies up the response as compression kicks in. Imaging and soundstaging qualities are excellent with them along the long wall of a 24x14 bedroom. In this room, the lack of subwoofers makes the lack of bass extension more noticeable. Overall, I couldn't be more pleased when I take cost into consideration. The hiquphon has been a long time fav and it doesn't disappoint in this design.

Ling Gowa · 20th September 2009, 01:56 AM

Looks like real nice cabinetry but I would change the screws. Those look like drywall screws.

dnewma04 · 22nd September 2009, 05:30 PM

It's what I had on hand at the time. Been too lazy to swap them out for something else.

17th September 2009, 11:34 AM	#1
dnewma04 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: MI	My take on Dennis Murphy's MBOW1 First attempt at using raw veneer. They sound better than they look, but the pics do a nice job hiding the flaws. Nothing all that original about using another persons design, but it's a good one and I didn't have time to reinvent any wheels this go around. The veneer is called cerejiera crotch wood, the finish is lacquer.

17th September 2009, 08:20 PM	#4
critofur diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Columbus, OH	Are you going to be adding the seperate 10 woofer bottom speakers to make them 3-ways? Can you compare the sound to other speakers / write a review/mini-review of them? __________________ Critofur http://www.ohmspeakers.com <- all the folks here are my friends

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17th September 2009, 04:44 PM	#2
algoart diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kent	Nice! If they sound as good as they look, you should be a happy guy! Now the questions.....How did you glue the veneer? Lacquer finish looks good, how did you prepare the veneer... sanding sealer or?

17th September 2009, 05:19 PM	#3
dnewma04 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: MI	I used titebond cold press glue and since the panels were small, I was able to do it with a bunch of clamps and some MDF to apply the pressure evenly. Originally, I started to apply an oil finish and after about 10 coats with almost no apparent build, I got lazy and applied some Deft lacquer.

18th September 2009, 01:43 AM	#5
dnewma04 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: MI	I have a similar pair of 10 Peerless that would probably allow me to easily sub them for what Murphy used, but I've got a few other projects I'll tackle before I consider that. I haven't heard an awful lot of speakers in their class, but a few I have heard are Ellis 1801s, Shamrock Eires, and a host of more commercial designs from NHT, Paradigm, Polk, etc. The Eires and the 1801s are certainly in the same class and in terms of bass, a step up on the MBOW1s, but with my subs (2 Adire Audio Shivas and a Lambda PB15 based sub), I don't need the extra bass extension. For the money spent, it would probably be difficult to beat them from 100hz up. Very detailed and airy, yet smooth, I can listen to them for hours without fatigue. They certainly aren't high SPL speakers, and attempting to make them do that kind of duy quickly muddies up the response as compression kicks in. Imaging and soundstaging qualities are excellent with them along the long wall of a 24x14 bedroom. In this room, the lack of subwoofers makes the lack of bass extension more noticeable. Overall, I couldn't be more pleased when I take cost into consideration. The hiquphon has been a long time fav and it doesn't disappoint in this design.

20th September 2009, 01:56 AM	#6
Ling Gowa diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Barrie, Ontario	Looks like real nice cabinetry but I would change the screws. Those look like drywall screws.

22nd September 2009, 05:30 PM	#7
dnewma04 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: MI	It's what I had on hand at the time. Been too lazy to swap them out for something else.

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