DIY Speaker Kits - Build, Modify and Review the Dayton Audio C-Note Kit from Parts Express
Тәжірибелік нұсқаулар және стиль
Is the Dayton Audio C-Note from Parts Express an 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐈𝐘 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐊𝐢𝐭? That is the question we are going to try to answer in this video here at the Cuban Redneck DIY Channel. If you follow my channel, you know that I have been hinting at installing a surround sound system in my living room. Yes, my living room, I will not call it home theater because I know what that is and it is not. I am not going to call a media room because it is not that either. It is just my living room. Where last year, I installed a Visio 65" screen. The room is a bit strange, measuring 19X11. Hell, the entire house is weird. All the rooms are rectangular, no 12X12 here, as customary in Florida.
As I said in the video, I don't need speaker enclosures, but the kit comes with them. My goal is to build an on-wall plate much like the Morel SoundWall LCR4SW In-wall speaker. At around $2000 or $3600 with a sub, that is a little too rich for my wallet. Not from the point of view of money, but I just don't think they are worth that much. However, it is one of the most accurate sounding inwall-soundbars in the market, so when you are considered the Bugatti of speakers, a premium price tag is to be expected.
Nevertheless, many people may be interested in a 𝐃𝐈𝐘 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 that seeks to push what the speakers kit is already to another level. Yes, there are hundreds of videos on the Dayton Audio C-Note from Parts Express and endless numbers of blogs where it got reviewed and tested. Indeed the Dayton Audio C-Note from Parts Express is considered by many to be an entry-level Audiophile DIY Speaker Kit that does not disappoint! Not for $100 anyways! And that is precisely why I am building this speaker kit! After speaking to several acquaintances, some in the recording business, more than one has said that nothing at Best Buy, Crutchfield, or Audio Advisor under $500 can touch these speakers with a ten-foot pole.
This video and build have two goals. One is for me to find out how these speakers sound, and two cover areas of the build many of the other videos and reviews have ignored or skipped regarding the 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐂-𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞 from 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬. I think that too many audiophiles focus too much on measurement. Many every tested the speakers on raw MDF without any finish. I will finish these speakers to where they are pleasant to look at, and I will make modifications I think will enhance their performance.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐂-𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐈𝐘 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐊𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬
PROS: There are many pros to this 𝐃𝐈𝐘 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐊𝐢𝐭, starting with high-quality crossover parts. I mounted my crossover on a pc board simply because I am not a fan of loose crossover components or even hot glue together. Although the drivers are budget pieces meaning plastic lens for the tweeter and stamp basket for the woofer, they measure very well. The crossover design is also on point.
CONS: There are very few things to nick pick about the Dayton Audio C-Note DIY Speaker Kit from Parts Express. But I think most will agree that ½ MDF is a little cheese, even for a small bookshelf speaker like the C-Note. There is just a little bit of store energy resonance present in the decay plot, and I think that the less than adequate speaker enclosure has a lot to do with it! The sand cast resistor is something else I have a little bit of an issue with, just because I am well aware of the performance gains from this simple upgrade.
𝐃𝐈𝐘 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐊𝐢𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐬
Aside from using a pc board to mount the crossover components, the only other modifications I did to the C-Note speaker kit were adding dowels to eliminate unwanted resonance - two from the baffle to the backplate and one from side to side. I used what I had on hand, but .500 to .625 is more than adequate.
𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐈𝐘 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐊𝐢𝐭
I am very disappointed that I could not demo this DIY speaker kit for you guys on the video. As I explained at the end, the video was flagged by KZread, and I opted to take it down and reload without the demo session. As I said in the video, the end goal of this system is not to play reference 96k WAV files but rather live streaming media from the internet. So, I think that to properly judge the speakers' KZread offers the resources.
With that said, I was very impressed with how the speaker kit sounded with different tracks from @Audiophile NBR STORE but especially the video called - DSD Music Streaming ( • DSD Music Streaming - ... )
That first track was just amazing. The width and height of the stage were amazing and representative of speakers costing four or five times more. But I think that if you want to hear what this speaker kit can do, you need to check out Canen's @Jo Next Door Ain't No Sunshine (Bill Withers) - • Ain't No Sunshine - Bi... /
This was genuinely spectacular! I just ordered the center channel from Parts Express, and I hope you come back for that speaker kit build!
#DIYSpeakerKit #DaytonAudio #C-Note #PartsExpress #AudioPhile
Пікірлер: 156
WOW WOW WOW!!! I'm just getting into wood working and picked up a pair of these to try out. I actually built my own enclosures out of birch for the first time, making a triangular prism enclosure so I could mount these as atmos speakers in the front corners of my ceiling. Probably not the best first build as there are very few 90 degree cuts in this build and quite a few miter edges. I'm sooo impresssed with the time and care you put into these. I LOVE the idea of the dowels for extra strength and even the hot glue. You made this accessable for everyone with the materials you used and that is so appreciated, but it can't be overstated how skilled and precise you were this build. Well done. Would love to see you tackle some venear to see how you go about it.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
…no problem, and thank you for commenting! I have a follow-up video coming up with a veneer finish. Once you finish the Birch enclosures, let me know how they sound! I love hardwoods, but it makes for terrible speaker-building material.
