NX Center build project

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Huskerbryce

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NX Center build project
« on: 16 Oct 2024, 03:49 pm »
Last June I built a pair of NX Oticas for my home theater room.  I love them to death so I decided to build a matching center speaker.  I have not received the flat pack yet so I have been working on the crossover.  I ordered quite a few upgrades for the crossover.  Many of which are probably unnecessary but I wanted to cut no corners on quality.  Over the years of building many speaker designs I have never been able or willing to go the extra mile on crossovers.  Ive always gone the cheap way out.  With the Oticas I wanted to go all in.  With the Otica build it was a but of a challenge to get the larger upgraded crossover parts to all fit on the triangular form factor plate to fit in the cabinet.   With the NX Center I have planned a much larger plate for the crossover to lay horizontally flat.  So far the larger crossover has been a delight to work with compared to the cramped Otica ones.  Plus, there is only 1 of them.  😁

Early B.

Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #1 on: 17 Oct 2024, 02:04 am »
I'm interested in your build. I dream of buying two NX Centers to use as main speakers.

Huskerbryce

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Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #2 on: 17 Oct 2024, 02:15 am »
About an hour after I posted the build project thread I received notification that UPS is delivering the flat pack tomorrow. 

Huskerbryce

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Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #3 on: 17 Oct 2024, 02:36 am »
I am building the NX Center crossover in the same way I built my Otica crossovers.  I am using plexiglass as the base for mounting all the components.  Drilling holes and running all the wiring shrink wrapped in black, over a black base.  This way, you wont see the “mess” underneath.  Looks very clean.  I use 3M hemispherical rubber standoffs.  Then on the black base use plastic chromed feet so there is no metal messing with the inductors.  Looks metal, all plastic. 

Initially I planned to use the supplied sonicaps and GR wire wound resistors with a foil inductor upgrade on the mid.  I received all the parts and just couldnt help myself but to order “upgrades” for everything.  The only thing I didnt customize was the large inductor for the lower woofers.  A copper foil of that value would be the size of a basketball and cost a fortune.  I looked into into it.  Not worth it. 

For the rest I had planned to use all hard to find miflex copper foil caps (miflex out of business) until I saw some of the values could not be sourced.  I settled on mostly a complete Vcap ODAM nest of caps utilizing Deulund silver copper CAST hybrid bypass on the tweeter and miflex coppers on the mids.  I used miflex coppers on the other smaller value caps as well.  For the resistors I like the Path Audio resistors.  I know Danny doesn't like them because they have metal ends.  My personal choice only on those.  I upgraded all the inductors to copper foil except the big woofer coil. 

The major point of back and forth was using the provided tube connectors.  I elected to go with pure copper binding posts.  I know, I know, the higher mass copper might lose performance.  I just like the flexibility and look and ease of installation that a solid copper post provides.  My really nice, already ran through the wall, speaker cable utilizes bananas and this is just a simpler solution for me. 

BrandonB

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Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #4 on: 17 Oct 2024, 10:11 am »
I am building the NX Center crossover in the same way I built my Otica crossovers.  I am using plexiglass as the base for mounting all the components.  Drilling holes and running all the wiring shrink wrapped in black, over a black base.  This way, you wont see the “mess” underneath.  Looks very clean.  I use 3M hemispherical rubber standoffs.  Then on the black base use plastic chromed feet so there is no metal messing with the inductors.  Looks metal, all plastic. 

Initially I planned to use the supplied sonicaps and GR wire wound resistors with a foil inductor upgrade on the mid.  I received all the parts and just couldnt help myself but to order “upgrades” for everything.  The only thing I didnt customize was the large inductor for the lower woofers.  A copper foil of that value would be the size of a basketball and cost a fortune.  I looked into into it.  Not worth it. 

For the rest I had planned to use all hard to find miflex copper foil caps (miflex out of business) until I saw some of the values could not be sourced.  I settled on mostly a complete Vcap ODAM nest of caps utilizing Deulund silver copper CAST hybrid bypass on the tweeter and miflex coppers on the mids.  I used miflex coppers on the other smaller value caps as well.  For the resistors I like the Path Audio resistors.  I know Danny doesn't like them because they have metal ends.  My personal choice only on those.  I upgraded all the inductors to copper foil except the big woofer coil. 

