Dayton Classic 3.0 (D8's and Tritrix)

[joeybutts]

I built the Dayton 8's at full size for my second audio project (following a sealed HT subwoofer). These were built around 2007/2008 and just had new woofers put in as the first four were defective.







I built the Ported Tritrix Center Channel in 2010. Built to match the Dayton 8's I had previously built.









Temporarily setup

[the kid]

Re: Dayton Classic 3.0 (D8's and Tritrix)

I like your temporary setup. It adds character to the room.:p

Glad to see some full pics. I've mentioned these to a couple of guys & now I can show them.

[johnastockman]

Re: Dayton Classic 3.0 (D8's and Tritrix)

Wow, nice work on the baffles! I've built 2 pairs of D8's for some friends, amazing performance. One pair was with the smaller cabinet and the other was using their existing retail cabinet. Great contrast between the nice wood grain and black.

John A.

[joeybutts]

Re: Dayton Classic 3.0 (D8's and Tritrix)

Thanks guys! I'm hoping to have the riser built by the weekend and going to make it big enough to fit larger (read taller) center channels.

I love these D8's but can't help but want to try some of the more "refined" projects (Khanspire's come to mind......). I had tossed around the idea of selling these but will probably never do it unless the price is right.....

[joeybutts]

Re: Dayton Classic 3.0 (D8's and Tritrix)

Riser built and HT setup for the now final setup. I need to stain/paint the riser but will do that in about a month or so when I move. I just wanted this up and running and functional.

The riser is 3"x3" Oak I found for $1 a 12" piece in the scrap pile at HD and Birch leftover from a build.

[the kid]

Re: Dayton Classic 3.0 (D8's and Tritrix)

I will concede...that looks a lot nicer compared to the cooler. So whatcha' think of a center channel?

[joeybutts]

Re: Dayton Classic 3.0 (D8's and Tritrix)

Supeeeerrrrrbbbbbbbbb. :D Real nice. i'm impressed with the freq response first of all. Really nice how well rounded it is. the staging is nice, though I do need to prop it up a bit I think since the TV is so high now. The last thing I really noticed is the clarity from it. It isn't overly present, but you can make out the little things that were intended and sometimes hear things that weren't intended. It's really neat to hear. I think I mentioned it somewhere, but I can't imagine an improvement over this, and want to hear the supposed "better" builds. I've had plans of building the Khanspire series and still do, but my novice/noobishness can't believe there is much improvement to be had. I need to hear it to believe it gets better because I'm wowed by these.

[ucf52]

Re: Dayton Classic 3.0 (D8's and Tritrix)

Ohhh, I like the stained wood/black contrast a lot!

What was the process to do the black finish? The pics looks great, but they can sometimes leave a lot out, or be to emphatic - how do you think they look 'in person'?

I'm looking for some ideas to finish off those TriTrix cabinets of mine. A deep black finish is preferred, but I'm scarred :o as this will be my first time finishing any wood (besides carpet :p ).

[joeybutts]

Re: Dayton Classic 3.0 (D8's and Tritrix)

hahahaha. "Piano" black is a lot of time and work. first sand block the bare wood. use a slight mist of paint over the wood to find low spots. once that is done, if using MDF, seal it with any sealer product. This will make priming much easier. prime, sand prime sand prime sand until the primer looks nearly show worthy. the better job you do on the early stuff, the better it will turn out in the end and less work.

Once primer is looking good start paint coats. couple light coats sand couple light coats WET sand couple light coats wet sand progressing through grits from 400 to AT LEAST 1200. once the paint is show worthy, begin clear coat. repeat clear coat sand clear coat sand clear coat sand......when all the clear coat is uniform, buff buff buff buff polish polish polish ENJOY!

:D It's a lot of work but looks great when done, and if the early prep work is done right, requires less and less work as you go along.

