Rounded Double Trouble sub

tremrej65 · « **Reply #20 on:** 31 Mar 2025, 11:30 pm »

Quote from: Bill Baker on 31 Mar 2025, 05:12 pm

Very sharp. How much time do you think you’ll have in it in the end? I probably missed it but what finish are you putting on it?

I didn't count the time I put in it, I'm probably at around 25 hours so far. I guess I'll need another 20 hours to finish it: one more coat of primer, few coats of paint and building a base, plus the cabinet for the amp, and the wiring. Well. I might need 30 hours. We'll see.
I'm going for a painted finish. Nothing sophisticated: a water base enamel from the hardware store. Same finish as my X-LS Encore.

tremrej65 · « **Reply #21 on:** 31 Mar 2025, 11:36 pm »

One option I had was to use a layer of hardwood walnut for the front. That would look great. I decided to go with a simpler design: MDF all around, painted.

robwm · « **Reply #22 on:** 2 Apr 2025, 03:08 pm »

This is looking great so far! I can't wait to see the finished product!

tremrej65 · « **Reply #23 on:** 11 Apr 2025, 03:09 am »

Some more progress on that sub.

I made the base out of two layers of MFD.

I printed a template to make a 2 inches radius on the corners with a router:

The wiring will go through the base:

Paint is done:

Next step: few coats of clear varnish.

KTS · « **Reply #24 on:** 11 Apr 2025, 03:02 pm »

I like the look! Congratulations!

Tyson · « **Reply #25 on:** 11 Apr 2025, 03:51 pm »

To infinity!

Peter J · « **Reply #26 on:** 11 Apr 2025, 03:54 pm »

Now, that's a departure from the norm...and I like departures from convention. Well done!

Seems you have some experience with wood finishing, but I'm going to add a caution here that may or may not be useful. If you're talking actual oil-based varnish, it's amber to begin with and gets more so with age. Usually not all that noticeable on wood or darker paint, sometimes even enhances look. On white not so much. It just gets to looking dingy and yellow-ish. Water base clear if you want to keep it closer to what it is now.

Carry on, I love the ingenuity.

tremrej65 · « **Reply #27 on:** 11 Apr 2025, 05:04 pm »

Thanks everyone for the nice comments.

Quote

Seems you have some experience with wood finishing

Actually not. A little bit but not much. I'm using a water base varnish on top of a water base enamel. I decided to apply a varnish to make the finish more durable: the paint on MDF is fairly "fragile". I hope the varnish will make it more scratch resistant. We'll see.
Here's every product I used:

corndog71 · « **Reply #28 on:** 11 Apr 2025, 05:09 pm »

FWIW, Duratex comes in black AND white.

emailtim · « **Reply #29 on:** 11 Apr 2025, 10:43 pm »

Those came out great and you will have less distortion in the 500Hz region with the round internal baffles.

tremrej65 · « **Reply #30 on:** 17 Apr 2025, 03:02 am »

At last, here's the final product.
I'll provide my feedback about setting it up in a separate thread.
For now, here's some pictures.
The finished turned better than I expected. With the 20 layers of MDF, I thought it would impossible to get a smooth finish, but overall it is not that bad. Three coats of water base enamel plus three coats of clear varnish (water base). That's it.

I added some feet. I cut four pieces of 2.5 inches of a 7/16" threaded rod. I threaded the MDF directly. Seems like strong enough to hold the weight of the sub (which turns out to be 96 pounds). I designed and 3D printed some cap to hide the screw (thread).

That's it for now.
I have been listening to it for few hours now. The integration with the X-LS Encore was fairly easy. I'll describe how I did it in a separate thread (it is more about setup then construction).
My next construction project will be to build descent stands of the X-LS Encore. Stay tuned.

hk29 · « **Reply #31 on:** 17 Apr 2025, 06:50 am »

Wow! That looks amazing! Nice woodworking skills. I've wanted to learn and do that! I want something like this for my next project once I'm done with the NX Studios. I'm just using the flat pack, but trying my best to be patient and sand and paint as you've done here!

AlexH · « **Reply #32 on:** 17 Apr 2025, 11:51 am »

Very Cool! I love it when someone does something completely different. Nice job

mzbrahce · « **Reply #33 on:** 17 Apr 2025, 02:30 pm »

Very nice! I love the design. Looks gr8!

g3rain1 · « **Reply #34 on:** 18 Apr 2025, 07:08 pm »

This is incredible. Now I kinda regret building the standard square version.

rinzzlr · « **Reply #35 on:** 19 Apr 2025, 04:39 am »

Amazing work, you nailed it.

BrandonB · « **Reply #36 on:** 19 Apr 2025, 01:35 pm »

This just looks cool. Are you going to put in any No-Rez?

SlushPuppy · « **Reply #37 on:** 19 Apr 2025, 02:41 pm »

Awesome work! Thanks for sharing your build with us!

tremrej65 · « **Reply #38 on:** 19 Apr 2025, 07:56 pm »

Thanks everyone's for the nice comment.

Quote from: BrandonB on 19 Apr 2025, 01:35 pm

This just looks cool. Are you going to put in any No-Rez?

No-Rez or no No-Rez,that is the question.
My understanding is that No-Rez serves two purposes: anti-ressonance by making the cabinet more rigid (heavier), and dissipation of energy by absorbing the sound waves. Do I need any of it? The rounded shape makes the cabinet pretty strong compare to a flat surfaces. And is there a need to dissipate energy here? I don't thing so.
By listening to it, I don't hear any resonances. Is this something I can measure with REW?
Originally I thought it would be impossible to bend the No-Rez, but I did a test with a leftover piece I have and I think it would be possible to fit that in.
Waiting for feedback.

g3rain1 · « **Reply #39 on:** 20 Apr 2025, 03:51 am »

Quote from: tremrej65 on 19 Apr 2025, 07:56 pm

Thanks everyone's for the nice comment.
No-Rez or no No-Rez,that is the question.
My understanding is that No-Rez serves two purposes: anti-ressonance by making the cabinet more rigid (heavier), and dissipation of energy by absorbing the sound waves. Do I need any of it? The rounded shape makes the cabinet pretty strong compare to a flat surfaces. And is there a need to dissipate energy here? I don't thing so.
By listening to it, I don't hear any resonances. Is this something I can measure with REW?
Originally I thought it would be impossible to bend the No-Rez, but I did a test with a leftover piece I have and I think it would be possible to fit that in.
Waiting for feedback.

Not only is your cabinet rounded, which is stronger, but it's also much thicker than the standard flatpack. I would think it's not really needed.