[tlarwa]

Thought I'd share my first OB build.  These are built from Decware's plans, and utilize the TB W8-1808 drivers.  If you aren't familar with the design, Steve Deckert has a series of white papers written on their development on the Decware site:
http://www.decware.com/newsite/ZOB.html

The cabinets are 3/4" MDF, all glued, and finished gloss black.  The baffles are 6/4 hard sugar maple butcher block.  I rounded the back edges of the driver cutouts, but still need to flush mount the drivers.  I have to find a 3/4" rabbet bit for my router first!  The baffles aren't finished yet.  Still trying to decide whether to stain them, or just darken them up with amber shellac.

I listened to them for the first time last night.  Kind of Blue sounded kind of amazing  I'm supporting the low end with my Klipsch SW-10 for now.  I'm going to carry my Audio Adire Rava sealed sub into the listening room today.  It should do a better job.  I'm considering a pair of 15" H-frame OB subs, but am not sure I have the room if they need to be into the room a ways to maximize their effectiveness.  I still need to learn more about placement with those.  The ZOB's are currently set up 35" from the back wall and 24" from the side walls, with a slight toe-in.  They're 7' apart, and my listening position is 7' back.  I'll continue to play with the set-up.

Anyway, here are some pics:

[opnly bafld]

Nice looking build. 

If you can pull them out a little further you will be rewarded.
FWIW and in case you haven't figured it out yet, the lower frequencies with these are more box like than OB.

[bladesmith]

Looks great...

[tlarwa]

Nice looking build. 

If you can pull them out a little further you will be rewarded.
FWIW and in case you haven't figured it out yet, the lower frequencies with these are more box like than OB.

I can probably pull them out another 6" without them looking too obtrusive.  I'll give it a try.  I have read that a box sub will blend well with this design, that's why I'll try the Rava.  I was considering the H-frames only because I've read good things about the OB bass sound.  I've personally not heard any though.

[undertow]

How are the High's on these?

Do you feel the need for a tweeter at all?

Thanks

[jparkhur]

I have always like these drivers for some reason.  I know they have really high end slope, but I was wondering if anyone has made an XO that has tamed them.  How low do we think they can go in a regular sized OB-not four feet across.   What is in the box below.  Not sure how this design works? 

JP
Beautiful speakers ..   

[tlarwa]

No need for a tweeter at all, in my opinion.  On music without a deep bass line, they sound terrific.  Classic rock needs some low end help, that's why I'm investigating the optimal sub set-up right now. 

There box is a resonance chamber, and there are a series of slots below the driver that enable the output from the driver to get into the chamber.  You can read all about it on the Decware site.  There are 5 white papers that detail the speaker's development.  I'm happy with them overall, but coming from a pair of Klipsch Forte II's I definitely miss the bass output on some music.  That said, on most jazz,,which I listen to a lot, the speakers sound wonderful.  Imaging is dead on and the soundstage is good. I'm still playing with room position, which should help grow the soundstage. 

[undertow]

No doubt you need a sub supplementing down under. I was just more interested in the results up top.

Do you have any type of cutoff using an inductor or anything, or just full blown crossoverless?

[tlarwa]

Full-blown crossover-less.  The W8's are running full range, and I curently have my sub crossed over at ~80Hz.