my DIY HT upgrades - in progress

[Anubis]

made a thread over at AVS figured id make one here also, im about to start this (hopefully next week) everything wont be here then but i should be able to start.

Mains
http://www.diysoundgroup.com/waveguide-speaker-kits/fusion-series-kits/fusion12-kit.html

Rears
http://www.diysoundgroup.com/waveguide-speaker-kits/fusion-series-kits/fusion10-max-kit.html

Subs - 2x in 4-4.5 CUFT Sealed
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=295-472

copy of post from AVS

My HT is less of a dedicated space than many but it works, It’s a very small space with a very interesting shape. Main listening area is 12x15 with a 7 foot celling. The kicker is its on the 3rd floor of a house and has knee walls and odd sloped ceilings. Open on either side to rooms that can be closed off and open to the back for ~20 feet . Just a TV and speakers, no room for a projector.

I’ve been planning on upgrading in one form or another for what seems like an eternity. Current Speakers are a pair of Wharfedale Sapphires for L&R and a pair of old Advents for rears. Running Phantom center currently as I don’t really have room for 1, there is one in the pic but its not used. I’ve had all these speakers since HS/College, they have served me well but, ive always wanted more.

Being someone always looking for a deal, DIY is right up my alley. More bang for the buck as it were. After I built a pair of overnight sensations for my dad this summer I figured I’d go all out and have been waiting for all the SEOS stuff to get finished. Also after spending about 30 seconds at Gorillas house I decided I’d so subs as well.

Sold my PB12 to help fund this. Current setup with a Bic-F12 as a stand-in for the time being as it was sitting around.

Building 2 of the Tempests for L&R and 2 of the Fusion Max 10s for surrounds. And 2 of the Dayton 18’s in ~4 CUFT boxes. My plan is to place the dayton’s on either side of the TV and stand the Tempest’s on them. Fusions will sit on stands in the back. I am also having a new TV stand built that will be taller than the current one and about 55 inches wide – which is ~5 inches wider than the TV. Everything should work out fine in the space. and everything will fit on the new stand including the PS3/Xbox for a much cleaner look.

Will be powering the Daytons from an EP4000, will run the L&R off an Emotiva XPA-3 and the rears off the AVR (Yamaha RXA-3000). I will probably add a center at some point, when I was doing some measuring I can get the Malcolm to fit by propping the TV up a little on the stand, but if I do that I will be later.

Almost ready to get started. Most of my parts are here but I’m still waiting on the enclosures form Erich. He said the Fusions will most likely ship out next week and the Tempests not far behind them. And the word on the sub boxes is “soon”. I decided to purchase the enclosures because I don’t really have the means to cut everything. My 30 year old table saw isn’t up to it + it scares the crap out of me and I don’t own a router.

Plan on finishing everything with duratex.

Bunch o pics of what I have now

Current setup
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_4007.jpg


Compression drivers
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3976.jpg

360
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3978.jpg
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3977.jpg

350
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3979.jpg
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3980.jpg


all this stuff came today (minus the Cat) That is Jake my helper
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3981.jpg

Tempest Parts
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3982.jpg

Fusion Parts
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3983.jpg

12" SEOS Horns
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3986.jpg

Ports
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3987.jpg

Baffle for the Fusion 10
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3989.jpg

Baffle for the tempest
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3990.jpg

Delta 10A
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3991.jpg
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3992.jpg
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3994.jpg
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3995.jpg


Delta Pro 12a
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3997.jpg
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3998.jpg
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_3999.jpg
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_4000.jpg


Dayton 18"
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_4001.jpg
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_4002.jpg
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_4004.jpg
http://www.rootminus1.com/admin/AVS/speakerbuild/DSC_4005.jpg

 

[Kaido]

Dang, this will be epic! Very jealous that you're going with the SEOS - I just saw over on the PETT forum that they're becoming available! Definitely post back with your impressions of everything!

 

[Soccerman06]

Still waiting on the jtr t12 vs seos build comparisons! Get on that first! BTW I still say make room for tempest for your center.

 

[Anubis]

i told you T12 vs SEOS is happening April 13th
My tempests & Fusions will be there as well as ones using the SEOS 12 + B&C 15 and a set of SEOS + TD12x

hell look at the list - you will get your comparison

CHT SHO-10
SEOS DIY B&C 15" SEOS12
SEOS Tempest 12s
SEOS Fusion Max 10s
SEOS TD12x
Ascend towers
KRK 10-3 monitors
Legacy focus SE
JTR Noesis T12s
JTR Triple 12s
Arx A5 towers
Selah Audio CBT Line Arrays
LS6 line arrays
Seaton Catylist 8Cs

Mark may bring Seaton Cat 12Cs if he has them avail - he said he is just keeping up with orders.
We all assume Jeff is bringing the Noesis but he may bring something else as well (hopefully an orbit shifter)

 

[ManBearPig]

How much will this cost? The pb12 is no slouch (in price or performance) so this should be sweet if you're selling that to fund this.

