Caper's TRIO12 + 2 PRs Sub Build

[caper26]

Hi all. First woodworking project is a DIY subwoofer from Creative Sound Solutions.
The kit is the

• CSS QUARTET12(TRIO12)H, which is a TRIO 12" woofer and
• 2 opposing 12" passive radiators,
• powered by a SPA500 Amp.

The cabinet used is a 24" cube vice the 20". Since volume was not a real issue and low frequency extension was, Mike P from HTS ran some models and the result was the 24" had advantages at lower frequencies:

The 24" cube has the advantage below 23 hz.

• The 20" cube produces 106 db,
• the 24" cube produces just about 110 db, a 4 db advantage.

at 18 hz.

• 102 db for 20" cube,
• 108 db for the 24" cube, a 6 db advantage.

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[caper26]

The gear:

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The plate amp all snug in the box:

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I used a huge table saw to cut the sheet of MDF into panels. Here I am using a rotozip to cut the holes, with 1/8" remaining inside the hole to sand out:
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Oscillating Spindle Sander to make a really nice circle since I had no router jig:

[caper26]

Front and sides all finished and dry fit. Thats the TRIO12 driver sitting there:

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Cutting the center brace on the bandsaw :

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Here I used the inserts that came with the kit. They go in from the front. Since I was worried that the driver would be trying to pull them out, I used Gorilla Glue to hold them in and seal any voids. I also started with the widest bit first, so the next bit had a centering hole from previous bit. 3 bits used; flange for insert, body of insert, and machine screw hole all the way through:

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Dry Fit PR to make sure all the screws line up:

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Here I had an extra panel from the cutsheet so I used it as a reinforced baffle. I cut the top sheet the total width of the driver flange and routered it over to round it out. I should have made the panel 1/4 inch larger and sanded it after it was glued to cabinet.

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[caper26]

Baffle with driver flange cut out:

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Brace, top & bottom:

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Gluing the back:

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Gluing Sides:

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Gluing the front...you can never have TOO many clamps! :

[caper26]

Screw holes filled with spackle and everything sanded:

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One coat of primer:

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Duratex textured cabinet finish:

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Lining the flange with closed cell weatherstrip from Canadian Tire (3/8" wide, 1/4" thick). This seals the driver & PRs:

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Since there is no "anchor" for the driver, I elected to use nylon lock nuts on the back of the mounting screws. I bought some for the PRs but didn't install them.

[caper26]

Driver, PRs, and plate amp installed and ready to ROCK! That is a bar fridge in the background for comparison!

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Front view. You can see the floor spikes in this one. I use a mechanic's creeper to move it around...I will weigh it soon!!

[Guiria]

Nothing like a 24" cube to fill in some space. I'd love to hear your listening impressions.

Next week I will be building the Quartet10 into a parts-express prefab 2.0 cubic foot box. Should be interesting. Building it for my in-laws.

[TheWarrior]

Awesome dude, nice work!

I'm soooo jealous of your workshop. I'm building a component rack, on my hands and knees on my walkway.

[caper26]

Originally Posted by Guiria

Nothing like a 24" cube to fill in some space. I'd love to hear your listening impressions.

Next week I will be building the Quartet10 into a parts-express prefab 2.0 cubic foot box. Should be interesting. Building it for my in-laws.

Yeah, 24" box is bigger than you would think! Wife isn't too impressed, but nothing we can do now I was listening to music most of the day yesterday. All I could do was grin!! Listened to everything from 90's dance music (Humpty Dance, Whoomp, Please Don't Go), some Pop (Red Red Wine, Billy Jean; both sounded amazing), some hip hop (Method Man, Snoop: Still Dre), and some rock & metal. There is also a track I got somewhere called "Bass Tester" or something which is a high amplitude bass 'song' with some REALLY low notes, and it hit them all...I was like "WOW".

Originally Posted by TheWarrior

Awesome dude, nice work!

I'm soooo jealous of your workshop. I'm building a component rack, on my hands and knees on my walkway.

It is a workshop in an aircraft hangar!! Cost me $75 for the year to be a member but worth every penny!! I painted it in my den which was a little more space limited, lol.

[GO-NAD!]

Originally Posted by caper26

Hi all. First woodworking project is a DIY subwoofer from Creative Sound Solutions.
The kit is the

• CSS QUARTET12(TRIO12)H, which is a TRIO 12" woofer and
• 2 opposing 12" passive radiators,
• powered by a SPA500 Amp.

The cabinet used is a 24" cube vice the 20". Since volume was not a real issue and low frequency extension was, Mike P from HTS ran some models and the result was the 24" had advantages at lower frequencies:

.

I read your threads over at HTS. After building such a nice enclosure, it sucks when you have to deal with the vibration and ground loop issues. Hope it's an easy fix.

I plan to build a couple of Trio12 subs in the near future (can't predict when - too many "Honey-do" projects to finish first ) I like the extra volume giving you deeper extension with higher SPLs.