DIY Speaker Building, Repairing, & Upgrading - Blu-ray Forum

Big Daddy · 12-02-2009, 11:07 AM

Please post your DIY speaker projects in this thread. It will be very helpful if you include pictures.

Check the following:

Big Daddy's DIY speakers with full-range drivers in Post #116, Post #176, and Post #194. Also, Post #912, Post #918, Post #920, Post #946, Post #948, and Post #949 in my gallery.
Istoc's 3-Way DIY speakers in Post #231.
Reference 's Front Speakers and Center Channel Speaker building threads.
Beerserker's DIY speakers in Post #105.

==================================================

COMPONENTS OF A SPEAKER DRIVER

How a Speaker Works Animation:

http://static.howstuffworks.com/flas...er-working.swf

IMPORTANT LINKS FOR SPEAKER KITS, PARTS, REPAIRS, AND UPGRADES

LCY 100K, $518 a pair:
http://estore.websitepros.com/1736754/Detail.bok?no=323
http://diyclub.biz/catalog/product_i...roducts_id=433
http://www.lcy.com.hk/
http://www.madisound.com/catalog/pro...oducts_id=8293
Fostex Super Tweeters:
http://www.fostexinternational.com/d...Tweeters.shtml
http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/super-tweeters/
VMPS Ambience Tweeter:
http://www.vmpseurope.com/news.htm#AT
http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/i...?topic=51181.0
4PI PLUS.2:
http://www.elac.com/en/products/six100/4piplus_2.html
Teac's Tannoy ST-100:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/01/t...super-tweeter/
Grant Fidelity Super Tweeters:
http://grantfidelity.com/site/Grant_..._Super_Tweeter
Murata ES103:
http://www.blackdahlia.com/html/tip_48.html
Tonian Laboratories:
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazin...onian_tlr1.htm
Townshend, Maxxim Super Tweeter:
http://www.audiosalon.co.uk/townshendmaxxim.html
http://www.stereophile.com/artdudley...ing/index.html
http://www.musicdirect.com/product/74495
Technical Pro External Tweeters:
http://www.technicalhifi.com/cats.ph...451ef31b3c1610
http://www.millionbuy.com/pyrtw28.html
Pyle Pro:
http://www.pyleaudio.com/itemdetail....s&model=PDBT35
http://www.buy.com/prod/pyle-pyle-pr...205853093.html

Big Daddy · 12-02-2009, 11:10 AM

MY POLK UPGRADE PROJECT

I own a pair of Polk RTA-15TL. They were the top-of the line non SDA Polk speakers from 1990 to 1992. They were listed for $1,400 back then and I paid $1,100 for them. These are the specifications:

Drivers
One 1 inch (25 mm) SL 3000 Dome Tweeter
Four 6.5 inch (165 mm) Trilaminate Polymer Bass-Midrange Drivers (6503)
Two 10 inch (254 mm) Sub-Bass Radiators, One High-Resonance, One Low-Resonance
Frequency Response
20 Hz - 26 kHz
-3 db Limits
35 Hz - 25kHz
Recommended Amplification
30-250 Watts/Channel
Impedance
Compatible with 8 Ohms Output
Efficiency
90 db
Size
43"H (109.2 cm), 12.5" W (31.7 cm), 15.5" D (39.4 cm)
Shipping Weight
77 lbs (34.9 kg)

Polk Audio has developed new silk dome tweeters (RD0198-1) that fit the Polk RTA and SDA models. They are about $150 a pair, but if you join Club Polk, you get a discount and they will charge you only $100. It is always a good idea to get your spouse involved. I asked Mrs. Big Daddy to call Polk and order the new tweeters. She is catching the upgraditis virus very fast. They arrived after a few days and I got busy. Here is a pictorial demonstration of how I replaced the tweeters.

This picture is taken with the old SL 3000 tweeter:

This is the Polk RTA-15TL speaker with the new RD0198-1 tweeter:

ADDING SUPER TWEETERS

Craziness did not stop with replacing the tweeters. I had to do something else and that something else cost me a lot of money.

