NeilT's OB7 build

NeilT · « **Reply #20 on:** 28 Aug 2010, 07:25 pm »

More build pics.
Making the grills, used 1/2 Baltic Birch ply.

Crossover smoke testing

More crossover pics.

Slot cutting to recess wires

I used wipe on poly from General Finishes, lost track of how many coats.
Definitely the hardest and most frustrating part of the project.

The final product

With grills

With matching servo sub.

After 3 weeks of listening, I am still blown away by how good these sound.
More in a later post.
Neil

poseidonsvoice · « **Reply #21 on:** 28 Aug 2010, 07:40 pm »

Anand.

Nick77 · « **Reply #22 on:** 28 Aug 2010, 07:49 pm »

Awesome!! Thats some attention to detail, welcome to the club.

Is that a 15" Servo??

corndog71 · « **Reply #23 on:** 28 Aug 2010, 07:55 pm »

Absolutely gorgeous.

newportcycle · « **Reply #24 on:** 28 Aug 2010, 09:46 pm »

Absolutely Fantastic. Nice job.

Danny Richie · « **Reply #25 on:** 28 Aug 2010, 10:09 pm »

Wow, nice job!

mcgsxr · « **Reply #26 on:** 28 Aug 2010, 10:10 pm »

I think the word WOW is used often - in this case, it is clearly appropriate. Nice work!

Bill Baker · « **Reply #27 on:** 28 Aug 2010, 10:58 pm »

I would have to say those are the absolute best looking OB's (5's or 7's) I have seen to date. Simply stunning.

PDR · « **Reply #28 on:** 29 Aug 2010, 12:25 am »

ok......I cant say wow....

Those are absolutely beautiful......I wish I could hear a set of 7s...

Think I will have to settle for one of the X-statiks.....I know theyre not in the same league

Did I say they were beautiful?.....should of said stunning...

I envy your skills....

devste · « **Reply #29 on:** 29 Aug 2010, 01:20 am »

WoW!!

Those are gorgeous.

I hope you get to enjoy those for a long time.

mms3 · « **Reply #30 on:** 29 Aug 2010, 01:23 am »

Very nice work!

jeffh · « **Reply #31 on:** 29 Aug 2010, 03:16 am »

Those speakers look great. I really like the way you hid the wires.

Outofthewoods · « **Reply #32 on:** 29 Aug 2010, 03:39 am »

Nicely done!

NeilT · « **Reply #33 on:** 29 Aug 2010, 04:22 pm »

"WOW" thanks for all the compliments, these speakers are amazing. The N2X demos gave me the push to go ahead and pull the OB7 trigger. The OB are exceeding by leaps and bounds, all my expectations. During the build, I wondered about the return on my investment of time, sweet and blood, ( I actually put a nice slice in my finger from a very sharp up cut spiral bit ). Anyway, long story short, I am very happy. I have been knocking the dust off of my old CD's, and can not believe what I am hearing. The speakers just disappear, and sound seems to come from behind them. Hearing the details of all the individual instruments is fun. Half the time I do not even run the sub, early mornings while the family is sleeping. They even come alive at very low volumes, with my old speakers, I always was cranking them up, to try and get some kind of life out of them. With the OB's, it is just the opposite.

Quote from: Nick77 on 28 Aug 2010, 07:49 pm

Is that a 15" Servo??

They blend very well with the 15" Rythmik servo.
I am able to cross it over in the low 50's, and the slam feels like it is coming from the OB's. The M130X upgrade was worth it, they really cover the mid bass, tight and controlled.

Quote from: jeffh on 29 Aug 2010, 03:16 am

Those speakers look great. I really like the way you hid the wires.

That was an after thought, at first I just tried to tuck them in around the speaker, Danny said that was not a good idea soundwise. So I bought the 1/4 by 1/4 inch slot cutter.

Quote from: PDR on 29 Aug 2010, 12:25 am

Those are absolutely beautiful......I wish I could hear a set of 7s...
Think I will have to settle for one of the X-statiks.....I know they're not in the same league

I don't suppose you live on the west coast?
I am real curious about a comparison of the X-statiks to the N2's and the OB's.
I am thinking about taking advantage of Danny's killer deals coming up.

Anybody on the fence about getting some OB7's, I don't think you will be disappointed.

Thanks again for all the "Wow's" and compliments
Neil

jdbrian · « **Reply #34 on:** 31 Aug 2010, 11:50 am »

Hi Neil

Your 7's turned out fantastic!

