Nano Neos build

[kornphlake]

Some pictures of the Nano Neos I'm building. I'm not very good at stopping during projects to take pictures and document what I've done, but this time I have been working pretty slowly, an hour here or there rather than just working from start to finish in one shot. I figured I'd share what I have as I progress through the build.

I used 1/2" MDF rather than 3/4" particle board that Chris Romer suggests so I had to modify the size of the enclosure slightly to keep the same baffle width. Otherwise I've followed Chris' plans as published

4 sides glued up, I inset the top and bottom slightly so I can run a flush trim bit along them to get perfect, or near perfect edges. I'll do the same with the baffles:


Crossovers attached to back, I didn't put much thought into the crossover layout, this side looks nice, the side you don't see is hidden for a reason:


Pieces of carpet cut for lining boxes, this is only my second speaker project, I've never used carpet or foam to line the walls, hopefully the spare automotive carpet I had lying around will be good enough:


Carpet attached to speaker backs:


Carpet attached to speaker walls:


I made some mistakes on the baffles that need to be corrected then I'll attach the baffles and finish the boxes. I'll post up some more pictures of the raw boxes and some during finishing. I'm thinking I'll roll on some latex paint and add some hardwood accents then build stands to match.

[kornphlake]

Re: Nano Neos build

I finished gluing the boxes, routed the overhanging edges flush and cut a round over on the baffle edges. I've rolled on some paint, I'll have them assembled and be listening to them by tomorrow evening, but I have a few more details to finish up before showing final photos.

[Chris Roemer]

Re: Nano Neos build

[QUOTE=kornphlake;1657364]I finished gluing the boxes, routed the overhanging edges flush and cut a round over on the baffle edges. I've rolled on some paint, I'll have them assembled and be listening to them by tomorrow evening, but I have a few more details to finish up before showing final photos.QUOTE]

I've only used 5/8" stock on ONE project, some small sealed boxes holding some Tang Band 3" FR drivers. Also, the BR-1 kit uses 5/8". I've never gone as thin as 1/2", so I might be wrong, but I'd think at a minimum you'll end up having to at least run a dowel brace front to back and another side to side to tighten up your boxes.

Also, I think you might have to add a wad of stuffing behind yor woofers due to the very thin "lining", the placement of the XO board directly behind them, and the proximity of the vent to the back of the cone. I'm assuming that your vertical offset between the vent and woofer is about 2" less than in the original cabinet (that your cabs are approx. the full depth and width of mine, but 2" shorter?).

Hope you really like them though.

Chris

[kornphlake]

Re: Nano Neos build

I'm not sure why I used 1/2" MDF, I was looking for 3/4" particle board but home depot didn't have any except full sheets, I think they had 3/4" MDF handypanels, but for some reason I put 1/2" in my cart and had purchased it before I realized what I'd done. I don't have the same high standards as some of the others here, more than likely I'll think they sound great even with the thinner material. I can always brace the boxes with some bar clamps to see if I can hear any difference, if it's significant I'll think about building some new boxes and hopefully correct some of the little goofs I made at the same time.

[badman]

Re: Nano Neos build

I'm not sure why I used 1/2" MDF, I was looking for 3/4" particle board but home depot didn't have any except full sheets, I think they had 3/4" MDF handypanels, but for some reason I put 1/2" in my cart and had purchased it before I realized what I'd done. I don't have the same high standards as some of the others here, more than likely I'll think they sound great even with the thinner material. I can always brace the boxes with some bar clamps to see if I can hear any difference, if it's significant I'll think about building some new boxes and hopefully correct some of the little goofs I made at the same time.

You can always apply an outer skin on all the non-baffle surfaces, which gives you extra thickness to use for roundovers or bevels.

[kornphlake]

Re: Nano Neos build

I had a chance to listen to the speakers a little last night, stuffed with maybe 1/8 lb of stuffing each they sound like much larger speakers. I have better things to do with my time than to listen to test tones, but what else could I have done with new speakers? I have a pretty significant peak around 40hz, then a null from 45ish hz to around 70hz. I don't think it's a room node because my other speakers these were sitting on don't have the same resonance at 40hz. Any suggestions on how to tame this? I was pretty careful not to put any stuffing around the port entrance, I'm wondering if I should have let the stuffing cover the port entrance.

I'm hearing a little bit of a rattle from 30hz to 100hz or so, it may be lead slapping. I'll do some more investigating and make sure it isn't something in the boxes rattling around.

