Kitchen Cupboard 3-way Build

[Harpo]

What attenuation settings did you end up with (on the XO board)?

Attenuation: Mid 0dB, Hi 6dB
Bright: On
​
I fiddled with these a lot, then finally just played them for a ton of hours before landing on these settings. There is a considerable break-in time on all three of these drivers in my opinion. The box is tuned to 45Hz, and the "port behind the horn" works very well. I added stands to raise them 10", I really prefer these with the mid at ear level. It also helps spread the music around the house; there is a couch in front of them, with dining room and kitchen behind the couch.

My goal was high efficiency and room-filling sound, I'm totally happy with the end product. At ~100dB sens, my little 10w EL34 amp has no problem with ear-splitting levels, way above what I would ever run.

Did I spend too much? I'm curious what a commercial equivalent to these would be, any ideas?

[Billet]

They look great! The horns look especially nice, I like them standing proud like that. The ME45 is a nice horn.

[Chris Roemer]

What attenuation settings did you end up with (on the XO board)?

[Harpo]

Final parts list with prices. I'm VERY pleased with the results!

PRV Audio 10MB800FT 10" Professional Midbass Driver 8 Ohm	294-2988	2	119.91	239.82
PRV Audio 15SW2000 15" Pro Audio Subwoofer 8 Ohm	294-3007	2	189.91	379.82
PRV Audio D260My-B 1" Mylar Horn Compression Driver	294-2992	2	49.91	99.82
PRV Audio 3DF400/1800 Three-Way Crossover Board 400/1,800 Hz	294-2869	2	139.91	279.82
B&C ME45 1" Exponential Horn 90x40 2-Bolt	294-622	2	56.42	112.84
Parts Express Gold Recessed Binding Post Banana Jack 5-Way Speaker Terminal	260-309	2	5.98	11.96
KLËARVŪE Cabinetry® 18"W x 14"D x 40"H Wall Cabinet - Box Only	4780022	2	69.69	139.38
KLËARVŪE Cabinetry® 18"W x 14"D Shelves - 2 pk	4783504	2	16.97	33.94
3/4 x 2 x 4 Oak Plywood Handi-Panel	1254541	2	38.39	76.78
GSCIT Club Oak Edge Banding, 7/8 inch x 50ft		1	19.99	19.99
3/4in W x 1/8in T High Density Adhesive Closed Cell Foam		1	9.98	9.98
misc paint/hdwe		1	100.00	100.00
TOTAL				1504.15

​

[Billet]

Nice! The bass attack and decay are harmonics and are enhanced by the improved midrange of the woofers. Sometimes there is just no replacement for a higher quality driver.

Also, for the low bass the new woofer has a stiffer suspension (lower Vas and Cms) and is a better match for the enclosure volume.

[Harpo]

What did the bass sound like with the original woofer? How does it sound now with the new woofer?

The original woofers were boomy around 70-80Hz, and showed a marked decrease in level between there and 40-60Hz. The new ones are much more level across the bass range and "tighter" on attack/decay. I'm also hearing more detail in the mids now that I think was obscured by the earlier woofers.

[Billet]

What did the bass sound like with the original woofer? How does it sound now with the new woofer?

[Harpo]

I wasn't entirely happy with the bass, so I changed to the PRV Audio 15SW2000 15" Pro Audio Subwoofer. At​ 3.8cu ft, my box is dead on PE recommendation and bass is improved. F3 is 42Hz, with clearly audible notes down to 35Hz.

I may still change the port location, I'm having some directional issues with the bass but it may just be room/placement. Though these are 96dB vs the 97dB of the others, overall loudness and clarity is improved too. Maybe the crossovers just get along better with these woofers? I'm going to let them run for a few hundred hours before I change anything, the other drivers definitely benefited from break-in.

[unclejunebug]

Very cool idea using prefab kitchen cabinets for the enclosures! You'd never know by looking at them.

[Harpo]

All done!

[Harpo]

Lookin' good!

Check out pocket hole jigs. I got the Harbor Freight one years ago, but seems to have doubled in price since then. Basic Kreg brand ones are $20 if you already have a clamp and square. Simple to use once you get used to it. Would leave you with no screw heads to fill.

Dang I guess I'm getting too used to working on my build with a 12" woofer. I didn't realize those were 40" tall cabinets and 15" woofers. Guess I glossed over that. They don't look that big in the photos but those must be monsters!

The Kreg pocket hole tool is a great idea, I live about 10 miles from their factory and never even thought of that. I notice they make a lot of saw guides and clamps now too, rather tempting.

These are a bit large, they're 18"W x 14"D x 40"H . Klearvue makes even larger ones too, up to 36"W x 14"D x 40"H. This is the style I used: Klearvue Cabinets They even make shelves that are great for partitioning off inside.

[DrewsBrews]

Lookin' good!

Check out pocket hole jigs. I got the Harbor Freight one years ago, but seems to have doubled in price since then. Basic Kreg brand ones are $20 if you already have a clamp and square. Simple to use once you get used to it. Would leave you with no screw heads to fill.

Dang I guess I'm getting too used to working on my build with a 12" woofer. I didn't realize those were 40" tall cabinets and 15" woofers. Guess I glossed over that. They don't look that big in the photos but those must be monsters!

[Harpo]

One done, tentatively. I used different lining on the low end, so I'll test this one against the other and fine tune from there.

[Harpo]

Stain and first coat of finish on, masked for painting. Also visible is the lining/stuffing I've selected, as well as my sloppy jigsaw work.

[Steve Lee]

It's nice to have a squared substrate/frame to built upon - makes assembly much easier than from scratch.
Good work.