Ikea spherical speakers, first build done.

The large bowls would work very nicely with a 5.25" ScanSpeak Revelator. F3 of 70hz, I think.

Any particular model?

I'd think that the Mark Audios with there large round bezels would work well... CHR70, Alpair7, or EL70 would all be suitable. Getting the rebate right could be a bit tricky thou.

dave

Could you provide links to the speaker units you mention?

So both of you would prefer a 2 way system is that correct?

Any comments on a fullrange/coaxial build?
 
This is awesome. I'm in the process of building my monitors and on top will be a sphere made of fiberglass housing a Mark Audio A7 for mid-tweet duties and an Exodus audio in a traditional cabinet providing the bass duties.

I watched some videos on working with fiberglass. So I plan on cutting out round mounting 'baffles' and putting in the bottom of the bowl and then lay fiberglass up to the rim and them make a back and sandwidth together. Then put a gloss black finish on it. Inspiration is the B&W 800 series as well.

Will you have thread for it, I plan on doing a similar 800 series look a like in late 2010
 
I just finished an Ikea speaker too.
I used the small bowl version (20cm) an a Fountek FR88ex as the driver.
They are mounted on 3 ping-pong balls filled up with sand and epoxy to close them an support a screw.
The 2 bowls are assembled with a connecting wooden ring that I made with a router.
They will be painted by a friend artist later.
Here is the result so far:
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.


Of course, they don't go very low (about 80Hz) but the sound is not bad even if I prefer my last full range with an other full range (TB 4")

Thanks for the idea!
 
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Nice job, look really good. Did yours leave a bizarre dust like residue when sanding of the varnish? I tried oiling mine to get rid of it, but its still there is small patches of odd colouration. I like the photo's of them walking around the garden.

What colour are you going to choose?

I wanted to put long spikes on mine, ala Sputnik, was thinking of using ikea table legs (like the stands featured on 6moons site) to support them and get them to the right height.

Did you keep track of costs?
 
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The cost I forgot exactly...
I have to check if you really wanna know.

I sanded most of the varnish out I suppose...
The main problem I had was at the wooden connecting ring. The wood filler cracked a bit with weather change. I couldn't really get rid of it so I hope the paint job will "hide" that...

For the paint, I leave to a friend who is an artist and he will do what he wants...
 
@domtw, Darn, just checked your other projects, really really good work!

A rough estimate would be cool, so many american users on this forum, they seem to have an unfair advantage over access to drivers and prices.

Its nice to see some european work, and the reflected costs.

God bless Sketchup.
 
I really like this idea, using Ikea stuff.
What would be great is if i can get my hands on a "water droplet" shape for behind half a bowl.
I love the water droplet shape B&W uses with some of their speakers (Nautilus and 800 series come to mind). Anyone know what can be used to create such a water droplet shape?
 
I tried to work this out. Its not a droplet shape (the exterior is) it is a tapering tube. The mouth, biggest bit should be the same size as the driver. I think the one in the link below is only 50mm in diameter though.

I thought about adding marine horn this to mine. If it works well as a horn, surely it must work well in reverse decreasing the rear wave energy?

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180405549611#ht_3400wt_941
 
ksporry:
I'm now working on this, the ball shape is a styrofoam ball 30cm diameter, and still strugling to come up with idea on the back shape. I have the outline drawn, perhaps I make a wooden negative, put some styrofoam between two round wood pieces and stick it into a lathe.then having sanding paper on the negative form, just simply push it against the styrofoam to shape it.
basically construction B&W midrange shape using Fostex 168E Sigmas

very bad picture 🙂
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.


I'll try to take a side shot later on
 
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I tried to work this out. Its not a droplet shape (the exterior is) it is a tapering tube.

What you need to do is now find a hemi-spherical bowl that fits the front. Sort of like the yellow "sqiggles" in my sketch,

dave
 

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This is the x-ray of the B&W they advocate a sphere, two holes of equal size for the driver/tapering tube.

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.


This is my current 'suck it and see' build. Super cheap (well free) not entirely sure if they are transmission lines, tapering tubes or quarter lengths??

But they sound suprisingly sweet.

I plan to paper mache them to form a uniform and more inert shape as they are balancing. 8" full range and a 12" woofer active XO.

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
 
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I just finished an Ikea speaker too.
I used the small bowl version (20cm) an a Fountek FR88ex as the driver.

I was looking around and began considering this exact configuration! Nice that someone has already done it! It does look very funky 😎

Sims show that this driver in the ~4L enclosure these bowls create should play to 59Hz (-3dB), which on paper seems reasonable. Does the bass sound lacking?

I am probably being naive, but why can't the bowls simply be glued together to make a sphere? Why was a connecting ring required? Are they not the exact same diameter or flat around the tops, or is it just to make it more spherical, less squashed looking? What was the reason to sand them so heavily too, just for painting? I'd also like to flush mount the drivers, would there be enough material left to do this?


Also, in general with these spherical designs, are there any additional condiderations? Surely a sphere creates a single strong internal resonance, is it completely tamed by damping material? Also, I can't model the baffle effects, I know this profile is supposed to be "good" but what does it mean in terms of baffle step correction? Does placing one of these designs near a wall mess up the response badly?

Sorry for all the questions!