BUILD THREAD w/PICS - Stone TriTrix

[lucasa.miller]

After purchasing 2 Tritrix kits in early 09, finally got around to building one. This was more of an experiment with the paver stones and getting some practice with finishing.

16x8x2 paver stones at the borg are under $2 each. Three total were used.


Cut using worm drive saw.

First mistake was to purchase the $2 stone cutter blade, it disintegrated after cutting the first one. Had to make another trip back for the $15 diamond tip blade. Abrasive cutter is on top, diamond blade is on bottom.

Test fit. Dimensions are 16x8. They will be glued together with construction adhesive. Will be capped by .75 MDF.

Test fit. 8 liters sealed will be the internal volume.

Glue up!

[lucasa.miller]

Re: BUILD THREAD w/PICS - Stone TriTrix

Crossover is held in place with industrial strength velcro.

All wiring was done with Cat 5 cable. If you are going to use this stuff, it takes forever to get the wires ready, but IMO worth it. Took me 1.5 hours to get the wires ready just to wire the speakers to the crossover.

Painted with Rusoleum Hammered spray paint. Didn't like it at all. It came out in globs and the hammered finish was inconsistent. Since this is going to be a garage speaker I didn't care too much. I came to the realization that with my skills I think I'm going to need to get a HVLP sprayer if I'm going to go the paint route for future builds.

I'm very happy with the sound of the speakers. I was worried since they were on the small sealed side the bass wasn't going to be there. I was wrong, they sounded great. Way exceeded my expectations for the price.

Since 4 of the 6 sides are 2 inch thick stone, it's extremely heavy. Passes the knuckle test on all sides. If you have the space and equipment, I would definitely recommend building a speaker with paver stones. You can get them up to 24 x 24 inches large at the local big box stores.

[Herman Trivilino]

Re: BUILD THREAD w/PICS - Stone TriTrix

Nice work. Clever design. BTW, I think those cheap abrasive blades are supposed to be used to score the pavers with a shallow cut before breaking. That's a technique that might work ok for paving, but not for speaker-building. :D

[lucasa.miller]

Re: BUILD THREAD w/PICS - Stone TriTrix

The problem with the abrasive blades is they break apart and spit tiny rocks everywhere. Not to mention they last for about 20 seconds.

The diamond saw cut like butter and left the stone glass like smooth.

[lunchmoney]

Re: BUILD THREAD w/PICS - Stone TriTrix

Very cool.

But what's the internal volume? Looks awfully small.

Edit: nevermind, just saw you posted that it's 8 liters.

Are you planning to use a sub with them? 8 liters sealed isn't going to dig very deep.

Why no tweeter offset?

[lucasa.miller]

Re: BUILD THREAD w/PICS - Stone TriTrix

lunchmoney,

You can barely make it out in the pic, so I outlined it. The black lines are how thick the stones are. As you can see, it's squeezing the drivers in pretty tight. I didn't want to offset the tweeter in fear of it not clearing the stone.

Now I know they sell 24 x 24 paver stones I would have used those, and will use them if I ever decide to make another speaker like this.

No I'm not going to use a sub. I'm using this single speaker in my garage. Since it's hot as Hades in Texas right now I have to work with the garage door open. My neighbors would not be too happy with a sub in the garage.

[lunchmoney]

Re: BUILD THREAD w/PICS - Stone TriTrix

Gotcha.

It's really very cool. I love it when someone just goes for it and does something different.

I'd be interested to know how concrete performs... in the past I've heard concerns that it could "ring"... although I've never heard it, so I wouldn't know.

Don't expect much in the way of bass, as 8 liters sealed won't yield much (I know this because my old center channel was a 10 liter sealed Tritrix). Perhaps in the future you can add a small sub to fill out the low end.

Enjoy!

[bendaniels]

Re: BUILD THREAD w/PICS - Stone TriTrix

Awesome. I love this. Very creative.

[lucasa.miller]

Re: BUILD THREAD w/PICS - Stone TriTrix

Thanks bendaniels.

Just weighed this beast. It weighs 63 lbs!

[davepellegrene]

Re: BUILD THREAD w/PICS - Stone TriTrix

Wonder if it would be simpler to just use a cinder block. I think they are around an inch thick and weight about 40lbs.. They also make light weight block and just from memory they weight quite a bit less.
With a little imagination I'm sure the center rib could be modified to allow one chamber and still keep it as bracing.



Dave

[davepellegrene]

Re: BUILD THREAD w/PICS - Stone TriTrix

They are also about a $1 a piece.

Dave

[lucasa.miller]

Re: BUILD THREAD w/PICS - Stone TriTrix

I looked at using cinder blocks. The ones in my are over 1.5 inches thick. The outer dimensions are 16x8x8 of a cinder block. I decided to use the paver stones because I had more internal space because I didn't have the internal brace and the outer dimensions are 2 inches wider at 18x8x8.

The cinder block would be perfect for an overnight sensations build. All you would need to build it is one cinder block, two 16x8 MDF panels and some construction glue.

[davepellegrene]

Re: BUILD THREAD w/PICS - Stone TriTrix

Ok, I saw your dimensions and didn't realize the 16" was inside.



Dave

[lucasa.miller]

Re: BUILD THREAD w/PICS - Stone TriTrix

Sorry I wasn't clear on the dimensions. Just went out and measured them.

Here is the skinny. I used a 16x8 paver stone on top and bottom. A 16x8 paver stone that was cut into a 8x8 paver stone for the sides. The front and back are .75 MDF.

Final outer dimensions are 20w x 8h x 9.5d. The walls are 2 inch thick stone on top and sides, .75 MDF on front and back.

IMHO, using the paver stones was easier than using MDF.
#1 You didn't have to get the giant 8ft by 4ft MDF slab at the borg, you only had to get the small paver stones (even though they are super heavy).
#2 You don't have to bust out the table saw, only the circular saw.
#3 You don't have to brace, at least with this small of an enclosure. I've never come close to building an enclosure as 'dead' as this.

Then again, your enclosure size is limited since the largest paver stones available (at least in my area are 24x24). Also getting that 'perfect' finish will take more time. I tried to fill the small holes in the paver stones with wood filler and auto body filler and then got fed up with it and said F' it and spray painted them since they were only going in my garage.

[Sidi]

Re: BUILD THREAD w/PICS - Stone TriTrix

Chimney Flu liner works too. I have a pair of 12" sealed sub cabs made of it with MDF and rigid fiberglass.