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This thread will document my build of a complete 7.1 set of Statements (with sub). Note: This set was started with only my second build ever. Please take all of this thread with a large grain of salt. My motive in posting it was just to give a DIY newbie's experience which might help out other newbies. To the real experts, please feel free to point out anything I did wrong or could improve on. Last but not least, huge thanks to Jim and Curt and anyone else involved in these designs and all their help and late night question answering during my build!
Update 8/5/2012
So it's been a long time since I built anything, and the apartment gig is lasting a lot longer than I thought! I did, however, recently get a garage! Pretty good sized for an apartment, I can bring over and set up all my woodworking stuff, yay! I decided I'm going to build Jed's Lineup R4s to replace my Monitors on the back two channels, and finally round off and put a finish on all of the speakers. All in an effort to "debachelorize" my place a bit. I know I could rebuild these cabinets better, so for now I'll go with a simple paint (countertop paint or truck bed liner or something that will hide the imperfections
).
Update 10/17/2009
Just a new update, getting a new apartment (great apartment though), so I'm going to keep putting off the full sized statements and subwoofer. Same with waiting to paint the ones I've already built. Oh well, some day!
Update 10/21/2008
So buying a house has been put off for a year, as I've signed up for a lease on a great apartment nearby. Huge place, though I still won't be able to crank the sub without bothering people
. So the subwoofer portion of the project will have to wait. Although hopefully some time this winter I can get the full sized statements built. I'm still very happy with the current 5 channel Statements setup!
The Plan
My current living space is limited for my HT, so for now the plan is to build a 5.1 setup, with four Statements Monitors and one Statements Center. Once I get a house I will build the full sized Statements for front LR duty and the four monitors will be surround to make up the 7 channels. To complete the setup, I'd like to build a large, over the top subwoofer. Finish work will be done once I get into the new house and have a "decor" set up, so I can choose a finish appropriately. I am partial to a completely rounded off, painted box, but have seen some very nice veneers too so we'll see when the time comes.
What's Finished ("finished" as in, I'm listening to them)
The Center and Four Monitors
What's Left To Do
1. Full sized Statements for front L/R.
2. Subwoofer.
Stuff I did that may be of help to others
1. Center Build: Instead of doing the side supports, I decided to cut a 3rd top/bottom sized piece, and cut it to a '+' shape to combine the side supports with the top of the tunnel into one piece, just for ease of assembly.
2. Center Build: In cutting the driver holes, I did two separate circles with the router in order to cut the flush mounting. I screwed the center of the hole to a scrap piece to make sure it stayed so I could re-use the pin hole for the jig. This worked fine, but in building the Monitors, I found it much easier to get a 1/2" rabbeting bit and use that to cut the flush mount. Just be sure to subtract 1" from your diameter when setting up the circle jig.
3. Monitors Build: It dawned on me while sanding these boxes, that the glue that drips down or squeezes out and dries up if you don't wipe it off fast enough is much more easily removed by carefully getting a knife blade under one edge, then simply peel it off! Way easier than sanding which is what I'd done on the Center.
4. All: I found that building the crossover by laying it out, then soldering, then mount it to your pegboard is much easier than trying to tie down the parts and then strip a bunch of short wires to connect them all.
5. All: I found that in routing through 1-1/4" thick baffles, three individual passes with the router made much better results than two. I got a 1-1/4" straight cutting bit, and did all the cutting from one side, rather than flipping over. It worked very well for me.
Mistakes I made so others won't
1. Center Build: I got the box 75% together, then mis-measured the center of my mid tunnel port by 1". Moral of the story: measure to center from both sides of the box. Then re-measure.
2. Center Build: I attempted to cut the baffle to exact size and ended up a little short on the height. As it sits, the baffle is actually raised slightly (looks almost intentional!). Lesson learned: Cut the baffle slightly larger than the given dimensions.
3. Monitors Build: I made the mistake mentioned in Forum under the above section, I forgot to subtract the 1" from my diameter when cutting the tweeter hole. Luckily, I caught it after the first pass, so I cut it the right size on the other side and it turned out fine.
4. Monitors Build: I properly cut the baffles about 1/4-1/2" larger than the box, so I could flush trim. I got a large, 2" length, 1/2" shank flush trim bit, and it took me some time to get the hang of it. With such a long bit, it was difficult to keep the router base flush to the baffle. This resulted in a couple of small gouges in the side of the baffle (hopefully will disappear with the roundover though). I also highly recommend paying attention to which direction the bit spins, and making doubly sure you're going the correct direction. I made that mistake only once and the router jumped on me and I'm probably lucky I didn't put a huge gouge in the box (or in myself!).
5. Monitors Build: I decided to build the crossover before the box (because of limited access to tools) and thought I'd laid out the board an appropriate size, but upon building the boxes I noticed it was a little too long and I'd either have to rebuild the XO or put it in the box before gluing the baffle (making it not removable). I only did this with two of them though so the other two will have the XO built in two pieces as I did with the Center.