The major point of back and forth was using the provided tube connectors.  I elected to go with pure copper binding posts.  I know, I know, the higher mass copper might lose performance.  I just like the flexibility and look and ease of installation that a solid copper post provides.  My really nice, already ran through the wall, speaker cable utilizes bananas and this is just a simpler solution for me.
This is going to be nice.  What HT processor are you using?

Huskerbryce

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Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #5 on: 17 Oct 2024, 01:08 pm »
Emotiva XMC-2.

Huskerbryce

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Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #6 on: 17 Oct 2024, 07:06 pm »
Still waiting on a few parts to complete the crossover.  So far I have a good start. 




BrandonB

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Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #7 on: 18 Oct 2024, 03:02 am »
Still waiting on a few parts to complete the crossover.  So far I have a good start. 



That is nice looking.

Huskerbryce

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Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #8 on: 18 Oct 2024, 05:29 am »
Thank you Brandon!  I tried to make them look like I don't totally suck at this…lol  In reality I am a total amateur and learning.  I like any help I can get.

jmimac351

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Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #9 on: 18 Oct 2024, 10:27 am »
Thank you Brandon!  I tried to make them look like I don't totally suck at this…lol  In reality I am a total amateur and learning.  I like any help I can get.

The crossover looks great!  When things are laid out with symmetry it looks "right". 

jmimac351

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Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #10 on: 18 Oct 2024, 11:59 am »
I'm interested in your build. I dream of buying two NX Centers to use as main speakers.

Do you know what the thinking on that is... whether the tweeter needs to be rotated, crossover redesigned - or is it OK to use for L / R main speakers, as-is? 

jmimac351

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Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #11 on: 18 Oct 2024, 12:01 pm »
About an hour after I posted the build project thread I received notification that UPS is delivering the flat pack tomorrow.

Looking forward to seeing how this goes together!

Early B.

Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #12 on: 18 Oct 2024, 07:30 pm »
Do you know what the thinking on that is... whether the tweeter needs to be rotated, crossover redesigned - or is it OK to use for L / R main speakers, as-is?

I don't know. I'm only half serious, but I'm considering it strictly for the cool factor. Imagine 8 feet of horizontal drivers sitting on top of three dual OB servo subs!

Hobbsmeerkat

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Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #13 on: 18 Oct 2024, 08:38 pm »
I don't know. I'm only half serious, but I'm considering it strictly for the cool factor. Imagine 8 feet of horizontal drivers sitting on top of three dual OB servo subs!

it technically can be used like it is, but tweeter dispersion would be better if it was rotated vertically.

jmimac351

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Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #14 on: 23 Oct 2024, 12:52 am »
it technically can be used like it is, but tweeter dispersion would be better if it was rotated vertically.

I know the driver count is the same as Otica, but I like the idea of a symmetrical driver layout, like the NX-Treme, but in a more manageable package.  It could have feet / legs to raise it to custom height.  It would be a different look and I bet would look good.

Just thinking thru OB options...

Huskerbryce

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Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #15 on: 26 Oct 2024, 08:21 pm »
Got the cabinet glued together.  Went together with not much effort.  Its a very large center speaker.  Temps dropped into the 50’s-60s so the wood glue may take a little longer to set fully.  In another 24 hours or so I will start the tedious process of sealing, sanding priming and painting.  The absolute worst part of speaker building to me.







Huskerbryce

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Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #16 on: 28 Oct 2024, 06:02 pm »
Today I did several coats of a 50/50 wood glue to water seal. 


Huskerbryce

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Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #17 on: 28 Oct 2024, 06:19 pm »
Got the crossover functional.  Still waiting on one more miflex .1 uf bypass cap. 




I.Greyhound Fan

Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #18 on: 28 Oct 2024, 06:28 pm »
Wow, the crossover looks awesome.  I like the caps and foil inductors.  It is going to sound awesome! Just curious, why the Iron Core laminated inductor?  Price maybe?

Huskerbryce

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Re: NX Center build project
« Reply #19 on: 28 Oct 2024, 07:38 pm »
That iron core inductor is a higher value inductor. It’s the one for the lower woofers. To get a custom-made copper foil inductor of that value was going to cost more than a new class A monoblock amplifier for the center speaker.   I called Bridgeport magnetics based out of Connecticut just to see what a custom-made inductor of that value would cost.   Freaking a lot.   I elected to go with the iron corn conductor. Plus even if money was completely not an object, and I had them custom make a copper foil inductor of that value. It would be the size of a basketball.