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Re: Three 4Pi's in Basic Black for Home Theater Build Thread [message #63934 is a reply to message #63933] Sun, 29 August 2010 10:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
BigmouthinDC is currently offline  BigmouthinDC
Messages: 41
Registered: February 2010
Location: No VA
Baron
I got one assembled last night and I lugged it over to my stage area and ran the center channel wires to it. The thing is so efficient that I couldn't turn my system up to my normal setting which meant I also couldn't really hear any of the other speakers.

Walking around the seating area I was very pleased with respect to the clarity of the dialog at all the positions. I only had a crappy made for TV movie on so not a real test.

More to come.
Re: Three 4Pi's in Basic Black for Home Theater Build Thread [message #63937 is a reply to message #63934] Sun, 29 August 2010 14:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18670
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)

That's excellent. Now the adrenaline really starts to flow...

Re: Three 4Pi's in Basic Black for Home Theater Build Thread [message #63938 is a reply to message #63366] Sun, 29 August 2010 16:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
BigmouthinDC is currently offline  BigmouthinDC
Messages: 41
Registered: February 2010
Location: No VA
Baron
Just carried them in from the workshop, still some dust I see in the picture. All three work. Now to fish out the other wires, and give a run.

http://www.PiSpeakers.com/DIY/BigmouthinDC/BigmouthinDC_4Pi_HomeTheater_20_FinishedSpeakers.jpg
Re: Three 4Pi's in Basic Black for Home Theater Build Thread [message #63939 is a reply to message #63938] Sun, 29 August 2010 17:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
BigmouthinDC is currently offline  BigmouthinDC
Messages: 41
Registered: February 2010
Location: No VA
Baron
First report. I turned on some Satellite Smooth Jazz and set my Receiver to stereo. When sitting in the masters chair, 3 times I had to get up and put my ear to the center channel because that was were most of the sound was located but of course it was turned off. These things would be phenomenal for anyone needing to run a phantom center channel.
Re: Three 4Pi's in Basic Black for Home Theater Build Thread [message #63941 is a reply to message #63366] Sun, 29 August 2010 18:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
BigmouthinDC is currently offline  BigmouthinDC
Messages: 41
Registered: February 2010
Location: No VA
Baron
A close up (Speaker Porn)

http://www.PiSpeakers.com/DIY/BigmouthinDC/BigmouthinDC_4Pi_HomeTheater_21_CloseUp.jpg
Re: Three 4Pi's in Basic Black for Home Theater Build Thread [message #63942 is a reply to message #63366] Sun, 29 August 2010 19:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
BigmouthinDC is currently offline  BigmouthinDC
Messages: 41
Registered: February 2010
Location: No VA
Baron
A few more under the hood shots of the construction process.

It seemed like dampening the horn would be a good idea or at least couldn't hurt.

So first a little log cabin style:


http://www.PiSpeakers.com/DIY/BigmouthinDC/BigmouthinDC_4Pi_HomeTheater_22_HornDamping.jpg

Then a barbershop up and down with the remainder of the roll:

http://www.PiSpeakers.com/DIY/BigmouthinDC/BigmouthinDC_4Pi_HomeTheater_23_HornDamping.jpg

Then I got to thinking about what happens in ten years when the caulk dries so I gave it a gorilla brand duct tape safety net:

http://www.PiSpeakers.com/DIY/BigmouthinDC/BigmouthinDC_4Pi_HomeTheater_24_HornDamping.jpg

screwed the crossovers in on a 1/8 inch rubber pad.

http://www.PiSpeakers.com/DIY/BigmouthinDC/BigmouthinDC_4Pi_HomeTheater_25_CrossoversInstalled.jpg

Added some gold plated bling banana plug binding posts.

http://www.PiSpeakers.com/DIY/BigmouthinDC/BigmouthinDC_4Pi_HomeTheater_26_BindingPosts.jpg

Then the recommended insulation on the bottom, back, a cross section at the brace and the side by the port

http://www.PiSpeakers.com/DIY/BigmouthinDC/BigmouthinDC_4Pi_HomeTheater_27_Insulation.jpg

Re: Three 4Pi's in Basic Black for Home Theater Build Thread [message #63944 is a reply to message #63939] Sun, 29 August 2010 21:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18670
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)

Nice report! Your speakers look great and it sounds like they're sounding good too. Very good, must've wired 'em all up correctly.