Pretty much what I watched paralleled a recent rebuild of my Dayton Audio B652 bookshelf speakers. As pleased as I was with them, playing vinyl from my70s Pioneer manual turntable with the Ortofon Red cartridge and stylus, driven by my old-school Yamaha receiver, when pushed a bit, I could hear the resonance. The stock speaker cabinets were constructed out of 3/16” MDF and incorporated no cross brace. After careful internal measurements, entirely new cabinets were made with 3/4” MDF, a cross brace made of 1” hardwood dowel, interior speaker openings rounded over with my router, dynamat apples to the interior, and polyfill added. All exterior corners rounded over, and two coats or the Rustoleum black hammered enamel to finish them. Empty weight of the cabinet went from 3.4lbs to 9.2lbs. The return on my investment, mostly in my time, was so worth it. Was fun seeing what could be done with a very inexpensive set of speakers, and the appearance simply rocks!
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
… thank you for sharing. I am not done with these guys, but getting resistors and specific value caps for parts express has been an issue. I have a couple of hundred dollars worth of parts on backorder. With that said, and after some tuning, I can still hear that 700 Hz resonance in pieces like Spyro Gyra - Morning Dance after 1:15. And given the recent price increase, I think I am going to design an alternative for those who are seeking the most for the buck!
Great work! Reminds me of building my encores. I built the cabinets from scratch. I used the same method with the dowels where I drilled through and glued them. I also used a thin coat of bondo before tye primer it's just predictable the way it takes paint. I also used screws to keep the pieces aligned during gluing. Then removed the screws drilled out the holes and installed a dowel. I also used vinyl floor tiles inside the box like Danny recommended in lieu of no rez.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
...that is awesome! Thank you for sharing, you have no idea how much hate mail I have received for the way I made these, indeed there are flat earthers out there!
I made a very nice pair of these for my desk and seriously love listening to them, they give me so much joy :)
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
Wonderful! ...I have to say for the money they give a lot of branded speakers a run for the money! Happy Holidays and thank you for sharing!
I did a build vid with these. they sound great! They are powered with a Sony STR-DH190. I use a Dayton audio reference series 8 inch sub powered with a 100 watt plate amp to complete my setup.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
... AWESOME! For the money I think they are a great value.
@SteveHart
2 жыл бұрын
I hear that receiver is a great one for the money
Thank you so much for showing details on finishing the woodwork.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
... no problem, you are very welcome. I am running a little behind schedule with the follow up video due to huge number of backorders at *Part Express* but I intent to make an entire playlist for everything audio in the months to come!
I've watched a number of c-note builds, your's might be the most meticulous. Nice job.
@CubanRedneck
10 ай бұрын
... thank you, and thank you for stopping by!
I really appreciate your indepth build and review. I've been waiting for a relevant review on the c-notes for a while, even contemplated starting a KZread channel putting a pair together and other cheap Parts Express kits, because few seem to be doing them.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
…no problem, and thank you for commenting! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about getting the channel started!
Fun stuff and a big fan of Dayton Audio. Their MK602X speakers fill my workshop/shed/man-cave with wow, especially with the source being the Dunkirk soundtrack, through my 70s Pioneer manual turntable with Ortofon Red and a Yamaha receiver.
@CubanRedneck
Жыл бұрын
… awesome! I have been a little preoccupied with LIFE, Ian's visit, and a few other things, but I am looking forward to publishing a few DIY Audio projects in the coming months. And yes, my Garage/Workshop needs some sounds as well! Thank you for stopping by!
Love this video. I’ve been concerned about the quality of a kit enclosure and I really like your dowel idea as a way to address this. I also love the lacquer finish. Great video, very nice job of documenting the process.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
...thank you. Your comments are greatly appreciated!
Wow, you took this kit to another level. Great work!
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks a lot. Glad you enjoy it. The center channel just got delivered, so I will be making a follow up video soon!
Great build. One trick to prevent glue slide when clamping up, is to use a little fine salt on glue joint. I have used it successfully without strength problems.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
... I will definably try that! Thanks for commenting
All the attention this kit got has raised PE price to $140 now, but even with the thin wood its still included and a good deal
@CubanRedneck
9 ай бұрын
... in deed! Despite of all the hate and the negative comments I think it sounds pretty good compare to most of the stuff you find *Best Buy!* Thank you for stopping by!
