Las Cuatro Amigas

[numberoneoppa]

So I'm finally working on my next DIY project (not including rebuilding my OS), and it's Paul's Amigas. I'm building two pair at once - once for my friend and one for my uncle.



I've got about half of the MDF cut so far. I'm going to call some countering places to see if I can get some granite plinths made, too. Should be neat. One pair will be finished with Mahogany stained and with glossy poly. The other pair will have Walnut with a satin finish.

I have an important question for Paul:
It doesn't show on the diagram, but does the Amiga have the same internal shelf as the TRS-80?

And here's an important question for everybody. How is the best way to do driver cutouts when veneering? I was thinking of doing the small diameter hole for everything before veneering and then doing the counter-bore with a rabbeting bit after veneering. Is there a better way?

More pics to come, should get a bit of work done this week.

[fjhuerta]

Just a comment - it should be "Las Cuatro Amigas"

[numberoneoppa]

Just a comment - it should be "Las Cuatro Amigas"

Fixed! :P

[Undefinition]

I've been having a lot of questions about the Amiga/TRS-80/ZX Spectrum enclosures (I actually call them the "Commodores" :W) So I finally decided to do a model of my cabinet in SketchUp. What you see here is my cabinet EXACTLY. I'm not saying people have to do it JUST like this, but hopefully it should clear up some confusion.

The "removable shelf" happens if I cover up the holes in the windowpane brace at the bottom. Most of the time, I like to run the drivers full-bore, which means no shelf. HOWEVER, the windowpane brace always remains in the cabinet. With these long walls, these cabinets need as much bracing as they can get.

I hope this makes sense. If there's something I could do have it make more sense, let me know.

[numberoneoppa]

Perfect sense. Thanks. The way I plan on building these won't be with removable baffles. You think I should build it shelf-less?

[numberoneoppa]

Some progress (on one of the pairs) - I've been working non-stop since yesterday morning and wow, I am really sore from all of the work.








Currently veneering! Notice the removable bottom.

edit: moar pics

[Operandi]

Looking good!

[numberoneoppa]

Thanks, Operandi.

Here are the finished crossovers. Still debating on how I want to mount them to the bottom of the speaker, though. Screws or velcro... would need velcro first.

Pictures taken with cell phone... Not amazing quality.






Also came into the issue of removing the veneer from where the vent/driver cutouts are. I think my uncle has a router (currently with speakers on vacation, where they will be delivered, router/tools left at home).

[bigbardmusiq]

Very nice work! attention to detail! :T

[numberoneoppa]

Thanks a lot! Currently waiting on UPS to deliver the cabinets to me up here in chicago so I can finish everything up on the first pair!

[numberoneoppa]

Alright, well the UPS man has delivered my speakers and although it seems they didn't see the 7 FRAGILE stamps on it, I've made some progress. Here's one speaker with one coat of Danish Oil as well as one of the granite slabs I'm going to be using for a plinth/base.




edit: okay, making holes in granite is no easy feat. will look for a diamond encrusted bit at the tool store on Sunday... Until then, no granite. :P

[Undefinition]

Damn. Those are gonna look good! Definitely giving Totem Acoustic a run for their money.

[numberoneoppa]

Oh, Paul, you're making me blush! Thanks a lot, man, and Merry Christmas (to everyone)!

[numberoneoppa]

Some updates. One tower is done, doing the wiring on the other now.









^I'll get some better images soon. The light is low in the basement.

[Silver1omo]

looking really good!

[numberoneoppa]

^Thanks a lot!

Well, here we have it. The finished pair. One pair down, and one to go. Also, a picture of me struggling with a dremel tool. (I used diamond abrasive tips to make holes in the granite for the spikes to sit in).

[Operandi]

Very classy looking! I really like how the dark granite compliments the RS woofers. Also, nice touch with the plexi mounting plate for the binding posts. It could be fine but you might want more than four screws to ensure you don't get any leaks.

Looking very good and looking forward to your listening impressions.

[numberoneoppa]

Thanks Operandi. Not too worried about leaks as it is a vented systen. :-)

[Johnloudb]

You still got to worry about leaks, as far as I know. You don't want to lose energy out of leaks and leaks change the system. Just put a thin bead of clear silicone sealant on the pexi-glass.

BTW, very pretty speaker build! Nice Job.

[Undefinition]

Thanks Operandi. Not too worried about leaks as it is a vented systen. :-)

You are correct. Only once did I have issues with leaks on a vented speaker. It was a sub, and I heard a "chuffing"-type sound around some of the joints. But I was driving it as hard as possible. You can try the same test, run some LOW sine waves (30-40 Hz) as loud as you can without breaching xmax. If you hear chuffing, then the leak is a problem. Otherwise, don't sweat it.

[numberoneoppa]

Thanks, John and Paul. I'll run some stuff through it at a low frequency and listen to some chuffing but it should be ok.

[DancesWithBeers]

They turned out great, nice job.

[cburbs]

so is that all you used was the Danish Oil?

How many coats roughly?

[Undefinition]

Hey Josh,
If you take some nice photos of these, I'd like to put them up on my site. You did a really good job!

[numberoneoppa]

cburbs: It was 4 coats, just danish oil.

Paul: They're now 1400 miles away so that wouldn't be too easy. However, I still have to finish the other pair, and I'll definitely get some glamour shots of those.

=)

[cburbs]

Any sanding before or between each coats? If so with what.

[numberoneoppa]

Up to 400 grit before applying the oil. Would have liked to go up to 600 or 800 though, in retrospect. None between coats as far as I can remember.

[numberoneoppa]

Okay, so it's been about a year since I've started the first pair. I go to work on them last weekend and I'm missing:

All of the crossover components.
ONE RS180.
My nuts/bolts/spikes.

What is going on? If I can't find that RS180, I'm not in good shape...

[Undefinition]

Did you try looking under the couch cushions?

[numberoneoppa]

Did you try looking under the couch cushions?

Yes! No, really! Haha

I don't think I left them at the place I used to rent, but if the stuff is there, I am totally SOL. I'm going to my parents' house over Thanksgiving so I'll give the place a good looking over. Man, I don't want to buy all of this stuff over. :P

If I need to, is there a seamless way to use the new RS180s instead?

[BOBinGA]

PE still has the old shielded version, so you can just buy one if you can't find the missing one.

-Bob

[numberoneoppa]

PE still has the old shielded version, so you can just buy one if you can't find the missing one.

-Bob

Oh, great. I thought they were discontinued and sold out.