First build: Markaudio CHR-70 Bass Reflex

Jump to Latest
L

Lohengrimas

Member
2016-02-08 10:21 pm
020
  • #1
    After trawling through many threads here and elsewhere, I decided to have a go at building a nice pair of speakers for my nearfield desk setup. I have a pair of small monitor now, but I wanted something a bit more snazzy, and I love to do a little DIY every now and then.

    To have a good pair of speakers for the music I like to listen to at work (mainly light classical music) I settled on a full range design, to mitigate some of the directionality and tweeter sharpness I find rather annoying in my current set-up. I selected the Markaudio CHR-70 for looks, good reviews and forgiving characteristics for first-time builders, and, being a total n00b in the matter, I just picked the design on the Markaudio site that would fit my desk.

    Without much further ado:

    Drivers:
    IMG_3882 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/ctjr/, on Flickr

    Taping up the wood. I ordered some great ply from a guy that specialises in flight cases, but saws speaker wood on the side. Amazing quality stuff: straight, cuts right on spec and a lot more plies than at the hardware store. No voids so far and pretty faces on some of the pieces.
    IMG_3874 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/ctjr/, on Flickr

    Glueing (this is a dry run, but fit was good):
    IMG_3875 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/ctjr/, on Flickr

    Stain test. No fancy veneers on my first build, just some nice wood oil. Looks real good:
    IMG_3876 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/ctjr/, on Flickr

    Sealing the box:
    IMG_4076 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/ctjr/, on Flickr

    Acoustic foam lining:
    IMG_4079 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/ctjr/, on Flickr

    Next up is routing holes in the faces, mounting the drivers, drill some holes for the terminals and get some push-on connectors for the wiring.
     
    Last edited:
    G

    guangui

    Member
    2013-02-12 12:21 pm
  • #7
    Lohengrimas said:
    Easter holidays are keeping me... And I need to make a hole guide for my router. Unknown territory for me, the last time I did any significant woodwork was when I build push karts with my dad :p
    Click to expand...

    I can understand...Spent my Easter holiday playing contractor at home, remodeling my kid's bedroom. To make the holes of my CHR70's I used the following:

    1. Inexpensive (MDF is fine, Plywood might last 2 or 3 holes)

    2. Mid (I have done approximately 10 holes in 12mm MDF and 13mm Plywood)

    3. Expensive

    These are good to do holes, but for flush mounting you will need a router. To do holes easily with router, Jasper has a couple of good template tools.
     
    L

    Lohengrimas

    Member
    2016-02-08 10:21 pm
    020
  • #8
    Markaudio CHR-70 by ctjr

    Done! this is pre-staining, I'll probably add nothing more than a thin coat of furniture oil.

    For those missing the port: it's on the back.

    So far, first impressions are mostly positive, except the highs do suffer from some weird defect. There is a slight sibilance, almost like a lisp, on voices, if listened to with a lot of toe in. This largely disappears when reducing toe-in to ) degrees, but for the sake of a coherent soundstage, 15 degrees of toe-in or thereabouts works best.

    Bass is surprisingly good for a desktop set up and the imaging is above reproach, the single driver mojo really does work.
     
    Last edited:
    You must log in or register to reply here.
    Top Bottom