My Speaker upgrade projects

[Adul]

So I am currently in progress of building my new HT sub, ZDC3.5 and ZDT3.5 speakers.

First project I got into a testing phase was the sub
Its a shiva-x in a slot ported enclosure tuned to 18Hz and powered by a 350 watt amp.

Pics
http://pics.allthatremains.org...er+Projects/subwoofer/

When I first finished the sub for testing and hooked it up, girl looked and listened to it then turned to me and said...

When's the rest of the speakers going to be done

Today I taken the sub out to the garage to attach the wood top to it, and ask where is the sub? It go finish and hook it back up. She must really like it .

Any case My second project was the center channel from Zaph's ZDT3.5 design. This is of course the center channel version. I built the box myself, and it is of a sealed design. I need to flip the front baffle on it though to orient the tweeter lower.

more pics
http://pics.allthatremains.org...ojects/center_channel/

I trimmed the corners with solid wood to hide the layers of the plywood. I think I am going to redo the finish on it as it needs a bit of a glassy sheen to it.

So far I am very pleased with the sound of the sub woofer and center channel. It really makes watching movies all that more enjoyable. Up next is finishing the looks of the subwoofer, and completing the ZDT3.5 towers. After that take my current speakers and redo them for use as rears.

Now if I can talk my girlfriend into a second sub for us. Just need that little extra oomph to make it all perfect.

 

[bigdog1218]

Looks like it's coming along nicely. What amp did you go with? I'm going to start building a sub and have decided on the shiva-x but can't decide on an amp and enclosure size.

 

[Tiamat]

Nice, does that tweeter come stock with that slight waveguide?

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
Nice, does that tweeter come stock with that slight waveguide?

yes it does.

www.zaphaudio.com is where i got the plans for it. Cost for parts for all three speakers ran about 600 bucks. That doesn't include wood costs.

The tweeter is really inexpensive so takes zaph's advice and pick up an extra on. In case you damage one .

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: bigdog1218
Looks like it's coming along nicely. What amp did you go with? I'm going to start building a sub and have decided on the shiva-x but can't decide on an amp and enclosure size.

well what are you goals for the sub? ported , sealed, or passive radiator?

If tuned, what tuning frequency do you desire?


Same goes for passive radiator, what tuning frequency do you desire?


Any design constraints?


The amp I went with was the 350 watt plate amp from Elemental Audio. it was 175 shipped. Good balance between power and cost. I manage to bottom the sub out today with the THX intro to Indian Jones movie. If you go sealed, you want to go with a bit more power say 500 watts and some sort of parametric EQ to flatten the frequency response some.

Here is some charts I model with unibox

Parameters i used. 120 Liter box with a 18 sqaure inch slot port.
http://pics.allthatremains.org...shiva-x+parameters.jpg

Frequency response chart
http://pics.allthatremains.org...B+Response+Shiva-X.gif

Port Air Speed
http://pics.allthatremains.org...rtAirSpeed+Shiva-X.gif

Cone Excursion
http://pics.allthatremains.org...+Excursion+Shiva-X.gif

This is all ballpark figures to get you going. The box I built is this design of mine

http://pics.allthatremains.org...del+3+details.jpg.html

Granted there were a few slight tweaks I made such as the strip of wood before the port entry on the inside of the box, and the extra brace on the rear wall.

 

[Adul]

http://pics.allthatremains.org.../6721-2/IMG_8702-1.jpg

Just coated my sub with some nice material

 

[EvilYoda]

Curse you and your ability to woodworking at home!

Congrats on the new speakers...I wish I had woodshop access here in phoenix so I could build some full range test speakers.

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
Curse you and your ability to woodworking at home!

Congrats on the new speakers...I wish I had woodshop access here in phoenix so I could build some full range test speakers.

You know I live in phoenix to. I don't mind helping out a fellow ATOTer to accomplish ones goal . Hit me up sometime if you like.

Perhaps you can also have a listen to them as well.

 

[alfa147x]

wow looks awesome! wow i might just steal your subwoofer enclosure design! (if you dont mind...)

 

[alfa147x]

yeah i might just go with that design, i really dislike the down firing plus traditional port

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: alfa147x
wow looks awesome! wow i might just steal your subwoofer enclosure design! (if you dont mind...)

you're welcome to the design, I'll have to include the cut out sheet for the MDF and a few slight mods I did to the box after the fact.

 

[Adul]

pics of the final finish on sub
http://pics.allthatremains.org.../6733-2/IMG_9073-3.jpg
http://pics.allthatremains.org.../6729-2/IMG_9072-2.jpg

 

[Excelsior]

Nice choice! I have the ZDT3.5 lineup for my LCR along with a Maelstrom-X 18" in a 24" cube with a 2400W amp.

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
Nice choice! I have the ZDT3.5 lineup for my LCR along with a Maelstrom-X 18" in a 24" cube with a 2400W amp.

Nice got any pics of it? I am starting work on the towers now. I hope to have them done in a couple of weeks

 

[Excelsior]

Here are some pics.

http://s27.photobucket.com/alb...9/wadeere/Maelstrom-X/

 

[Adul]

what color did you use to paint that?

 

[Excelsior]

It was a Wine Red color out of a spray can. Rustoleum sells it IIRC. I wanted a different kind of color but didn't know what to go with. This turned out ok. I can also paint it another color later if I wish.