Lots of pics plz.

 

[Anubis]

prob ~2500 when its said and done

2 subs are 500 for the woofers another 250 ish for both enclosures, ep4k was 275
~1100 for the 4 speakers and another 250 for their boxes
+ various other costs like duratex and polyfil, terminal plates and all that jaz

the pb12 was nice but the output of the 18s is pretty silly. 1 has significantly more output & will play lower vs the pb12 + ill have 2. for basically the same amount of money

 

[purbeast0]

awesome man, i will be checking in this thread for sure. i've already learned a thing or two from you so i'm sure i will learn more. definitely interested in seeing how it comes out and how they compare to the speakers at the shoot out. i do know that the guy bringing the t12's is bringing the lp version. i wonder if those sound at all different to an untrained ear like myself than the ones i have.

are those subs you have, the dayton's, the same ones that andrew had at his house? seeing all the stuff there made me wish i had knowledge and skill to do the diy stuff, at least for the subs. those things ROCKED and in general, i am someone who likes to DIY if possible, but i just don't have skills to woodwork or anything, and knowledge of how to put one together in general

as far as your emotiva powering the lr speakers, are you going to see how it would sound with the avr powering them, and then compare it to how it sounds with an external amp? i'd be curious to see the difference in my setup using an external amp as well, but i just don't see exactly how it could sound any better as it is lol. although, i don't have my avr powering any surrounds yet.

 

[Anubis]

Yep the subs are the same ones Andrew has. Granted ill only have 2 and he has 8. but the 2 of mine should sound equivalent to 1 of his Dual opposed boxes - which we heard before you got there and even that was pretty impressive. you heard 2 of them and he built 2 more. He also built/is building 2 more Dual opps using the SI 18in Sub which i believe he is putting upstairs

yea ill do some testing with the AVR and amp. SQ shouldn't change much the RXA-3000 is a very nice AVR, the xpa-3 will just be able to deleiver about 2x the power into them

and they way im doing it you really dont need to have a ton of wood working skills

this http://www.diysoundgroup.com/waveguide-speaker-kits/fusion-series-kits/fusion12-kit.html + this http://www.diysoundgroup.com/flat-packs-1/seos-flat-packs/2-cuft-tall-seos-flat-pack.html and some glue & clamps and you have the box. (think IKEA just assemble it) hardest part after that is soldiering together the crossover

 

[purbeast0]

ah okay yea i thought those were the subs he had. i'm sure that just 2 of those will be MORE than enough. they sounded very clean and tight though, which i love about sealed subs.

that is cool that they just sell the enclosures like that, had no clue. do they sell sub ones as well? the ones that andrew and austin made looked really nice. wish i had skills to do something like that.

 

[Anubis]

ah okay yea i thought those were the subs he had. i'm sure that just 2 of those will be MORE than enough. they sounded very clean and tight though, which i love about sealed subs.

that is cool that they just sell the enclosures like that, had no clue. do they sell sub ones as well? the ones that andrew and austin made looked really nice. wish i had skills to do something like that.

yea they do, they arent in stock but will be soon.
http://www.diysoundgroup.com/flat-packs-1/subwoofer-flatpacks-2.html

he has a bunch of other ones that are not listed there yet as well. I know what he just picked up from the CNC company.

+ he can get just about anything made but the idea was to cover the most common sizes

 

[Soccerman06]

i told you T12 vs SEOS is happening April 13th
My tempests & Fusions will be there as well as ones using the SEOS 12 + B&C 15 and a set of SEOS + TD12x

hell look at the list - you will get your comparison

CHT SHO-10
SEOS DIY B&C 15" SEOS12
SEOS Tempest 12s
SEOS Fusion Max 10s
SEOS TD12x
Ascend towers
KRK 10-3 monitors
Legacy focus SE
JTR Noesis T12s
JTR Triple 12s
Arx A5 towers
Selah Audio CBT Line Arrays
LS6 line arrays
Seaton Catylist 8Cs

Mark may bring Seaton Cat 12Cs if he has them avail - he said he is just keeping up with orders.
We all assume Jeff is bringing the Noesis but he may bring something else as well (hopefully an orbit shifter)

I know I was just giving you crap about it since its not for another few months. Im acutally quite eager to know what the difference is between not only the t12 but also the noesis and various seos builds. Ive heard the difference between the 2 jtr is basically more mid bass but idk for sure. Wish I could go to it.

