New Build Thread - Ardent D by SMJ

[JonMarsh]

It's a great feeling seeing those enclosure walls come together... I think over the Thanksgiving week I'll be able to get the updated crossovers installed in my 2nd one, and with a bit of effort, start getting back to the Saint-Saēns, which was interrupted by family emergencies in early July...

[theSven]

That sure is a nice looking cabinet! What is the weight of one these cabinets weighing in at?

[Steve Manning]

That sure is a nice looking cabinet! What is the weight of one these cabinets weighing in at?

I have no idea, though have no fear, next to yours these will light weights, though stout.

[JonMarsh]

I could try weighing one of my assembled ones for fun... it might be tricky though, to avoid smashing the Withings scale!

[Steve Manning]

Well despite everything going on this time of year, some progress continues.

Got the inserts installed for the passive radiators.





Got the bases roughed out.



Also started work on some internal bracing for the cabinets.

[Steve Manning]

Things moving along ..... got the bases finished with inserts installed and edges beveled.





Picked up some 1/4" MDF and cut out some xover boards.





Doing a test fit and positioning so I can get threaded inserts installed for mounting the boards. More involved than Jon's heavy duty Velcro, but since I tend to run wires on the backside of the boards I didn't want issues if I had to pull the Velcro for modifications.

[JimS]

Cool, looks like good progress Steve 👍

Did PE finally get back ordered xover parts shipped?

[Steve Manning]

Cool, looks like good progress Steve 👍

Did PE finally get back ordered xover parts shipped?

Yep ..... I should have everything from them at this point. I'm hoping to start assembly on boards here shortly.

[JonMarsh]

Things moving along ..... got the bases finished with inserts installed and edges beveled.





Picked up some 1/4" MDF and cut out some xover boards.





Doing a test fit and positioning so I can get threaded inserts installed for mounting the boards. More involved than Jon's heavy duty Velcro, but since I tend to run wires on the backside of the boards I didn't want issues if I had to pull the Velcro for modifications.

The Master Machinist at work! It's really cool to see these coming together like this!

Me, I've mostly just been doing fun stuff like carpet cleaning... but also updating some Shapr3D CAD files.

[technodanvan]

Great work as always Steve! Just a thought - and I know these are not the permanent installation, so this may be for JimS - I would consider mounting the feet with the brand facing 'inside' the speaker at an angle such they would not be visible from the front or sides, even were someone to lay down in front of said speakers.

[JimS]

Ah, but that depends on what they offer me for co-marketing agreement to showcase their logo…..of course target market might be a bit small (likely only my dog 😜)

[Steve Manning]

Fiddley bits ..... installed another two dozen threaded inserts to mount the crossover boards. Using some standoffs for some clearance behind the boards.





With that out of the way, I can start gluing together cabinet panels.

[Steve Manning]

Which is more fun, watching paint or glue dry? Either way, slow.







Finally the first cabinet is ready for the baffle. Note the clamp at the bottom, it's rather prone to tipping over backwards at this point.

[Steve Manning]

While glue is drying on the second cabinet, I'm getting a little fitting of the first baffle for trimming. Also doing some layout for domino placement.

[JimS]

Whoa, starting to look a lot like speakers 🤩

Nice work as always Steve 👍

[theSven]

Those are some intense baffles! The build looks to be progressing very nicely.

[Steve Manning]

Well now that the dust is settling from the holidays I was able to get some time in the shop today. Got some mortises cut for the dominos to attach the baffles.

I was then able to get the baffles cut to final length. Some clean up is needed yet on the baffles prior to glue up.

[JimS]

Happy new year Steve!!

[Steve Manning]

Happy new year Steve!!

Same to you Jim

[Steve Manning]

Finally got around to installing the last of the threaded inserts ..... this time so the bases can be attached.

Had to epoxy the baffles in place first.





With the inserts installed the bases could then be mounted.



Then last in line the feet.



Next up is rough sanding of everything and dealing with any major surface issues. Crossover board construction will take place at the same time.

[Steve Manning]

First cabinet with binding posts ....





Started the game of shuffle the crossover parts. It always seems to take a little bit to get the mind back in that mode.

[Steve Manning]

Well despite all the snow and cold weather, some progress is being made.

Started the gluing process on the first set of xover boards.



While waiting for epoxy to cure I started cabinet clean up and sanding to 120 grit.