Despite a couple of flaws I heard using test tones, the speakers sound great listening to music. Comparing them to my Tritrixes they're a bit less sensitive and not quite as full sounding, however, given the size and cost I'm very impressed.

If the ND-105 goes on sale again I will surely be tempted to build another pair, or upgrade to the MTM version Hyperlite is working on. At full price it's still a good value, but the price is so close to the Overnight Sensations it's a tough choice between the two.

[Chris Roemer]

Re: Nano Neos build

I had a chance to listen to the speakers a little last night, stuffed with maybe 1/8 lb of stuffing each they sound like much larger speakers. I have better things to do with my time than to listen to test tones, but what else could I have done with new speakers? I have a pretty significant peak around 40hz, then a null from 45ish hz to around 70hz. I don't think it's a room node because my other speakers these were sitting on don't have the same resonance at 40hz. Any suggestions on how to tame this? I was pretty careful not to put any stuffing around the port entrance, I'm wondering if I should have let the stuffing cover the port entrance.

I'm hearing a little bit of a rattle from 30hz to 100hz or so, it may be lead slapping. I'll do some more investigating and make sure it isn't something in the boxes rattling around.

Despite a couple of flaws I heard using test tones, the speakers sound great listening to music. Comparing them to my Tritrixes they're a bit less sensitive and not quite as full sounding, however, given the size and cost I'm very impressed.

If the ND-105 goes on sale again I will surely be tempted to build another pair, or upgrade to the MTM version Hyperlite is working on. At full price it's still a good value, but the price is so close to the Overnight Sensations it's a tough choice between the two.

The only other design using this woofer that I'm aware of is mzisserson's "New Horizons". IIRC he also used 1/2" material and he also had box issues. AAMOF, he had several different threads re: "lead slapping" (which I didn't experience AT ALL) and noise coming from his box. I know this is only a little 4" woofer, but as far as output goes, it should be thought of as more like a 6" woofer. You'd never put a 6" woofer that can reach 40 Hz (like a TB W6) in a box with 1/2" walls would you?

Since you're tuned near 40, and the driver loves to pump at 40, I think your entire box is probably "breathing" (as in your walls are probably flexing giving you the 40 Hz peakiness. I THINK you could epoxy a couple hardwood dowels from side to side and front to back to dampen your largest panels. I can just fit my hand through the little woofer hole. Also, I used no stuffing, but lined all walls (except 1) with convoluted foam. My Nanos weigh 10 lbs. each and are extremely "dead" to the "knuckle rap" test.

Chris

[kornphlake]

Re: Nano Neos build

Thanks for the reply Chris. I'll do some more playing around and see if I can get a couple of braces installed somehow, my boxes have a hollow sound more than a dead sound when I knock on them. I may have to build new boxes, I just don't see how I'll be able to get a brace running from side to side now that the baffle is glued on, adding another layer of material to the sides might work, but if I'm going to do that much work I might as well make new enclosures starting with thicker material.

The speakers sound good to me listening to music, I think I can live with them for a while until I get around to building new boxes with thicker material as long as I stay away from test tones as listening material.

[Chris Roemer]

Re: Easy!

Thanks for the reply Chris. I'll do some more playing around and see if I can get a couple of braces installed somehow, my boxes have a hollow sound more than a dead sound when I knock on them. I may have to build new boxes, I just don't see how I'll be able to get a brace running from side to side now that the baffle is glued on, adding another layer of material to the sides might work, but if I'm going to do that much work I might as well make new enclosures starting with thicker material.

The speakers sound good to me listening to music, I think I can live with them for a while until I get around to building new boxes with thicker material as long as I stay away from test tones as listening material.

Let's say that your id from side to side (the 2 largest panels) is 4-7/8". Cut a 5/8" or 3/4" hardwood (preferably) dowel to just under 5". You don't have to make the ends "round" (like a popsicle stick in 3-D), but if you bevel them a little, you'll be able to stick a brace through the woofer hole, and turn it sideways to wedge it beteeen the walls. You're not trying to put pressure on the walls (not trying to push them out), but ideally, the stick would be just long enough to hold itself up. Then (or maybe you should have done this 1st) cut an "X" through your lining, so the dowel can push against the MDF.

