This pair of audio system was included in a bigger article by Andrew Gibson in FWW #312 titled, “Construct Your Personal Audio system.” The principle mission within the article, nevertheless, was a pair of high-quality “passive” audio system, that are wired to a stereo amplifier or receiver as a part of a high-fidelity audio system.
For area causes, step-by-step directions have been offered just for the principle mission. We’re comfortable now to share as a web based additional the method for making the great-sounding “powered” audio system pictured right here.
Powered audio system for the house or workshop. The elements for these bookshelf-size audio system embody a small amplifier and each wired and Bluetooth connections, so the audio system will be related on to a TV, cellphone, or laptop. To reveal one other design possibility, Gibson added grills to those audio system.
Electrical elements are available a equipment. {The electrical} elements used to make these audio system are included in a equipment from Components Specific (the “C-Sharp” speaker). The equipment additionally consists of MDF elements for the speaker packing containers, so Gibson bought the digital elements individually from Components Specific to keep away from the additional value for field elements he was planning to construct himself. The small amplifier and management panel are constructed into simply one of many audio system (elements for that speaker are proven right here).
One other tackle speaker design
Just like the passive audio system featured within the journal article, these powered audio system are made with veneered MDF panels for attractiveness and optimum acoustic efficiency, and the edges are joined with tight miters. However the entrance and rear panels are rabbeted to type tongues, which match into grooves within the sides.
For this field design, I went with cherry veneer, with 1/2-in. MDF because the substrate. As they’re within the passive audio system, the nook joints are miters, however the entrance and rear panels on this mission are glued into grooves this time, not rabbets. So the entrance and rear edges of the field sides should be edged with stable cherry earlier than veneering.
I’ve included right here solely the steps which are completely different for this mission from the one featured within the journal. Flip by means of that article for some elementary rules, in addition to the fundamental steps shared by each, like sawing the veneers and making use of them to the MDF substrate.
As I described within the journal article, I minimize the veneers roughly 1/8 in. thick on the bandsaw after which used the subtable setup on the planer to convey them all the way down to roughly 3/32 in. After making use of them to the MDF and leaving them within the clamps in a single day to dry, I planed the panels to five/8 in. thick. This can be a bit thicker than the 1/2-in. sides advised within the plans from Components Specific, so I minimize the elements barely bigger total to maintain the packing containers’ inside dimensions the identical as really useful.
Subsequent, I minimize the miters on the corners the identical manner as earlier than, after which minimize 5/16-in.-sq. grooves on inside edges for the back and front panels. The back and front panels have been then rabbeted to create a 5/16-in. tongue.
Miter and groove the edges. Begin by edging the MDF substrate with stable wooden (and planing the edging flush). Then veneer the MDF as described within the journal article. Miter the edges on a table-saw sled, after which use a dado set to chop grooves for the back and front panels.
Back and front get tongues. Rabbet the back and front to create tongues that match snugly into the grooves within the sides, leaving the back and front edges of the field flush.
With all of the elements minimize and becoming properly, it was time to chop openings for the elements, which embody a management panel and plate amplifier. As I did within the journal article, I used router templates to chop clean holes in customized sizes. For the sq. openings wanted for the management panel and plate amplifier, I created fast, simple router templates by becoming a member of blocks of MDF.
Two sq. openings this time. The plate amp and management panel want sq. openings (except for the spherical ones for the speaker drivers, minimize as proven within the journal article). Create router templates by becoming a member of MDF blocks with CA glue, connect the templates with double-stick tape, after which rout the openings utilizing a bushing information and straight bit.
Glue up the packing containers. Clamp the miter joints with blue tape to assist convey the field collectively, after which add bar clamps to tighten the joints.
Assemble the electronics
The C-Sharp speaker equipment features a circuit board that makes it very simple to assemble the elements that ship the sound indicators to the drivers. These are referred to as “crossovers.” You slide the leads by means of the suitable holes for every element, bend them over in order that they keep in place, after which flip the board over and solder every of the connection factors.
Circuit board included. The crossover electronics for this speaker set are wired right into a circuit board that comes with the equipment, so the meeting and soldering processes are a bit completely different from how they have been within the journal mission. Use zip ties to lock down the 2 inductor coils, after which push the leads for the opposite elements by means of the board as proven.
Solder the again facet. Warmth the wires, apply a liberal quantity of solder to the again facet of the connections, and hold the iron in place for an additional second to permit some solder to circulation by means of to the entrance facet. Then clip the surplus wire that protrudes by means of the again of the panel.
Examine the entrance facet. A bubble of solder on the entrance facet reveals that the connection is stable.
Make the opposite connections. The opposite elements, like this plate amp, have click-in connectors, which make issues very simple. Learn the directions fastidiously to determine what goes the place.
Connect the elements
Parts come subsequent. When the whole lot is related, screw the plate amp, management panel, and drivers into place, and set up the air port.
Now all the elements will be put in within the packing containers. As I did inside the opposite set of audio system, I lined the inside of those speaker packing containers with sound-dampening foam. Then I mounted the crossover on the underside of every speaker cupboard, related the plate amp and management panels, and put in them.
Add a grill
You would possibly wish to disguise and/or defend the drivers on some speaker designs. With these audio system, I added a grill. It’s simple to do. Begin by making a body, with miters on the corners, including no matter design particulars you want. I selected to noticed a slight inward taper on the entrance faces, and shallow arcs alongside the within edges.
You’ll additionally want a rabbet alongside the within edges, the place the grill fabric will probably be stapled in place. Good grill fabric is offered at Amazon and Components Specific. The simplest technique to connect the material is by squirting sizzling glue into the rabbets after which pushing the material into the corners utilizing a paint scraper. Begin on the facilities of the brief sides, making use of glue there first, and work towards the corners, making use of glue by folding again the material. Then do the identical alongside the lengthy edges.
To mount the frames on the packing containers, I used grill guides from Components Specific. These little connectors press into little receivers within the speaker field and grill body, permitting the body to be eliminated if wanted. Then I added the identical toes as I did to the pair of audio system within the journal article.
Join and luxuriate in
These audio system should be wired to one another, however they are often related to the audio supply through wires or Bluetooth. The black twine is for powering the built-in amplifier.
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