Excellent tutorial, great results! thanks
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
... thank you! Glad it was helpful!
I built these, used batting boards on the edges to keep them square and didn't have a problem. That is fairly common when assembling things. You can also use a strap around the piece which will square it up as well.
@CubanRedneck
10 ай бұрын
... noted, thank you for stopping by!
Sweet. I just found your channel. Very cool video! Thanks for posting this! I will try this kit. I've built speakers from scratch before, but this kit seems very impressive. Subscribed for future content!
@CubanRedneck
Ай бұрын
…. Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate you! Yes, I have been away for a while, but I am looking forward to getting back to making videos
Excellent... Work the only... thing I would have done, and may build these, is follow Danny's advice and the internal wires from crossovers to speakers an to your binding posts. This too will up the sonic quality as you did with your getting rid of the sand cast resistors and the push connectors and the funky binding post. Still Excellent Job. And thanks for the passing on of painting steps I might have overlooked.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
...thank you! Much appreciated!
Thank for taking the time to post this video. I am just finishing up my set of C-Notes and I wish I had seen this beforehand. Your tips on the paint and finish process are fantastic for a someone wanting to make the most of a rattle can finish at home. I was also planning on damping the drivers and your idea of using hot glue is clever. I'll likely be using some butyl rope window weld I have. I also applied a 3/8" radius to the back side of the baffle to help the woofer "breathe" a bit. I'm curious to see what other modifications you come up with on your second build.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
… thank you for your comments. And yes, indeed, I have several options to test and publish, but the resistor, the USB mic, bypass caps, and other crossover components are still on backorder from Parts-Express. I have created several baffle boards and wanted to measure the effect of shifting the tweeter slightly to one side and stepping the woofer about a ¼ inch in front of the tweeter to better align the coils. Several people have also asked about the stands I used! I will not show the rig I made out of 2X3's, but I may build some high-performing budget stands for them.
Great video! That decay graph could mean quite a few things. Unless someone has tested it, it is impossible to say for sure. But it looks to be caused by standing waves. In a ported system like this, it would be good to line the walls with acoustic foam (something like sonic barrier). This will help dampen any standing waves and reduce those resonances.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
…hey thank you for sharing. I have done a lot of listening and quite a few measurements, even though I still have hundreds of dollars on backorder at *Part Express* and my USB mic adapter just picked up a 60hz hum out of nowhere, keeping me from completing my assessment. And yes, I have added additional damping to the woofer's frame and, even more, stuffing to the box. At this point, I am starting to think that this is related to the aluminum cone woofer. Not sure yet. Stay tuned! Also, many have expressed their discontent with the 50% price hike on the *C-Note speaker kit* causing me to consider replacing the woofer. I started doing some modeling but have not completed that either since my neck is still stiff from my accident.
@ze_german2921
Жыл бұрын
Have you ever used a "Milk Shake"? most common in Car Audio, It is a mixture between Fiber Glass Resin and Body Filler. You line the inside of the enclosure with it.
@jebrehbaker8613
Жыл бұрын
Can't just measure the woofer in free air or in a make shift baffle and see if it's there?
Great video. I built a pair of the Parts Express "Passive Aggressive" speakers to replace my crappy plastic computer speakers and I'm very happy with them. I'm planning to build a pair of the "C Note's" for my shop and will incorporate some of your suggestion like upgraded resistors into the build. I will probably paint them with Truck Bed liner since they are going to be shop speakers. : ) Thanks for the video!
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
…thank you for sharing! As I said in the video, I wanted to do a follow and have ordered a bunch of stuff. However, about 80% of my last 5 Parts Express orders are back-ordered. No resistors, not caps, I had ordered a Dayton 8" DVC sub for a Bluetooth boom box that is backed ordered, and even the USB mic to measure the changes to the C-Note. I think the issue with the C-Note is the aluminum cone drivers. If you listen to Spyro Gyra - Morning Dance at around 1:20, it gets blurry. Now that PE has raised the price to $150. I think I will design a $100 alternative with a different woofer! Looking at the TCP115-4 or DSA115-8, both are back-ordered as well. Stay tuned… a few more projects are coming as soon as I get some parts.
Great video, thanks for sharing
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching!
I ended up using my do it yourself speaker boxes in my garden for bird nest boxes..I now listen to the little birds chirping in stereo....😆🎶🎵🦜🐥🕊️
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
That's a great idea! ..but know that MDF don't hold very well outdoors!
I enjoyed your build video and crossover implemntation. I think your binding posts are interesting but I'm positive JBL and Polk engineers are not worried about any measureable disparities.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
...👍thank you for your comments!
the next time i do this kit i want to finish it with a vinyl wrap. thanks for the video, makes me ready to make this kit again
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
… I have been considering vinyl warp as well, and I tried 3M 2080 Chrome, but every imperfection on the MDF showed through. You either have to finish it to a very smooth finish or use something mat or with a texture like carbon fiver
@eonreeves4324
2 жыл бұрын
@@CubanRedneck I was wondering if that would be the case. Thanks!