Build Pics
Center:
Monitors:
Update 8/5/2012
So it's been a long time since I built anything, and the apartment gig is lasting a lot longer than I thought! I did, however, recently get a garage! Pretty good sized for an apartment, I can bring over and set up all my woodworking stuff, yay! I decided I'm going to build Jed's Lineup R4s to replace my Monitors on the back two channels, and finally round off and put a finish on all of the speakers. All in an effort to "debachelorize" my place a bit. I know I could rebuild these cabinets better, so for now I'll go with a simple paint (countertop paint or truck bed liner or something that will hide the imperfections
).Update 10/17/2009
Just a new update, getting a new apartment (great apartment though), so I'm going to keep putting off the full sized statements and subwoofer. Same with waiting to paint the ones I've already built. Oh well, some day!
Update 10/21/2008
So buying a house has been put off for a year, as I've signed up for a lease on a great apartment nearby. Huge place, though I still won't be able to crank the sub without bothering people
. So the subwoofer portion of the project will have to wait. Although hopefully some time this winter I can get the full sized statements built. I'm still very happy with the current 5 channel Statements setup!The Plan
My current living space is limited for my HT, so for now the plan is to build a 5.1 setup, with four Statements Monitors and one Statements Center. Once I get a house I will build the full sized Statements for front LR duty and the four monitors will be surround to make up the 7 channels. To complete the setup, I'd like to build a large, over the top subwoofer
. Finish work will be done once I get into the new house and have a "decor" set up, so I can choose a finish appropriately. I am partial to a completely rounded off, painted box, but have seen some very nice veneers too so we'll see when the time comes.What's Finished ("finished" as in, I'm listening to them)
The Center and Four Monitors
What's Left To Do
1. Full sized Statements for front L/R.
2. Subwoofer.
Stuff I did that may be of help to others
1. Center Build: Instead of doing the side supports, I decided to cut a 3rd top/bottom sized piece, and cut it to a '+' shape to combine the side supports with the top of the tunnel into one piece, just for ease of assembly.
2. Center Build: In cutting the driver holes, I did two separate circles with the router in order to cut the flush mounting. I screwed the center of the hole to a scrap piece to make sure it stayed so I could re-use the pin hole for the jig. This worked fine, but in building the Monitors, I found it much easier to get a 1/2" rabbeting bit and use that to cut the flush mount. Just be sure to subtract 1" from your diameter when setting up the circle jig.
3. Monitors Build: It dawned on me while sanding these boxes, that the glue that drips down or squeezes out and dries up if you don't wipe it off fast enough is much more easily removed by carefully getting a knife blade under one edge, then simply peel it off! Way easier than sanding which is what I'd done on the Center.
4. All: I found that building the crossover by laying it out, then soldering, then mount it to your pegboard is much easier than trying to tie down the parts and then strip a bunch of short wires to connect them all.
5. All: I found that in routing through 1-1/4" thick baffles, three individual passes with the router made much better results than two. I got a 1-1/4" straight cutting bit, and did all the cutting from one side, rather than flipping over. It worked very well for me.
Mistakes I made so others won't
1. Center Build: I got the box 75% together, then mis-measured the center of my mid tunnel port by 1". Moral of the story: measure to center from both sides of the box. Then re-measure.
2. Center Build: I attempted to cut the baffle to exact size and ended up a little short on the height. As it sits, the baffle is actually raised slightly (looks almost intentional!). Lesson learned: Cut the baffle slightly larger than the given dimensions.
3. Monitors Build: I made the mistake mentioned in Forum under the above section, I forgot to subtract the 1" from my diameter when cutting the tweeter hole. Luckily, I caught it after the first pass, so I cut it the right size on the other side and it turned out fine.
4. Monitors Build: I properly cut the baffles about 1/4-1/2" larger than the box, so I could flush trim. I got a large, 2" length, 1/2" shank flush trim bit, and it took me some time to get the hang of it. With such a long bit, it was difficult to keep the router base flush to the baffle. This resulted in a couple of small gouges in the side of the baffle (hopefully will disappear with the roundover though). I also highly recommend paying attention to which direction the bit spins, and making doubly sure you're going the correct direction. I made that mistake only once and the router jumped on me and I'm probably lucky I didn't put a huge gouge in the box (or in myself!).
5. Monitors Build: I decided to build the crossover before the box (because of limited access to tools) and thought I'd laid out the board an appropriate size, but upon building the boxes I noticed it was a little too long and I'd either have to rebuild the XO or put it in the box before gluing the baffle (making it not removable). I only did this with two of them though so the other two will have the XO built in two pieces as I did with the Center.
Build Pics
Center:
Monitors:
.
unk:
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