My Pensil 6 build.

MartinHyde · 10:42 AM

Hi all,

Finally decided to have a go at a DIY speaker build and the the Pensil seemed about as straightforward as it can get. I've read quite a bit about the build and setup on here, so thanks to everyone already!

I decided on the Pensil 6 with MA Alpair 6m drivers, based upon the size of my room and the description of the driver characteristics.

My room is a newly set up den for me and the kids to use for music and TV. We've got about 3.5m x 3m with suspended timber floor. The speakers fire across the room, so there's about 2.5m between speakers and ears.

den.jpg

The current setup:

setup.jpg

I chose the drivers because they promised a more laid-back sound that's OK for use with low-cost sources. I'm planning to use a Topping TP20 mk2, driven from the TV analogue output (i know

).

topping.jpg

The current setup (monitor Audio Radius 90s, plus passive sub) actually sounds pretty decent for the money I paid for it - nearly free! I just fancied building something for myself.

Build photos to follow...

Martin

MartinHyde · 15th December 2014, 11:03 AM

Well that was quick and painless...

pensil1.jpg

Birch ply custom cut by a company on ebay UK. Only £66 delivered

pensil2.jpg

I could never have got it so square if I'd cut it myself. Cabinets were glued and clamped, not screwed.

Pensil3.jpg

Rebate for Alpair 6M driver - ready for the hole to be cut with 95mm holesaw.

pensil4.jpg

Batten added to allow the backs to be removeable.

pensil5.jpg

Speaker terminals from ebay. Not sure what to use for internal wiring

Just waiting for the holesaw, and we're ready to go. Gonna buy a pair of pillows for the stuffing.

Should be ready to fire up in a day or so.

Martin

xrk971 · 15th December 2014, 11:49 AM

Good deal on the precut BB - does that include material cost and delivery? If so, an absolute deal and great for those without a shop.

Nice work on assembling it. I think many folks use single strands of 24ga solid copper from CAT5 cables. At the drive levels that full range drivers get - works very well. Cheap 16 gauge lamp cord or power extension cords work well too - way over sized and good for driving hundreds of watts.

What is predicted f3 bass extension of A6 in a Pensil?

Scottmoose · 15th December 2014, 12:50 PM

Depends on how much damping you use -the point of the pensils (all of them) is that I designed them to be user-adjustable via the stuffing density. In the case of the Pensil 6, default anechoic F3 is about 55Hz with F10 in the mid 40s, but they sound like they have quite a bit more since I've juiced the alignment between 80Hz - 120Hz where the majority of LF energy exists. Tuning lower wouldn't be especially beneficial; I'm not a believer in pushing for maximum extension from little drivers, the harmonic distortion rockets as does excursion (short of a full-sized horn). Not a price worth paying.

MartinHyde · 15th December 2014, 03:22 PM

Hi xrk971,

Yup, that price included everything. I just supplied the money and the dimensions

Thanks for the tip on the wiring - I've got some spare ethernet patch cables in the garage that i can cannibalise.

Hi Scott,

Thanks for the info (and the plans

). I'm a noob, but i guess F3 and F10 relate to the -3db and -10db rolloff frequencies?

I'm planning to use my Monitor Audio Radius active sub to fill in the lower frequencies.

Cheers,

Martin

sippy · 15th December 2014, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinHyde

Hi xrk971,

Yup, that price included everything. I just supplied the money and the dimensions

Pray tell.... Where did one gets one's wood chopped?

MartinHyde · 15th December 2014, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sippy

Pray tell.... Where did one gets one's wood chopped?

items in Farmwood Products store on eBay!

This was the company - I contacted them with the spec and sizes and he got back to me withon a few hours. I called him to pay with my credit card. Ply was really well packaged and arrived within a week.

Highly recommended.

Martin

Scottmoose · 15th December 2014, 04:13 PM

Yes, they're the (anechoic) -xyz frequencies.

MartinHyde · 16th December 2014, 10:09 AM

Just added a dowel above the vent to stop the stuffing from sliding down.

pensil6.jpg

I'm not adding the optional bracing, however I have some offcuts that I was thinking of adding between the 2 sides at mid height.

Good idea?

pensil7.jpg

Cheers,

Martin

Studio Au · 16th December 2014, 10:18 AM

AvonPlywood in the South West, cut to size too. On a £120,000 CNC beam saw, with incredible accuracy. Although would probably cost a couple of quid more, 18mm Birch starts at £55 plus the vat. They can edge boards too...

