NWCgrad Messages: 143 Registered: March 2010 Location: Frederick, United States ...
Master
I spoke the the builder about fixing the front panel and she was not very receptive, she wanted to either refund my money or just build entirely new boxes. Due to the depressed economy over here (average family income is less than $1,000 USD/year) I could not in good conscience have her eat any of the cost. When I meet with her to discuss the build it was clear she had no idea what the boxes were to be used for and did not understand the requirement for accuracy. Looks like a language barrier problem, I NEED to learn Khmer!!!!
I have found a solution:
A member on AVS forum kindly made me two 1/2" thick plywood rings that I will glue/screw over the baffle to eliminate the irregular edges and provide a nice mounting surface for the drivers. Plus, they should make the boxes a little more interesting to look at.
NWCgrad Messages: 143 Registered: March 2010 Location: Frederick, United States ...
Master
Just received my household goods shipment, including my mostly completed 4 Pi speakers. Good news is they arrived relatively intact, bad news is one of the solder joints connecting the DE250 CD broke free.
Looks like the movers decided to "store" a role of duct tape in the speaker before packing. I do not have a soldering iron so I am out of luck until I can send for one from the States. Hopefully it will be an easy fix, I haven't touched a soldering iron in almost 30 yrs.
I guess it will be a few more weeks before I get to listen to the speakers.
NWCgrad Messages: 143 Registered: March 2010 Location: Frederick, United States ...
Master
I was able to hot glue the terminal back to the crossover for a temporary fix. The two metal parts fit tightly together and the hot glue is holding them in place.
Finished the woofer install and getting ready to give them a listen once I unclutter all the crap from the movers and find my patch cords.
NWCgrad Messages: 143 Registered: March 2010 Location: Frederick, United States ...
Master
Finally have the speaker's setup and started to break them in by playing a blues CD on repeat all day. Initial impression of the sound is very positive, they are significantly better than the Paradigm 9seMkIII's they are replacing. Here is a picture of them - and the flanking subs - in the room (screen is photoshopped to represent the size of the projected image, I left my screen in the states and am projecting on the blank wall and could not take a good photo showing the image and the speakers).
Right now I am running them with an Adcom GFP-555/GFA-555 combo with an el-cheapo Sony Bluray/SACD player as the source. The combo has way too much power as the volume knob is barely off 0 at normal listening levels. These are very sensitive speakers, easily demonstrated by the fact that the amp continues to play for nearly a minute after it is turned off.
I was unable to veneer them before my move and one of the speakers suffered very mild water-induced damage during the move (glue joint swelling requiring additional sanding to re-smooth the surface). Since I do not have any equipment in Cambodia, and finding that I absolutely hate MDF, I purchased oak vinyl laminate from Parts Express. Seems crazy to finish a thousand dollar speaker in vinyl, but the boxes will be rebuilt with baltic birch upon my retirement from the navy (less than 7 yrs). The enclosures have to survive at least two more military moves before I build new ones.
Based on initial listening the speakers meet my expectations and I expect to be using them for the next 20 years. I kept my paradigms as main speakers for over 15 - I do not make speaker changes often so I try to get the best bang for the buck.
Thanks again Wayne for your awesome support to the DIY community!
Wayne Parham Messages: 18795 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
They look great. I love the way you have your room setup. It isn't like back home, but it sure looks like it will do the trick. The flanking subs are set just right.
You'll love your set up even more for all that effort that's gone into it. Great to see a happy outcome. Yep, they get really loud, really fast so any amp can drive them adequately with ease.
Congrats on your build.
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Hopefully it will be an easy fix, I haven't touched a soldering iron in almost 30 yrs.
during the move (glue joint swelling requiring additional sanding to re-smooth the surface). Since I do not have any equipment in Cambodia, and finding that I absolutely hate MDF, I purchased oak vinyl laminate from Parts Express. Seems crazy to finish a thousand dollar speaker in vinyl, but the boxes will be rebuilt with baltic birch upon my retirement from the navy (less than 7 yrs). The enclosures have to survive at least two more military moves before I build new ones.