The final step was to add a pair of ribbon super tweeters. Let’s hope this is the final step. Super tweeters cost from a couple of hundred dollars to a couple of thousand dollars. Initially, I was tempted to buy Townshend super tweeters, but they cost $1,400 a pair. After exhaustive research, I settled for a pair of LCY 100K super tweeters from E-Speakers.Com for about $580, including tax and shipping. Their frequency reponse are rated up to 100kHz with two built-in crossover settings. They also have a beautiful metallic case with locks. The reviews are very good.

Attaching them is very easy. You simply connect them to the binding posts of the main speakers and place them on top of your speakers. You can tweak their position and direction a little bit until you get the desired sound.

The speakers sound so much better. I just listened to Dead Can Dance: Into the Labyrinth. The CD has a lot of high and low frequency music in it. I am not exaggerating, the improvement in sound is almost 100%. I hear things that I never knew existed on the album. After an added subwoofer, new tweeters, and a pair of super tweeters, I believe the speakers have been converted to $20,000 speakers.

This is a picture of the equipment that drive the Polk speakers.

Polk Audio Silk Dome Tweeters:
1-800-377-7655
http://www.polkaudio.com
2 x RD0198-1, $100 (with Club Polk discount)

crazyBLUE · 12-02-2009, 11:13 AM

Good Morning Big Daddy .

Do you think I should post up how I did my TSi-300's

Big Daddy · 12-02-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

Good Morning Big Daddy .

Do you think I should post up how I did my TSi-300's

You can do that. There are a few people who feel we should separate the DIY subwoofers from the DIY speakers.

Somehow I am not able to edit my posts and save them. I want to add more links to post #2 and it won't let me.

crazyBLUE · 12-02-2009, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

You can do that. There are a few people who feel we should separate the DIY subwoofers from the DIY speakers.

Somehow I am not able to edit my posts and save them. I want to add more links to post #2 and it won't let me.

I think you should wake iceman up & have him get right on it & fix it

I will see if I can come up with something like I did in the other thread . this next weekend .

Good luck solving the problem !

Fors* · 12-02-2009, 12:45 PM

Another great sticky BD.....thank you!

Animo · 12-02-2009, 02:18 PM

Where was this thread 11 years ago when I built my mains???
I can show finished pictures, but not the build.

Big Daddy · 12-02-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Animo

Where was this thread 11 years ago when I built my mains???
I can show finished pictures, but not the build.

There was no blu-ray.com 11 years ago.

Go ahead and post some pictures and information.

jomari · 12-02-2009, 06:26 PM

great thread for the DIYers...

hopefully we get a dedicated sub section for em...

Animo · 12-02-2009, 07:53 PM

My partner in crime, best friend,
co-builder of my speakers and my eD sub, sent me this link this morning.

http://www.zaphaudio.com/SB12.3/

Looks like an awesome build.
We were thinking, who could we build this for,
and when do we start???

Animo · 12-02-2009, 07:54 PM

Here's my DIY build for my main speakers.
I decided to copy the original post from the Emotiva Lounge. The first link is to another thread where I describe the drivers and design that we used in the build. The link at the bottom of this thread is for the complete thread at the Emotiva Lounge......

Instead of rewriting everything, for information on my speakers click the link. These were built by Nicholas322 and myself about 10 years ago.
http://emotivalounge.proboards.com/i...ad=2819&page=1
The monitors are identical, the bass cabinets are mirrors of each other. The crossover is in a seperate box behind each monitor. This system is tri-amp capable. And for anyone that wants to know...Yes, those are wheels on the bottom. We think it compares very favorably to, if not better than this speaker which cost over 10 times as much.
http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/1008ava/

Now for the pictures. We call it, "The Excelsior Custom".

This post and these pictures are duplicated at the top of the thread, but there are other remarks, questions, and answers, if anyone is interested.......
http://emotivalounge.proboards.com/i...ad=3231&page=1

Animo · 12-03-2009, 04:12 AM

Thanks Big Daddy.
You are the man!!!

crazyBLUE · 12-03-2009, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Animo

Thanks Big Daddy.
You are the man!!!

