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fEarful 12/6 kit : a total noob build diary
- Thread starter mambo4
- Start date
Tested all the wiring...at least as much as I could without voltage: using the multimeter to ensure every component that is supposed to connect to the speakon +/- terminals was showing 0 ohms. I labeled wires going to the Tweeter/mid/woofer. Then it was time to assemble the components:
the board holding the screwed-in and hot-glued crossover curcuits will also be screwed n glued.
the board holding the screwed-in and hot-glued crossover curcuits will also be screwed n glued.
for the jack plate and tweeter l-pad (and everything that screwed in) I pre-drilled 1/8" pilot holes for the screws.
The tweeter horn had a lot of play in the hole, so I put the horn and midrange into place together to make sure neither blocked the other. Horn and mid were both screwed down on a seal of gasket tape (part of the kit)
I didn't get any shots of the woofer installation. Also neglected to post about the duratex paint job, but it's white as planned
On to the strap handle...Some one posted , maybe in this thread, about the "trick of finding the balance point using a broom stick" I used a rolling pin. Found the balance point front-to-back and top-to-bottom , and marked with tape.
On to the strap handle...Some one posted , maybe in this thread, about the "trick of finding the balance point using a broom stick" I used a rolling pin. Found the balance point front-to-back and top-to-bottom , and marked with tape.
strap handle attached, this puppy looks almost ready.
The moment of truth will have to wait until the wife is done with her nap , lol.
The moment of truth will have to wait until the wife is done with her nap , lol.
The final touches will be some paint touch up and a black grill cloth.
I confess I'm not sure how to attach grill cloth!
Do I need to build a frame of some sort?
The kit included optional baffle risers, perhaps that can be adapted?
I confess I'm not sure how to attach grill cloth!
Do I need to build a frame of some sort?
The kit included optional baffle risers, perhaps that can be adapted?
That really came together!
I use the bug screen round speaker covers, they are cheap and easy. But not everyone's cup tea, obviously.
You'll need some sort of frame to stretch grill cloth, and Velcro or screw mounting stuff.
How's it sound?
I use the bug screen round speaker covers, they are cheap and easy. But not everyone's cup tea, obviously.
You'll need some sort of frame to stretch grill cloth, and Velcro or screw mounting stuff.
How's it sound?
Well, the moment of truth was a dud. plugged in my amp and bass...no sound.
I'm hoping it's just a disconnected wire somewhere, or possibly a flipped +/- wire.
I'll remove the speakers and double check things next weekend.
hopefully nothing got fried.
I'm hoping it's just a disconnected wire somewhere, or possibly a flipped +/- wire.
I'll remove the speakers and double check things next weekend.
hopefully nothing got fried.
Bummer, but all part of a DIY project. The crossover and wiring parts always gave me fits, but it always worked eventually.
Once, I was freaking about the test drive failure only to find my amp on mute. Or the time I daisey chained the cabs but didn't hook the top cab to the amp. Or, best yet, didn't plug the bass into the amp.
It'll work.
Once, I was freaking about the test drive failure only to find my amp on mute. Or the time I daisey chained the cabs but didn't hook the top cab to the amp. Or, best yet, didn't plug the bass into the amp.
It'll work.
Update 11/7/20
final touches on the grill. After aborting a wood frame approach (I don't have the tools for a such precise straight cuts), I sprung for a grill cloth frame kit form speaker hardware:
the plastic was easy to work with a hacksaw and I was able to quickly cut the frame to size.
The tweeter horn actaullly blocked the frame a bit, so I ended up moving the horn 1/4" over, filling in the old holes with hot glue.
attached the grill cloth with Binder clips plus scrap paper (to keep the glue from stickling to the clips)
final touches on the grill. After aborting a wood frame approach (I don't have the tools for a such precise straight cuts), I sprung for a grill cloth frame kit form speaker hardware:
the plastic was easy to work with a hacksaw and I was able to quickly cut the frame to size.
The tweeter horn actaullly blocked the frame a bit, so I ended up moving the horn 1/4" over, filling in the old holes with hot glue.
attached the grill cloth with Binder clips plus scrap paper (to keep the glue from stickling to the clips)
Attachments
Last edited:
Now for the sound Issues:
I mentioned the moment of truth form last time was a bomb - no sound.
Cracked it open to discover I had failed to connect the Jack to the crossover, Just a bone head over sight.
Got it all hooked up and boom - juicy bass sounds!
Time to A/B against my Bergantino AE 112 ( and annoy the wife in the process)
First impressions: compared to the Berg (which is nothing to sneeze at), The F 12/6 sounds MUCH warmer. The berg sounds very "Boxy" to me, by comparison. But I started to suspect the F12/6 was not performing optimally when tested the adjustable tweeters on speakers. I couldn't hear the difference in tweeter adjustment on the 12/6, while the Berg tweeter made a drastic difference. I suspect the tweeter ain't getting any signal. I even have begin to doubt if the 6" is getting any mids.
What is the best approach testing both crossovers to ensure they are working?
with no current The multimeter showed zero resistance between + and - terminals on the tweeter crossover board - I would have expected the components to present some resistance. Maybe I messed up and I'm sending the tweeter (and maybe mid) to ground.
It does sound good, but It may just be the quality woofer I am hearing.
I mentioned the moment of truth form last time was a bomb - no sound.
Cracked it open to discover I had failed to connect the Jack to the crossover, Just a bone head over sight.
Got it all hooked up and boom - juicy bass sounds!
Time to A/B against my Bergantino AE 112 ( and annoy the wife in the process)
First impressions: compared to the Berg (which is nothing to sneeze at), The F 12/6 sounds MUCH warmer. The berg sounds very "Boxy" to me, by comparison. But I started to suspect the F12/6 was not performing optimally when tested the adjustable tweeters on speakers. I couldn't hear the difference in tweeter adjustment on the 12/6, while the Berg tweeter made a drastic difference. I suspect the tweeter ain't getting any signal. I even have begin to doubt if the 6" is getting any mids.
What is the best approach testing both crossovers to ensure they are working?
with no current The multimeter showed zero resistance between + and - terminals on the tweeter crossover board - I would have expected the components to present some resistance. Maybe I messed up and I'm sending the tweeter (and maybe mid) to ground.
It does sound good, but It may just be the quality woofer I am hearing.
Mambo please give us a top down pic of your crossovers and all wiring. Folks here can help trace the signal path and figure it out. First thing to do, however is the battery test on all your drivers. Once you know they all work, you can proceed to troubleshoot the rest. You're as close as damn is to swearing, just need a little fine troubleshooting.
Definitely like the Storm trooper look, keeping it cleans gonna be an issue. Might wanna look into a few coats of water based poly for ease of cleaning? Otherwise that rocks. Reminds me of a set of home speakers I built....