At this point the tweeter boards have been completed.

[JonMarsh]

Very good looking job on the crossover builds, Steve!

[JonMarsh]

Work has continued on the cabinet sides.

Weather has been nice so I can enjoy the shop being open.



A little sanding of the MDF to rough up the surface prior to glue up.



Many clamps required as usual.






After clean up of things.

I am so, SO jealous of all the space Steve has to work in!

😆

[Steve Manning]

Thanks Boss Man on the crossovers .....

As for the shop ..... for a mere $65K you to can have your very own duplicate space. Of course that was back in 2022, who knows what it would cost today. That's with you doing some of the work yourself and then you have to equip it!

[Steve Manning]

The chipping away has continued ......

Moved on to the woofer boards next.



While woofer boards were underway, the second cabinet was finished.






First woofer board completed.





4 boards finished and 2 to go ..... though that is underway.

[JimS]

Hey Steve, cabs and crossover boards looking great 👍

[JonMarsh]

Steve is a very busy guy... working hard to defeat the concept of slow work takes time!

[JimS]

Well now that pickup is becoming a near-term reality, time to turn some attention to my side of the equation.

Upstream components are all in place (more in line with Jon’s caviar wishes than an all-out assault….) though should be a pretty satisfying system 👍

I’ll be using Innuos zen mini mk3 for source (both local files and Qobuz), LAIV micro harmony for dac, and Cambridge edge w for power. Other goodies include BADA usb converter and equitech for balanced power. TBD after listening whether to explore linear power supply for the zen and laiv and possibly an etherRegen for the network switch.

Current plan on finishing will be wood conditioner to blend the baffle/sides and solid tinted stain finish (was going to go for automotive type paint, but my travel schedule plus Sven’s encouragement to show off the baffles a bit led me to try this). If I don’t like it can always spray over it 😡.

Jon - what would you suggest for measurement set up these days (haven’t looked into this in quite a few years)? I’ve got a not too old MacBook Air, a few converters and some earthworks SRO mics (used for drum overheads and should be reasonably flat…) lying around already….

[JonMarsh]

I'm going to give you a detailed answer on that tomorrow morning- need to check out the SRO earthworks; one of my two standard mics is an Earthworks M30, but I got an Audix TM1 last July to play around with, and it has interesting tradeoffs- a bit lower sensitivity, but seems to have a lower noise and distortion floor in the low frequency area, so I've been using it more.

And I love my Motu M4, and Fuzzmeasure.

BUT, for what you may need to do, it's possible that considering a Pocket CLIO setup would be worth exploring. I'll figure out some questions and relevant comparison thoughts to consider...

[JonMarsh]

Sorry I haven't followed up on this yet but this has not been a Sunday Funday!

Instead, "emergency" grocery purchases for the wife, and advocacy work for a friend of a friend recovering from a health emergency, with a doctor's book that should help plus a listing for a blood analysis service in North Carolina that I have used for some specialized tests and can do the test he needs (IMO) if his local healthcare organization can't support it.

you know the old saying, about life is what happens while you're busy making other plans. Re the original plans for the day, I'm about to start at the 8:30 AM task but it's 4:30 PM!

[JimS]

Thanks Jon, no rush on my account. I’m out of town next few weeks in any case.

[JonMarsh]

OK, I'll write up a bit online and then post it, let's say at my leisure. It's the sort of topic here where a direct conversation might be useful.

I tried to look up the tech specs on your SRO mics, but they're a bit "mature" like us, though a couple of places say they are similar or identical to the TC20. The main design point of the TC20 is the ability to handle very high SPLs... frequency response rated 9Hz to 20kHz, with no dB window given in the sites I found this morning.

The important detail to clarify is what YOU need or want to accomplish in measurement- there's a big difference between what is needed for detailed individual driver analysis and system design synthesis, versus just checking response of speaker in room for a given listening position and speaker placement, and possibly adjusting driver padding some, or making acoustic updates for the room.

I have three different test carts, for example, one with Pocket Clio; they are self contained with preamps, power amps, a digital storage scope, etc. Thats probably a bit overboard for what you need, price considered. Good budget small two channel storage scopes adequate for level checking from the power amp can be had for as little as ~$400, like this Siglent I have two of.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XZML6RD?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_ti tle_3&th=1




But if you don't have the need for exact signal tracking, or you go for a tool like Pocket Clio, with it's built in AC voltmeter that can track output levels, then the scope isn't really necessary. Unless you're a bit OCD like I am, and have lived by the concept of "Trust, but verify" for decades.