What about mine !!

Big Daddy · 12-03-2009, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

What about mine !!

I feel handicapped. I have been trying to edit and add information to post #2 of this thread and it won't allow me to save it. Iceman tells me that there is nothing wrong. I have tried this in my other sricky threads and the same thing happens. When I add, subtract, or modify anything in one of my long sticky posts and try to save it, it takes 2-3 minutes and then gives me a Database Error message. I have a feeling that the length of the posts may have something to do with it, but I have tried to delete several paragraphs and the same thing happens.

The only other possibility is that I have completely lost my mind. I have wasted way too much time in the last few days and feel completely frustrated and angry. If this continues for another day, I will quit and banish myself to my HT room instead of wasting my time in front of the computer.

Big Daddy is really pissed.

crazyBLUE · 12-03-2009, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I feel handicapped. I have been trying to edit and add information to post #2 of this thread and it won't allow me to save it. Iceman tells me that there is nothing wrong. I have tried this in my other sricky threads and the same thing happens. When I add, subtract, or modify anything in one of my long sticky posts and try to save it, it takes 2-3 minutes and then gives me a Database Error message. I have a feeling that the length of the posts may have something to do with it, but I have tried to delete several paragraphs and the same thing happens.

The only other possibility is that I have completely lost my mind. I have wasted way too much time in the last few days and feel completely frustrated and angry. If this continues for another day, I will quit and banish myself to my HT room instead of wasting my time in front of the computer.

Big Daddy is really pissed.

I'm Sorry you are upset BD , I don't blame you ! Maybe A Movie would be A good thing right about now .

I hope you get it resolved soon

I think the riser might come home tomorrow

Beerserker · 12-04-2009, 12:37 PM

... and so it begins

SUMMARY

This will be a ground up build of a pair of floor-standing mains and bookshelf surrounds. The mains are a three way design with a driver arrangement of MTMWWWW. The surrounds are also three ways in a MTW arrangement. The Box construction will be MDF covered in Fiddleback Maple wood veneer. I will be documenting the entire build and updating in this thread as I progress.

THE BUILDER

...some say...

That he emerged from the womb with a full mustache...

...and...

That he speaks four languages... none of them human...

...all we know...

Is that he's called Beerserker!

[IMG]

[/IMG]

THE GORY DETAILS

Speaker Guts:

Here we have the glorious internal organs for one of the Mains. Four Dayton RS-180 Woofers, two Tangband W4-1337, and a Vifa XT25 tweeter with double magnets. The careful eye will also spot the sound deadening barrier and poly-fill in the back left, the port and wire in the center, and the crossover, binding posts, plates and feet. The pineapple is there for scale, and deliciousness.

The drivers are all very quality pieces and each one is a top performer in it's price bracket. They all run about $40 to $60 each but it is tough to beat any of them for under $100. Price was important due to the fact that this project requires 14 woofers, 8 mids, and 5 Tweets. That count also includes the CC I have already built.

As you can see the crossover is already assembled, so I will not be able to show you that part. Next time maybe. It's not as fun or interesting as you might imagine anyway. If you can follow a electronics schematic and solder, the only hard part is the arrangement of the components. That is,I should say, if you pick a design that is already built and documented. Designing a crossover from the ground up is very difficult and it takes a knowledgeable builder with good measuring equipment and a trained ear. Far beyond my level.

GRATUITOUS ACTION!!

...Well not really, it's just a sheet of MDF.

This is actually a shot of building my circular saw guide that I also did today. Unless you have a nice cabinet saw that can handle full 4X8 sheets, you will need to a least break the sheets down with a circular saw. And for that I highly recommend a guide. You can buy one or build one like I did.

[IMG]

[/IMG]
Saw and guide, doing their thing.

[IMG]

[/IMG]
Results. OOOHHHH how glamorous!!! Ya its just some legnths of wood, but it takes a surprisingly long time to take measurements, set the guide and make the cut. Then do it again a dozen times. I wish I had a cabinet saw.

