TG "The Loudspeaker" Build (Sort of)

[simon]

Impressively chunky bracing!

I knew they were going to be big but.....

[Morgan Jones]

As you say, they're a bit big. Quite a lot big, actually. I hope they justify their size. I expect they will. I have been trying to persuade the domestic management that washing machine sized loudspeakers are the only way of achieving clean bass but she falls back to the default argument of, "I'm not having that in my living room."

Apropos choosing between T-nuts and inserts, I've given up on both and use large stainless steel self-tapping screws (thread all the way down and constant diameter). I found that T-nuts tend to deform/compress the wood when done up tight (and later loosen),and inserts move. Conversely, the self-tappers distribute their locking force all the way through the wood (no deformation) and there's plenty of friction to prevent loosening. And they're an awful lot easier to fit. Sometimes you can find them with hex heads, which are even easier to use.

[brig001]

these are really big

Wow, you’re not kidding
Enjoying the armchair view of this project, and a bit jealous - live in a flat, so nowhere to build and nowhere to put anything that big

Brian

[simon]

"I'm not having that in my living room."

That sounds familiar...

I have the use of a smallish bedroom at least, but it doubles as my office/storage room. And it's perhaps a bit small for larger speakers. But the biggest challenge is getting the weight of big heavy speakers up the stairs.

[steve s]

Morgan could easily fit those in his room.. but it's what suits your taste.
Some of my larger baffles from a few years ago where quite imposing. But I've now struck a balance I'm happy with..
Those speakers look great by the way
Hope they sound good.. would they make our next owston meet ?

[Morgan Jones]

Morgan could easily fit those in his room..

And that's what hurts. It's not as if big loudspeakers would mean you couldn't stretch your legs out. I knew I should have kept the previous big loudspeakers. I made them upstairs, so I just had to slide their 50kg (in a controlled manner) down the stairs. Getting your monsters up the stairs will be an entirely different challenge. Do the assembly upstairs?

[simon]

Do the assembly upstairs?

Nice idea but fairly impractical I think sadly

[MistyBlue]

Just for a laugh:

MistyTipsTM

“Getting the Green Light”

1. The “Designated Footprint” assertion:

One of the techniques I have used over the years regarding size of speakers, is to reframe the “argument” in terms of the space in the corners of the room that they occupy. That is to say: you have a set footprint of space that is “designated” for the speakers. Whether they are 30 or 300 litres is irrelevant from this point of view. This way, you can argue that it makes little difference on the size, as long as it remains within the designated footprint. Also, consider that dusting a piece of furniture is much easier on the back than driving the oscillations of a heavy vacuum cleaner.

2. The “Covert Analysis” approach:

Another technique is to go furniture shopping/browsing, looking at cabinets, chests of drawers etc, taking special interest (covertly for the moment) of the types of cosmetics that “look nice” etc and “would look really lovely with the xxxxx we have already in the living room”. This way, a) you know how to style and finish your latest project to maximise WAF and b) have a convincing argument with regards to cosmetics, bringing up during negotiations the fact that “when furniture shopping/browsing, I noted that you really liked xxxx and how good it would match xxxx in our living room”. At this point, expect her to smell a rat, so be careful about timing! But with luck, the fact that you have been taking an acute interest in her preferences can go a long way to warming her heart to the idea of some nice new furniture pieces in the home. Nice grilles can go a long way too – the Tannoy Windsors we had being an example:

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Conversely, observe for your entertainment these Lowther back loaded horns I built in 1999 with inadequate tooling and lacking the skill to pull it off properly. Shown here after several years in storage in 2008, are an example of how poor cosmetics / failing to finish can lead to a long-standing suspicion and scepticism about DIY speaker projects from the other member of the household. No love was lost (except for the fond memories of the sound of course) when these went!

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[MistyBlue]

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3. The “Appliance Equity Principle”

Partnerships usually involve compromises and making sure that there is equal distribution of the advantages that are afforded by such arrangements. That large American style fridge freezer towering in the kitchen is a perfect example of an oversized behemoth which happily co inhabits a domestic setting. Your new loudspeaker project couldn’t possibly be as imposing as that…….could it?

4. Bribery:

Using the information gleaned from the “Covert Analysis” exercise above, suggest that a remodelling of the living room could be initiated with new décor that she likes along with new furniture. This will further cement the idea of “joint enterprise” that includes insertion of your latest loudspeaker project into the domestic sphere. This could open up a new world of opportunities (or pain). A word of caution – this could be potentially hazardous to your bank balance.

5. Last resorts:

If all else fails, when you have sold/removed your speakers from the room, and are planning on the next project, put the most pathetic cheap looking bookshelf speakers in the “designated footprint” and then comment persuasively how untidy it looks and that they don’t even hide the wires, and make sure they sound appalling, demonstrating your suffering to her and inflicting a shared lament. Risky, because she might start having plans about another use for the space, but this is where “the nice new pieces of furniture” comes in. Just make sure other DIY projects around the home have been done first!

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Do say: “Exquisite, lovingly handcrafted bespoke furniture pieces that seamlessly integrate into the home décor, enhancing the harmony and wellbeing of the occupants”.

Don’t say: “I’m going to lash up some plain MDF prototypes for extended audition before making the final pair.”

Disclaimer: Information provided used at own risk. I will accept no liability whatsoever, ever.

Your experience may differ.

I admittedly have the ultimate gotcha in that I can point out that her bass rig is enormous, and any objection is unreasonable and unfair! (Appliance Equity Principle).

[simon]

Yeah, still not going to happen . We did reach a compromise though - we have no visible speakers in the lounge.

Those Lowther horns look much better from a distance...

[steve s]

Talking about lowthers this was the last I made in the 90s

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[MistyBlue]

Those are awesome!

Are those firing upwards into the corners?

[steve s]

Yes they where my 3rd build, most people around here heard them.

Brilliant mids in my opinion but I moved on..

[MistyBlue]

Those speakers look great by the way
Hope they sound good.. would they make our next owston meet ?

Thanks Steve.

I did notice you guys have a regular get together up there. It sounds very interesting and would be a great opportunity to meet some of you guys and see what you’ve been up to. I wouldn’t want to impose though and turn up without an invite, especially as it would be quite an undertaking for us given our location. Although we have done “Northern Expeditions” to Shildon for the machine tools in the last couple of years.

[Morgan Jones]

I am hugely impressed by the deviousness of the "Getting the Green Light" post. Have you considered PR for a political party? Despite its tongue-in-cheekness, I may have to steal some ideas from there. Whether they will work is another matter.

As to the Lowthers, Steve's Lowthers were pure sculpture. Whilst I can admire the acoustical engineering of the Domestic Disasters, they were, by any standards, pig-ugly. Even a splash of Hammerite paint would have transformed them. Mental note: Don't try poorly finished prototypes for domestic experiments because management simply doesn't appreciate the engineering, only the finish. I'm beginning to think that the lab needs bass bins using the 18" PD184 Precision Devices drivers (still unpacked), which could perhaps then be tried downstairs after management has "inadvertently" heard them working.

Shildon machine tools?