Offical "Beasties" build thread

[mzisserson]

Made some dust today... Debating weather I should put a brace between the mid enclosure and the rear wall... Thoughts? There are no holes in anything yet.. just the rough cuts. Try to envision you are looking from the back through to the front.

[philiparcario]

as I see it the answer is yes. use a dowel or two



http://www.americanwoodcrafterssupply.com/wooden-products/dowels.htm#dowels

has five 36inch long 1 inch diameter dowels 20 bucks that is a big supply will last for lots of projects.

[martyh]

He's right - you can't overbrace!

[DoubleTap]

He's right - you can't overbrace!

Agreed, I'd put a brace or two inside that mid chamber as well ... like one dowel front/back just above and below the midrange.

[Pete Schumacher ®]

Definitely. Brace it up.

If you can cut some dados, do that. Run a .75" vertical dado along the front baffle, both sides of the mid baffle and the rear baffle. Then add a 2 or 3 inch piece of .75" stock (MDF or PLY) as a rib on all the pieces, and then run pieces of stock from each of the walls, using the rib as the mounting point. Add as many of those cross pieces you want.

[mzisserson]

Definitely. Brace it up.

If you can cut some dados, do that. Run a .75" vertical dado along the front baffle, both sides of the mid baffle and the rear baffle. Then add a 2 or 3 inch piece of .75" stock (MDF or PLY) as a rib on all the pieces, and then run pieces of stock from each of the walls, using the rib as the mounting point. Add as many of those cross pieces you want.

Its going to be very hard to brace to the front of the chamber. The MTM occupies most of it, though I may be able to get a dowl in there.

Do Dados add that much more than bu t ts?

[ckmoore]

Wait just a cotton picking minute....

I thought the Beasties were going to be a monkey coffin?

That looks more like a midget-coffin.




Lord, I apologize for that right there, and please be with the starvin’ pygmies down there in New Guinea. Amen

[mzisserson]

Wait just a cotton picking minute....

I thought the Beasties were going to be a monkey coffin?

That looks more like a midget-coffin.




Lord, I apologize for that right there, and please be with the starvin’ pygmies down there in New Guinea. Amen

Heh heh... No the FOLLOW UP to the Beasties will be. "The Fists". Besides, what's not monkey coffin-ish about a speaker that stands 41.5"x10.5"x10"?

[lunchmoney]

For bracing the mid-chamber, I'd do one or two braces like these (from my SR71's... the cross-shaped brace shown here)

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg210/djnelsen1/SR71_K.jpg

Mike, I really don't think dato cuts/joints are necessary at all. If your edges are nice and square, b*tt joints will do just fine.

[mzisserson]

Well, made some major sawdust over the past 2 days. I am not a very good woodworker, so it takes me a lot longer than it likely should.

Given my history for under-bracing. Please review the pictures below. Any thoughts on the bracing will be welcome. Where the triangular pieces are, there will be matching pieces on the other sides as well.

The walls will be lines with 1/2" sonic barrier, and there will be 1.5" eggcrate in the midbox with acoustistuff to taste.

I think I am seeing a light at the end of the tunnel! Only been at these for a year! :)

[mzisserson]

Well, the journey continues!

An interesting things happened this evening while voicing them. My wife took a listen who knows nothing about audio. I played a song and it brought her to tears. She was very moved and said "I get it now after all these years why you do this..." My uncle just passed who we were close to, and my father is likely ext in line based upon age. Listening to Peter Gabriel's "Father/son" did it. She commented on how gentile the speakers are, and how they disappear leaving nothing but the music. This was after i went through a sea of configurations.

I am amazes how they can lay way back when needed, but can slam when asked to. The ref series are truly an amazing value, and the TB 25-1744s is one heck of a tweeter holding its own with anything out there under $50-$70. The resolution of the RS225 is astounding.

My wife could not believe the birds nest I have been dealing with. She seems to have a whole new appreciation.

[benchtester]

... My wife could not believe the birds nest I have been dealing with. She seems to have a whole new appreciation.

I have dealt with similar "birds nests" and my wife, too, could not believe it. However, my wife's reaction would not be described as a "new appreciation". :rolleyes:

It sounds like you and your wife had an excellent day.:)

[mzisserson]

Here are some updated pictures. They will likely not get paint until next spring at this point. However, they are just about done. I need to get the x-overs together, get them in the cabs, and then I will complete the write up in my blog on the build!

[PWR RYD]

Wow! PBR? You can still buy that? :)

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10228&d=1281241524

[evilskillit]

Wow! PBR? You can still buy that? :)

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10228&d=1281241524

Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD.

I kid, BPR is some of the better tasting cheap crap. At least its not natty light.

Good looking giant speakers. I'd like to hear those. They seem like a Dayton RS take on the giant Zaph SB refrigerator thingies he made.

[mzisserson]

Wow! PBR? You can still buy that? :)

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10228&d=1281241524

Yeah man. It is the only cheap stuff that tastes ok, does ot give me a headache, and does not smell like a skunk's ***.



