Newbie with New Console Project - Need Your Expert Opinions!

[jneub007]

Hi Guys,

I'm hoping you can help me. A friend and I are going to build a vintage looking mid-century mod style 3-part console where the left and right boxes contain the speakers (behind the grill cloth) and the center piece would contain a cavity for the vintage receiver + other pieces of hardware, and LPs, etc. The turntable would sit atop, like the photo shows. It would be made this way so the vibration doesn't interfere with the turntable, and we really like the aesthetic of these older vintage consoles. Our thought is that it would mostly be made with plywood hardwood.

For the two speaker cabs, we are going back and forth on either just buying vintage box speakers and quite literally "dropping" them into the boxes, pushing them close to the front grill cloth, OR gutting existing vintage speakers and using the drivers and tweeters to install into the L and R console boxes themselves. I've attached a photo of what the end result should resemble (inspiration shot) and a sketch showing some rough dimensions and our idea on paper. We are thinking the speaker boxes would be about 31"T x 18"W x 22" deep just based on semi-standard console sizes and what we can drop in there.

Any thoughts on the best way to go and why? We are both new to this, but really excited about how it will turn out. We want it to sound great but also not break the bank. Looking forward to your thoughts - and thank you in advance!

[rpb]

Re: Newbie with New Console Project - Need Your Expert Opinions!

Hi Guys,

I'm hoping you can help me. A friend and I are going to build a vintage looking mid-century mod style 3-part console where the left and right boxes contain the speakers (behind the grill cloth) and the center piece would contain a cavity for the vintage receiver + other pieces of hardware, and LPs, etc. The turntable would sit atop, like the photo shows. It would be made this way so the vibration doesn't interfere with the turntable, and we really like the aesthetic of these older vintage consoles. Our thought is that it would mostly be made with plywood hardwood.

For the two speaker cabs, we are going back and forth on either just buying vintage box speakers and quite literally "dropping" them into the boxes, pushing them close to the front grill cloth, OR gutting existing vintage speakers and using the drivers and tweeters to install into the L and R console boxes themselves. I've attached a photo of what the end result should resemble (inspiration shot) and a sketch showing some rough dimensions and our idea on paper. We are thinking the speaker boxes would be about 31"T x 18"W x 22" deep just based on semi-standard console sizes and what we can drop in there.

Any thoughts on the best way to go and why? We are both new to this, but really excited about how it will turn out. We want it to sound great but also not break the bank. Looking forward to your thoughts - and thank you in advance!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]64163[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]64164[/ATTACH]

I would probably build some speakers, and place them behind the grill cloth. Then I would fill the rest of the area around the speaker with some rigid fiberglass panels.

[fbov]

Re: Newbie with New Console Project - Need Your Expert Opinions!

Is this the console you'll use, or a concept for what you want to do?

It matters, because any given console will have unique internal structure that you need to accommodate. Consoles with internal turntables are a challenge for this reason. Good move going external. The best approach will be a "proven design" loudspeaker, known to produce good sound, but selected mainly because it fits the available space. You need to know that space.

What are you thinking for amps?

Have fun,
Frank

[Chris Roemer]

Re: Newbie with New Console Project - Need Your Expert Opinions!

That's over 5cf per side.
You realize that a design like this will have compromised SQ?

[jneub007]

Re: Newbie with New Console Project - Need Your Expert Opinions!

Is this the console you'll use, or a concept for what you want to do?

It matters, because any given console will have unique internal structure that you need to accommodate. Consoles with internal turntables are a challenge for this reason. Good move going external. The best approach will be a "proven design" loudspeaker, known to produce good sound, but selected mainly because it fits the available space. You need to know that space.

What are you thinking for amps?

Have fun,
Frank

Hi Frank

Thanks for the reply, and that's where I was leaning. This is a concept "mockup" photo for what we will build from scratch. I have a Pioneer sx-3700 receiver to be used in the front cavity as shown, which allows 48w per side. That's all I have running this far.. Any suggestions would be wonderful. I'm looking at buying these Cerwin Vega A-10s to drop in, but I'm a greenhorn when it comes to speakers so I'd welcome advice on that front, too!

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/eat/ele/5446079163.html

[jneub007]

Re: Newbie with New Console Project - Need Your Expert Opinions!

That's over 5cf per side.
You realize that a design like this will have compromised SQ?

