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  • My first build - Overnight Sensations

    My first build - Overnight Sensations

    Well technically it is my 3rd build but the first 2 were over 30 years ago when I was in my early 20's. I built them out of designs from a Philips speaker building book I had purchased. Then of course I used Philips components and crossovers which I was able to purchase locally. I built the cabinets myself out of particle board and then veneered one set and painted the other. The first set had a small cabinet just large enough for a 4" woofer and a dome tweeter that I used as speakers for my car. The second set was larger and had an 8" woofer, a tweeter and a port. This set I built for my sister.

    So this is my first "serious" build. I was looking for a set of speakers to use on my desk to listen to music from my computer and thought why not build a set. I searched the net and came across the "Overnight Sensations" by Paul Carmody. Then I read every thing I could find on them; people's impressions, peoples builds, and that was it. This was perfect for my needs. They were inexpensive, easy to build, everyone said they sounded great, and there were so many people who documented their builds with a variety of finishes and lots of tips. I used tips and finishing ideas from several other build posts especially from "Soundslike" and "rdrowley" and am very happy with the finish of my set. I veneered the sides and back and painted the front baffle. I purchased a Lepai LP-2020A+ amp to run the speakers.

    Most importantly I couldn't be happier with the sound quality, I am by no means an audiophile but they sound great. I plan to replace the Lepai LP-2020A+ with the Lepai LP-168HA 2.1 and build the Voxel mini sub to make them into a 2.1 system as mentioned in Paul Carmody's Voxel post. Thank you everyone who has posted info and documented their builds online and especially Paul Carmody for giving us his designs.

    Click image for larger version

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  • #2
    Re: My first build - Overnight Sensations

    Those look great.
    Nice job!!!!

    Is that walnut veneer?

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    • #3
      Re: My first build - Overnight Sensations

      Yes, those ARE pretty.
      I bet they sound good too.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: My first build - Overnight Sensations

        Nicely done

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        • #5
          Re: My first build - Overnight Sensations

          Thank you for your kind words.

          The veneer is actually Cherry. I had originally considered staining the veneer a lighter shade of red to match the red baffles but when I tested the stain on a piece of veneer and held it up to the baffle, I didn't like it. I prefer the contrast of the natural colour of the veneer against the red of the baffle.

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          • #6
            Re: My first build - Overnight Sensations

            They look real nice, and the photography work is pretty good too!

            TomZ
            Zarbo Audio Projects Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEZ...aFQSTl6NdOwgxQ * 320-641 Amp Review Youtube: https://youtu.be/ugjfcI5p6m0 *Veneering curves, seams, using heat-lock iron on method *Trimming veneer & tips *Curved Sides glue-up video
            *Part 2 *Gluing multiple curved laminations of HDF

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            • #7
              Re: My first build - Overnight Sensations

              Originally posted by tomzarbo View Post
              They look real nice, and the photography work is pretty good too!

              TomZ
              Thank you !

              Our children moved out on their own several years ago and since then I have had the time to get back into some of my old hobbies. The first was photography and the now the second is speaker building.

              Gary

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              • #8
                Re: My first build - Overnight Sensations

                Where can I find that veneer?

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: My first build - Overnight Sensations

                  Originally posted by BigLouis1971 View Post
                  Where can I find that veneer?
                  I Bought it locally at a store called Win***r plywood. (not sure if we are allowed to use company names). They have stores in western Canada as well as Washington and Montana.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: My first build - Overnight Sensations

                    Originally posted by glbfoo View Post
                    The veneer is actually Cherry. I had originally considered staining the veneer a lighter shade of red to match the red baffles but when I tested the stain on a piece of veneer and held it up to the baffle, I didn't like it. I prefer the contrast of the natural colour of the veneer against the red of the baffle.
                    That veneer will get darker and redder with time. -- Doug

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: My first build - Overnight Sensations

                      Originally posted by dougjohnson View Post
                      That veneer will get darker and redder with time. -- Doug
                      It's interesting you should mention that. I had been thinking for the last little while that it looked darker. Those pictures were taken a couple of months ago.

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                      • #12
                        My first build - Overnight Sensations

                        I've not yet built my first set of speakers. I'm doing a lot of trolling and picking up a lot of useful info. A lot of you guys are making some really impressive looking speakers, but no one ever seems to compare the sound quality of the built speakers to anything which is manufactured. So, when one asserts that a particular build "sounds great" against what is someone else to compare?

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: My first build - Overnight Sensations

                          Originally posted by Ithaca View Post
                          I've not yet built my first set of speakers. I'm doing a lot of trolling and picking up a lot of useful info. A lot of you guys are making some really impressive looking speakers, but no one ever seems to compare the sound quality of the built speakers to anything which is manufactured. So, when one asserts that a particular build "sounds great" against what is someone else to compare?
                          I'm assuming instead of trolling you meant trawling :D

                          I can't speak directly for the others on this forum, but I do have a manufactured set of speakers right now that I will compare against. I also am building my set because I enjoy the challenge of it. To me, the journey I take in building my cabinets and crossovers is almost as important as the end result. It gives you a sense of pride.

                          Granted a lot of builds that use expensive components end up saving money in cabinet material and construction costs when compared to similar manufactured designs. The point is as I said though, to enjoy your project, both before and after it is done

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                          • #14
                            Re: My first build - Overnight Sensations

                            I completely agree with the joy of the challenge, but I want a pretty high degree of confidence that a kit I assemble ( not even close to wanting to tackle crossovers yet) will provide truly impressive sound. I get the sense that most who are into speaker building do it because they have found that the product is as good as or better than what is available at the nearby big box, but no one is comparing their product against brand x or y. So how would I know whether the Overnight Sensations compare to a Polk or a Bose or a JBL,... etc.? And without such, how would one know whether to buy one kit versus another?

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                            • #15
                              Re: My first build - Overnight Sensations

                              Originally posted by Ithaca View Post
                              I completely agree with the joy of the challenge, but I want a pretty high degree of confidence that a kit I assemble ( not even close to wanting to tackle crossovers yet) will provide truly impressive sound. I get the sense that most who are into speaker building do it because they have found that the product is as good as or better than what is available at the nearby big box, but no one is comparing their product against brand x or y. So how would I know whether the Overnight Sensations compare to a Polk or a Bose or a JBL,... etc.? And without such, how would one know whether to buy one kit versus another?
                              Where are you located? I'm sure there is someone close who can let you listen to a design locally.
                              That will help inform you,
                              Wolf
                              "Wolf, you shall now be known as "King of the Zip ties." -Pete00t
                              "Wolf and speakers equivalent to Picasso and 'Blue'" -dantheman
                              "He is a true ambassador for this forum and speaker DIY in general." -Ed Froste
                              "We're all in this together, so keep your stick on the ice!" - Red Green aka Steve Smith

                              *InDIYana event website*

                              Photobucket pages:
                              https://app.photobucket.com/u/wolf_teeth_speaker

                              My blog/writeups/thoughts here at PE:
                              http://techtalk.parts-express.com/blog.php?u=4102

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