Good looking giant speakers. I'd like to hear those. They seem like a Dayton RS take on the giant Zaph SB refrigerator thingies he made.

Thanks! The geometry I used on the driver spacing vs. x-over fq vs. baffle diffraction worked out near flawlessly. They absolutely disappear for their size. I demoed them for a neighbor and he was looking for the surround speakers and center channel. Makes me happy. :)

[lamski]

Here are some updated pictures. They will likely not get paint until next spring at this point. However, they are just about done. I need to get the x-overs together, get them in the cabs, and then I will complete the write up in my blog on the build!

Looks awesome... Can't wait to hear more about the sound of those guys.

Is that a real EB Musicman Stingray up on your wall? I have been looking at maybe getting one for a while now. I still cant bring myself to pass on the Warwick though.

[mzisserson]

Looks awesome... Can't wait to hear more about the sound of those guys.

Is that a real EB Musicman Stingray up on your wall? I have been looking at maybe getting one for a while now. I still cant bring myself to pass on the Warwick though.

I wish it was a real one. I am not talented enough to own one. I tinkered for about 4-5 years, not it is more wall art than anything. :o

[lunchmoney]

Wow mike, those look sick! Can't wait to hear them!

[CWH&R]

Man, I have always wanted a sunfire A/V :D. Nice job!

[mzisserson]

Wow mike, those look sick! Can't wait to hear them!

With zero cabinet skills, and the fall through of the CNC, can you understand WHY they took me so long?!?!? It was a HUGE challenge and learning lesson for me. Much more confident about cabinetry now :cool: Thanks man!



Man, I have always wanted a Sunfire A/V :D. Nice job!

I have had them for years (when I was single and had $$) and find it hard to "upgrade". The set shows up on A-gon for $1K sometimes still. The amp can be had for $500, and it is absolutely sick. The main fuse is 15A. Each channel has something like 4KW of power in reserve at all times, and you can hear it in the dynamics. Great setup that is still competitive today.

[johnnyrichards]

I *heart* big speakers and plan on building some soon. Nice work, man.

[lunchmoney]

Got to hear these on Sunday, and WOW are they impressive.

I haven't heard many large full range speakers like these, but they have made me a believer... they have such a huge presence that I simply haven't been able to achieve with my SR71's + 12" Dayton ref sub.

I think Mike has achieved a really nice balance between being very detailed, yet forgiving of less-than-perfect recordings. Not as detailed as the Statement Monitors I heard a while ago, but also not as harsh when Pearl Jam's 10 was played.

Bass is really impressive, and seems nicely integrated with the mids and highs. For music listening, no sub required unless you're a serious bass freak.

Mike's got some real winners here, and with a sub-$500 build cost, they are serious contenders.

Nice work Mike!

[mzisserson]

Got to hear these on Sunday, and WOW are they impressive.

I haven't heard many large full range speakers like these, but they have made me a believer... they have such a huge presence that I simply haven't been able to achieve with my SR71's + 12" Dayton ref sub.

I think Mike has achieved a really nice balance between being very detailed, yet forgiving of less-than-perfect recordings. Not as detailed as the Statement Monitors I heard a while ago, but also not as harsh when Pearl Jam's 10 was played.

Bass is really impressive, and seems nicely integrated with the mids and highs. For music listening, no sub required unless you're a serious bass freak.

Mike's got some real winners here, and with a sub-$500 build cost, they are serious contenders.

Nice work Mike!

Thanks Dan :) Glad you enjoyed them!

[ontariomaximus]

Something I was pondering:
What if changed from 2 mids at 8 each, to 1 4 ohm, then getting rid of the input resistor to the mid filter? (WMT)
The sensitivity would be about the same.
Or is the MTMW critical?

[mzisserson]

MTM is critical for several reasons.

[r-carpenter]

Hey Mike. Nice work. Is this the version you had on NY DIY last year?
Your saw is capable of running dado blade? If so, it would definitely make bracing easier, allow for more elaborate bracing structure and believe it or not, ease up the assembly.

[hipcheck]

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10228&d=1281241524

This picture made me cry!

2 things I love: Alligator clips, and PBR

I love it!

[mzisserson]

Hey Mike. Nice work. Is this the version you had on NY DIY last year?
Your saw is capable of running dado blade? If so, it would definitely make bracing easier, allow for more elaborate bracing structure and believe it or not, ease up the assembly.

Thanks Roman,
Missed this comment.. I do have a stacked Dado blade and can do 3/8" Dadoes, but ultimately I suck at them. For some reason I end up too loos eor too tight, never just right.



This picture made me cry!

2 things I love: Alligator clips, and PBR

I love it!

Add the shot of Ginger Brandy and you have a trifecta!!!

[hipcheck]

yeah could not make the glass for sure...could have been many many liquids.... for me single shot good scotch, PBR...repeat, repeat, repeat, etc until my better half calls it a night for me

[kblackmore]

My wife almost defined alimony for me when I built my subs for the living room! That was until the speakers re-arranged the living room and kitchen with a little R&B SPL. You should be so lucky s to have a wife appreciate your efforts.