The Minions build

[Leroy R]

Re: The Minions build

Think I am going to try building some 2 driver (4 Ohm) and 4 driver (8 Ohm) center channels to try this weekend. Maybe I'll try to come up with some little stands too.

[B_Rich]

Re: The Minions build

Ok, played around with these this afternoon while watching Lord of the Rings Return of the King. When teamed with a sub, the single driver cubes are great as mains and surrounds. The voicing was a little weak on the center with a single driver, but two units in parallel solved that. I think I'll build a 3.5"tall x 3.5"deep x 7"wide center with two drivers this weekend. According to my ears, this configuration makes a nice budget 5.1 HT setup.

I want something very similar to this when I get out of school.... what a great setup.

[Leroy R]

Re: The Minions build

You want a room full of partially finished speakers, most of which are mocked up in cardboard boxes and a center channel speaker using a yet to be opened gas grill as a stand? Or is it the cutting jigs and pvc pipe against the wall and the bar clamps piled up and other tools scattered around your after? :D :p

I have a screen for the projector, but it is in Michigan. For now just having to use the wall here in Texas. The room as you can tell from the washed out screen isn't very light controlled during the day. The one with James Burton on screen is even more washed out because I turned the light on in the room to get a better picture of the speakers. I love my front projector though it is only 720P. I'm hoping to be able to upgrade to a 1080P by the end of this year.

[ameuba10]

Re: The Minions build

So are these ran full range or are they crossed at some point?

[Leroy R]

Re: The Minions build

So far I have run them full range. If I had the ability to measure them to see what they were actually capable of, I might have made a high pass filter to protect them, but so far haven't experienced any need for it

[chrclo]

Re: The Minions build

Ok, played around with these this afternoon while watching Lord of the Rings Return of the King. When teamed with a sub, the single driver cubes are great as mains and surrounds. The voicing was a little weak on the center with a single driver, but two units in parallel solved that. I think I'll build a 3.5"tall x 3.5"deep x 7"wide center with two drivers this weekend. According to my ears, this configuration makes a nice budget 5.1 HT setup.

I would love to build these little guys. I have a small room with some old sony HT cubes that I would like to replace. I also have some cool 1/2" bamboo I could use for the enclosures. Please post the measurments of the boxes and center if you get a chance.

[Leroy R]

Re: The Minions build

Internal dimensions are 3"x3"x3".
Using 1/4" mdf the cut dimensions are:
Baffle 3.5"x 3.5"
Sides 3.25"x 3.5"
Top and bottom 3.25"x 3"
Back 3"x 3"
Port is 1/2" schedule 40 pvc cut to 2.75" length
Driver is centered in the baffle and surface mounted. The flange is so thin, I didn't see any point to trying to flush mount it. Drilled the hole with a 2" forstner bit.
The port location on mine is 15/16" up from the center line and 15/16" left or right of center, your choice. I'm sure 7/8" would work for both dimensions. I just eyeball mine when I drilled them.

[Leroy R]

Re: The Minions build

Finally got a couple pairs completely finished for my daughters. Taking them with me to New York today to give to them. My oldest daughter is getting married on Sunday. Still building a pair of OS's for each of them, but these are something to give them in the mean time.

[greywarden]

Re: The Minions build

I think during my (mostly) failed attempts at measuring them, I did it both nearfield and at 1m and and the response came up pretty steep in the bottom end and the f3 was probably between 150-200hz

[Leroy R]

Re: The Minions build

That sounds about right. For me with the published specs, they modeled at an f3 of 227 in a sealed enclosure and adding the 1/2" x 2.75" port was supposed to bring it down to about 144. I don't have the means to measure them though so can't confirm actual f3. Playing around with the stuffing in the box definitely makes a difference.

[Soundslike]

Re: The Minions build

Lee,
I got four of these little guys from PE, just for the heck of it. You sounded so enthusiastic, and the little Tymphanys are so inexpensive, I couldn't resist. I just need the time to work on them now -- like you, I've got projects started all over the place.

Your's look great -- bet your daughters are going to love them...

Ron

[Brian Steele]

Re: The Minions build

Nice work. I'm not sure I'm liking the sticking out terminals though.

Looking at these gives me some ideas...

How about this - instead of the square MDF box, use a tube instead? For example, an empty Pringles can cut to size and repurposed for enclosure duty. I think it's 2.75" or 3" diameter (don't have one close by to check). Two MDF rings glued inside on either end - one to hold the driver, the other to hold one of PE's round terminal cups, e.g. this one: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=260-294.

Venting? Think mini SAS Bazooka - a hole drilled into the side of the tube, venting into smaller tube cut in half and stuck on the side of the main tube.

[jheizer]

Re: The Minions build

I don't have a can near by, but here is a FR88ex in a pringles can for a size reference.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k299/heezer7/2011-01-10164518.jpg

[Brian Steele]

Re: The Minions build

I don't have a can near by, but here is a FR88ex in a pringles can for a size reference.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...1-10164518.jpg

The FR88EX is a 3" driver. It looks like the Pringles can comes in somewhere around 2.75" external diameter, from that picture. That 2" Tymphany driver might just fit without overlap...

There's another (larger) cardboard can option that comes to mind, but it's likely only open as a choice if you like booze .

[jheizer]

Re: The Minions build

Screw it. I ordered 4 as well. Will build single or dual driver LR for my desk. Need to downsize from the project I have now as they no longer fit.