My first completed pair of speakers

m1abrams · 17th July 2004, 11:11 PM

Ok I know they are not fully DIY, but this is my first set of speakers.

Elf Spires. I used 3/4" mdf with rabbet and dado joints, midified the kit dimenisions to keep the internal volume the same and adjusted the ports to accomodate the thicker wood. I finished them with the flat black and truck bed liner.

http://thetank.org/gallery/speakerproj/P7170009

http://thetank.org/gallery/speakerproj/P7160001

My wife approves of them so I guess that means something. I was pleasantly surprised by how well they sounded. Of course they are replacing a set of Bose 701s so I do not have a great comparison. They do blow the 701s away though. They do need a sub, and you really can not use them without a sub.

I need to build 3 more still, making 2 just like these for the rear, and one horizontal for the center.

Please do not be too hard on how they look, it is my very first woodworking project. First time ever using a router.

Paradise_Ice · 17th July 2004, 11:21 PM

Hi Abb

They look very nice! your being modest!
The drive units look nice but what is the load on the amplifier?

If your wife likes them! thats all that counts!

What kind of subwoofer will you build or buy for the system?

wunhuanglo · 17th July 2004, 11:31 PM

Everybody's first woodworking project should look so good!

Nice profile. Great job on the finish.

m1abrams · 17th July 2004, 11:42 PM

The load on the amp is ~8ohms.

Not sure what sub I will be building for them. I currently have an old Yamaha YST-SW90, which works fairly well. But once I finish the rears and center, I will be looking for a good sub to pair with the speakers.

Any suggestions for a good sub design. Will be used mostly for HT but would use them for music a good bit also. The Spires are tuned to 87Hz.

sqlkev · 17th July 2004, 11:53 PM

looks real good

jleaman · 18th July 2004, 03:06 AM

Looking pretty good nice speakers.. look like gallery could be upgraded too. :O and change the theme : O )

Jason..

RAW · 18th July 2004, 06:08 AM

Looks great.
I have done the design a few ways now.
With 1/2" MDF 3/4" as well these were the way the original were done but Bob at CSS wanted 1/2" MDF I pointed out the cost for 3/4" is less but the 1/2" made it into the documents not the 3/4"
That aside you really like the sound out of them how do you think off axis.

Just finishing a 5"square tower design 42.5" tall with the same design slimming them up these will be sweet.
For those interested I am working on a few Line kits similar to the Spires that will use the drivers from PE.
Just do not like the fact that the W3-871S can only be purchased from one spot then resold like CSS does.
Nothing wrong with it but the fact Darren at PE has tried everyway possible in frame changes, ect to get the close driver to the 871 TB will not make it as they (PE)want.
So the single source in Northa America will stay the same and to resell at the prices the new owners of Nuera want are a joke.
So I have redone the design.
As well the inventory of W3-319S1 drivers is only limited to what Bob at CSS has and that is it.The new owners of Nuera will not bring in anymore.
And since the Spires needs 4 W3-319S1 drivers per speaker they will dry up fast.

Al

m1abrams · 18th July 2004, 12:09 PM

RAW - The off-axis is very good.

RAW - I have not started the center speaker, could you give me the cut list for it using 3/4", CSS only has 1/2". I can make the adjustments myself but it would be nice to make sure I have them right

JasonL - I am just one version behind, and what theme would you choose?

Shpoop · 18th July 2004, 12:20 PM

thatll be one huge *** center speaker

just some thoughts, though im not an expert...

i thought it was best if center speakers were symmetrical about the x-axis, and also, i thought line arrays were barely useful at all if lined up on the x-axis

RAW · 18th July 2004, 03:55 PM

Ok
Cabinet for the center channel
22" width
5" height
9" depth
With the inside cabinet for the W3-871S being
5"height
6.5" depth
5" width.

Tuning depends on front or rear ported.
This is done front ported for those really having to worrry about the cabinet in a wall unit or mounted to the wall for front or rear centers.

2 port holes 1.7/16" using .75" MDF if you use the wood as the port as you did before.

Single port 2.25" hole
This is providing you use a mild stuffing.