Speaking of sub cabinets, wonder if he could build me my sub enclosures. Ive been having a hell of a time getting someone competent enough to cut out my baffles. Not to mention I need a triple thick front.

I thought that the crossovers came reassembled, guess I was wrong.

Use this as your fill http://www.walmart.com/ip/Poly-Fil-F...arton/20713592 All polyfil is basically exploded nylon threads (not to be confused with the acoustic foam). That is a heck of a lot cheaper than buying the $50 bags from PE. I see your doing duratex instead of primer + paint. Consider using the truckbed and body filler, the kind you could get at a auto parts store, instead of duratex to save half.

Have you considered getting minidps and omnimic (or dayton mic) and running your own high/lowpass?

 

[Anubis]

i already have the duratex. polyfill i always planned on getting from walmart. Erich is working on getting someone to do xovers as an option. also some people have found other AVSers that will do them for you as well

i don't plan on doing the miniDSP just yet but it is an option i want to see how things go without it, the box size + power i plan on giving the subs should keep them pretty safe as is.

 

[Soccerman06]

Well the ep4k extend power down to about 10hz before diminishing, I do recommend being able to take measurements if just to avoid peaks and nulls by moving your placement slightly. $200 is worth a mic and calibrations software isnt it?

 

[Anubis]

Well the ep4k extend power down to about 10hz before diminishing, I do recommend being able to take measurements if just to avoid peaks and nulls by moving your placement slightly. $200 is worth a mic and calibrations software isnt it?

yea i plan on getting a mic, ill prob get minidsps mic which is cheap and use REW

http://www.minidsp.com/products/acoustic-measurement/umik-1

the minidsp itself ill buy if i need it. which i may not. but we shall see

 

[philipma1957]

Should be very nice setup.. I have my ht since early 2004.


uses 2 12 subs and a 15 inch infinite baffle.


here is a set of threads on the 15 inch ib build


http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?204060-Dayton-rss390hf-4-IB-wall-mount!-NO-PIC

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?204103-Rss390hf-4-IB-more-*pic*

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?204195-Wrap-up-Of-IB-*PIC*-lots-over-50

photos below

http://s237.beta.photobucket.com/us...s390hf-4 build/dayton rss390 converted to IB



these are the ht before I got a flat screen those speakers are diy focal.

http://s237.beta.photobucket.com/us.../center from crt/S7300068.jpg.html?sort=3&o=7

 

[Soccerman06]

yea i plan on getting a mic, ill prob get minidsps mic which is cheap and use REW

http://www.minidsp.com/products/acoustic-measurement/umik-1

the minidsp itself ill buy if i need it. which i may not. but we shall see

Yeah thats the one I was talking about, its supposedly accurate down to 5hz since it uses similar parts as the PE mic.

 

[Anubis]

flat packs shipped today

/happydance

 

[Anubis]

Erich shipped me 2 of the Fusion 10 flatpacks in 1 box. He was not sure this would work because of weight/potential damage. However after sending a test box to another AVSer with success he mailed mine out - the 2 tempests come tomorrow

Box from Erich

Expert packing as always

Hurray for foam

Dry fit

Putting the Daytons to work - just have the braces in now, will go down in a bit do top/bot and maybe sides

 

[Anubis]

ends and 1 side on, next is the inner baffle,

 

[EvilYoda]

I haven't been on the forums for 1.5 weeks and missed this: congrats! I've been watching the SEOS thread for the longest time but am not in the place to build a set yet.

I look forward to the comparison in April - I personally wouldn't mind spending more if another designer puts together a "premium" kit. But then again, I'm a 2.1 kind of guy so that helps.

 

[Anubis]

the Zephyr is about as high end as you get for a 12 right now
http://www.diysoundgroup.com/waveguide-speaker-kits/alpha-series-kits/alpha12-kit.html

People have the Tempests and the Sentinels built and measured, they play a lot lower in room then many expected, i imagine the zeph will satisfy 2.1 needs as its designed to play even lower and take more power.

People have built them with the JBL woofers as well, and there was talk of getting one made up for use with the BMS compression driver, but it costs so much it kinda defeats the purpose of DIY

 

[EvilYoda]

Yeah, I'm aware of how they're stacking up...I guess once a few more comparisons are out, I'll figure out where I stand on spending more money. Always something else to spend it on, I suppose.

 

[Anubis]

ill definitely have box 1 finished tomorrow

 

[purbeast0]

that is a serious work station you got there. clamps like that could have helped wonders for me when i put my stands together lol.

 

[Anubis]

they are cheap, the big ones (36in) are under 20$ each, the 24 inch ones were like 12.

Didnt you screw those stands together? dont need clamps when doing that