Great video! Makes me want to order the kit.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
...thank you for commenting. The cost has gone up quite a bit. This has led me to experiment with other woofers since I have not been able to null the 700 Hz resonance from the drive due to its aluminum cone. I have a bunch of parts ordered, but most of them are on backorder. I will publish a follow-up asap.
Thanks for doing this video! It was awesome!
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
My pleasure! ...thank you for watching!
Great video.. thanks
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
... thank you, glad you liked it!
Nice work on the cabinets! Sorry about the copyright crybabies. I agree the .7ffle is a MINIMUM 1" or so preferred. I have cut a 2nd face for double layer of PE knockdown boxes in the past.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
...hey, thanks for sharing! I have been off the grid a bit due to an accident, but I need to do a follow-up video on this project. I have not been able to get the 700 Hz ring out of it, and I think it is the aluminum cone woofer! I have some alternative drivers ordered as well as some crossover parts, but it looks like everything I am interested in is on backorder at *Parts Express*
@BARBELLS-AND-BUDS
2 жыл бұрын
@@CubanRedneck Yeah some things I want on back order there as well. I have some Yamaha 3ways that are all aluminum drivers and they sound good for what they are, but can be harsh depending on music played. They were free with a Denon Receiver I bought 18 years ago lol. I just finished a build with RS28f silks and Silverflutes 6.5mbs, small sealed bookshelf. I have another project Im starting now MTM style with 5.25" SB Acoustics mbs and haven't decided on the highs yet. I was planning on Seas but turns out an eBay seller sold me a non working one so I only have one unless I get a new diaphragm. I might just go with SB ringdomes. Hope you are feeling better after your accident!!
I had found that website earlier. It would have been better if they would've allowed you to select the speakers that you would like to use, that way people can upload their testing of the sound to find the best match. After that they could offer that speaker along with donating a % of the profits to a charity of choice by the winner. They also have to redesign the box so that so many tools aren't needed; Japanese wood locking would most likely be best. The most marketable version would be the Bluetooth portable one that has a similar size to the Klipsch Groove. Excellent video
@CubanRedneck
Жыл бұрын
… hey, thank you for stopping by. This was video #1 on a series of videos I have planned for the channel. With hurricane Ian and everything else that has happened, things got a little off track, but I am looking forward to publishing over 100 videos next year, and many are going to be DIY audio projects!
You do an amazing job. I learned a ton. Thanks so much!!
@CubanRedneck
Жыл бұрын
You are so welcome thank you for stopping by!
Great work sir! Suggestion for future videos: I think there are a lot of mystery around what makes a difference or not in hi fi audio. If you could incorporate measurement comparisons into the mix of your content that could enhance traffic.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
…first thank you for taking the time to comment! I agreed 100%. I have several videos in the works, all on DIY speaker building, and I am struggling with parts of it because I am trying to keep it simple for newbies. However, it is becoming hard to explain the math and physics of audio without getting scientific, if that makes any sense! But working on it!
After your Primer, you should apply a thin coat of Flat Black paint, until you have some tiger stripes. By sanding the black off, it will reveal any imperfections and will tell you when to stop sanding.
@CubanRedneck
Жыл бұрын
... hey thank you for stopping but and sharing! That is highly effective if your final color is dark. By using an automotive primer you get the same effect except that it will be flat and glossy. Not something easily captured with an action cam. Although I am quite proficient with a spray gun and automotive paint I went out of my way to build this *DIY speaker kit* with basic tools and supplies in hope of convincing those in the middle of the fence that this is something they can do. However, it seems I when too basic based on the comments. But don't worry I'll be exploring more sophisticated procedures in future videos including a piano finish. Once again thank you!
@ze_german2921
Жыл бұрын
@@CubanRedneck Very Nice! I also Paint cars so I see this from a painters perspective. A guide coat simply makes things fool proof.
@CubanRedneck
Жыл бұрын
... agree! Thanks for sharing.
hey hey @bradpetersen92126 - nice video. I like your cabinet finishing process. Always looking to pick up even the smallest tips. Question: The Glazing Putty you use to fill pitting in MDF: what brand is that? Recommend that one, or is there a better one? I have tried a number of wood fillers, and putty's. Years ago, I even tried stuff like caulk, and drywall mud. I believe I still have a pair of one of my early builds that has between two and three pounds of drywall mud in it, sealed in primer, and encased in Duratex forever. I am ashamed today... but they still look and work great. I'd hate to see what would happen if there were any kind of impact to them, or they were dropped on a corner, or edge. They 'd shatter like glass.