TOOLS USED

[IMG]

[/IMG]
Pretty self evident. Clamps, circular saw. pencil, tape measure and saw horses were all that I needed today to break down the sheet of MDF. The nail gun and glue were used to build the saw guide on the right.

MESS MADE

[IMG]

[/IMG]
My circular saw has no "dust management" system, so the dust manages to get all over my garage. I have resorted to quarantining one bay with sheets of plastic to stop the dust plague from spreading. Speaking of which, you absolutely need to wear a dust mask when doing this. MDF is just very fine sawdust mixed with resin and molded into a sheet. The dust particles are very small and will fill you lungs. The resin also contains formaldehyde. Wear a good mask with a rubber surround like I have on. If you have dust management you can get away with a paper mask.

That's it for today. Off to the dungeon for the night.

crazyBLUE · 12-04-2009, 12:47 PM

Looks good for A start Beerserker . Can't wait to see how they turn out , So keep the pics coming !!

Beerserker · 12-04-2009, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

...It is always a good idea to get your spouse involved. I asked Mrs. Big Daddy to call Polk and order the new tweeters. She is catching the upgraditis virus very fast.

he,he,he

Beerserker · 12-04-2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

Looks good for A start Beerserker . Can't wait to see how they turn out , So keep the pics coming !!

Thank you. Glad to know you will be following the thread.

Big Daddy · 12-04-2009, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beerserker

... and so it begins

SUMMARY

This will be a ground up build of a pair of floor-standing mains and bookshelf surrounds. The mains are a three way design with a driver arrangement of MTMWWWW. The surrounds are also three ways in a MTW arrangement. The Box construction will be MDF covered in Fiddleback Maple wood veneer. I will be documenting the entire build and updating in this thread as I progress.

That looks impressive. Maybe, I should order a couple of speakers from you.

P.S. Does the pineapple go inside the speaker? Does it help its low-end frequency?

12-04-2009, 12:37 PM	#16
Beerserker Active Member Member since:Dec 2009 Location:Las Vegas	... and so it begins SUMMARY This will be a ground up build of a pair of floor-standing mains and bookshelf surrounds. The mains are a three way design with a driver arrangement of MTMWWWW. The surrounds are also three ways in a MTW arrangement. The Box construction will be MDF covered in Fiddleback Maple wood veneer. I will be documenting the entire build and updating in this thread as I progress. THE BUILDER ...some say... That he emerged from the womb with a full mustache... ...and... That he speaks four languages... none of them human... ...all we know... Is that he's called Beerserker! [IMG][/IMG] THE GORY DETAILS Speaker Guts: Here we have the glorious internal organs for one of the Mains. Four Dayton RS-180 Woofers, two Tangband W4-1337, and a Vifa XT25 tweeter with double magnets. The careful eye will also spot the sound deadening barrier and poly-fill in the back left, the port and wire in the center, and the crossover, binding posts, plates and feet. The pineapple is there for scale, and deliciousness. The drivers are all very quality pieces and each one is a top performer in it's price bracket. They all run about $40 to $60 each but it is tough to beat any of them for under $100. Price was important due to the fact that this project requires 14 woofers, 8 mids, and 5 Tweets. That count also includes the CC I have already built. As you can see the crossover is already assembled, so I will not be able to show you that part. Next time maybe. It's not as fun or interesting as you might imagine anyway. If you can follow a electronics schematic and solder, the only hard part is the arrangement of the components. That is,I should say, if you pick a design that is already built and documented. Designing a crossover from the ground up is very difficult and it takes a knowledgeable builder with good measuring equipment and a trained ear. Far beyond my level. GRATUITOUS ACTION!! ...Well not really, it's just a sheet of MDF. This is actually a shot of building my circular saw guide that I also did today. Unless you have a nice cabinet saw that can handle full 4X8 sheets, you will need to a least break the sheets down with a circular saw. And for that I highly recommend a guide. You can buy one or build one like I did. [IMG][/IMG] Saw and guide, doing their thing. [IMG][/IMG] Results. OOOHHHH how glamorous!!! Ya its just some legnths of wood, but it takes a surprisingly long time to take measurements, set the guide and make the cut. Then do it again a dozen times. I wish I had a cabinet saw. TOOLS USED [IMG][/IMG] Pretty self evident. Clamps, circular saw. pencil, tape measure and saw horses were all that I needed today to break down the sheet of MDF. The nail gun and glue were used to build the saw guide on the right. MESS MADE [IMG][/IMG] My circular saw has no "dust management" system, so the dust manages to get all over my garage. I have resorted to quarantining one bay with sheets of plastic to stop the dust plague from spreading. Speaking of which, you absolutely need to wear a dust mask when doing this. MDF is just very fine sawdust mixed with resin and molded into a sheet. The dust particles are very small and will fill you lungs. The resin also contains formaldehyde. Wear a good mask with a rubber surround like I have on. If you have dust management you can get away with a paper mask. That's it for today. Off to the dungeon for the night. Last edited by Beerserker; 12-04-2009 at 12:45 PM.

