SDS Labs Tidy TL Project

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SDS Labs Tidy TL Project

Postby SDS-PAGE » Sat Jan 26, 2008 6:44 pm

This is my first DIY speaker project. I had some 1/2" MDF boards (bought them to build a dog house) laying around the garage, and I decided to make good use out of them. The Tidy TL caught my attention for it's only 38" tall. A good alternative to 6' pipe. Haven't decided on what drivers to use. Sheldon used a pair of Jordan JX-92s on his. I will probably go with Dayton PA130 5" drivers available at partsexpress for 24 bucks a pair. If I like the the sound of the design, I will upgrade to Fostex or something else. I am open to your suggestions for drivers. It will have to be 5" or less as the front is only 7" wide.

I will probably end up spending around less than $100 on parts. If I decide to veneer it, it will be around 30 bucks extra. Anyhoo, here are some pictures. They are work in progress. The cross sections are shown:

http://bp2.blogger.com/_i08-ibvZ150/R5vQEFe1ZVI/AAAAAAAAASQ/45A8I_QkRfw/s1600-h/S5033013.JPG

http://bp2.blogger.com/_i08-ibvZ150/R5vQRFe1ZWI/AAAAAAAAASY/CYTCFdXfJXI/s1600-h/S5033015.JPG
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Postby SDS-PAGE » Mon Feb 11, 2008 2:30 pm

I finally got these done. They are veneered in myrtle burl. 3 coats of natural stain, followed by 3 coats of satin polyurethane. If there is one thing that I gained from this experience, it would be my deepest appreciation for you speaker makers. I don't know how you do it. This is too much work! I am sure this will be a whole lot easier if you had a shop with table saw and a router with all the bits at your disposable. At least I had a circular saw and a jigsaw...

I still need to get bases for these to make them more stable. Any suggetion?

They sound ok, but I am not too razy about it. Maybe the drivers still need breaking in, but at high volumes I feel like I am listening to speaker in a tunnel. I also find that these sound better with push pull amps. I am using a pair of Dayton drivers that cost $11/ea. Depending on how these do in a week or two, I might just upgrade to 6" Fostex drivers.

http://bp2.blogger.com/_i08-ibvZ150/R7CqSOgckxI/AAAAAAAAAlY/YPOB6Fps6Mg/s1600-h/S5033016.JPG

http://bp3.blogger.com/_i08-ibvZ150/R7CqUegckyI/AAAAAAAAAlg/-yLWd0Ru_cs/s1600-h/S5033017.JPG

http://bp1.blogger.com/_i08-ibvZ150/R7CqU-gckzI/AAAAAAAAAlo/H4IbcZFxj88/s1600-h/S5033018.JPG[/url]

http://bp3.blogger.com/_i08-ibvZ150/R7CqVegck1I/AAAAAAAAAl4/3IRWrJC7j7Y/s1600-h/S5033021.JPG

Some of my tube gears that I wanted to document before my 18-mo baby girl goes on a rampage:

http://bp2.blogger.com/_i08-ibvZ150/R7CquOgck2I/AAAAAAAAAmA/iRuqKrePr2w/s1600-h/S5033022.JPG
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Postby parabellum » Mon Feb 11, 2008 2:48 pm

SDS-PAGE wrote:If there is one thing that I gained from this experience, it would be my deepest appreciation for you speaker makers. I don't know how you do it. This is too much work! I am sure this will be a whole lot easier if you had a shop with table saw and a router with all the bits at your disposable. At least I had a circular saw and a jigsaw...
[/url]



I SO second this. Backbreaking work!

SDS-PAGE wrote:
I still need to get bases for these to make them more stable. Any suggetion? [/url]


I got a guy that builds kitchen top counters cut me off a two square pieces of granite. We'll see how it works out.



BTW How is that PS 1 working out for you?
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Postby SDS-PAGE » Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:11 pm

BTW How is that PS 1 working out for you?


