[JDUBS]

Hi All

I'd love to hear from anyone who has built this kit.  Looks like a great deal....just curious about the difficulty of it.

Thanks!

-Jim

[ooheadsoo]

I was seriously considering the AV1 but I have word from Bob that the AV2 is  nearing completion.  Either should be a reasonable project because Bob offers many options to help the novice.  Hopefully he will enlighten us soon.

[Aether Audio]

JDUBS,

OK, I'll try this again.  I answered earlier but the server dropped the post.

The difficulty is dependant on your willingness to undertake (and I suppose $$$ you're willing to spend).  In the "bare bones" kit you get the raw MDF Front Panel, the drivers, instructions and a crossover schematic.  

I will say, finishing the machined MDF in the area of the waveguide and getting it to come out nice is a bit of a challange.  One option is that we can paint that for you.  If you don't have the paints and process we have, it's a b***h!  Even then it ain't easy.

At the top end you get a painted Front Panel, all the parts including the inner and outer Box Panels, instructions and the schematic...plus a tweeter with calibrated HF compensation circuit built and tested here in our lab.  Then all you have to do is glue, assemble and finish the sides and back.

Then there are a couple of options (as in the painted front panel) in between those extremes.  So...you have a number of options and difficulty levels.  I don't have all the prices handy right now but we can get them for you in short order.  I will say one more thing.  To be honest, for as inexpensively as we're offering them and as difficult as they are to build, if it were me...I'd just buy the finished system and be done with it.  But then, I'm burnt out on building boxes. Hope this helps.

Thanks,
-Bob

[JDUBS]

Bob

Much appreciated!  Makes perfect sense.  I imagined the cabinet might be on the difficult side.

I'm usually pretty ambitious with DIY stuff....but I might "resort" to just buying the finished product.

That way, at least, results are guaranteed.

Thank you!

-Jim

[Bill Baker]

Hi JDUBS,

 If you should decide to undertake the front baffle finishing on your own, I can give you a procedure that will work. Keep in mind that it is tedious, messy, very time consuming (3 days process) and an overall pain in the ass. But it works. The "cut" Waveguide is what posses the finishing problems as anything you put on this will absorb into the MDF. Too much, two fast and you start swelling. If you want to use any type of paint, you will need about 10 coats of heavy primer (first few coats need to be very thin)and even then........ see what I mean. Even my process would cost you about $50 in materials.

 I did one of these on my own in my Bella series and said forget it. Now Bob does all of them for me prior to shipping me the cabinets. Bob uses a very durable two part finish that is very attractive.

 Overall, I think you will enjoy the project and the end product. Should you decide on this speaker, don't overlook very good, sturdy stands. The speaker weighs in at about 40-45 pounds each.

 By the way, I will have pictures of the Bella 2 later this week.