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12-02-2009, 11:07 AM	#1
Big Daddy Blu-ray Champion Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Southern California Home Theater Gallery:79 Blu-ray collection:122 Trading Score:1	DIY Speaker Building, Repairing, & Upgrading Please post your DIY speaker projects in this thread. It will be very helpful if you include pictures. Check the following: Big Daddy's DIY speakers with full-range drivers in Post #116, Post #176, and Post #194. Also, Post #912, Post #918, Post #920, Post #946, Post #948, and Post #949 in my gallery. Istoc's 3-Way DIY speakers in Post #231. Reference 's Front Speakers and Center Channel Speaker building threads. Beerserker's DIY speakers in Post #105. ================================================== COMPONENTS OF A SPEAKER DRIVER How a Speaker Works Animation: http://static.howstuffworks.com/flas...er-working.swf IMPORTANT LINKS FOR SPEAKER KITS, PARTS, REPAIRS, AND UPGRADES Introduction to Electronics: http://www.101science.com/Radio.htm Speaker Kits http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=300-702, Watch the videos at the end of the page. http://www.parts-express.com/webpage...ctGroup_ID=769 http://www.parts-express.com/wizards...omo=&srchAttr= http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...gn=email013113 http://www.gr-research.com/index.asp...ATS&Category=2 http://www.zalytron.com/ http://www.theloudspeakerkit.com/sho...egoryType=kits http://www.occamaudio.com/kits.html http://www.selahaudio.com/id268.html http://meniscusaudio.com/systems-kits-c-133.html http://www.madisound.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=178 http://www.pispeakers.com/catalog/default.php http://www.solen.ca/pub/index.php?q=...50cmVyPSZpPTQ= http://www.decware.com/newsite/speakers.html http://www.linkwitzlab.com/Wood%20Ar...%20LL-home.htm http://www.woodartistry.com/speakers/index.html http://speaker-parts.worldomain.net/...aker_Kits.html http://www.seas.no/index.php?option=...d=28&Itemid=38 http://www.fountek.com.au/products/ss-kit/ http://www.craftyhands.net/Audio.htm http://www.steinaudio.com/ Exotic Speaker Design http://www.parts-express.com/project...m?project=hoss http://www.parts-express.com/project...ect=TheSyphons http://www.parts-express.com/project...roject=Colossi http://www.linkwitzlab.com/ http://www.frugal-horn.com/ Speaker Buiding Books http://www.amazon.com/Loudspeaker-De.../dp/1882580109 http://www.amazon.com/Speaker-Buildi...217891&sr=8-27 http://www.amazon.com/Designing-Buil...8217749&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-L...8217724&sr=8-2 http://www.parts-express.com/wizards...CAT&srchCat=72 http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...-9780240520148 Many Speaker Building Titles: http://www.partsconnexion.com/books.html Speaker and Crossover Design & Calculators: http://www.diyaudioandvideo.com/ https://forum.blu-ray.com/subwoofers...-settings.html Understanding Speaker Technology: http://www.ht-audio.com/pages/SpeakerBasics.html http://www.ecoustics.com/Home/Home_A...les/alpha.html http://www.educypedia.be/electronics/loudspeakers.htm http://www.fostexinternational.com/d...erview_1.shtml Full-Range Drivers http://fullrangedriver.com/forum/ http://fullrangedriver.com/singledriver/ http://diyaudioprojects.com/Drivers/FE127E/FE127E.htm http://www.fostexspeakers.com/fostex.html http://www.markaudio.com/ http://www.voxativ.com/eng/ Super Tweeters LCY 100K, $518 a pair: http://estore.websitepros.com/1736754/Detail.bok?no=323 http://diyclub.biz/catalog/product_i...roducts_id=433 http://www.lcy.com.hk/ http://www.madisound.com/catalog/pro...oducts_id=8293 Fostex Super Tweeters: http://www.fostexinternational.com/d...Tweeters.shtml http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/super-tweeters/ VMPS Ambience Tweeter: http://www.vmpseurope.com/news.htm#AT http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/i...?topic=51181.0 4PI PLUS.2: http://www.elac.com/en/products/six100/4piplus_2.html Teac's Tannoy ST-100: http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/01/t...super-tweeter/ Grant Fidelity Super Tweeters: