Hi Danny and all Audio Circle members.
About two years ago, I’ve purchased from Danny a N3 kit
that I never installed in an enclosure.
I only did a (Stupid and/or useless) test in a open baffle mode,
that kit was not design for,
the result was deceiving
and I was expecting that,
but I did it anyway to satisfy my curiosity.
Two weeks ago, I said to myself:
I spent 300USD+ for drivers and they are sitting in a corner gathering dust, might as well do something with them!
I ask the Vietnamese cabinet maker that as built my V1 and two V2 to build a small enclosure for the N3 that would sit on top of one of my V2 that was more or less OB subwoofer without a coaxial driver.
The two new N3 enclosures without external finish (Paint/vinyl), without insulation (Acoustic foam),
but with all the cut outs for the drivers made me poorer by 60USD/pair.
Not bad for an acceptable construction quality.
At the bottom, the white foam is to avoid the xover PCB to vibrate,
since it’s not mounted directly on the bottom of the enclosure.
The xover PCB installed.
The twins are ready for dress-up.
Foam installed.
No, it’s not NoRez.
Please no comments, I know NoRez is way better,
but this is an extremely, super, extra low budget project.
Cut outs with pre drilled pilot holes.
I don’t really like the idea of having a screwable back panel,
but that’s the only way the xover can be install.
I made myself some kind of seal around the back panel.
N3 (Could also be called: Guy 13 modified version of the N3)
front with vinyl wood imitation.
5USD per square yard. (Total cost less than 15USD).
Of course, this is my first attempt doing that kind of thing
and therefore there are a few ripples.
To anyone that will make negative comments on this project,
I will tell them:
<< It’s a prototype. >>
It fits perfectly over the Guy 13 modified version of the V2 subwoofer.
Yes, I know, cheap foam again, that does not do anything good to improve the quality of sound.
But, it looks nice, no, yes, maybe ?
My set up.
Close up of the electronics.
Rega P3 with Exact mm cartridge.
Bellari VP-129 tube phono stage.
Niteshade Audio NS-10 (10wpc) amplifier.
Rega Apollo CD player.
Interconnects (Audio 13 custom made)
Speaker wires : 12 ga. OFC
Unknown make – 30 years old.
Now the BIG question:
How do they sound ? ? ?
When I had finished building the first one,
I was so anxious to hear it,
that I unplug the left V2 (8” coaxial PAudio w/2X Eminence Acoustinator 12” sub.) and plug in the freshly constructed N3
and for the right side, I left the V2 but without turning on the SA-1 SS plate amplifier that Danny don’t sell anymore (Too bad).
The N3 sounded terrible…
The trebles were weak, no ambiance…
The V2 sounded better, even with the sub turned off.
So, I got back to work and finish building the second N3 and then, when the two N3 were proudly sitting on top of the V2, connected and fed them with some nice music.
(Bass, vocal, disco, classical, etc…)
I just fell of my chair.
Yes, that’s the Chinese style chair you see on the picture.
Good sound stage.
Voice was like the singer was in the room with me.
Instrumentals: Strings, bells, etc… were clear as crystal.
Of course, le level of realism was depending on the quality of the recording.
I was really surprised.
I did not expect such nice sound from little drivers like that.
Of course, not much bass, but with the V2 to help with the lower
notes, the circle is completed.
Of course the N3 could sound better, if my room was acoustically treated, right now I have curtains, thick carpet and that’s about it.
What I would like to see from Danny in the future is small drivers with higher sensivity, let say around 95 to 98db.
My 10wpc amplifier was enough, but with limited reserve of power
depending on the recording and level of listening.
In the days to come, I will complete the building of my V1 and do a side by side comparison (I love comparison) of the V1, V2 and the combo V2+N3 and let you know my findings.
This hobby is fun, especially when the construction is completed, because building with limited resources and tools, is not always enjoyable and sometimes frustrating.
Guy 13
The guy that likes to do things his own way, like it or not.
