i hate to bring up a bose thread....

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captainpabst

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#1
i hate to bring up a bose thread.... but my roomate wants to get the bose center channel for our dorm room. i would rather make a center channel with some tang band w3-871s (2 or 3). any ideas? any one working on anything similar (saw brianGt's cubes)? thanks
-eric
 
#3
saletel said:
i hate to bring up a bose thread.... but my roomate wants to get the bose center channel for our dorm room. i would rather make a center channel with some tang band w3-871s (2 or 3). any ideas? any one working on anything similar (saw brianGt's cubes)? thanks
-eric
Click to expand...

I wasn't really on planning on using the little cubes for anything. They are cute, but I don't think that they will be able to match the performance of 2 of the w3-871s in a ported box, with the lower driver only driving the lower frequencies (effectively working as baffle step compensation).

I just built them because I had wood scraps and wanted to see how the 1/2" roundover bit would work without using a router table.

Once I finish other speakers, I will do comparisons. They might actually make good computer speakers, using a small 6" sub or something.

--
Brian
 
#4
Here is a picture for those interested...

The external dimensions are 5"x5"x4"

--
Brian
 

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#5
so the elf 1.5 would be what your recomending? i kind of wanted this to be something that i would experiment on (for the first time) i mentioned the bose because my roomate heard my 501s (sitting unused in my bedroom at home) and was impressed so he bought 601s and i hate to tell him that the center channel is crap. btw, i have bose 901s (old) and a lifestyle system so i'm not anti bose. but i know the adire audio monitor kit i built blew the 501s out of the water. and cost less too. thats what id like to get across
 
#6
Here is an Audax center channel that you might consider adapting.

From the audax site, the intro paragraph:
"To this end, the center channel is a 3-way vented speaker. A Micro Series™ tweeter and 5.25" mid-bass driver are vertically aligned and placed on the centerline of the speaker baffle to handle the high frequencies and the midrange. A pair of 6.5" woofers flanks the tweeter and midrange drivers. Crossovers occur at 400Hz and 3.5kHz. On-axis frequency response is within +1.6dB from 100Hz to 20kHz. The low frequency -3dB point is 55Hz and sensitivity is 87.5dB/2.83v/1m. At typical viewing angles within +15o off the on-axis position, response changes less than 1dB over the full frequency range."

Then, the plans and crossover is at this page:
http://www.audax.com/doit/us_ht07.shtml

Just a suggestion.

Good luck!
 
#7
Re: Re: i hate to bring up a bose thread....

BrianGT said:


I just built them because I had wood scraps and wanted to see how the 1/2" roundover bit would work without using a router table.


SO how did you get such great corners without using table. I seem to ruin at least one corner of every box I build. Do you have a secret?

Thanks,
Jason
Click to expand...
 
#8
saletel said:
...my roomate wants to get the bose center channel for our dorm room. i would rather make a center channel with some tang band w3-871s (2 or 3). any ideas?
Click to expand...

I think you should build an ELF 1.5. They do sound quite good. And they're cheap! If you decide you don't like it, then waste your money... err, I mean, buy the Bose. If I'm thinking about the same Bose center channel, it costs $199usd. You can buy a kit of 5 Elf 1.5's including and unassembled cabinets for $254usd, and they sound pretty good. The Audax center channel is less than $250usd, and although I haven't heard the Audax or the Bose, I would almost bet my life that the Audax sounds better.

In my opinion, If you are the kind of guy who would make his own speakers, you should not buy the Bose. If you are the kind of guy who doesn't like all those knobs, and wires to connect, and complicated remotes, and you just want to push one button and have the room filled with rich, full sound with deep incredible bass, then buy the Bose!
 
#9
Hi,

Get some small anything, ANYTHING! I have heard the BOSE center channel and well...It sucks! It sounds like you took your cheap clock radio and put some stuffing in front and behind the speakers cloggin any flow. They suck, suck, SUCK! Just check out some small drivers and build something from that.
 
#10
I built a pair of small boxes like the ones on this site:
John's project

I took them over to my g'friend's house, unplugged the front jewel cubes from her A15 system and watched her enjoy a better sound. I actually expected to be hearing something better , as the cubes sound tinny and weak to me, what I didn't expect was how MUCH better!

I've listened to Paul Simon's "Graceland" album on many systems, this time I could count the singers in the chorus, and there are two women singing in the back I've never heard before...well, I'm hooked on DIY now...AND these 871's.

I'd love to see plans for the cabs that Brian is talking about or especially a TQWTL,.....Planet10, do you have something in the works?
 
#11
BrianGT said:
Here is a picture for those interested...

The external dimensions are 5"x5"x4"

--
Brian
Click to expand...


I WANT SOME OF THOSE!!! they look so kewl.. 🙂 WHERE can I get the drivers from in Australia?
The tang band w3-871s aren't even listed on theit website, are they? 🙄 I can't find them if they are... and I don;t wanna pay postage from parts express.. 🙁
 
#12
saletel said:
so the elf 1.5 would be what your recomending? i kind of wanted this to be something that i would experiment on (for the first time) i mentioned the bose because my roomate heard my 501s (sitting unused in my bedroom at home) and was impressed so he bought 601s and i hate to tell him that the center channel is crap. btw, i have bose 901s (old) and a lifestyle system so i'm not anti bose. but i know the adire audio monitor kit i built blew the 501s out of the water. and cost less too. thats what id like to get across
Click to expand...