http://grantfidelity.com/site/Grant_..._Super_Tweeter Murata ES103: http://www.blackdahlia.com/html/tip_48.html Tonian Laboratories: http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazin...onian_tlr1.htm Townshend, Maxxim Super Tweeter: http://www.audiosalon.co.uk/townshendmaxxim.html http://www.stereophile.com/artdudley...ing/index.html http://www.musicdirect.com/product/74495 Technical Pro External Tweeters: http://www.technicalhifi.com/cats.ph...451ef31b3c1610 http://www.millionbuy.com/pyrtw28.html Pyle Pro: http://www.pyleaudio.com/itemdetail....s&model=PDBT35 http://www.buy.com/prod/pyle-pyle-pr...205853093.html Parts, Repairs, and Upgrades http://meniscusaudio.com/index.php http://www.parts-express.com http://www.partsconnexion.com/ (Located in Canada) http://creativesound.ca/ (Located in Canada) http://www.speakerrepair.com/mm5/merchant.mvc http://www.reliablehardware.com/ http://www.newfoam.com/wood.asp Active & Passive Crossovers: http://www.marchandelec.com/index.html Active Crossovers: http://www.creativesound.ca/products.php?make=Reckhorn Resetting Loose Driver Magnets: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=202963 Dave Schulte, Upgrade Company: http://upgradecompany.com/ Vintage Audio Repair: http://www.oldsoundequipment.com/index.html http://www.solen.ca/pub/index.php?q=...50cmVyPSZpPTQ= http://www.speakerex.com/ http://www.simplyspeakers.com/ http://www.speakercity.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc? http://www.madisound.com/ http://www.oaktreeent.com/Polk-Audio_Speaker_Parts.htm http://www.speakerdoctor.com/diaphragms.html http://www.lab-acoustics.com/shop/?cart=171309&cat=1& http://www.mcmelectronics.com/ http://www.e-speakers.com/ http://www.onlyfactorydirect.net/ http://www.goldpt.com/prices.html http://www.mouser.com/search/Default.aspx Cabinet Coverings Vinyl Laminate Covering http://www.parts-express.com/webpage...ctGroup_ID=135 Veneer Covering http://www.parts-express.com/webpage...ctGroup_ID=832 Melamine Covering http://www.parts-express.com/webpage...ctGroup_ID=828 Speaker Terminals & Binding Posts http://www.parts-express.com/wizards...AT&srchCat=417 http://www.parts-express.com/wizards...TOKEN=97751564 http://www.parts-express.com/wizards...TOKEN=97751564 Speaker Gasketing Tape http://www.parts-express.com/webpage...ctGroup_ID=818 Screws and T Nuts http://www.profhdwr.com/55008.htm http://www.parts-express.com/webpage...ctGroup_ID=829 http://www.parts-express.com/webpage...ctGroup_ID=830 http://www.parts-express.com/webpage...ctGroup_ID=831 Spikes and Isolation Feet: http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=spe...ikes&_osacat=0 http://www.oregondv.com/spikes.htm http://www.parts-express.com/wizards...hFilter=spikes http://www.reliablehardware.com/ http://www.av-outlet.com/index.html?...tml&lang=en-us http://www.soundproofcow.com/sound-i...n-control.html http://www.drillspot.com/tag/vibration-isolator/ http://www.fullcompass.com/product/316672.html http://www.fullcompass.com/product/239266.html http://www.fullcompass.com/product/239265.html http://www.fullcompass.com/product/239264.html Casters: https://www.sescasters.com/scripts/i...rface=products http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...atalogId=10053 Cabinet Dampening Material: Acousta-Stuf Polyfill 1 lb. Bag, $10.80 http://www.parts-express.com/webpage...up_ID=137&SO=2 You can use Poly-Fil filler material available at Wal-mart and most craft and fabric stores. They are a lot cheaper. http://www.amazon.com/Air-lite-Premi...6325423&sr=8-1 http://www.poly-fil.com/fiberfill.asp Vinyl Sound Damping Sheet 10" x 13", $4.25 ea + Shipping http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=268-030 1/2" Acoustic Foam, 18" x 24", $8.97 ea + Shipping http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=260-520 1" Acoustic Foam, 18" x 24", $12.23 ea + Shipping http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=260-525 More Dampening Material: http://www.raamaudio.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?p=pr Understanding Dampening: http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/spe...stuffed_e.html Last edited by Big Daddy; 02-06-2013 at 09:35 AM.