Wow ,kreatif sekali ... bagus hasil nya .saya suka,saat ini hanya bisa lihat ,semoga suatu saat saya bisa meliki nya dengan adanya rezeki
@CubanRedneck
8 ай бұрын
... terima kasih sudah mampir, suatu hari nanti kamu akan mampir!
A light sprinkle of table salt in the glue before clamping up, prevents the shifting of the parts.
@CubanRedneck
9 ай бұрын
…thank you for stopping by! Without a doubt that works very well with ¾ inch material but proved ineffective on the .465 MDF
PS Kudos on not spilling your coffee!! LoL
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
....thanks
Great video! I have built these myself and the only thing I've done different is instead of using Polyfil I went to 5 Below and got a$5 yoga mat and cut it to fit the interior and hot glued and stapled it to reduce the vibration and "enlarge" the internal volume.
@CubanRedneck
Жыл бұрын
Very cool!
I am not an expert at all but I think that one of the reasons that speaker builders prefer mdf over wood (baltic birch, etc) is that it doesn’t expand and contract nearly as much. Looking forward to new speaker building videos in the future. It’s something I have always been interested in doing but haven’t had the time.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
…thank you for commenting. The reason for MDF is resonance. I have a lot of audio-related content coming. I have been off the grid for a few weeks after getting bang-up in an accident. Besides that, 80% of everything I have ordered from Part Express lately, including a new MIC for measurement, is back-ordered. I hope they get that situation under control soon.
@bingdong8571
6 ай бұрын
Very incorrect
@bingdong8571
6 ай бұрын
Very incorrect
@bingdong8571
6 ай бұрын
Very incorrect
@bingdong8571
6 ай бұрын
Very incorrect. Do not get mdf wet!
I just bought this kit too, and I look forward to build it. Some tweaks can be done to it, change the resistor as mentioned, but also the tweeter, to a more expensive one. An extra capacitor is also cheap, to make a better crossover, 0,22 mikrofarad. I will put some bitumen on the walls, to reinforce them, a cheap trick also.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
…thank you for commenting! Rereading your vocabulary, I can tell this is not your first rodeo. With that said, know that if you do an impedance sweep on the tweeter. You'll find that it is very well behaved. It is silk, and it has a NEO motor. The only issue I have with it is the thin lens. However, I think that a $5 tube of DP (Design Polymerics) 1030 mastic will solve that! Upgrading the cap on the tweeter will help only if all caps are replaced. That is something I did consider and why I used a PC board, but given the cost, I waved it off. This speaker kit sounds crazy good for $100. The drivers are well matched and the crossover is on point, but as I said in the video, the enclosures are weak. As to bitumen - I have had some issues with bitumen in the past, ungluing the surround and spider on poly cone speakers. Also, you have to consider that this is a ported design and unless you like the smell of tar, I suggest a low VOC option. I received the center channel last week and will be doing a follow-up. I don't have measuring equipment on hand, but I do have access to a lab. My objective is to get the best out of the kit for no more than $40-$50 over what it cost. If I am going to get into the $300 range, I may as well go for one of the GR Research kits. Almost everything that is wrong with this kit has been addressed on the X-LS Encore.
@bergennorway
2 жыл бұрын
@@CubanRedneck This will actually be my first build, because I want to find out how much you can get for "little money". I don't know if you read the thread on Audio Science Review, but I think it was there I read about adding an extra capacitor to help the woofer. I totally agree on not spending too much extra money on this kit, then I would buy something from GR Research or CSS. This kit has very decent parts for the crossover compared to many other speakers. I was also surprised by the magnet on the woofer, it was big and heavy. First I need to buy some tools before I can start building the cabinet. But I will start building the crossover first, anyway. And I will solder the wire to speakers too, like you did. Maybe I will not use bitumen, the cabinet can be reinforced in several ways.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
…without a doubt, I recommend listening to it before going crazy and changing too many things. A ¾ inch baffle board and the three dowels I added will go a long way toward making this a very satisfying DIY project.
@bergennorway
2 жыл бұрын
@@CubanRedneck My speakers will be ready this weekend, I think. The tools for building them finally arrived. I decided to build the cabinet first, so now I will start with the crossover. Regarding music samples, I totally agree with you, no need for them at KZread, unless «you» have an expensive separate microphone. There are some videoes with speakers playing at KZread, but most get flagged, as far as I know.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
AWESOME!