You COULD glue them in with Titebond (if you've got plenty of contact area, but the way I'd do it, I wouldn't have much), but I prefer a gob of 5min epoxy on each end, maybe about the size of a marble or two. In 5 minutes, you're ready for the brace running from front to back. If you could (I'm not sure you've got room or not), I'd run it from just below the woofer hole to the back just above (parallel to) the port tube. With the top and bottom panels being the smallest, I'd think they'd be OK. At least they'll be the least of your problems. Good luck.

Chris

[kornphlake]

Re: Nano Neos build

I've been busy entertaining some guests and haven't had time to do any more work on finishing, but I have done a little work. I looked at the tinsel leads and they don't seem to be close enough to the cone to cause lead slapping, but I reshaped them a little anyway and I haven't heard the same rattle I was hearing previously, perhaps I didn't have the mounting screws tight enough. I've downloaded some higher quality frequency sweeps and no longer hear the peak at 40hz, it's possible the woofers have broken in a little bit and are now louder in the 40-60hz range so the peak at 40hz isn't so noticeable.

I think one of the ND105 drivers may have a problem, when playing test tones I can hear a kind of scratchy sound when I get close to the speaker, I don't hear it through the other speaker. When I received the shipment from PE I noticed that one of the driver boxes had 2 layers of tape on it, like it had been opened (and possibly returned) before I got it. I think I'll burn the test tones to a CD and play them back through a dedicated CD player before I send the driver back though, I'm suspicious that the noise may be coming from my integrated sound card.

I've listened to a few hours of music and watched some TV through these speakers and can't find any faults playing material that one would listen to in the real world. They are pretty incredible for their size and cost.

[hyperlite]

Re: Nano Neos build

I've been busy entertaining some guests and haven't had time to do any more work on finishing, but I have done a little work. I looked at the tinsel leads and they don't seem to be close enough to the cone to cause lead slapping, but I reshaped them a little anyway and I haven't heard the same rattle I was hearing previously, perhaps I didn't have the mounting screws tight enough. I've downloaded some higher quality frequency sweeps and no longer hear the peak at 40hz, it's possible the woofers have broken in a little bit and are now louder in the 40-60hz range so the peak at 40hz isn't so noticeable.

I think one of the ND105 drivers may have a problem, when playing test tones I can hear a kind of scratchy sound when I get close to the speaker, I don't hear it through the other speaker. When I received the shipment from PE I noticed that one of the driver boxes had 2 layers of tape on it, like it had been opened (and possibly returned) before I got it. I think I'll burn the test tones to a CD and play them back through a dedicated CD player before I send the driver back though, I'm suspicious that the noise may be coming from my integrated sound card.

I've listened to a few hours of music and watched some TV through these speakers and can't find any faults playing material that one would listen to in the real world. They are pretty incredible for their size and cost.

:eek: Bummer. keep us posted. none of the ND105's i got were taped closed in that fashion, FWIW.

[kornphlake]

Re: Nano Neos build

The verdict is (drum roll please) the scratchy sound is either in the source or it is caused by my amp. I swapped the speakers left to right and the noise stayed on the same channel. I also played around with test tones a bit more and I don't hear the peak at 40hz any more, although there's a very sharp roll off after 40hz, to my ears these speakers are pretty flat from 40hz on up. If all goes well I'll have some time to complete finishing then start working on some stands.

[kornphlake]

Re: Nano Neos build



The speakers are finished, I still need to do a bit more work on the stands, but I thought it was about time to finish up this thread. I painted the cabinets with a latex interior paint, the roller gave a little bit of texture. The accent pieces on the top and bottom are poplar stained and finished with teak oil. I wasn't sure how the teak oil would turn out, I'm not real pleased with it though. I wanted a finish with a little more gloss.

[[email protected]]

Re: Nano Neos build

they look fine. your x-overs look just fine too. maybe a few more coats of teak oil will help, if not mask the body and give them a spray with gloss poly.

[DIYNut42]

Re: Nano Neos build

Those look great. I cant tell if it's the lighting, but the the teak oil on the poplar end up turning out a greyish/blackish grain color? If it's not just a trick of the light, thats pretty much exactly the look I am wanting for the baffles for my K6.5 project.

Also if you decide to build another set, and you want to use 1/2" material you have left over, you can use laminate it with a 1/4" material outside like badman said. I used 1/4" oak veneered ply on my avaitrix project to do exactly that.

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?t=221248

It's the first picture in the first post of the thread.