This was a quick summary of it but if you have any q's when doing it, I learned a lot on here and elsewhere and can help a lot, and if Kevin G. sees it he'll gladly lend a hand.

[ucf52]

Re: Dayton Classic 3.0 (D8's and Tritrix)

hahahaha. "Piano" black is a lot of time and work. first sand block the bare wood. use a slight mist of paint over the wood to find low spots. once that is done, if using MDF, seal it with any sealer product. This will make priming much easier. prime, sand prime sand prime sand until the primer looks nearly show worthy. the better job you do on the early stuff, the better it will turn out in the end and less work.

Once primer is looking good start paint coats. couple light coats sand couple light coats WET sand couple light coats wet sand progressing through grits from 400 to AT LEAST 1200. once the paint is show worthy, begin clear coat. repeat clear coat sand clear coat sand clear coat sand......when all the clear coat is uniform, buff buff buff buff polish polish polish ENJOY!

:D It's a lot of work but looks great when done, and if the early prep work is done right, requires less and less work as you go along.

This was a quick summary of it but if you have any q's when doing it, I learned a lot on here and elsewhere and can help a lot, and if Kevin G. sees it he'll gladly lend a hand.

So what you're saying is I can do this in an evening :p

I appreciate the response/info. I've been contemplating the finish for quite some time, as this was the only unknown coming into the build. I think I'm going to go ahead and give it a shot. I was considering a hammered or texture finish, but I know I'll be selling myself short of what my goals were, so what the hell, I'll give it a shot.

I may shoot ya a PM when the times comes just to get an idea about specific products, but I plan to do plenty of research, so I may gather everything I need.

Thanks Joey!

[blaine]

Re: Dayton Classic 3.0 (D8's and Tritrix)

hahahaha. "Piano" black is a lot of time and work. first sand block the bare wood. use a slight mist of paint over the wood to find low spots. once that is done, if using MDF, seal it with any sealer product. This will make priming much easier. prime, sand prime sand prime sand until the primer looks nearly show worthy. the better job you do on the early stuff, the better it will turn out in the end and less work.

Once primer is looking good start paint coats. couple light coats sand couple light coats WET sand couple light coats wet sand progressing through grits from 400 to AT LEAST 1200. once the paint is show worthy, begin clear coat. repeat clear coat sand clear coat sand clear coat sand......when all the clear coat is uniform, buff buff buff buff polish polish polish ENJOY!

I have a number of projects sitting around not-quite-done (bookshelves, wine rack) because I so loathe the sanding. My centre channel and my subwoofers are crappy looking for the same reason. While reading this description of how to make piano black, I was overcome by a wave of revulsion. I suppose one day I will have to man up and finish everything nicely.

[joeybutts]

Re: Dayton Classic 3.0 (D8's and Tritrix)

I have a number of projects sitting around not-quite-done (bookshelves, wine rack) because I so loathe the sanding. My centre channel and my subwoofers are crappy looking for the same reason. While reading this description of how to make piano black, I was overcome by a wave of revulsion. I suppose one day I will have to man up and finish everything nicely.

hhahahahah. If you spend the time in the beginning to make sure it is perfect it will make the rest real quick.

But I do understand. I don't see anymore piano finishes in my future for a long time. :p

[badman]

Re: Dayton Classic 3.0 (D8's and Tritrix)

Nice work! I strongly suggest you consider testing some acoustic treatment next to the right speaker- there are a lot of reflections coming off that wall.

[joeybutts]

Re: Dayton Classic 3.0 (D8's and Tritrix)

Nice work! I strongly suggest you consider testing some acoustic treatment next to the right speaker- there are a lot of reflections coming off that wall.

Can you give me some examples? Thanks!

[hectorloshuk]

Dayton Classic 3 0 D8s and Tritrix

Great report Rob . . . thanks for sharing. I just built my first OB using the PSIs. I love these things, but cant wait to here these paired with the Augies.

Oh, and yeah . . . we want PICTURES