Big DIY speakers are finally finished

Wardsweb · « **on:** 22 Jan 2010, 05:05 am »

Here they are completed in my living room. The project actually started back in 2006. They've been playing since then but in raw MDF and Baltic birch. I finally got around to veneering them in sapele pommele last month.

Wardsweb · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 Jan 2010, 05:07 am »

Here is a closeup of one. Altec 511B horn fitted with an Altec 802-8G driver, JBL 077 tweeter and JBL 2235H woofer.

Wardsweb · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 Jan 2010, 05:08 am »

A little bit on construction. Here is the frame and baffle board before the sides went on.

Wardsweb · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Jan 2010, 05:09 am »

Here you see the sides are made up of four layers of kerf MDF. The slots are filled with glass beads used in bead blasting.

Wardsweb · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Jan 2010, 05:11 am »

I machined the billet feet from 6061 bar stock.

dB Cooper · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 Jan 2010, 05:12 am »

WOW, nice job.....

TomW16 · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 Jan 2010, 05:18 am »

Congratulations. They look great.

arthurs · « **Reply #7 on:** 22 Jan 2010, 05:22 am »

Unbelievably beautiful, how do they sound? Congrats!

Wardsweb · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 Jan 2010, 05:26 am »

Quote from: arthurs on 22 Jan 2010, 05:22 am

Unbelievably beautiful, how do they sound? Congrats!

Now you know I'm going to be biased on that question. These speakers are years in the making and a couple versions before getting what I wanted. They have the bottom end that can do justice to a pipe organ with all the stops out in full cresendo. They have a liquid mid range that gives you every nuance of detail. Then the high end is crisp and gives me the "sizzle" that was looking for. They can play low volume and lull you to nirvana or throw the power to them and they can rock the house and shake the walls. Yes, I had to build the speakers I wanted when I could not find or afford ones in the marketplace that gave me everything I wanted.

WGH · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 Jan 2010, 05:28 am »

Very nice! They make your amps look small.

arthurs · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 Jan 2010, 05:31 am »

Quote from: Wardsweb on 22 Jan 2010, 05:26 am

Now you know I'm going to be biased on that question. These speakers are years in the making and a couple versions before getting what I wanted. They have the bottom end that can do justice to a pipe organ with all the stops out in full cresendo. They have a liquid mid range that gives you every nuance of detail. Then the high end is crisp and gives me the "sizzle" that was looking for. They can play low volume and lull you to nirvana or throw the power to them and they can rock the house and shake the walls. Yes, I had to build the speakers I wanted when I could not find or afford ones in the marketplace that gave me everything I wanted.

You've earned that bias sir, outstanding! I'd love to hear them sometime....