Fun Weekend Project

by Bendrr 3 Replies latest jw friends

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  Bendrr

  So what is everyone doing this Labor Day weekend?

  I'm building some new speakers for my home theatre system. The one in the pic started out as a speaker for the shop where I work. I decided to treat the guys to a real shop radio instead of the crappy one we've been nursing along for the last year. So I started with a low-end Teac stereo receiver and built a pair of loudspeakers using JBL 6x9's. They sound great and the bass is incredible. (much to the delight of the rap fans at work). But the receiver needs 8-ohm speakers and the 6x9's are 4-ohm which will overheat the receiver. So I built a pair of loudspeaker cabinets that have 2 6x9's each, wired in series to give an 8-ohm load. I used Sony X-Plod 6x9's and when I finished them yesterday I liked them so much I took them home to use on my own system, promising to build another pair for the shop soon.

  I figured while I was at it, go ahead and build some new surround speakers and a pair of subwoofers. Here's a pic of one of the Sony speakers I built and more pics will be up soon.
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  onacruse

  Shouldn't we all be working on a Quick-Build this weekend????

  hehe
• 

  imanaliento

  I've been checking out the sales, spent $60 on x-mas lights saving $150. they were all 75% off!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• 

  Bendrr

  The speaker project was a "quick-build", Onacruse. Got the MDF cut this morning at Home Depot and spent the day assembling the enclosures. Totally out of batteries for the camera so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to post pics.

  Now in addition to the pair of Sony X-Plod front channel speakers (like the one in the picture) I also have two subwoofers and two remodeled surround channel speakers. The surrounds took some work. They stand 49" tall and house [each] an 8" woofer, two 5" mids, and 1 1" tweeter. All Pioneer drivers I already had on hand. However I'm thinking of designing some new surround channels that will use Sony X-Plod 6 1/2" 3-ways to complement the 6x9 front channels. You may say I've totally "rednecked" up my home theatre system, but actually it sounds much better than the store-bought speakers I've been using.

  All that's left now is to finish the cosmetics. A little wood filler putty here and there, some sanding and primering, and then several coats of gloss black and a couple of coats of gloss clear-coat. (Maybe pearl clear-coat?) And some of that expanding spray insulation to fill the bottoms of the surround channel speakers so I can tighten up the bass. (in other words, what started as a Labor Day weekend project is going to take much longer)

  I've got everything hooked up and have been testing the new speakers extensively. Various music on the digital cable music channels, DVD's (Superman and Blade so far, working on Batman). Too bad I didn't have it all hooked up in time for the NASCAR race. NASCAR totally rocks in surround sound.

  Gotta go now and finish watching Batman. Then either U.S. Marshalls or Clear and Present Danger.

  Col J.R. "Bendrr" Brown, Surround Sound Dept.