MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

[TN Allen]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

This certainly is an interesting and unusual project, I can see the many challenging construction problems, as well as see there is no shortage of ability solving these. I also understand the aesthetic appeal these cabinets represent.

In that I am only just beginning to work with semi-non rectangular enclosures for speakers, I am curious about the acoustic advantages this cabinet design provides over flat sided enclosures.

I've read through several of the posts looking for comments and explanations that discuss the advantages, and may have missed these, but wonder if someone could point these out or provide a brief explanation of the advantages, or perhaps suggest a source for an explanation of the advantages of this sort of enclosure.

I look forward to seeing photos of the finished project.

tna

[Pete Schumacher]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

You could only paint the top if we did it after veneering. Too much flush trimming, sanding, finishing, sanding, finishing, buffing, etc as part of veneering to keep from screwing up the paint if done before veneering.

We may be painting the baffle ourselves. Ed's a bit concerned that he won't have the baffles trimmed closely enough to match the cabinet with veneer. If we are painting, we could try the painted back look before veneering it.

[DoubleTap]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

Wow . . . that's really nice.

What about extending the black metallic to the top/back, with only the sides veneered?

You could only paint the top if we did it after veneering. Too much flush trimming, sanding, finishing, sanding, finishing, buffing, etc as part of veneering to keep from screwing up the paint if done before veneering.

[Pete Schumacher]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

If you could draw up the shape of the cabinet bottom in CAD, I could get some stand top/bottom plates cut and use the same basic stand I do for the Cirrus. That shape with the 5* tilt would compliment it well.

We'll have the cabinet soon enough to get the information for the platform. But I was thinking that the stand could be fashioned from the same curved panels used to make the sides, including the platform. Not sure exactly the final form it would take, but we can talk about that later . . .

[Pete Schumacher]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

Gloss metallic black for the front baffle, maybe Pelin Burl for the cabinet?

Wow . . . that's really nice.

What about extending the black metallic to the top/back, with only the sides veneered?

[DoubleTap]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

Only a discussion so far. We sure would like to have something that compliments the lines, and I do have a couple ideas. I'm sure Ed and Ryan do too.

Looks like the feet will consist of a set of 4 hardwood discs that have been turned on a lathe for a bit of shaping and accents, so any stand of sufficient platform size will work. But once we fix those positions, I'd like to see a platform custom fit to the bottom, to give the port a wide open exit space.
As for the vertical portion of the stand, it would be nice to see the use of the same curved panels to fashion the structure.

If you could draw up the shape of the cabinet bottom in CAD, I could get some stand top/bottom plates cut and use the same basic stand I do for the Cirrus. That shape with the 5* tilt would compliment it well.

[Pete Schumacher]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

Are there any plans for matching stands?

Only a discussion so far. We sure would like to have something that compliments the lines, and I do have a couple ideas. I'm sure Ed and Ryan do too.

Looks like the feet will consist of a set of 4 hardwood discs that have been turned on a lathe for a bit of shaping and accents, so any stand of sufficient platform size will work. But once we fix those positions, I'd like to see a platform custom fit to the bottom, to give the port a wide open exit space.
As for the vertical portion of the stand, it would be nice to see the use of the same curved panels to fashion the structure.

[DoubleTap]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

Gloss metallic black for the front baffle, maybe Pelin Burl for the cabinet?

[greywarden]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

Are there any plans for matching stands?

[Pete Schumacher]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

The final surface prep. You can see the tell-coat on the lower right as the process of smoothing the epoxy finish begins.

[Pete Schumacher]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

Yes, Bondo would explain the pink areas, but what is the glossy coating applied over the entire front? Bondo dry's flat not glossy.

He painted on a coat of West Systems Epoxy, to seal the surface completely. Then, he'll sand it smooth before it goes to paint.

[PWR RYD]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

Yes, Bondo would explain the pink areas, but what is the glossy coating applied over the entire front? Bondo dry's flat not glossy.

[Pete Schumacher]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

What is the light brown (almost pink in some spots) product that has been applied to the front of the baffle? And is it hard so that it doesn't load up sand paper?

Ed used a bit of bondo during his final passes with sandpaper. He figured it was better to add a bit of extra material, before sanding it back to smooth.

His comment to me was that it set up very quickly, and was a breeze to sand.

[PWR RYD]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

What is the light brown (almost pink in some spots) product that has been applied to the front of the baffle? And is it hard so that it doesn't load up sand paper?

[Pete Schumacher]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

Then I'll build a set without and we can all hear if there is a difference in Chicago(?) That'll be a fun experiment.;)

Simple enough to do. As stiff as the walls are, there's still always room for improvement, and the rubber with VBX overlay can only damp the walls more than without it. It's almost assured that transmitted sound via the walls is improved over the non lined version. Audibility however, is another question, especially once the stuffing is added to the interior. Doing that greatly reduces the excitation of the interior pressure gradient onto the walls, leaving mechanical transfer from the motor structure to the enclosure walls directly. Not providing a hard, direct coupled mounting of the woofer frame to the enclosure helps in that regard.

At this point Ed, anything more would be like picking dust particles off the Mona Lisa. ;):D