Car audio at home!

[HCVP]

So after spending quite a bit of time researching, and when possible auditioning home audio gear, i've decided to build my own. I was originally after set of "bookshelf" style speakers, to use in my computer room, but after listening to different offreings around the $600-700 mark, i wasn't impressed by anything i had heard, or come across.

I will begin building the enclosures this week, which will consist of, 2 set's of Audio development AD6 splits, combining both the woofers, and a single tweeter, per enclosure. Each woofer will be in a sealed separate chamber, will be fiberglass resined, and sound dampened. Once complete, they will be run of a Behringer EP2000 amplifier, with a Behringer X PRO CX2310 crossover.

Pics to be added throughout the build.

[Uber_Flacky]

Sounds good mate keep us posted

[Joe Bellissimo]

Damn that will be loud...

[HCVP]

Damn that will be loud...

Well i hope so
Pictures added of some of the gear i will be using, my amp and crossover unit most likely won't arrive until after Xmas time...

[Joe Bellissimo]

Get it done NOW!

[HCVP]

Be patient Joe lol, first i need to find some where that does laser etching of MDF, for that "real wood" effect..

[Joe Bellissimo]

hehehe, use wood

[HCVP]

1kg resin added to each enclosue..
Once it's completely set, i'll sand it back flat, and begin adding the dampening.

[HCVP]

Alrighty, i went into Jaycar today, and grabbed some accoustic absorbing foam panels. They weren't exactly what i was after, but they were only for the point of testing, and i was able to get them for less than half price.

I loosely layed the foam in one chamber, and left the other one empty. I set each woofer up left to right, so i could switch back and forth, and make comparisons. The difference was unbeleivable. The empty chamber, had a kind of hollow sound, almost carrying an echo. As soon as i switched to the dampened chamber, the sound instantly tightened up. I'm so happy with the improvement it made, that i'm going to purchase enough of the foam to do the remainder of the enclosures, and i won't worry about testing any other types.

At this stage, i only wired a single woofer into each channel. I didn't bother with crossover's or tweeters, but it's looking very promising. I walked out of the room, and my girlfriend said "if your going to do that, can you make sure the door is closed"
Umm..........it was closed lol...

[Philthy]

Looking good! I've been keeping an eye on this one for a while now. They are going to make some amazing speakers once they are finished

[Joe Bellissimo]

And something that no one else would have too!

[HCVP]

Finally got the sound absorbtion panels in today, after trying 3 different types of adhesive ending becoming a little messy, as with most adhesives,but not to worry it. This was the stuff i used Sound Absorbing Acoustic Tiles - 25mm - Pair - Jaycar Electronics maybe it's not really intended for what i'm using it for, but it does the job, very well. I was a bit concerned that i'm loosing too much enclosure space, because it's so thick, but as a trade off i'm getting superior dampening, so i'm not too worried about it. I can't lay the remainder in, until i cut the terminal holes at the back.

I have a fair bit of work to do to the baffles, their going to be the most time consuming part. End result will be to have the enclosures filled, rounded off, and professionally painted in gloss, colour undecided yet...Which will most likely be sometime after new years, as most places are closed at the moment up this way

[Joe Bellissimo]

I think I'm going to build some too...

I think I will visit you when I'm up there to have a look at these.

[HCVP]

You gonna drive the Lancer up lol?

[Philthy]

You've convinced me. Once I finish the 10" 3-ways I'm working on atm, I'm going for some splits as bookshelf speakers as well

[HCVP]

Why would you need bookshelf's if you have 3ways, especially ones with 10's?
I suggest making sure you have a decent amp if your going to look at using a decent set of speakers designed for car audio use. The ohm rating isn't friendly for your typical home amp

[Philthy]

Different rooms. The 3-ways would be for the lounge/back room, and the bookshelves for my bedroom. As far as amps go, I think I have enough lying around to do the job. I somehow have a talent for aquiring broken stereo gear and managing to fix some of it up

[vk.jonno]

see u have a tony kart

[HCVP]

see u have a tony kart

There's 4 of them, my borthers. Pisses me off too, because i have no space to work anywhere lol

[HCVP]

More pictures, coming along. Terminals $60 ouch!! baffles are almost complete, i'm deciding whether i want to route around the speakers so that they fit flush. Depends whether it makes an audible difference or not, i need to do some researching. Otherwise i won't bother as they will be covered by grills. Hurry up New years break, so i can drop them off the be painted

I just found out that my amp is still about 3 weeks away

[Joe Bellissimo]

bloody ad tweets look sweet there..

[HCVP]

Yes, they were many hours work..

[HCVP]

Well, one finished , the other one should be done soon. I just need to practice some soldering, before i go making all my final connections. Should look fairly nice once their painted.
Not sure if you can make out the chrome feet under them?

[Joe Bellissimo]

hawt... thats hawt

[HCVP]

i just realised that i've been building these for over a month, and i'm still not finished lol, i'm such a slack arse! It feels like i've ben filling and sanding for weeks, but i'm also there. I took some time out from all the sanding , to make up some grills.