The Minions build

[tobis]

Re: The Minions build

Those turned out really nice.

I just ordered some drivers. One advantage of a cabinet this small is that I should be able to do all the cuts with a chop saw instead of a wobbly circular saw.

In hindsight, is there anything you would do different?

[rogoll]

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.

Those are lookin' really nice. How are those orange and black HF clamps working for you?

[Leroy R]

Re: The Minions build

In hindsight, is there anything you would do different?

Well the first set I made I cut with a circular saw and my home made saw guides. I wound up giving up on the guide because the parts are just too small and free handed the last few cuts. I have since picked up a small Delta table saw from craigslist for $80 that I used to cut the parts for the last five sets I built and that was much easier and faster. I picked up a $99 Ryobi Router table from Home Depot to do the radius's. The router and table are fine and it's nice that you can take the router out and use it free hand, but the fence is warped crap. Really, they are such a simple design that there isn't much to change about them. I don't have any measurement software to see if any type of crossover circuitry would make any improvement.

How are those orange and black HF clamps working for you?

I've broken a few of them. It seems they break where the pivot pins for the handle are, so I have thought about drilling a hole through that point and putting a bolt through to hold the handle in place to see if I could repair the broken ones. The blue HF clamps are much sturdier, so I plan on picking up a few more of those. I picked up some of the HF corner clamps and they worked well to glue the first two sides together. They weren't as sturdy as the ones I picked up from Lowes, but got the job done just as well. The ones from Lowes tend to bind up, so each has its pros and cons.

[jheizer]

Re: The Minions build

Anyone end up building the dual driver version? Trying to decide which to build.

[Crayborn]

Re: The Minions build

+1

Anyone end up building the dual driver version? Trying to decide which to build.

[Leroy R]

Re: The Minions build

I haven't yet. I'll try to throw one together this weekend and compare it to a single driver. I'm not sure what the best spacing would be for the two drivers (as close together as possible or if there is some magic spacing that will reduce any inherent problems of to two identical drivers playing the same signal in the same box). I've also thought about putting a divider to separate the two and keeping one sealed and vent the other. Not sure if that would provide any benefit or not. With my limited resources and knowledge, it's all just trial and error. 1/4" mdf is cheap, so I suppose I could try a couple different options and just see what I think sounds better. If I get the chance to try any of this, I'll post my impressions.

[Leroy R]

Re: The Minions build

I built a four driver version that I could drive with either two drivers active or all four active. Those of you that were interested can see it in my gallery thread.

[ameuba10]

Re: The Minions build

I was just crunching some numbers and these little guys and came up with a little trapezoidal enclosures for dual minion computer/ipod speakers. Using 1/4" material I got:

Height: 8"
Width: 3"
Depth (top): 3"
Depth (bottom): 4"

2-.5" ports 2 5/8" Long

If I'm right, this should give you .027cuft/.768L tuned to ~115Hz.

Should be able to be built using some $5 1/4" 2'X2' and $2 PVC

Paired up with a T amp, this should have you a nice set of computer or ipod speakers. This was a 'quick and dirty' calculation so someone please let me know if I'm off somewhere.

[Mikers]

Re: The Minions build

doesn't look like the driver is stocked any longer. What would be a good alternative?

Thanks

[Leroy R]

Re: The Minions build

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=299-113

JohnnyRichards built a pair of full range drivers using these drivers. Here is his thread.

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?t=227907&page=2

I've built a couple test enclosures using these. I again used 1/4" mdf. One is a 4.5" cube and the other is a 5" cube, external dimensions. Both enclosures sound good to me. Initially I wasn't pleased with the low end, but after the drivers broke in they have more than the Minions. They do need a slightly larger enclosure, but if you are ok with that, they do sound at least as good as the Minions.

Here is a pic of the 5" and 4.5" cubes next to a Minion



A friend of mine is building a pair from solid wood Aspen sides and Red Oak baffle and back. His look similar to Johnnys, but he mounted his drivers in what would be the top on Johnnys build so they are deeper than they are tall and wide.

[greywarden]

Re: The Minions build

I've got 5 of these now, I think I might work out a TL or Horn design. I was fooling around with HornResp one night and had a decent design going for a Miscellaneous Driver (not the Tymp). Maybe make them out of some Poplar craft boards from Lowes. See how they turn out.

[bungelow_ed]

Re: The Minions build

I've got 5 of these now, I think I might work out a TL or Horn design. I was fooling around with HornResp one night and had a decent design going for a Miscellaneous Driver (not the Tymp).

I would be real interested in what you come up with. I've got a growing interest in TL's and at least 4 of these drivers waiting for homes.

Leroy, Glad to see this thread again. These have been a fun project for a lot of people.

[Leroy R]

Re: The Minions build

Thanks Ed. I'm glad others were able to have fun with them before they sold out. It was just something I thought I'd play around with since I don't have the knowledge or experience to build a real design involving a crossover. It just happened that I got lucky and everything came together well and turned out to be something rather enjoyable to listen to. I have a pair of Minions and a Lepai amp that stay in my backpack and travel with me quite often. Listening to them at work right now.

The new Tangband driver just seems to keep getting more and more low end the longer I use them. I think I'm going to play with the stuffing this weekend to see if I can fine tune the mids a bit. It seems like the more the low end has come out, the mids have gotten a little flatter. I would say they have a similar range as the Minions, just shifted a little lower. A bit more low end, but a little less on the high end, which could be a good thing, because they don't sound as bright as the Minions after they have broken in. Being a sealed enclosure these are easier to build too, because you don't have to mess around with the port.

[greywarden]

Re: The Minions build

I think I'll be buying myself a WT3 and measurement setup for xmas as long as my new (to me) 85 Bronco is up and running by the time I leave for home. So some time in the new year I'll be starting to crank out some designs, hopefully.