I built a similar speakers to this you can use plastic wood they do sell a wood filler that works perfectly fine and dries within an hour once you sand that you can't tell the difference between the original and the wood filler if you stain it or if you're going to paint it make sure that you use a primer sanding primer like you would do if you're going fuses on a car because you using it on pressure board and that stuff absorbs paint like you would not believe so if you use a primer on it it'll cut down there about the paint that you use and it will give you a much better finish
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
… thanks for sharing. I use plastic wood all the time. It cracks when you are trying to fill significant gaps. It is perfect for nail heads and things like that but not for large openings, as to the primer. I did use a primer. Automotive filler primer works best. It is the only way to go if you seek a glossy piano finish. These are white and hard to tell, but you can really tell the difference if you were to paint them black. Don't worry; many more speaker projects are on the way!
Nice Work Brotha 💯
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks 💯
Great build you did! Congrats! I am not sure the glue you used to dampen the speakers plastic or metal parts will actually damp anything. You need something like car "putty" paste, I don't remember how that is called. But it was by 3M, I think, and we used it isolate the wood from the speakers metal borders or plastic in the tweeters. Now most speaker bring some rubber rings to do so or you buy by the foot at Parts Express or anywhere. This test is two years old now, so I wonder if you added a separate woofer to the system, particularly if it was DSPed. I am looking for a DSP small speaker sub for my nephew.
@CubanRedneck
Жыл бұрын
… thank you for stopping by. Without a doubt, there is a lot of room for improvement here. The objective for this particular build was to shine some light and provide a few tips to anyone building the kit in its out-of-the-box form. As I mentioned in the video, probably the best way to go about this is to build your own enclosures, which was my goal in a follow-up video. But we got severely impacted by Hurricane IAN and have not been able to create videos on a regular schedule since. Hopefully, I may be able to return to my production schedule soon.
Very very nice.
@CubanRedneck
9 ай бұрын
Thank you for stopping by! Cheers!
Hola Cubano . Mucho gusto . keep up the good work !
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
...thank you sir, much appreciated!
👍
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
... thank you
i used to use a paneling nail gun to set my enclosures and fill / finish later - you will never see that little tiny fill lol not after you finish it.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
… thank you for sharing. Yes, it does not have to be perfect unless you paint it with a high gloss finish.
7:50 Yes but you didn't put the bracing inside the boxes. It might have made all the difference, even if you had to supplement it with some temporary glued in struts. I agree with you: 12mm is too thin for speaker enclosures and especially for the front baffle but I still think the inclusion of bracing might have had a chance of preventing what happened. IMHO, that bracing is probably better made out of 18mm plywood, rather than MDF. It's got much better sheer and tensile strength than MDF, which works best in compression. I am planning to do as you suggested and make it out of 18mm instead of 12mm but I also plan to keep the internal dimensions the same, just adding 12mm to each external dimension.
@CubanRedneck
Жыл бұрын
… hey thank you for stopping by. I am not sure what you mean by no brace! I installed 4X ¾" dowels. Two joining the side panels and two connecting the baffle board to the back. This did the trick with minimum volume added. In fact, I think that it works better than adding a solid piece. Also. Know that this was somewhat of an experiment. The goal was to build and measure a relatively cheap *DIY speaker kit* with the objective of creating a sound bar from the components. As to plywood! For enclosures playing above 200hz is not ideal at all! Sheer and tensile strength is 100% irrelevant, the goal is a dead (ZERO) resonance cabinet. Something almost impossible to achieve with plywood even at 3~4 times the cost.
@thethirdman225
Жыл бұрын
@@CubanRedneck No, I meant before you glued the front baffle. You were saying that the sides had distorted under clamping but at that stage the bracing dowels hadn’t been fitted. You had put brads in the ends of the enclosures but I didn’t see you put any in the sides. So when you took the clamps off, the sides and the front baffle were misaligned. As for plywood, I was only talking about the original internal bracing piece. People build whole enclosures out of it, which I wouldn’t do but for internal bracing, 18mm plywood should do the job well. You only need a small amount. Where sheer and tensile strength comes in is during the glue up. The internal bracing has to absorb side loads and that’s why I would likely use plywood for that component. But then, I didn’t think there was that much wrong with the original brace. And solid timber dowels will resonate too. I mean, they’re unsupported except at the ends.
@CubanRedneck
Жыл бұрын
… I got you! As to the dowel, I am not sure if I mentioned this in the video, but you want something soft like pine or poplar at the most. A red oaks dowel will defiantly resonate. For the final version, I am going with a passive radiator. Stuffing the port shows a cleaner decay, but the low end disappears. I think a passive radiator will do the trick and allow for slightly lower tuning, which will also help bring the upper midbass bump down.
