Dayton RS Center Channel Build Thread

[joeybutts]

I figured I would give this it's own thread. This center utilizes the exact same drivers as the Khanspires, minus one RS150. This thing is BIG.

Did I say big? I meant HUUUGGGEEEEE....... I didn't realize how big this was going to be.... :E

[joeybutts]

Baffle all marked up and ready for tomorrow to be cut up.



comparing size to my Trtitrix center channel.

[joeybutts]

Baffle cut.

I still can't believe the size of this thing...

[joeybutts]

All panels are now laminated. Mocked up enclosure - How much do you love that it is bigger than my roommates ottoman?







These are all the panels for both the center channel and the surrounds. There are also the non laminated horizontal brace for the center channel in the pic as well which will hopefully be drawn up tomorrow....

[joeybutts]

Horizontal brace is almost drawn up. Should be marked, cut, and laminated tonight. Maybe the vertical braces as well. But we know how that goes.

[Paul W]

It's great to see a center channel getting good attention. The center is too often overlooked and under funded.

One suggestion...go a little overboard on bracing. You don't want to hear anything from those large (easily excited) panels.

[joeybutts]

It's great to see a center channel getting good attention. The center is too often overlooked and under funded.

One suggestion...go a little overboard on bracing. You don't want to hear anything from those large (easily excited) panels.

Thanks Paul! Wait till you see the bracing in this bad boy. Gonna be pretty ridiculous. :T

[joeybutts]

The baffle is complete! Oh wait....forgot to chamfer the driver openings....ish. Well, that's the only thing left.



I drew out 85% of the horizontal brace last night and got halfway through cutting it when the gf called and said lets get pizza and beer. Though I forgot to take a pic of it, some teasers of soon to be 1" bracing.....

[joeybutts]

I think the CNC did a good job on almost finishing this brace.....

[joeybutts]

Chamfered the mid on the baffle, but no pics. You know what that is.

The horizontal brace is 95% done. The last 5% won't be done for a while.

Sweet pics of this. I'm really proud of this (too bad it won't be seen). It came out ALMOST perfect.

[richnen]

Nope, it wont be seen but YOU and everybody that follows the build knows its there!

Very nice work.

[cjd]

That is what we call "attention to detail"

Nice work.

I'd hate to be doing that much routing of MDF though. Ugh. Nasty stuff.

[cbark]

Even though it seems crazy to do that much work, in the end when you are living with whatever you built, you know that you didn't take any short cuts. That is something that I know I would have regreted later. It sounds weird to say that, but it would make me mental in the long run knowing that I skimped on something.

I think most guys that do this kind of stuff for fun, know what i am talking about.

[joeybutts]

An inkling of thought did run through my mind to put a plexi panel inset on the top in the back. But that's WAY more than what I want to do. Then I would have to paint the inside and be REAL ornate and detailed......ugh......

I do take great pride in my work. I was initially going to put my username in the brace but just didn't have enough room for it to look real nice......

Thanks for the kind words fellas.

Chris - I work outside in a field basically, and there is usually a breeze so working with the MDF isn't so bad. And usually I wear a respirator just in case. Sometimes I don't. But usually just in case.

cbark - This is definitely fun for me. I LOVE doing this stuff. Everyone else thinks I'm nuts. Just the way I like it.

[Not2Evil]

I hope you enlighten us a little bit. Very few people have access to a CNC machine.

Was it worth messing with for one unique piece?

How many passes were required for the one inch depth?

How much time for the programming?

Any pics of the the machine doing its job?

Hats off! This puts my stick bracing to shame.

[joeybutts]

I hope you enlighten us a little bit. Very few people have access to a CNC machine.

Was it worth messing with for one unique piece?

How many passes were required for the one inch depth?

How much time for the programming?

Any pics of the the machine doing its job?

Hats off! This puts my stick bracing to shame.

N2E, I'm sorry mang, it was just a joke. : I was just so proud of how it turned out that I thought I would joke about ME being the CNC.

I only know of one place that will run you an estimate and do full programming and such, and that is Elemental Designs, and I think the cost is actually quite reasonable from what I have heard, including the shipping.

All my work is done by hand outside my 800 sq ft apt. 8)

[dpc rep]

Looking very nice, cant wait to see it finished and get your listening impression! I am planning on building the same center, but was going to use the truncated tweeter face plate and shorten it down as much as possible as available height is limited somewhat for me, but no to much on the width and depth.

Which crossover design are you planning on using?

Of course, I already have all the parts for the rear In-Khan Neatos but have yet to start on them ... always something else to do it seems like

[joeybutts]

I figured I would use CJD's crossover for the center since he designed it for the Khanspires. Just seemed to make sense to me. Plus, I think I read that his was similar to another design that was already there.

I can't wait to have them finished up too! Of course, I'm gonna have to wait till I buy the amp which will be January or February. :/

All in due time....

Oh. Check with someone more knowledgeable on using the truncated version...that may require some changes to the crossover.....food for thought...

[absolootbs]

N2E, I'm sorry mang, it was just a joke. : I was just so proud of how it turned out that I thought I would joke about ME being the CNC.

I only know of one place that will run you an estimate and do full programming and such, and that is Elemental Designs, and I think the cost is actually quite reasonable from what I have heard, including the shipping.

All my work is done by hand outside my 800 sq ft apt. 8)

looks nice. what did you use to make all the cutouts on that? jigsaw? router? did you use any fences/guides, or was that all done freehand?