No, I don't realize that! Would it help to drop enclosed speakers into it, then? Or add the fiberglass as suggested? Again, thanks all!

[jims]

Re: Newbie with New Console Project - Need Your Expert Opinions!

I would build modern speakers using an established, proven design. Vintage speakers vary in sound quality from good to terrible, and often they should have foam surrounds and capacitors replaced (although neither is particularly hard to do once you ID the proper replacements).

[jims]

Re: Newbie with New Console Project - Need Your Expert Opinions!

No, I don't realize that! Would it help to drop enclosed speakers into it, then? Or add the fiberglass as suggested? Again, thanks all!

Definitely put the enclosed speakers in there. Proper cabinet volume is crucial.

[jneub007]

Re: Newbie with New Console Project - Need Your Expert Opinions!

I would build modern speakers using an established, proven design. Vintage speakers vary in sound quality from good to terrible, and often they should have foam surrounds and capacitors replaced (although neither is particularly hard to do once you ID the proper replacements).

Can you recommend a modern speaker proven design? ;)

[jhollander]

Re: Newbie with New Console Project - Need Your Expert Opinions!

I have a console project that will never get done. The compromise in sound quality is that the separation of the left and right channel is too small to give a decent stereo image. The console is usually never positioned to give decent on axis listening to the seating position.

One option is you accept these compromises, then what's the budget for the pair of proven design speakers to be built in?
The other option is that you consider a stand mounted speaker near the console and build a subwoofer into the console.

[jneub007]

Re: Newbie with New Console Project - Need Your Expert Opinions!

I have a console project that will never get done. The compromise in sound quality is that the separation of the left and right channel is too small to give a decent stereo image. The console is usually never positioned to give decent on axis listening to the seating position.

One option is you accept these compromises, then what's the budget for the pair of proven design speakers to be built in?
The other option is that you consider a stand mounted speaker near the console and build a subwoofer into the console.

Hi John,
Thanks for the response! For your first point, that was part of the thinking behind separating the left and right side cabs. It looks like it's one piece, but my design is 3 separate pieces. Most of the time, it would be pushed together, but I can separate them at will. If I accept the compromise, I'd be ok spending ~$300 or so on the speaker components themselves.

I like the idea of the stand-mounted speaker near the console as well (but this is essentially what the design already calls for). Each box is on 4 legs and mobile. Depending on the size of the speaker boxes I drop into them, I can have a "shelf" at the bottom which would lift them up - perhaps closer to the top of the cab. This would essentially be like they're on stands, right?

My worry with adding a subwoofer into the middle console is vibration for the turntable. Thoughts?

[jhollander]

Re: Newbie with New Console Project - Need Your Expert Opinions!

Thanks for the clarification. Sub plus turntable is not a good idea...

For a shorty tower under $300 few come to mind.

Maybe the D III

http://projectgallery.parts-express.com/speaker-projects/the-d-iii/

Compromising the cabinet...

Darren’s Golden boys

http://projectgallery.parts-express.com/speaker-projects/the-golden-boys/

Curt’s Tritrix

http://speakerdesignworks.com/Tritrix_pg_1.html

or AviaTrix

http://speakerdesignworks.com/AviaTrix_1.html

Karma Indignia

http://projectgallery.parts-express.com/speaker-projects/karma-indignia/

Someone else might have a better idea. I've built both the D III and TriTrix.

[greywarden]

Re: Newbie with New Console Project - Need Your Expert Opinions!

JR's LSS would work, too.

[Chris Roemer]

Re: Newbie with New Console Project - Need Your Expert Opinions!

Generally, we like to end up w/a tweeter near "seated ear height" - which is usually around 30" to 40" off the floor. As you lower a tweeter below that point, you shift off-axis (which decreases the high freqs.) and drop the tweeter down into areas where the highs get sucked up by couches and stuff.

[Sydney]

Re: Newbie with New Console Project - Need Your Expert Opinions!

.. a vintage looking mid-century mod style 3-part console... It would be made this way so the vibration doesn't interfere with the turntable, and we really like the aesthetic of these older vintage consoles. Our thought is that it would mostly be made with plywood hardwood...

The "vibration" and acoustic feedback were always an issue and one of the reasons having separates flown like these old Dukanes:

My worry with adding a subwoofer into the middle console is vibration for the turntable. Thoughts?

It's a REAL valid concern, the first active filter I built was an infrasonic "Rumble" filter.