12-02-2009, 11:10 AM	#2
Big Daddy Blu-ray Champion Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Southern California Home Theater Gallery:79 Blu-ray collection:122 Trading Score:1	MY POLK UPGRADE PROJECT I own a pair of Polk RTA-15TL. They were the top-of the line non SDA Polk speakers from 1990 to 1992. They were listed for $1,400 back then and I paid $1,100 for them. These are the specifications: Drivers One 1 inch (25 mm) SL 3000 Dome Tweeter Four 6.5 inch (165 mm) Trilaminate Polymer Bass-Midrange Drivers (6503) Two 10 inch (254 mm) Sub-Bass Radiators, One High-Resonance, One Low-Resonance Frequency Response 20 Hz - 26 kHz -3 db Limits 35 Hz - 25kHz Recommended Amplification 30-250 Watts/Channel Impedance Compatible with 8 Ohms Output Efficiency 90 db Size 43"H (109.2 cm), 12.5" W (31.7 cm), 15.5" D (39.4 cm) Shipping Weight 77 lbs (34.9 kg) Polk Audio has developed new silk dome tweeters (RD0198-1) that fit the Polk RTA and SDA models. They are about $150 a pair, but if you join Club Polk, you get a discount and they will charge you only $100. It is always a good idea to get your spouse involved. I asked Mrs. Big Daddy to call Polk and order the new tweeters. She is catching the upgraditis virus very fast. They arrived after a few days and I got busy. Here is a pictorial demonstration of how I replaced the tweeters. This picture is taken with the old SL 3000 tweeter: This is the Polk RTA-15TL speaker with the new RD0198-1 tweeter: ADDING SUPER TWEETERS Craziness did not stop with replacing the tweeters. I had to do something else and that something else cost me a lot of money. The final step was to add a pair of ribbon super tweeters. Let’s hope this is the final step. Super tweeters cost from a couple of hundred dollars to a couple of thousand dollars. Initially, I was tempted to buy Townshend super tweeters, but they cost $1,400 a pair. After exhaustive research, I settled for a pair of LCY 100K super tweeters from E-Speakers.Com for about $580, including tax and shipping. Their frequency reponse are rated up to 100kHz with two built-in crossover settings. They also have a beautiful metallic case with locks. The reviews are very good. Attaching them is very easy. You simply connect them to the binding posts of the main speakers and place them on top of your speakers. You can tweak their position and direction a little bit until you get the desired sound. The speakers sound so much better. I just listened to Dead Can Dance: Into the Labyrinth. The CD has a lot of high and low frequency music in it. I am not exaggerating, the improvement in sound is almost 100%. I hear things that I never knew existed on the album. After an added subwoofer, new tweeters, and a pair of super tweeters, I believe the speakers have been converted to $20,000 speakers. This is a picture of the equipment that drive the Polk speakers. Polk Audio Silk Dome Tweeters: 1-800-377-7655 http://www.polkaudio.com 2 x RD0198-1, $100 (with Club Polk discount) Last edited by Big Daddy; 06-02-2010 at 05:50 AM.