I actually prefer Nintendo Gamecube. Yellow_Light_Colorz_PDT_12 Yes, the PS 1 working out great for me. My only complaint is the controls. It' not very user friendly even with a remote.
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Postby ecir38 » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:14 pm

Which PS1 remote do you use? I use this one that works pretty good http://tinyurl.com/32jszl The only thing that I haven't figured out to use on it is pause.
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Postby parabellum » Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:00 am

ecir38 wrote:Which PS1 remote do you use? I use this one that works pretty good http://tinyurl.com/32jszl The only thing that I haven't figured out to use on it is pause.


damn that guy has a lot of those remotes. I feel like ordering one but feel dumb paying more for the remote then I did for the PS Yellow_Light_Colorz_PDT_12
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Postby SDS-PAGE » Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:13 am

I use the one with a million buttons on it. Thanks for the link! Now I won't have to reset everytime.
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Postby SteveH » Thu Feb 14, 2008 6:40 am

The speakers look excellent - I really like that veneer ! So how do they sound ?!?

Excellent stuff !

-Steve
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Postby ecir38 » Thu Feb 14, 2008 8:29 am

parabellum wrote:I feel like ordering one but feel dumb paying more for the remote then I did for the PS Yellow_Light_Colorz_PDT_12


I usually don't worry about inflated shipping cost on eBay as long as the seller is up front with his cost and the total for the the item does not exceed what I think is a good deal. I don't inflate shipping when I sell but by selling in the past I do add my own shipping and handling fees. If you don't do this you can loose money on a sale. The right way to do it is to explain in the auction why your shipping cost is what it is.

Anyway here is another one http://tinyurl.com/275mvo make note of this guys feedback though.

If you guys buy this type, let me know. There are a couple of buttons that work as not labeled but once you know which buttons work which function it's no problem.
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Postby SDS-PAGE » Thu Feb 14, 2008 9:17 am

Thanks, Steve! Another thing that I learnt was that eBay is THE PLACE to buy veneers. Where else can you buy veneers of 1st class quality for $20 for 100 sq. ft !? I only paid $16 for shipping coming from N. carolina. I have enough veneer left for at least 3-4 speakers still. Great stuff!
As far as the sound goes, I wanna try 6" Fostex drivers. I need ones that will sound good with my SE amps too. I don't think those PA-line Dayton driver will cut it. -Min
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Postby crispycircuit » Thu Feb 14, 2008 9:25 am

SDS...... Love the pics. So which amp sounds the best??? You have a fine collection. I wish I could take some pics outside this time of year....
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Postby parabellum » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:19 am

ecir38 wrote:
parabellum wrote:I feel like ordering one but feel dumb paying more for the remote then I did for the PS Yellow_Light_Colorz_PDT_12


I usually don't worry about inflated shipping cost on eBay as long as the seller is up front with his cost and the total for the the item does not exceed what I think is a good deal. I don't inflate shipping when I sell but by selling in the past I do add my own shipping and handling fees. If you don't do this you can loose money on a sale. The right way to do it is to explain in the auction why your shipping cost is what it is.

Anyway here is another one http://tinyurl.com/275mvo make note of this guys feedback though.

If you guys buy this type, let me know. There are a couple of buttons that work as not labeled but once you know which buttons work which function it's no problem.


Yeah I know that with all the fee's the low cost items on ebay dont make any money for the sellers to they offset it a bit with the shipping charges.

But I was actually referring to me paying 8 bucks for the PS1 :) so it feels weird paying 15 for the remote heheh
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Postby parabellum » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:22 am

SDS-PAGE wrote:Thanks, Steve! Another thing that I learnt was that eBay is THE PLACE to buy veneers. Where else can you buy veneers of 1st class quality for $20 for 100 sq. ft !? I only paid $16 for shipping coming from N. carolina.


Wow that is a great price. I couldn't find the dimensions I needed on ebay. I should have looked harder maybe :( :(

Ended up buying it in Berkley at macbeath lumber. 30+ bucks for 32sq feet of raw cut red oak :(
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Postby parabellum » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:23 am

SDS-PAGE wrote:Thanks, Steve! Another thing that I learnt was that eBay is THE PLACE to buy veneers. Where else can you buy veneers of 1st class quality for $20 for 100 sq. ft !? I only paid $16 for shipping coming from N. carolina.


Wow that is a great price. I couldn't find the dimensions I needed on ebay. I should have looked harder maybe :( :(

Ended up buying it in Berkley at macbeath lumber. 30+ bucks for 32sq feet of raw cut red oak :(
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Postby ecir38 » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:41 am

min, can you provide a link to the eBay store you bought your veneer at?
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