@thethirdman225
Жыл бұрын
@@CubanRedneck Just by way of explanation, I wasn't pointing an accusatory finger at you. It's just my peculiar way of asking questions. I'm still learning about these things. My father was a civil engineer and I have recently wondered what kind of conversation we might have had about the engineering involved in the construction of a speaker enclosure. He taught me how construction materials work in terms of tension, compression and sheer and i can see a lot of it in the structure of a speaker box. He also explained well the way all structures and all materials have resonant frequencies. Obviously they box is made to minimise any of that. Ironically, it was me who ended up working in the audio visual field. Now I'm interested in building speakers, starting with a pair for my sister, who's had a difficult year. I've seen a lot of DIY enclosures and the C-Sharp ones have interested me, though the sides are too thin for my liking. So Whatever I make, it will be built with at least 18mm MDF, whatever the bracing is.
@CubanRedneck
Жыл бұрын
…. lol, we are good, brother. I don't take stuff to heart. I have never been the smartest marble in the bag, so I am always open to conversation. Hell, not a day goes by when I don't learn something. It has been a busy, hot summer, and I have been slacking off in regards to KZread projects, but I am looking forward to getting a few *DIY speaker projects* published as soon as it starts to cool off. Thank you for sharing!
What "streaming services" did you use for your evaluation ? Another words what was the audio resolution ?
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
… hello there! The best reproduction I get from live streaming is from my Vizio TV's build-in KZread Music apps, which outputs via the Toslink into the receivers. I have it set to normal, and according to KZread, that is supposed to be around 128kbps AAC. To be honest, the quality is all over the place. It all depends on the quality of the upload. Most of my listening tests are done using the TV as a display to manage a NAS drive attached to it, where I have some 48 and 96k Wav files. I can also access it via the receiver, but I am not in the same room as the receiver, and it does not broadcast the title of the track on the APP. I Just ordered a Dayton Audio DTA-2.1bt2 for listening. I think the Denon receiver is applying too much DSP, although I have it in stereo mode. Thank you for commenting and the testing continues…
6:00 Some people use table salt crystals for the same purpose.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
... I keep hearing that, I have to try it! Thank for sharing
Hey, great video. How many cans of the finish lacquer did you use? I'm considering using automobile paint
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
... Thank you! - You can get away with one can of primer and one can of white, but I wet sanded them one additional time and gave them another light coat resulting in 1.5 cans of white! I used white as the top because it was what I had. A coat of hard clear will have been a better choice especially if you use a metallic finish. In that case, you will need one can of primer, one of color, and one of clear.
@pongobird
2 жыл бұрын
@@CubanRedneck Thanks dude. I'm thinking about Mopar octane red.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
... interesting! I was consider dodge orange like the General Lee which they have at Advance Auto Parts for my sub, but the GRS subs I got totally suck. Back to the drawing board.
How about doing a "build" on the Parts Express SAMBA speaker, and review the sound quality at the same time?
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
... Hi, thank you for sharing, and yes, that is on my radar, but it was out of stock when I tried to order it! In fact, I have so many things on backorder at *Parts Express* that is not even funny. I may just order the drivers and design my own crossover since I was not 100% pleased with the way their design looks on XSim. Stay tuned, and once again, thanks for commenting!
Needed more time on the building of the crossover. Otherwise great video.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah I agree ... thanks for the visit and don't worry more to come!
Thanks for sharing! Have you seen the GR Research LGK's?
@CubanRedneck
8 ай бұрын
… hey thank you for stopping by! Yes, I have, and although trade shows are not the ideal place to do critical listening, I have heard $50k single-driver speakers at CES, CEDIA, and other trade shows, and I have to confess I am not a fan. The X-LS Encore better resembles this kit, but the cost is more than double without any upgrades.
I make my terminals the same way, however I get the bakelite turn knobs & paint one red , can't get any better unless you can find gold plated screws, banana plugs are the WORST I don't know how they can even be considered audiophile
What was the primer that you used?
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
...hey, thank you for commenting! The primer is Rustoleum 2 in 1 filler and sandable primer, the part number on the can is 260510, and the finish Krylon K07031777 Gloss White Lacquer.
The audio of your post is very interesting on headphones. A bit binaural, and reverberant - not bad at all. Regarding the cabinet assembly - wrapping the precut box with finish panels will help with alignment correction, and with resonance. A low-tech way is to use a fabric, even a carpet - in my past I used brown craft paper with polyurethane finish to wrap particle-board. Also, I used shelving grade material, since it came precut with a finished edge and the density varied from face to core. Later, my lumberyard started to carry shelving of very fine particle - maybe from corn stalks. It weighed considerably more than the original shelving and was closer to MDF or even HDF panels. I like your dowel bracing technique which prevents reduction of the volume better than an internal panel would be and easy to install. Crossover with coils at 90 degrees - good to see; and the the better connectors also fine. I've never used that technique of ground-plane copper - just point-to-point for me. (my design/building dates from mid-70's, while in college)
Has anyone compared the c-notes to the c-sharp, overnight sensation, and sambas? I've only build an 18" gsg marty so Im brand new to the DIY bookshelf speakers. I'm looking to build a pair but I'm not sure which generally sound the best. Im going for more clarity than bass since I'm already in way overkill with bass. Id love to hear everyone's opinions!
