Corts mini statement build

[Cort]

Merry Christmas, I am so impressed by the performance of my knew speakers that I have to share the build. I learned a lot from this forum, yet the build is rather unconventional.
I have been looking at this tree for a while now, Thinking I need to build something. Really nice spiraled grain.





Speakers? A little google. I found the statement series. Right size with a crossover I could understand. Then I grabbed a couple of logs and split them apart and glued them back together and OMFG I had built a really nice drum. Then I thought an acoustic instrument made from solid wood sounds better than one made from pergo. Looking at the tree, I would have to cure it with colored epoxy, so that would have to wait for summer. plus that is a 100 plus hour cabinet build. Need to prototype. just so happens that I have a few scaffold planks that have been sitting in the loft of a sun room I built 8 years ago. So I designed a cabinet that was based on volume, available wood, resonant frequency's and the frequency of the musical notes. So when I put these things together





I tapped and twisted the braces around a bit as I clamped it together using ratchet straps, also made sure that none of the braces of the mid port are in the same place. The maker in the deal though was the use of Gorilla Glue, Wetted both surfaces, apply a bead to both, wait 10 minutes and clamp it together, It grows and doubles the effective size of the joint. seals all cracks etc..

I am also real happy with the decision to put the crossovers on the bottom.









I had alot of fun cutting all the holes with the router. the circle jig i made from a piece of pergo. Comment and I'll finish

Peace
Cort

[Jim Holtz]

We're very glad you're enjoying the Mini's. :T

Jim

[Cort]

Thanks Jim, Here here are the boxes stuffed





AND COMPLETE








The sound quality far exceeded my expectations last night I was listening to some recent live recordings from the Black Crowes and Phish off the sirius jam_on channel and it felt and sounded like I was there. only complaint is that they are not as loud. Then on to female vocals, incredibly emotional is all I can say Alison Krauss's "God dipped his pen of love in my heart" caused a tear or two and Janis Joplins "Oh lord wont you buy me ...." sent a chill down my spine.

How many more db should I expect from the emo upa5 over the HK avr 500 (100 wpc into 4 ohms)?
and what is the best preamp?
i need to upgrade to HDMI


now on to the next project





Do you think the Statements would work in a ~ 9.5x10.75x60" box internal, (80 liter net) built from this tree?
Cort

[dsrviola]

very cool

[Face]

That poor bird!

[Cort]

Thats Rufus, he is a European starling I found as a fleglidling not a 100 yards from this tree 8 years ago. rumor has it that mozart had one of these in a cage next to his piano. Rufus sings to the blues and hates metal.
peace
Cort

[Cort]

During my mini statement build I got to thinking what if I were to design a speaker box to be a musical instrument, planning to build a statement center anyway. I came up with this.







This box covers 1 octave uniformly with braces and ends to the sides of the cabinet. 1-2 kHz, with an additional octave across behind the tweet tunnel. All cuts are compound mitered at 5 degrees. 40 liters net volume.
Then I did this





No one will ever set their cocktail on my speaker again..
Plus now if i rotate the tweeter to be near vertical I'll be on axis for all listening positions in the room. Up close sitting on the floor in front of the wood stove, back 10 feet couched, back 20 seated at the dinning table, and 35 feet away standing in the kitchen.
Wouldn't it be beautiful with a sitka spuce top and mahogany back and sides?
Another experiment......
I will let you know the outcome in a few days.....
Peace, Cort

[Cort]

I had not even thought about bi amping until I started reading the manual for the onkyo ht-rc270 that showed up on the porch yesterday. So I went ahead and biamped my new "minis", ran the audyssey eq thing and wow!!!!
The crossover adjustments I thought I was going to have to make, it did better than I could have in 1/1000th the time.

Now what do I do with the emo upa-5? The speakers are now breaking up before the amp does. plus at 75 lbs, I have not made a home for it yet.

Peace Cort

[FroDaddy]

...
Do you think the Statements would work in a ~ 9.5x10.75x60" box internal, (80 liter net) built from this tree?
Cort

Mine are about 90L; can't comment on the second part of the question regarding the tree

[tktran]

Oh no.

After looking at that live tree and now realising it's a dead speaker, I think all my future speakers will be made of MDF and painted household white or black.

[Trompie]

Hi Cort, its nice to see what one can do with the right tools (ore at least if you know someone). They sure will look unique.

@ tktran I believe the tree that Cort used was already dead for a few years (according to what I can make out in the pics).

I`m also considering using solid wood for my D.I.Y. project.

Trompie

[Cort]

I just don't like the smell of MDF... The tree has been dead a long time... here in New Mexico I can take anything that is dead or down from the national forest for firewood. In this case I wood cut 6' sections and take it to a saw mill to be made into boards. However if the "live" cabinet works then I will forget about the tree and order some mahogany off the internet. The thing is I am an experimentalist at heart, this is the day job, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trident_laser
rev 1 is a work in progress, rev 2 is coming along nicely, and rev3 ??? your guys input is appreciated!!
peace
Cort

[Cort]

Could someone give me some ideas as to how to stuff /pad this tetrahedral cabinet???
Thanks
Cort

[Cort]

I got a box of crossover components today for my "mini center" and it was rather heavy, seems I ordered the 16 ga erse 4.7 mH super q's instead of the 18. looking at the erse and PE websites I can't even find the 18 ga inductor listed. Am I missing something?
Do I understand correctly if I assume 50 watts per RS180 and 6 ohm load, using P=I^2R I get that the 16 ga (dcr=.231) uses 1.925 W and the 18 ga (dcr=.441)
uses 3.67 W for difference of 1.75 Watts. so it shouldn't be noticeable? Am I correct??

Also have noticed that the 1 ohm resistor in the mid xover is getting pretty hot. should I replace it with 2-2 ohm resistors in parallel?

[BOBinGA]

If the one ohm resistor is getting hot, definitely use 2 2 ohms in parallel or use a 25 watt 1 ohm. Also double check your wiring and make sure you don't have something accidentally shorted out causing the high current through the resistor.

I wouldn't think that the .2 ohm difference in the inductors should make any audible difference, but wait and see what Curt has to say.

-Bob

[Cort]

Finally got the drivers in for the center yesterday.








The new family together for a photo





I am really enjoying the new mini's, many thanks to Jim and Curt.

[Curt C]

Nicely done Cort!

I like the exposed crossover in the side of the center. I don't know why, exactly, but maybe the juxtaposition of the industrial look of the crossover paired with the somehow rustic looking solid wood cabs...

C

[Fishy]

Might also be that the crossovers have been laid out nicely.

Just wish I had the space and talent to create such a build.

Fish

[BeerParty]

Exposed artistic crossovers, fantastic idea. Very nice work, my friend.