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Building a Cabinet

SplinteredSkull

SplinteredSkull

Guest
Jul 20, 2013
937
487
Roanoke, VA
#1
So I've seen many cabinets priced at very high prices for something that is essentially speakers in a box that one could make themselves. I'm wondering if anybody here has tried this before or has tips? I'm thinking about building one myself since i plan on dishing out for a good head. I am aware of formulas used to determine the dimensions of the cabinet and the port size for a 1 or 2 speaker cab. Anybody know about ones for a 4 speaker? My Questions:

1. Any recommended speakers?
2. Any certain kind of plywood?
3. Recommended layouts? (4x10, 2x15, 3x12 etc.)
4. Any ways to improve performance?
5. How do you feel about the idea in general and how'd it would go over
 
#3
Splintered Skul said:
So I've seen many cabinets priced at very high prices for something that is essentially speakers in a box that one could make themselves. I'm wondering if anybody here has tried this before or has tips? I'm thinking about building one myself since i plan on dishing out for a good head. I am aware of formulas used to determine the dimensions of the cabinet and the port size for a 1 or 2 speaker cab. Anybody know about ones for a 4 speaker? My Questions:

1. Any recommended speakers?
2. Any certain kind of plywood?
3. Recommended layouts? (4x10, 2x15, 3x12 etc.)
4. Any ways to improve performance?
5. How do you feel about the idea in general and how'd it would go over
Click to expand...

You need to ask yourself a few questions about how someone arrives at a design.

-How was it designed? Was it freeware, proprietary software or a combination of these?
-How was it tested?
-Where was it tested?
-What test equipment was used?
-How many revisions were needed before testing showed a good design?
-How many different drivers were used in the whole process?
and the big one,
-Who pays for all of this?

If you think they slap some drivers and get a good result just because that's what they want, guess again. You can try to reverse-engineer something, but it may take a few tries to even do that. Some drivers look like they're off the shelf, but it's common to have some kind of tweaking done by the driver manufacturer.

I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but your post make it seem that you think they draw some plans and have at it- this may be how some do it, but when the results are great, it tends to be from using the calculations, a lot of computer modeling and trial versions with lots of tweaking.

You probably won't get something you like any cheaper than buying used.
 
#5
.
+1 for Greenboy's fEARful designs.
I built a 212 and it's awesome.

I've built several other cabs over the years, with the latest 1x15 Eminence design units (check their website) right up there in performance as well.

Early on (like 20 years ago) when I was building cabs with little thought put into them I had limited success. Some had plenty of volume, but had funny peaks and valleys in their frequency response that you could actually hear sometimes!

It pays to do your research.
 
#6
1958Bassman said:
You need to ask yourself a few questions about how someone arrives at a design.

-How was it designed? Was it freeware, proprietary software or a combination of these?
-How was it tested?
-Where was it tested?
-What test equipment was used?
-How many revisions were needed before testing showed a good design?
-How many different drivers were used in the whole process?
and the big one,
-Who pays for all of this?

If you think they slap some drivers and get a good result just because that's what they want, guess again. You can try to reverse-engineer something, but it may take a few tries to even do that. Some drivers look like they're off the shelf, but it's common to have some kind of tweaking done by the driver manufacturer.

I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but your post make it seem that you think they draw some plans and have at it- this may be how some do it, but when the results are great, it tends to be from using the calculations, a lot of computer modeling and trial versions with lots of tweaking.

You probably won't get something you like any cheaper than buying used.
Click to expand...

I'm oversimplifying it a little, but they make speakers tailored to bass and letting the low frequencies ring out. And a good cabinet is going to run you at least upwards of $200. But building it yourself is part of the fun as well. Why get used when you can say you made it yourself and know how to make it better
 
#8
OzzyGreg said:
.
+1 for Greenboy's fEARful designs.
I built a 212 and it's awesome.

I've built several other cabs over the years, with the latest 1x15 Eminence design units (check their website) right up there in performance as well.

Early on (like 20 years ago) when I was building cabs with little thought put into them I had limited success. Some had plenty of volume, but had funny peaks and valleys in their frequency response that you could actually hear sometimes!

It pays to do your research.
Click to expand...

So you would recommend those designs then? And about how much did it cost you?
 
#9
check the stickies here in the amp section as there's a lot of nice designs posted besides the excellent Greenboy and BFMs.

At the end of the day it isn't cheaper than buying used but the advantage for me is I get what (I think) I want that's not available commercially.

Plus I've been doing this for over 40 years and still find it therapeutic ;)
 
#10
Splintered Skul said:
So you would recommend those designs then? And about how much did it cost you?
Click to expand...

I recommend Greenboy's designs, I recently built a 1212/6. The cost was around $1200, they are not a cheap alternative, they offer something that isn't available on the mainstream market though. I put probably 30-40 hours of man time into my cabinet, expect to use a lot more time if you plan to design something from the ground up.
 
#13
slade said:
you can't buy all the wood, glue, 4 speakers, etc for anywhere near $200- not to mention tools and time. If that's your budget you should be hitting pawn shops or craigslist....
Click to expand...

Yea I'll be fair, i didn't look at prices on everything until the moment i posted this; i just wanted to know how its gone for other people and their input. $200 was a baseline on the price of a Peavey 2x10
 
#17
Decide on the woofer you want and find out what the recommended closed box volume is for one and and double it, if you are going with two. Closed is easier. A Zobel network will probably improve the sound quality. Check out the 0.75" (?) birch plywood sheets at your Home Depot or where ever you get that stuff from. Line the inside with generic insulation material. Use 1.5" x 1.5" posts and glue and screws along all connecting joints/sides. Glue one such post between the woofers to improve the strength of that compromised front side. A planer will be needed to get the sides even.

This is how I will build my first cabinet, but with one 12" woofer and one tweeter. Haven't decided what bass head I should get. The newer made in China seem to have too many problems, die early. One reason the US is struggling is that people don't want to buy what is available in the stores. Chinese products suck, but that's all there is.
 
#18
PawnBass said:
Decide on the woofer you want and find out what the recommended closed box volume is for one and and double it. Closed is easier. A Zobel network will probably improve the sound quality. Check out the 0.75" (?) birch plywood sheets at your Home Depot or where ever you get that stuff from. Line the inside with generic insulation material. Use 1.5" x 1.5" posts and glue and screws along all connecting joints/sides. Glue one such post between the woofers to improve the strength of that compromised front side. A planer will be needed to get the sides even.

This is how I will build my first cabinet, but with one 12" woofer and one tweeter. Haven't decided what bass head I should get. The newer made in China seem to have too many problems, die early. One reason the US is struggling is that people don't want to buy what is available in the stores. Chinese products suck, but that's all there is.
Click to expand...
:scowl:

So much "no" in this post.
 
#19
I am finishing up the cabinet part of a new 1x18" cab for a JBL E155, in reality the cabinet will cost me around $300, that is cost of the driver, covering, corners, handles, wood(Mahogany Luan ply) screws and glue. Probably the 5th one of these I have built.

I have always used the "Great Speaker Design Cookbook" I bought in the 80's for building car audio band pass boxes, all the common formulas. Simple, easy, and if you are a good woodworker, great results
 
#20
Splintered Skul said:
Well what do you know(?)
Click to expand...

I bought a 15/6/1 fEARful from a pro-builder, but you can build one from a kit without having to cut your thumb off. :ninja:

You don't say if you are in the USA (please fill out your profile more completely), but if so, check this site for kits with all wooden parts (cut kits), electronics, drivers, glue, clamps, etc.: http://www.speakerhardware.com/ :D
 

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