[joeybutts]

looks nice. what did you use to make all the cutouts on that? jigsaw? router? did you use any fences/guides, or was that all done freehand?

I measured it all out, jig sawed, then with a straight edge and router cleaned it all up. I then glued on the other board, and flush trimmed it and then chamfered. It took some time, no doubt, but I want to do this build up, hoping it is my last major build for awhile.....

[joeybutts]

The rest of the bracing is planned, Thursday it will be cut....

[joeybutts]

Forgot to post this.
Current state....

[bigbardmusiq]

Very nice, clean and with attention to detail! can't wait to see it! :T

[joeybutts]

Thanks BBM! Some more for ya!

[joeybutts]

Bracing Done!

[ruseriousclark]

That is utterly insane! I've never seen bracing on a level that rivaled exterior woodworking. I can't wait to see the finish work on those cabs, if you are putting that much attention to detail on the bracing.

[cbark]

Very nice, JB you are the coolest teacher I never had.

[joeybutts]

Thanks rc! I'm not 100% sure on what the finish is going to be, but it should be very worthy of the bracing. :T

Thanks cb! Best compliment ever.

[joeybutts]

All panels marked for bracing channels.

[joeybutts]

The baffle, top, bottom, and back are channeled for the bracing. I'm STOKED.

There's a lot of pics. I said I'm sTOKED.

[joeybutts]

Finally back on this horse. Bought the rest of the wood needed and am laminating panels tonight and tomorrow.

This coming week I'm going to try and figure out where and how I am implementing the crossovers in the structure and complete all dados for the mid-chamber. Then time to put it together!

[Bear]

Looks great. I'm not familiar with the design, but going off of the way you have the dadoes created to tie the braces with the outer shell, I'm not sure that there's a plan for a separate enclosure for the midrange. Doesn't the design specify a separate enclosure for the mid?

[joeybutts]

Looks great. I'm not familiar with the design, but going off of the way you have the dadoes created to tie the braces with the outer shell, I'm not sure that there's a plan for a separate enclosure for the midrange. Doesn't the design specify a separate enclosure for the mid?

Oh, Bear....don't doubt! :

I am hoping to have the mid-chamber all completed today. I was short enough wood for one side of the mid chamber, that is why it didn't get in the pics.

[Bear]

Oh, Bear....don't doubt! :

I am hoping to have the mid-chamber all completed today. I was short enough wood for one side of the mid chamber, that is why it didn't get in the pics.

Not doubting, just hoping to make sure that a step wasn't missed in the pursuit of excellence. That's a lot of work to track, and some minor steps are easy to miss. Very impressive work for just using a hand router! :T

[joeybutts]

Thanks Bear! It has been a bit of a task to make sure I have everything straight. Not the easiest thing trying to do all five speakers at the same time of three different designs.

I didn't get it done yesterday, but did get everything for the mid chamber marked out for this afternoon to be routed and constructed.

[madmac]

That's gonna' be one helluva' center channel speaker!. My center Channel is huge as well (As big as my mains and weighing in at about 38lbs!. You will not be disappointed!. The center technically should use the same size drivers as the left and rights and preferably also the rears if possible. Nice job and nice pics!. I feel like I'm there building it with you!!

[joeybutts]

That's gonna' be one helluva' center channel speaker!. My center Channel is huge as well (As big as my mains and weighing in at about 38lbs!. You will not be disappointed!. The center technically should use the same size drivers as the left and rights and preferably also the rears if possible. Nice job and nice pics!. I feel like I'm there building it with you!!

Thanks madmac! All the speakers use RS225's. I think the enclosure is going to weigh in alone at around 50 pounds. I'll have to weigh it. I keep meaning to and never get around to it.

[AdelaaR]

Even though it seems crazy to do that much work, in the end when you are living with whatever you built, you know that you didn't take any short cuts. That is something that I know I would have regreted later. It sounds weird to say that, but it would make me mental in the long run knowing that I skimped on something.
I think most guys that do this kind of stuff for fun, know what i am talking about.

I know EXACTLY what you are talking about man

Nice build and very cool bracing btw!

[joeybutts]

Current state of speakers holed up in the bedroom.



Figuring out the mid-chamber recess layout



Recesses routed for mid chamber



Horizontal brace fits well....After I glue the midchamber walls together I'll finish the recess for the horizontal brace....







Top and bottom fit very nicely. Once the midchamber walls are all glued we will see how it all fits together!

[Bear]

Looking good. :T Paint or veneer?

[joeybutts]

I'm leaning toward paint. The design cues I plan on implementing will be rather difficult to accomplish with veneer, and even though painting is not my favorite thing to do, I have become pretty good at it. NOT GREAT, but the finish comes out pretty nice. I always just worry about seams and am hoping using a new technique that they disappear...

[joeybutts]

This guy is all done getting panels and braces cut. Now need to setup mid chamber wiring terminal and also need to setup crossover holding. Also need to see if I can implement plexi in this project so it looks nice and not gaudy or trashy. If I do implement plexi.....oh boy do I have a lot of cleaning up to do and preparation for the interior of the enclosure.

Enough talk.

Pics.

[joeybutts]

What???? RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD??!!?



Glueing together parts finally. pics.

[joeybutts]

Back is on. Will start putting on the 703 and installing the terminal cup this week and hopefully have the enclosures done next week and awaiting crossovers.

[joeybutts]

Wire and binding posts should be here by the end of next week. That means wire and binding posts and insulation and the rest of the cabinets will be under way next weekend! WOOT!

I think I may have gone a little overkill on the wire though.....