12-02-2009, 11:13 AM	#3
crazyBLUE Moderator Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Aug 2008 Location:Pacific Northwest Home Theater Gallery:89 Blu-ray collection:479 DVD collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 38 Trading Score:30	Good Morning Big Daddy . Do you think I should post up how I did my TSi-300's

12-02-2009, 12:45 PM	#6
Fors* Moderator Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Pottstown, PA in July, 2023 Home Theater Gallery:145 Blu-ray collection:130 Trading Score:11	Another great sticky BD.....thank you!

12-02-2009, 02:18 PM	#7
Animo Senior Member Member since:Jul 2009 Location:Brooklyn, NY Home Theater Gallery:24 Trading Score:1	Where was this thread 11 years ago when I built my mains??? I can show finished pictures, but not the build.

12-02-2009, 06:26 PM	#9
jomari Moderator Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Home Theater Gallery:18 Blu-ray reviews: 2 Trading Score:2	great thread for the DIYers... hopefully we get a dedicated sub section for em...

12-02-2009, 07:53 PM	#10
Animo Senior Member Member since:Jul 2009 Location:Brooklyn, NY Home Theater Gallery:24 Trading Score:1	My partner in crime, best friend, co-builder of my speakers and my eD sub, sent me this link this morning. http://www.zaphaudio.com/SB12.3/ Looks like an awesome build. We were thinking, who could we build this for, and when do we start???

12-02-2009, 07:54 PM	#11
Animo Senior Member Member since:Jul 2009 Location:Brooklyn, NY Home Theater Gallery:24 Trading Score:1	Here's my DIY build for my main speakers. I decided to copy the original post from the Emotiva Lounge. The first link is to another thread where I describe the drivers and design that we used in the build. The link at the bottom of this thread is for the complete thread at the Emotiva Lounge...... Instead of rewriting everything, for information on my speakers click the link. These were built by Nicholas322 and myself about 10 years ago. http://emotivalounge.proboards.com/i...ad=2819&page=1 The monitors are identical, the bass cabinets are mirrors of each other. The crossover is in a seperate box behind each monitor. This system is tri-amp capable. And for anyone that wants to know...Yes, those are wheels on the bottom. We think it compares very favorably to, if not better than this speaker which cost over 10 times as much. http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/1008ava/ Now for the pictures. We call it, "The Excelsior Custom". This post and these pictures are duplicated at the top of the thread, but there are other remarks, questions, and answers, if anyone is interested....... http://emotivalounge.proboards.com/i...ad=3231&page=1 Last edited by Big Daddy; 12-03-2009 at 03:51 AM.

12-03-2009, 04:12 AM	#12
Animo Senior Member Member since:Jul 2009 Location:Brooklyn, NY Home Theater Gallery:24 Trading Score:1	Thanks Big Daddy. You are the man!!!

12-04-2009, 12:47 PM	#17
crazyBLUE Moderator Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Aug 2008 Location:Pacific Northwest Home Theater Gallery:89 Blu-ray collection:479 DVD collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 38 Trading Score:30	Looks good for A start Beerserker . Can't wait to see how they turn out , So keep the pics coming !!

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