13th December 2014, 10:36 AM	#1
MartinHyde diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2012	My Pensil 6 build. Hi all, Finally decided to have a go at a DIY speaker build and the the Pensil seemed about as straightforward as it can get. I've read quite a bit about the build and setup on here, so thanks to everyone already! I decided on the Pensil 6 with MA Alpair 6m drivers, based upon the size of my room and the description of the driver characteristics. My room is a newly set up den for me and the kids to use for music and TV. We've got about 3.5m x 3m with suspended timber floor. The speakers fire across the room, so there's about 2.5m between speakers and ears. den.jpg The current setup: setup.jpg I chose the drivers because they promised a more laid-back sound that's OK for use with low-cost sources. I'm planning to use a Topping TP20 mk2, driven from the TV analogue output (i know ). topping.jpg The current setup (monitor Audio Radius 90s, plus passive sub) actually sounds pretty decent for the money I paid for it - nearly free! I just fancied building something for myself. Build photos to follow... Martin Last edited by MartinHyde; 13th December 2014 at 10:42 AM. Reason: speeling

15th December 2014, 12:50 PM	#4
Scottmoose diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK	Depends on how much damping you use -the point of the pensils (all of them) is that I designed them to be user-adjustable via the stuffing density. In the case of the Pensil 6, default anechoic F3 is about 55Hz with F10 in the mid 40s, but they sound like they have quite a bit more since I've juiced the alignment between 80Hz - 120Hz where the majority of LF energy exists. Tuning lower wouldn't be especially beneficial; I'm not a believer in pushing for maximum extension from little drivers, the harmonic distortion rockets as does excursion (short of a full-sized horn). Not a price worth paying. __________________ www.wodendesign.com (commercial site) www.frugal-horn.com www.frugal-phile.com (community sites)

15th December 2014, 04:13 PM	#8
Scottmoose diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK	Yes, they're the (anechoic) -xyz frequencies. __________________ www.wodendesign.com (commercial site) www.frugal-horn.com www.frugal-phile.com (community sites)

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15th December 2014, 11:03 AM	#2
MartinHyde diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2012	Well that was quick and painless... pensil1.jpg Birch ply custom cut by a company on ebay UK. Only £66 delivered pensil2.jpg I could never have got it so square if I'd cut it myself. Cabinets were glued and clamped, not screwed. Pensil3.jpg Rebate for Alpair 6M driver - ready for the hole to be cut with 95mm holesaw. pensil4.jpg Batten added to allow the backs to be removeable. pensil5.jpg Speaker terminals from ebay. Not sure what to use for internal wiring Just waiting for the holesaw, and we're ready to go. Gonna buy a pair of pillows for the stuffing. Should be ready to fire up in a day or so. Martin

15th December 2014, 11:49 AM	#3
xrk971 Got Foam? diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Metro DC (Virginia)	Good deal on the precut BB - does that include material cost and delivery? If so, an absolute deal and great for those without a shop. Nice work on assembling it. I think many folks use single strands of 24ga solid copper from CAT5 cables. At the drive levels that full range drivers get - works very well. Cheap 16 gauge lamp cord or power extension cords work well too - way over sized and good for driving hundreds of watts. What is predicted f3 bass extension of A6 in a Pensil?

15th December 2014, 03:22 PM	#5
MartinHyde diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2012	Hi xrk971, Yup, that price included everything. I just supplied the money and the dimensions Thanks for the tip on the wiring - I've got some spare ethernet patch cables in the garage that i can cannibalise. Hi Scott, Thanks for the info (and the plans ). I'm a noob, but i guess F3 and F10 relate to the -3db and -10db rolloff frequencies? I'm planning to use my Monitor Audio Radius active sub to fill in the lower frequencies. Cheers, Martin

16th December 2014, 10:09 AM	#9
MartinHyde diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2012	Just added a dowel above the vent to stop the stuffing from sliding down. pensil6.jpg I'm not adding the optional bracing, however I have some offcuts that I was thinking of adding between the 2 sides at mid height. Good idea? pensil7.jpg Cheers, Martin

16th December 2014, 10:18 AM	#10
Studio Au diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bristol	AvonPlywood in the South West, cut to size too. On a £120,000 CNC beam saw, with incredible accuracy. Although would probably cost a couple of quid more, 18mm Birch starts at £55 plus the vat. They can edge boards too...