Thanks for all the photos, by the way, I think they're interesting and very helpful for future builders reading this thread.

BigmouthinDC wrote on Sun, 29 August 2010 17:04
First report. I turned on some Satellite Smooth Jazz and set my Receiver to stereo. When sitting in the masters chair, 3 times I had to get up and put my ear to the center channel because that was were most of the sound was located but of course it was turned off. These things would be phenomenal for anyone needing to run a phantom center channel.

That's how I run mine, left and right axes crossed in front of the listeners, phantom center. I use two π speakers for surrounds.

BigmouthinDC wrote on Sun, 29 August 2010 19:20
It seemed like dampening the horn would be a good idea or at least couldn't hurt.

I don't damp mine with the caulk, although I have tried it. Bill Epstein, a good friend of mine, recommended it at one time but I personally could not hear or measure any difference. These H290's have a thick body and are dead to the tap. I will say I found it to be helpful on other horns with thinner bodies. I've even had some horns that rang like a bell, at a frequency in the passband. Yikes! But the H290 just isn't like that.

BigmouthinDC wrote on Sun, 29 August 2010 19:20
screwed the crossovers in on a 1/8 inch rubber pad.

Very good, nice touch. I think it is potentially important to put gaskets under the crossovers, to prevent them from buzzing. I mean, I've tried lots of mounting configurations from mounting on standoffs to wired in line (hanging) to mounting directly to the panel inside. I like this last approach best, because it is sturdy and rigid. The gasket makes sure the board doesn't buzz. I use silicon to tack down the components on the board as well.

BigmouthinDC wrote on Sun, 29 August 2010 19:20
Then the recommended insulation on the bottom, back, a cross section at the brace and the side by the port

Excellent. I noticed you didn't forget the cross-section piece, which is very important to ensure smooth midrange.

All-in-all, your speakers look like they are very well built and should give years (decades) of good sound.

Please report back when you've watched a few movies and also when you've lived with them a while, to let us know how you're liking them as time passes.

Re: Three 4Pi's in Basic Black for Home Theater Build Thread [message #63945 is a reply to message #63944] Sun, 29 August 2010 21:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
BigmouthinDC is currently offline  BigmouthinDC
Messages: 41
Registered: February 2010
Location: No VA
Baron
Thanks for the positive comments and thanks for making your plans available. Without the plans this effort wouldn't have happened.

I haven't forgot our discussion about the use of foam. When the horns were loose I made a cardboard template of the inside profiles of the horns so that I could attempt to fashion a foam plug. My plans are to make a plug, but to also send you a larger sheet of foam along with a piece of the screen fabric so that you can do some measurements of what might be the best strategy for behind screen placement. This assumes you still have an interest.
Re: Three 4Pi's in Basic Black for Home Theater Build Thread [message #63946 is a reply to message #63366] Mon, 30 August 2010 02:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Infrasonic is currently offline  Infrasonic
Messages: 17
Registered: March 2010
Location: Clovis, CA
Chancellor
Impressive work, DC.

Please keep us updated on your thoughts on these. I, for one, am very interested in their performance with movies.
Re: Three 4Pi's in Basic Black for Home Theater Build Thread [message #63947 is a reply to message #63366] Mon, 30 August 2010 02:58 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Psychoacoustic is currently offline  Psychoacoustic
Messages: 75
Registered: May 2009
Viscount
Congratulations on finishing your fabulous build. 4 Pi's performance will surely compliment that amazing theatre.
Always interesting to see: A) Speaker Porn... and B) The Porn Star in the making.
Efficient- spit out a few decibels, don't they! Shocked
Enjoy.
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