I have found that getting mine 5' or more from the back wall has increased the depth and width of the soundstage. I am in a narrow (12.5ft) room so that may be why. I am curious to know how you have them positioned and what you observe from experimenting with positioning.
I have the woofer upgrade with the bass comp. network but I find that I don't need to use the network in my room. I often listen to mine without the subs and the sound is full and balanced just lacking that last octave of bass and the ambience that a sub can add. I have mine toed in slightly so I am listening about 10 degrees off access. I had found them a bit too crisp for me when pointed straight at me. I have since upgraded from a Rotel pre/power amp to a Wyred4sound STI 500.
The 500 is much more refined and not harsh like the Rotels so maybe I can try toeing them in again.
I find percussion instruments are a strong point for these. I was playing Patricia Barbers Companion the other night and they do a live version of Black Magic Woman that gave me goose bumps. Let me know if you have any set up tips that have worked for you.

Brian

ebag4 · « **Reply #35 on:** 31 Aug 2010, 01:03 pm »

Beautiful work, great attention to detail, furniture quality...just outstanding!

Best,
Ed

mumbles · « **Reply #36 on:** 31 Aug 2010, 10:43 pm »

You certainly deserve all the high fives.
What did it for me was the way you hid the wiring. That put you in a whole other league!
Thanks for sharing you enjoyment It is inspiring. ( As I do have an unfinished kit}
Concerning time spent and money. Personally what you did is beyond a price tag.

NeilT · « **Reply #37 on:** 1 Sep 2010, 12:42 am »

Thanks again for all of the positive, over the top, comments.

Quote from: jdbrian on 31 Aug 2010, 11:50 am

Hi Neil

Your 7's turned out fantastic! I have found that getting mine 5' or more from the back wall has increased the depth and width of the soundstage. I am in a narrow (12.5ft) room so that may be why. I am curious to know how you have them positioned and what you observe from experimenting with positioning.
I have the woofer upgrade with the bass comp. network but I find that I don't need to use the network in my room. I often listen to mine without the subs and the sound is full and balanced just lacking that last octave of bass and the ambience that a sub can add. I have mine toed in slightly so I am listening about 10 degrees off access. I had found them a bit too crisp for me when pointed straight at me. I have since upgraded from a Rotel pre/power amp to a Wyred4sound STI 500.
The 500 is much more refined and not harsh like the Rotels so maybe I can try toeing them in again.
I find percussion instruments are a strong point for these. I was playing Patricia Barbers Companion the other night and they do a live version of Black Magic Woman that gave me goose bumps. Let me know if you have any set up tips that have worked for you.

Brian

Thanks Brian, I am still experimenting with positioning. How long until you felt your's were broken in?
I may end up upgrading my upstream gear, but need to wait out the break-in. Interesting about your Rotel gear being harsh. I am using a comparable SS pre/amp combo. It seems the common path among AC folks is away from this kind of gear. Any opinions or comments on Anthem TLP1 pre and their A2 amp?
The percussion, I agree, is a strong point and something my old speakers were missing.

Quote from: mumbles on 31 Aug 2010, 10:43 pm

Thanks for sharing you enjoyment It is inspiring. ( As I do have an unfinished kit}
Concerning time spent and money. Personally what you did is beyond a price tag.

Thanks and make sure you post build pics of your project.
I'm sure that most of us really enjoy this part of AC

Quote from: ebag4 on 31 Aug 2010, 01:03 pm

Beautiful work, great attention to detail, furniture quality...just outstanding!

Best,
Ed

Thanks Ed, I really have enjoyed your build posts.

skeeter99 · « **Reply #38 on:** 1 Sep 2010, 02:26 pm »

Everyone else said, WOW so I'm gonna say something different. Great Googily Moogily

Seriously, though, that is some amazing woodworking skills! I REALLY love how the wires are all hidden. It looks better than most professionally built speakers. Absolutely stunning work and I'm sure they sound even better than they look

Scott

EDIT: I wanted to add, those are the best looking grills I have ever seen. They are absolutely svelt and don't look like an afterthought. I actually like the speakers better with the grills on; not because your woodworking doesn't look good, but because those grills look THAT good! Nicely done ...

NeilT · « **Reply #39 on:** 1 Sep 2010, 04:17 pm »

Quote from: skeeter99 on 1 Sep 2010, 02:26 pm

Everyone else said, WOW so I'm gonna say something different. Great Googily Moogily

Seriously, though, that is some amazing woodworking skills! I REALLY love how the wires are all hidden. It looks better than most professionally built speakers. Absolutely stunning work and I'm sure they sound even better than they look

Scott

EDIT: I wanted to add, those are the best looking grills I have ever seen. They are absolutely svelt and don't look like an afterthought. I actually like the speakers better with the grills on; not because your woodworking doesn't look good, but because those grills look THAT good! Nicely done ...

Thanks a bunch Scott,
I really liked jdbrian's OB7's build with grills, and I figured that I would probably never go back and do it after they were up and running.
They are a huge component of the WAF.
Neil