N3 Question

JDCrae · « **on:** 12 Jul 2014, 02:33 pm »

Am looking into possibly building the N3 for my first DIY speakers. Spoke to Danny on the phone yesterday, and he was a huge help in answering questions, regardless of the stupidity of the question.

My first question is does anyone on the board offer flat packs for these ? I am still deciding on whether or not I want to do the cabs myself, so it would be nice to get a quote for cabs, even just the front baffles would be an option I might be up for. I emailed a Ruben, but haven't heard back as of yet, no worries though, seems he is very busy

Second question - if I do decide to build my own Danny suggested buying the Jasper Jig, which makes routing the openings very easy. Question is, PE, Amazon etc, have 3 different models. Is there 1 in particular everyone likes etc?

Last question, if the speakers are going to be on hardwood floors - would it be ideal to put some type of insulation on the bottom of the speaker to help prevent vibrations to the floor?

Thanks!

Jeff

Danny Richie · « **Reply #1 on:** 12 Jul 2014, 05:03 pm »

Welcome to AC.

I'll take the last question and let some others chime in on the others.

The floor spikes come with a disk that can be put under the spike to protect the floor from damage. They will not allow any vibrations to be transferred to the floor, but they will allow the speaker to be coupled to the floor to help stabilize it and tighten up bass response and imaging.

dvenardos · « **Reply #2 on:** 12 Jul 2014, 05:31 pm »

I have gotten enclosures from elemental designs, but it looks like they are out of business now.
Flat packs and bare enclosures are a really nice way to go if you don't have a shop/experience, hopefully, someone will chime in.

I have a pair of N3s that were pre-built and love them, everyone comments on the detail that you hear with these speakers - mine have sonicap platinum bypass caps.

Good luck!

roymail · « **Reply #3 on:** 12 Jul 2014, 06:22 pm »

I'll give you two names, AC members both, to contact about help with the N3 cabs, and both have built them in the past and may be willing to build them or give you advice. I recommend that you contact Ron and Randall Kepley. Send a PM to Ron first and see what he recommends. He's very knowledgeable and has built a number of N3s. Also, he does a very nice job and is a skilled craftsman. Hope this helps.

mlundy57 · « **Reply #4 on:** 12 Jul 2014, 07:10 pm »

Jeff,

Here's a link to my N3 build thread. This one may also give you a few ideas. http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=120896.0

In addition to the Router Buddy circle jig I used in this thread I also have a Jasper No. 400 circle jig. The Jasper jig has 1/16" spacing so is much faster to set up when cutting holes with diameters evenly divisible by 1/16" (1/16, 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 etc.). The Router Buddy is best when the diameter of the circle does not fall on an even 1/16" i.e. a diameter of 3.93".

Another person that cuts flat packs is Ben (www.subassemble.com).

Mike

Captainhemo · « **Reply #5 on:** 12 Jul 2014, 08:54 pm »

I built Dany's N3Tl's for my first kit a few years ago as well, they are a great speaker . Here's my build thread, you can maybe aboid a couple of the mistakes I made
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=108845.msg1120138#msg1120138

I also have a Jasper circle jig,, mine is the model 200. Like Mike said, it is adjustable in 1/16" increments so getting the exact diameter required for a specific cutout is not always possible. When this happens, I have just gone up to the next size which is going to be less than 1/16" so you're only talking 1/32 on each side at very most. I haven't had any isues doing this with the kits I've built

If you want flat packs, PM user baniels or visit the GR section of his website :
http://www.subassemble.com/product-category/proven/gr-research/

If you want complete cabinets and Ruben is too busy, try shooting Mike (above) a PM, he might be able to help you out

-jay

dvenardos · « **Reply #6 on:** 12 Jul 2014, 09:21 pm »

Ron built my N3s, he does very good work.

Quote from: roymail on 12 Jul 2014, 06:22 pm

I'll give you two names, AC members both, to contact about help with the N3 cabs, and both have built them in the past and may be willing to build them or give you advice. I recommend that you contact Ron and Randall Kepley. Send a PM to Ron first and see what he recommends. He's very knowledgeable and has built a number of N3s. Also, he does a very nice job and is a skilled craftsman. Hope this helps.

JDCrae · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 Jul 2014, 10:58 am »

Thanks everyone for the input and answers to my questions.

Danny - Thanks again for taking the time to speak with me, and also your answer here. You truly stand behind your products, and that means a lot to me, so again thank you.

I was looking through all the build threads, and it still amazes me how the quality of these diy speakers, imho, far exceed the quality of speakers in stores with 10 times or more on the price tags.