Al

17th July 2004, 11:11 PM	#1
m1abrams diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: NOVA	My first completed pair of speakers Ok I know they are not fully DIY, but this is my first set of speakers. Elf Spires. I used 3/4" mdf with rabbet and dado joints, midified the kit dimenisions to keep the internal volume the same and adjusted the ports to accomodate the thicker wood. I finished them with the flat black and truck bed liner. http://thetank.org/gallery/speakerproj/P7170009 http://thetank.org/gallery/speakerproj/P7160001 My wife approves of them so I guess that means something. I was pleasantly surprised by how well they sounded. Of course they are replacing a set of Bose 701s so I do not have a great comparison. They do blow the 701s away though. They do need a sub, and you really can not use them without a sub. I need to build 3 more still, making 2 just like these for the rear, and one horizontal for the center. Please do not be too hard on how they look, it is my very first woodworking project. First time ever using a router.

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17th July 2004, 11:21 PM	#2
Paradise_Ice diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: cosmological consciousness	Hi Abb They look very nice! your being modest! The drive units look nice but what is the load on the amplifier? If your wife likes them! thats all that counts! What kind of subwoofer will you build or buy for the system?

17th July 2004, 11:31 PM	#3
wunhuanglo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: New Orleans, LA	Everybody's first woodworking project should look so good! Nice profile. Great job on the finish.

17th July 2004, 11:42 PM	#4
m1abrams diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: NOVA	The load on the amp is ~8ohms. Not sure what sub I will be building for them. I currently have an old Yamaha YST-SW90, which works fairly well. But once I finish the rears and center, I will be looking for a good sub to pair with the speakers. Any suggestions for a good sub design. Will be used mostly for HT but would use them for music a good bit also. The Spires are tuned to 87Hz.

17th July 2004, 11:53 PM	#5
sqlkev diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 714	looks real good

18th July 2004, 03:06 AM	#6
jleaman Banned Join Date: Apr 2002	Looking pretty good nice speakers.. look like gallery could be upgraded too. :O and change the theme : O ) Jason..

18th July 2004, 06:08 AM	#7
RAW diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: British Columbia ,Canada	Looks great. I have done the design a few ways now. With 1/2" MDF 3/4" as well these were the way the original were done but Bob at CSS wanted 1/2" MDF I pointed out the cost for 3/4" is less but the 1/2" made it into the documents not the 3/4" That aside you really like the sound out of them how do you think off axis. Just finishing a 5"square tower design 42.5" tall with the same design slimming them up these will be sweet. For those interested I am working on a few Line kits similar to the Spires that will use the drivers from PE. Just do not like the fact that the W3-871S can only be purchased from one spot then resold like CSS does. Nothing wrong with it but the fact Darren at PE has tried everyway possible in frame changes, ect to get the close driver to the 871 TB will not make it as they (PE)want. So the single source in Northa America will stay the same and to resell at the prices the new owners of Nuera want are a joke. So I have redone the design. As well the inventory of W3-319S1 drivers is only limited to what Bob at CSS has and that is it.The new owners of Nuera will not bring in anymore. And since the Spires needs 4 W3-319S1 drivers per speaker they will dry up fast. Al

18th July 2004, 12:09 PM	#8
m1abrams diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: NOVA	RAW - The off-axis is very good. RAW - I have not started the center speaker, could you give me the cut list for it using 3/4", CSS only has 1/2". I can make the adjustments myself but it would be nice to make sure I have them right JasonL - I am just one version behind, and what theme would you choose?

18th July 2004, 12:20 PM	#9
Shpoop diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Florida	thatll be one huge *** center speaker just some thoughts, though im not an expert... i thought it was best if center speakers were symmetrical about the x-axis, and also, i thought line arrays were barely useful at all if lined up on the x-axis

18th July 2004, 03:55 PM	#10
RAW diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: British Columbia ,Canada	Ok Cabinet for the center channel 22" width 5" height 9" depth With the inside cabinet for the W3-871S being 5"height 6.5" depth 5" width. Tuning depends on front or rear ported. This is done front ported for those really having to worrry about the cabinet in a wall unit or mounted to the wall for front or rear centers. 2 port holes 1.7/16" using .75" MDF if you use the wood as the port as you did before. Single port 2.25" hole This is providing you use a mild stuffing. Al

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