Just throwing this out there ...

Vapor Audio · « **on:** 26 Jun 2008, 01:52 am »

Hey guys, I've been working a lot lately on a design for RMAF. I'm going to have cabinets CNC cut, and the construction will be incredibly solid ... far better than typical enclosures, even better 1.5" thick MDF boxes with tons of bracing. The neat thing about it is the enclosures will be completely 'modular', meaning I'll be able to turn the pieces into anything from a mini-monitor to a big floorstander. I don't yet know the exact cost of enclosures, but they'll be reasonable - especially considering the level of quality.

What I'm offering is good for local guys only. I'd like to meet in person, get a good feel for what it is exactly you want, and hopefully even see your listening room. I'm talking about building speakers according to your taste, using this modular enclosure design I'm talking about as the basis. Any drivers are possible, and I have a ton here to choose from that could be offered at very good prices. I'd estimate the cheapest I could possibly build something would be around $600-$700, and the sky's the limit. About the only limitation of the cabinets will be the baffle will accomodate at largest a 7" driver, possibly a truncated frame 8".

Quite honestly I don't want to make any money building at this stage, I want more experience BEFORE I try to launch a commercially available design. I just wanted to post this up and see where it goes. Feel free to post questions here or private message me. I have CAD drawings of the cabinets, but not quite ready to show that in public yet ... I could show and explain in private though if you're interested.

Vapor Audio · « **Reply #1 on:** 26 Jun 2008, 04:55 pm »

I've had a few out of towners write asking if they could get in on this. I just wanted to explain why the answer is no.

Right now I'm trying to get some more builds and experience under my belt before trying to make a career out of speaker building. The best way to do that is with local guys who I can meet in person throughout the build process and afterward. Also if there's a problem to fix after, I can pick them up in person. Messing with shipping is not something I want to do at this stage. But the biggest reason is I want feedback - lots of it - and I think the locals will be best and honestly telling me what they like or don't.

BTW, if I build something, you bring it home and it's not exactly what you're looking for I will tweak it for you. Let's say you're looking for something laid-back, but what I deliver is a bit too forward. I'll bring it back home, make some voicing changes, and get it back to you.

And wait a couple days for renderings of the cabinet, it might even be today I get a rendering ready to show

... just trying to answer in public some of the private questions I've had

opnly bafld · « **Reply #2 on:** 26 Jun 2008, 05:16 pm »

Is a larger side-firing woofer possible?

Vapor Audio · « **Reply #3 on:** 26 Jun 2008, 05:26 pm »

Quote from: opnly bafld on 26 Jun 2008, 05:16 pm

Is a larger side-firing woofer possible?

No, the cabs will have complex curved sides, kinda like an upside down ?

The baffle should accomodate a truncated frame 8" though, like a Peerless Exclusive 8". Regular round frame 8's might work with creative use of the router

RSquires · « **Reply #4 on:** 26 Jun 2008, 06:25 pm »

Ryan,

I would be interested in looking at what you have at this point. Send me a PM so we can set it up.

Thanks,

Rick

Vapor Audio · « **Reply #5 on:** 27 Jun 2008, 05:25 pm »

Here's a little taste of what the cab will look like, a slice with bracing and one without ... just imagine them stacked to be however high you're looking for. Hmm, but what are the holes and grooves in the wall for? I'm not telling just yet

Vapor Audio · « **Reply #6 on:** 1 Jul 2008, 04:42 pm »

Making good progress, got the quote back from the CNC and the price is just what I was hoping it would be. He's going to start cutting tomorrow, I'll probably have some finished cabs by mid next week.

Vapor Audio · « **Reply #7 on:** 12 Jul 2008, 05:00 am »

Check it out guys (I feel like I'm talking to myself). First run of a sheet of premium grade void-free Baltic Birch ply through the CNC. Can you see the makings of an ideal monitor design? I can

Vapor Audio · « **Reply #8 on:** 15 Jul 2008, 11:22 pm »

Still talking to myself ...

