Small center using leftovers

[rpb]

I currently don't have a center channel speaker, and for the most part I don't really need one for most content. I do have the urge to build something easy, so, I'm going to modify an old speaker box, and make a small 2-way. The drivers have been collecting dust for many years. The tweeter will most likely be a Morel mdt39. The woofer will be a Peerless 4" HDS. My woodworking skills are minimal, but I hope to make the box look a little better than it looks now. I'll add a before picture when I get a chance. This new speaker may later become a 3-way by adding a woofer in a separate box.

[chrisn]

Free/near free is usually good, especially when you don't need to scratch build a cabinet.

[DeZZar]

Ooooo a custom design!!

[rpb]

Existing speaker.

[djg]

Those may be "before" pics, but they're definitely "after" something.

[rpb]

I suspect that box has been part of 4 or 5 previous speakers dating back maybe 15 years. It would probably be easier to just start over, unless I stick with a pretty conventional baffle.

[djg]

Duratex would fix it right up. It looks solid.

[rpb]

OK... time to start cutting! That's a Peerless 6.5" HDS driver, and a CSS LD22 tweeter. They will be used later in a larger box.

[rpb]

Some drivers on hand.

[rpb]

I have the urge to slope the baffle, and carve some large round-overs. That was not initially my intention, but holding the 4" woofer up to the baffle, it just looks lost. I didn't have significant diffraction problems with the 6.5" woofer, but I'm thinking the 4" might be affected by the baffle more. If I cross low, that might not be an issue. I might make a simple baffle, and measure the woofer before I do anything fancy. These 4" woofers are pretty smooth, or will be, if diffraction doesn't change it. https://www.parts-express.com/pedocs...spec-sheet.pdf

[rpb]

To djg.....This box has been around. It was altered to play with this one. This one was a new build about a year or so ago..

[djg]

It looks like a nice sized speaker. I have some Peerless/Vifa sealed 2 ways that are very handy.

[rpb]

I like the look of small speakers, but I want the performance of larger ones. These were fine with a sub, and "OK" without, but a little thin in the bass. The box is too small to go deep. My plan is to build larger 2-ways for my living room that can handle the bass without a sub. I've built some already, but they look really bulky because they are 1 cu-ft and sit on 24" stands. .

[Steve Lee]

:D

Keep going, rpb!!

[rpb]

I should show you guys my ugly speakers!

[Steve Lee]

Don't make me share my ugly drumming studio pics!!

:D

[rpb]

I used the diffraction simulator to see if I could find a good location for the woofer and tweeter. The seats in my room are at about 20 degrees off axis, so that's what is shown in the sim. I will probably have large beveled edges, but I ran a sim with and without. Vertical response looked pretty good up to 25 degrees or so.

[rpb]

Just visualizing before I cut for drivers. Might use the larger tweeter.

[rpb]

I think I'm sticking with the smaller mdt39. I want to bevel the top, and There's not enough room unless I lower the woofer.

[rpb]

Baffle is coming along. After it's glued in place, I will make additional passes on the table saw to even it up.