Yes, the ELF 1.5 kit seems to be the best kit for the small 3" inch tangband drivers.

Here is another picture of my small cube. I picked up some textured rustoleum spray paint today and painted them after sanding. It came out pretty good. I am satisified. I haven't finished the other speaker yet. Once I get both done, I will post some listening observations.

--
Brian
 

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#13
Re: Re: Re: i hate to bring up a bose thread....

Jason_N said:
BrianGT said:


I just built them because I had wood scraps and wanted to see how the 1/2" roundover bit would work without using a router table.


SO how did you get such great corners without using table. I seem to ruin at least one corner of every box I build. Do you have a secret?
Click to expand...

I found quite an effective way. The problem with the regular base is that it doesn't have enough surface are. I went to home depot and picked up a sheet of 1/4" plexiglass. They will cut it to size for free for you. It was 18"x24", and I had them cut me 2 - 9"x12" pieces, which the picture below is one shown.

It works quite well. I am using a standard porter cable router. Be careful drilling the mounting holes for the base, as it chipped quite a bit when I was trying to make countersink holes. I think my bit was wrong. To make the center hole, I used a 1/2" drill bit, then I was able to remove the roundover roller part of the roundover bit, then just slowly lower the depth, and cut into the plexiglass slowly, making the perfect sized opening for the bit. Just go slowly doing this, as it makes residue around the side you are lowering the bit into, that you need to chip off.

When routing with this new base, I like to use 1 hand on top of the router, and 1 hand applying pressure on the speaker, keeping the plate exactly parallel with the speaker face.

This is a much cheaper and easily stored alternative to a router table. I have shown the normal base plate for size comparison. I can't get good roundovers with their plate. If you are doing large speakers, have a friend help put pressure on the router to keep it down, and guide it by holding on the the bottom of the plate.

--
Brian
Click to expand...
 

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#14
SkinnyBoy said:



I WANT SOME OF THOSE!!! they look so kewl.. 🙂 WHERE can I get the drivers from in Australia?
The tang band w3-871s aren't even listed on theit website, are they? 🙄 I can't find them if they are... and I don;t wanna pay postage from parts express.. 🙁
Click to expand...

It isn't on their website, but here is the datasheet for the driver. Parts Express doesn't carry them, but Creative Sound and Neura Accoustics (both based in Canada) sell them. I don't know how this will help you in Australia. You might want to try organizing a bulk order in Australia, then save money on shipping, and maybe find a better source.

--
Brian
 

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#15
Re: Re: Re: Re: i hate to bring up a bose thread....

BrianGT said:
I found quite an effective way. The problem with the regular base is that it doesn't have enough surface are. I went to home depot and picked up a sheet of 1/4"; plexiglass. They will cut it to size for free for you. It was 18";x24";, and I had them cut me 2 - 9";x12"; pieces, which the picture below is one shown.

It works quite well. I am using a standard porter cable router. Be careful drilling the mounting holes for the base, as it chipped quite a bit when I was trying to make countersink holes. I think my bit was wrong. To make the center hole, I used a 1/2"; drill bit, then I was able to remove the roundover roller part of the roundover bit, then just slowly lower the depth, and cut into the plexiglass slowly, making the perfect sized opening for the bit. Just go slowly doing this, as it makes residue around the side you are lowering the bit into, that you need to chip off.

When routing with this new base, I like to use 1 hand on top of the router, and 1 hand applying pressure on the speaker, keeping the plate exactly parallel with the speaker face.

This is a much cheaper and easily stored alternative to a router table. I have shown the normal base plate for size comparison. I can't get good roundovers with their plate. If you are doing large speakers, have a friend help put pressure on the router to keep it down, and guide it by holding on the the bottom of the plate.

--
Brian
Click to expand...
Hi Brian,

Nice router platform. I had one I made out of an old formica counter top, but I like your idea with the plexiglass. You can see the router while you're working.

I made a box (from an old drawer) to mount my platform on witha few flat-head screws. Than put a hole in the box for a shopvac. You would aslo have to have an extension cord with a switch and a pass through hole for the cord, but it worked great. No mess at all. I have a work table that I can clamp the whole box down with the table dogs. Everything cleans up fast and stores easily. From cutting to done in a few minutes.

Rodd Yamashita
 
#16
SkinnyBoy said:
WHERE can I get the drivers from in Australia?
Click to expand...

You can't. The 871 is exclusive to Neura (and Creative is one of their dealers). The 871 is the same as the W3-593S but in a different frame -- that one you might be able to get in Oz...

Worst case you can PayPal me & i'll get some for you (i need to order up a case of them soon anyway) but it seems a waste of enegy to ship them from China to Canada to Australia.

dave
 
#17
Bose

Paul Klipsch is walking along the street when he sees Amar Bose on the opposite side. Cupping his hands to his mouth, he shouts, "Hey Bose, are you still making those terrible loudspeakers?" Turning away to the wall, Bose mumbles, "Yes."
 
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