Vapor Audio · « **Reply #9 on:** 15 Jul 2008, 11:53 pm »

Quote from: Marbles on 15 Jul 2008, 11:34 pm

Looks interesting..what drivers you going to use?

Well, I have a basement FULL of drivers to evaluate. One near certain configuration will be the new (and spectacular) RAAL 70-20XR ribbon and an AudioTechnology woofer. Driver costs alone would be about $1500 for a pair of speakers, so that config would have to be $2200 at least. My plan is to use this as a foundation for an array of designs, I'm even planning an open baffle version and one using custom milled waveguides ... or both! I also want to offer a 2-way bookshelf with this construction for under $1000/pair and still use high-end drivers, maybe something like a HiVi D6.8 woofer and the new Seas DXT tweeter.

There's really a lot I can do with this, demand will be the only determinant.

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #10 on:** 16 Jul 2008, 12:40 am »

Are you ready to fill us in on what the holes and grooves are for?

Vapor Audio · « **Reply #11 on:** 16 Jul 2008, 01:19 am »

Quote from: Ericus Rex on 16 Jul 2008, 12:40 am

Are you ready to fill us in on what the holes and grooves are for?

Haha, nope

not just yet. They'll both serve very real functions though.

S Clark · « **Reply #12 on:** 16 Jul 2008, 05:21 am »

Now THAT is very cool. I am eager to see what you come up with!

Vapor Audio · « **Reply #13 on:** 16 Jul 2008, 06:18 pm »

Quote from: S Clark on 16 Jul 2008, 05:21 am

Now THAT is very cool. I am eager to see what you come up with!

Thanks, I'm eager to see what I come up with too

One other note, every design I do with these will have external crossovers. But it won't be a separate outside box. Instead there will be a false floor, then a couple more slices below the driver chamber, and a separate chamber to hold the crossover. It'll be easily accessed without tools, and all point to point wired with 'quality' components.

mcullinan · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 Jul 2008, 06:22 pm »

Sweet dude. How much for a silk dome tweet and good paper woof.
Mike

Vapor Audio · « **Reply #15 on:** 16 Jul 2008, 06:27 pm »

Quote from: mcullinan on 16 Jul 2008, 06:22 pm

Sweet dude. How much for a silk dome tweet and good paper woof.
Mike

Of course nothing is firm yet, still some pricing variables to work out ... but my hope is to have an entry level version just like you describe for under $900/pair.

bpape · « **Reply #16 on:** 16 Jul 2008, 07:12 pm »

While I just spent my speaker budget and then some on some classic Acoustats, I'd love to hear some of your designs Ryan. I really wanna hear that RAL tweeter.

Bryan

Vapor Audio · « **Reply #17 on:** 16 Jul 2008, 07:51 pm »

Quote from: bpape on 16 Jul 2008, 07:12 pm

While I just spent my speaker budget and then some on some classic Acoustats, I'd love to hear some of your designs Ryan. I really wanna hear that RAL tweeter.

Bryan

Ooh, cool ... which ones did you get? So are these replacing the Dyn's?

I figured your house would be one of the first stops on my 'design voicing' tour, rolling through St Louis summer 2008

bpape · « **Reply #18 on:** 16 Jul 2008, 10:30 pm »

I bought a pair of Monitor 4's. Am going to send the amps off for a complete rebuild/update so head over soon if you wanna hear them before Christmas.

They're probably going to end up in the downstairs room and the Dyns will come upstairs to the living room.

Bryan

Vapor Audio · « **Reply #19 on:** 17 Jul 2008, 12:06 am »

Quote from: bpape on 16 Jul 2008, 10:30 pm

I bought a pair of Monitor 4's. Am going to send the amps off for a complete rebuild/update so head over soon if you wanna hear them before Christmas.

They're probably going to end up in the downstairs room and the Dyns will come upstairs to the living room.

Bryan

I could swing by tomorrow, or early next week sometime ... I'd love to hear those!