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Well it's done. This is not a 45 minute project by any streach of the imagination. Still needs fine-tuning, but here's what I have to say:
Snap! Yea, snap as in startling transients. Dynamic range has increased. Like everyone elce who has gone before me, the amp seems to have become a beast of power- kept having to turn the gain down and down compared to what it regularly runs at. More natural sound to voices.
Downside? The bass will not be improved by these things (you knew that, right?) but, the bass will be louder. Hell, everything will be louder. Now I will definately need to make the DIY basstraps. The
early reports said to take all other room treatments out of the room,
but that thinking has been amended somewhat.
Building hints; unless you have a Drillpress and a Beltsander the 3-MDF Board-Base can be a pain in the ass (and legs and arms) Better to go with the vinyal cement route for the base, mabey using a plastic rectangular planter as the form- will give better stability & cheaper too.
For the tubes remember these are 2 3/8" outside diameter, 2" inside diameter. Shop people will allways refer to the inside diameter. Ignore early post and projects that refered to the tubes as 2 1/2"
outside diameter. If making in white, experiment with removing the markings on the tubes, perhaps babyoil or turpentine can be used.
At the store the tubes will come in 10' sections to be cut in half.
They will cut the tubes for you, but, be sure to mark exactly where they should cut, don't let them eyeball it.
There is a good reason people never paint MDF, it's because it's a paint sponge and doesn't paint-up very well.
You can use long brass screws for spikes, but don't forget to tap space for the screw head and 1/4"-1/2" for adjusting the screw up or down for leveling.
Of course you have a T.V. between your speakers, that is why you will be making two to flank both sides of the T.V./Stand, in addition to the outside pair. Set plenty of time aside to read the post when doing the initial search.
For you guys who are thinking of getting a more powerfull amp because your good-sounding amp isn't pushing SPL's enough...hold off, do this project first before junking that fine amp. For people who are fence-sitting, this is THE DIY project- noting elce will make as much difference in your sound for so little money. How big a difference?
Like going from transistors to mother tubes. Like going from budget speakers to $2500. jobbies. Big difference. Your mileage may vary.
Good luck
Erational you are right, I did the base using regular wood but the
2 3/8" diameter is an irregular one and I don't have all the hardware needed to do the holes( in a perfect way). So I went to a friends woodworkshop and ask him to do the bases.He wasn't there but her wife took the paper with my indications and I called him at night. "use your wood leftovers" I said. He called me in two days to pass and see, "wow those base(tops and bottoms) are gorgeous". He used a local wood with a texture and colors incredible, like a piece of art. Being a craftman very proud of his work, I should realize what was happening. He paint the woods with a clear paint and sealed them. The holes were done in a benchdrill and finished by hand. The PVC tubes are real tight and with the side inclination I asked(the original RL are inclined at the sides and the center is straight). When you look from the sides, they are in line (you only see the front tube and in a 90*). The base is stable and the top fixed the PVC in line, too.Total cost I asked, "$40" he said, "wow they look great for that money " I thought, NO!!! each one he said later. Don't tell my wife or she will kill me. $120 for the bases + the PVC and other things = nearly $200. I have a headache!
BUT, what the heck. He ask $80 ( $40 paint/ $40 job ) for painting them with an special paint that looks like granite with some particles. Remember he is a proffesional craftman. ME, well I'm thinking in decorative contact paper -$6.00 worth will do it.
I havn't use them jet but as soon as our group gather again ( a few inmates that are neighbors) we will report our experiences.
The prototype I used before make a difference in the sense of bigger soundstage. I heard an increase in volume, as you report, and more air, space and definition on voices.
Next time , I will ask before....
Jose.
Some additional thoughts on materials and construction. Just added some marble floor tiles under the the 2 1/2" brass scews for additional Room Lens and Marital stability. Marble comes in so many colors incorprating black and/or white that, that in either project color will work.
Getting the lettering off the tubes. Used Paint Stripper jell and it came off in a snap.
May make a MK II due to my half-assed paint job. MDF Base alternative to vinyal cement/form would be white pre-made MDF shelving cut into correct size, or, cutting/glueing the formica myself.
Past post indicated possible use of plexiglass (Perspex 4 u Britts) This would be a time-consuming,
but striking project in Smoke-colored plexiglass with the black tubes. If I make a MK II ,may very well just clean and laquer the tubes- sans paint.
Remeber above all elce that these puppies cost $430. each in the stores.
I didn't paint mine - I sanded the lettering off with very fine wet and dry, which also got rid of a lot of the ingrained grime (I'll remember your paint stripper - sounds easier) then used one of the automotive PVC clean and polish products and buffed them up. You get a nice, soft sheen that looks quite nice and a lot different to the unpolished colour.David Aiken
Thanks for the great feedback. How is the WAF?
Oh, you had to ask about the WAFF,. The wife said "They look like Roman columns from a school play." We are at some detante' right now where she allows me to keep them in the living room, but not in prime location. FYI the white is a smart move in that they blend better with the walls-ie: increased wife acceptance factor. When I asked her if she would rather they be in black, you should have seen
the look I got. Not pretty.
Forget about WAF - we had a friend who runs an art gallery drop in the other day. He'd heard my wife talking about mine but hadn't seen them. He commented that he thought they really "added to the room" and looked "interesting". I think my wife was underwhelmed, and he's more her friend than mine.David Aiken
Thanks guys, at least I know what I'm getting into. On the positive side the WAF worked well for my Arccici stand - she didn't care about the sound or the cost, it looks good.
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