My wife and I are going to sit down this week and mock some things up. She has some concerns about the speakers as far as placement etc, so I built some pretend towers out of scrap cardboard so we can play with placement.

I will continue to look through the build threads everyone linked. Really amazing work that I have seen thus far.

I will also look at the enclosure links, and pm the people suggested.

Thanks again for the warm welcome and help!

JDCrae · « **Reply #8 on:** 14 Jul 2014, 11:16 am »

Quote from: roymail on 12 Jul 2014, 06:22 pm

I'll give you two names, AC members both, to contact about help with the N3 cabs, and both have built them in the past and may be willing to build them or give you advice. I recommend that you contact Ron and Randall Kepley. Send a PM to Ron first and see what he recommends. He's very knowledgeable and has built a number of N3s. Also, he does a very nice job and is a skilled craftsman. Hope this helps.

Do you have a link for Ron? When I do a search under members, it only comes up with Randall.

Thanks

Jeff

Ron · « **Reply #9 on:** 14 Jul 2014, 11:42 am »

PM sent.

pecker · « **Reply #10 on:** 14 Jul 2014, 12:49 pm »

Since everyone's promoting their favorite cabinet builder, I'll put in a plug for mine:
http://diyspeakercabinets.com/

Guy 13 · « **Reply #11 on:** 14 Jul 2014, 01:32 pm »

Hi Pecker.
I think someone might jump in an tell you that you have to be register
as a sponsor to advertise your products and/or services.
Will see if I am right or wrong.

Guy 13

By the way, nice work.

Danny Richie · « **Reply #12 on:** 14 Jul 2014, 01:43 pm »

Quote from: Guy 13 on 14 Jul 2014, 01:32 pm

Hi Pecker.
I think someone might jump in an tell you that you have to be register
as a sponsor to advertise your products and/or services.
Will see if I am right or wrong.

Guy 13

By the way, nice work.

Guy, I think they are all just making recommendations.

Captainhemo · « **Reply #13 on:** 14 Jul 2014, 05:52 pm »

Quote from: JDCrae on 14 Jul 2014, 10:58 am

My wife and I are going to sit down this week and mock some things up. She has some concerns about the speakers as far as placement etc, so I built some pretend towers out of scrap cardboard so we can play with placement.

Don't forget, if you and your wife feel you don't have the room to get the N3's 14"-18" off the wall, you can reverse the entire TL and front vent the cabinets (works for both N3 and AV3 cabinets)
Just thought that worth mentioning , something for you to consider when looking at placement options

-jay

JDCrae · « **Reply #14 on:** 14 Jul 2014, 07:30 pm »

Thanks for the recommendations. Danny had mentioned the reversal of the TL, but I had forgotten about it in all my research. Does anyone have a picture of that style? Is there a significant audible difference in doing it that way?

Jeff

mlundy57 · « **Reply #15 on:** 14 Jul 2014, 07:53 pm »

Jay's (Captainhemo) N3 build thread has the front firing ports.

Mike

JDCrae · « **Reply #16 on:** 14 Jul 2014, 08:21 pm »

Don't know how I missed that. I like the look with the vent in the front.

Captainhemo · « **Reply #17 on:** 15 Jul 2014, 04:09 am »

I am not sure how much difference there is between the front vented and rear vented versions. I have since sold mine to my folks and they have them in a pretty large room (lving room / dining room combo) There is no lack of very clean and detailed bass . Those speakers continue to make me grin everytime I'm over there

I've stated before how much I love the Neo 3 PDR tweeter . When I built the N3's, I went with the Sonicap/Mils upgrades and I couldn't say enough about the Neo 3. Very clean, natural and detailed. Never fatiguing. When I built the 7's, I added the paltinum bypass caps, they took the Neo to another level.

-jay

Hank · « **Reply #18 on:** 15 Jul 2014, 11:17 am »

IF you are going to build just one pair of speakers and you're not a woodworker (no table saw, etc), then buy a flat pack from someone or get a local woodworker or cabinet maker to make you a flat pack. After assembling and finishing that first pair, it is quite possible/probable that you will get bitten and will never be the same and will build more/better speakers forever (BWAHAHAHAHAHA!). Then, buy a Jasper jig. I've had one for years and now have a newer model on a third router (router #1 is in my router table/cabinet).

Captainhemo · « **Reply #19 on:** 15 Jul 2014, 04:14 pm »

Quote from: Hank on 15 Jul 2014, 11:17 am

it is quite possible/probable that you will get bitten and will never be the same and will build more/better speakers forever (BWAHAHAHAHAHA!).

Man, you're not supposed to tell him that, now you've gone and ruined thes surprise

-jay