@CubanRedneck
Ай бұрын
…. Thank you for stopping by. Sorry for the slow response. I haven’t, but I am looking forward to getting back to making videos, and I will be taking this model to another level!
hi friend, where can i buy the complete kit?
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
… Hello, these are available through *parts-express.com* However, the cost has gone up quite a bit, and I am looking to provide an option requiring a DIY speaker box. I have a lot of crossover parts on backorder, but I hope to have that video out soon.
🙋👍❤️👌
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
... thank you for sharing
where is the parts list or the link for the kit?
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
...everything in this video as far as the *DIY speaker kit* and crossover parts came from www.parts-express.com
Good vid but the music is too intrusive
Profesional and nice project :D Like and subscribe .
i just got my new flyer, c notes are no longer a c note. $150 now. i built a pair when they first came out, they are now hanging in my garage powered by a mcs 3835 integrated amp. they are decent speakers for $100. not worth $150.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
...agree, I'll be publishing several super cheap builds to address that as well as some high-end stuff in the upcoming months, waiting on some crossover parts. Parts Express has no caps, resistors, and even many of the speakers I was looking to order are backed ordered. Thanks for sharing, and Happy Holidays!
i know this is a year old but cant you use youtubes music and do a demo ?
@CubanRedneck
Жыл бұрын
… hey, thank you for stopping by! That is the objective for DIY Audio videos going forward. I have been off the grid for a while, but I am looking forward to publishing several audio and speaker-building projects, especially since the Dayton Audio C-Note has gone up in cost by 50%. I think an aperiodic membrane enclosure or a passive radiator would yield better results. We'll see. My garage/workshop is a mess due to hurricane IAN, but I'm looking forward to getting a few things done before the end of the year!
Ma perche' non hai appoggiato la tazza di caffe"??
@CubanRedneck
6 ай бұрын
…grazie per essere passato di qua! Perché dovrei?
@mi-ma1806
6 ай бұрын
@@CubanRedneck uno con in mano una tazza o beve il caffe" oppure lo appoggia.@
There isn't any evidence that magnetic terminals affect the sound in any audible way.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
…thank you for commenting. You are entitled to your opinion, and I have no idea about the quality of your sound system. With that said, I encourage you to drop a few tracks on a CD. Something like Tracy Chapman - Fast Car, or Canen's version of Ain't No Sunshine - kzread.info/dash/bejne/lIuKx5OAd9nZZLg.html I am not even going to ask for a DVD! A simple 48K CD, and stop by a local high-end audio store and listen to it in some Wilson Audio or Martin Logan's. I am asking this so that you have a reference point! Then come home listen to that same recording on your system. Go ahead and change your speaker's terminals to "copper tube type" and listen to it again! The smearing of the sound stage and roll off of the upper treble caused by ferrous metal parts in the signal path is not only highly audible but measurable: www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/different-binding-posts-is-it-audible.16052/ This was a budget build, and I used brass to keep the cost down. Know that brass is only 28% as conductive as copper. In recent days, I have replaced the brass terminal with copper and replaced all the sand cast resistors with Mills resistors. The difference in the upper treble from those two changes was incredible! The 3~4db roll-off this speaker measures near 20k is almost gone! Since there is less inductance in the signal path! www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/parts-express-diy-c-note-speaker-review.12693/ Know that I am not using any reference equipment most of my recent measurement have been made using the Dayton Audio DTA-2.1BT2 which has .04% THD, but even so the changes are not only audible, but very noticeable.
Your design is already flawed if you can't fit in the tweeter and woofer without overlapping.
@CubanRedneck
Ай бұрын
…. Thank you for stopping by. I am sorry you don’t understand the concept of point source and comb filtering. May I suggest the following - kzread.info/dash/bejne/enatp8-fl5rRmdY.html
Audiophile? Not even close. I built a pair of these and they are not very good at all.
@CubanRedneck
2 жыл бұрын
….hey there! I think you missed the point or didn't watch the entire video! - and did you modify the enclose? There are a few things that need addressing upgrading the sand-cast resistors, and other crossover mods go a long way. However, the 700hz resonance is something I was able to get rid of, and I think the aluminum cone driver is to blame. As I mentioned in the video, I was supposed to do a follow-up but have not due to back-ordered parts, including a better mic for measuring. With that said, for $100 they are ok. However, since the cost has now gone up to $150, the follow-up video is going to look more like an alternative than getting the best out of these. As I said in the video, *audiophile* material is perhaps a stretch but better than a $350 set of *Klipsch* from *Best Buy* for sure.