I'll create a folder in Apple Notes to collect information, then when you're back from out of town, touch base and maybe start off with a short phone call followed up with some reading material.

[theSven]

I have some of these pieces already and could stop over at Jims for a measurement day 😀

[JimS]

That would be great Sven 👍

[Efalegalo]

JimS / theSven - if need be, I should be able to help.

[Steve Manning]

Well here's the last of them, the midrange boards ......





The plan for today was get some internal cabinet wiring done, but Amazon only shipped half of the heat shrink I need. As they say, it's always something ......

[Steve Manning]

Had a slight delay waiting for a wire delivery for the internal wiring. Hopefully I ordered enough!



Woofer board installed.





Tweeter and midrange boards.







First cabinet wired and standing. Just have to make some pigtails for the drivers yet. Needless to say with one of Jon's crossover designs, the cabinets became less easy to move around!

[JimS]

Cool Steve, looking closer….

[JonMarsh]

First cabinet wired and standing. Just have to make some pigtails for the drivers yet. Needless to say with one of Jon's crossover designs, the cabinets became less easy to move around!

C'mon now, you should put blame where it belongs, on those maple ply front panels I designed! The crossovers are just a "grace note" so to speak!

[Steve Manning]

C'mon now, you should put blame where it belongs, on those maple ply front panels I designed! The crossovers are just a "grace note" so to speak!

I don't know that there's much grace in those boards .... though they are ~30% smaller than the ones you did. Maybe that will make them a little more graceful. 😁

[Steve Manning]

Well I've managed to get to the end of the fiddly bits finally!

With all the crossover boards installed as well as internal wiring, my wife helped me move the cabinets into my listening room. Yes, that is Christmas decorations your seeing! Between having snow on the ground for over a month and now rain, the yard is too swampy to haul it out to the storage shed.



I'd also finished up soldering pigtails onto the drivers and got started on installing those







First cabinet with all the drivers ....



And with the PR's installed.



Both cabinets finished and making music ......





At this point there is no stuffing in the cabinets ..... I wanted to check and insure everything was connected correctly in case I had to pull crossover boards. Fortunately everything appears to be good. Of course we're lacking some lower end as a result, but that is easily resolved.

[Efalegalo]

Stunning work! --- will the speaker have a base? As built, are they prone to falling back?

[Steve Manning]

Stunning work! --- will the speaker have a base? As built, are they prone to falling back?

Thanks for the kind words ...... and yes there are bases. These are them.





I installed it on the first cabinet, minus the feet and had to remove it because of concern over tipping. Between my 4 year old granddaughter and 95lb dog, I didn't want to risk it.

With Jon's original design, the cabinet has a 10 degree rake to it, his base has outriggers as well as tipping the cabinet forwards 5 degrees offering up far more stability.

Jim had asked for this design with the possibility of having to tweak things later. Of note, from what Jim told me, these will be sitting on hard flooring. In my room, there's carpet with a separate rug and padding they are sitting on, exacerbating the stability issue. Jim will make the final call in his space.

[Efalegalo]

Absolutely amazing! Do you, by any chance, have pictures from the underside of any of the crossover boards? I'm just so impressed with your work --- and hoping to use the pics from the underside as a learning opportunity. Also, can you please share what adhesive you use to glue the crossover components to the board?

[Steve Manning]

Absolutely amazing! Do you, by any chance, have pictures from the underside of any of the crossover boards? I'm just so impressed with your work --- and hoping to use the pics from the underside as a learning opportunity. Also, can you please share what adhesive you use to glue the crossover components to the board?

I do not have any pictures of the undersides .... that's where the really sloppy stuff is. 😁I suppose that would make sense though, for any possible remote troubleshooting. In general nothing too crazy .... you'll notice I tend to use stand offs for what ever is under there. Not only a few wires, but cable tie ends and screw heads.

As for the adhesive I use, J-B Weld 8271 KwikWeld Professional Size Steel Reinforced Epoxy Twin Pack - 10 oz. For larger heavier components I add some cable ties just in case. I tried hot glue, various types and brands, but had bonding issues. The Kwik Weld takes longer to set up but some far I've not had any issues. Though one problem child is the wax coated coils .... nothing sticks to those.