Hello and a couple questions...

[chjade84]

I've been lurking here for a few weeks reading as much as I can and deciding what to build for my first BF design, and I think I've settled on the Table Tuba. My "Home Theater" room is only 17'x15' or so with an A-Frame ceiling. If I remember when I get home I'll post the cubic feet, but It's not a whole lot. I'd like to just jump right in and build a THT since it extends a bit lower, but it's a bit pricey and I don't think it's really necessary for this room. I'm not opposed to upgrading to a THT later and putting the TT in the back of my SUV though...

I plan on starting/buying the plans in a couple weeks, once I get a few extra dollars to spend. I'm a big DIY-er so I think I'll enjoy the build.

My first question is whether or not I should have all these panels fabbed up ahead of time or if it's generally better to fit each piece as you go. My dad knows a guy in this area who does CNC wood shaping as well as basic table saw cuts and he thinks for less than $100 I could get all the pieces made up. Normally I'd love to do all the work myself but I don't have any wood working equipment (I'm more electronics-oriented). I can borrow a circular saw and the other basic tools, but I think it would be a lot more simple (and more accurate) to have a professional do them.

My second question is about mounting the plate amp. I had assumed it was part of the cabinet but it looks like it's more commonly put in a wall or in its own box. I like the idea of a self-contained powered sub for the minimal amount of wires and boxes and cutting into the wall isn't an option. Have people had any success extending the cabinet enough to hold the amp? (Not fiddling with the internal dimensions, of course.)

I'm sure I'll have more questions later on...

[Frederic Gelinas]

The plans call for dead reckoning of each panel as you build it.

It's possible to build a Table Tuba with a circular saw and a drill.

Integrating a plate amp is easily doable, but it's a better practice to keep the amp near the source of the signal to eliminate ground loop problems. And it's much easier to change the amp afterward.

My advice: buy the plan and read it entirely 3-4 times.

[SeisTres]

The TT was probably the easiest cab as there were only a few angles and I left alot of the other panels at 90 degrees. Also, there were no reflectors and no access plate making the build even easier yet.

If you get a good circular saw, borrow a jig saw for the single circular cut out, and build a sled for the circular saw, I think you should be good. Braces might be the trickiest part, but people have done them with circular saws.

I think you'll enjoy the build and the final product so much you'll want to build more, so IMO, building up your tools would be a good start

Since this is your first build and are thinking about upgrading, I think the mcm 8" and the slimmer TT is in order.

[Tom Smit]

Hi chjade84, and welcome to the forum! Ask away...there is a lot of good advice here to help you get the best bang for your buck.

Talking about best bang for the buck, I think you should get the CD since you are a DIY'er and weren't sure of which design to start with.

Like the others said, the cutting is not terribly difficult. Get a circular saw, some clamps, a jigsaw and a drill. Make the saw sled, clamp it to the wood, and cut your piece.

[chjade84]

Good advice, guys!

I think I'll do the cuts myself. I can borrow the tools easy enough, and I'm pretty handy. You'll have to forgive my noobful ignorance when it cones to woodworking though, but a sled is what now? Something like this? http://www.rjbaudio.com/misc/Circular%2 ... %20use.jpg

I think ^ that is an excellent idea.


You guys think the best idea for the amp is in it's own box adjacent to the receiver and run the speaker wire along the wall to the back to the sub? If that's the case, are there any freestanding amps that are around the same price and performance as the typical plate amps used?

[Tom Smit]

Good advice, guys!

I think I'll do the cuts myself. I can borrow the tools easy enough, and I'm pretty handy. You'll have to forgive my noobful ignorance when it cones to woodworking though, but a sled is what now? Something like this? http://www.rjbaudio.com/misc/Circular%2 ... %20use.jpg

That's one design; the other design is on the CD.

You guys think the best idea for the amp is in it's own box adjacent to the receiver and run the speaker wire along the wall to the back to the sub?

Yes

[Frederic Gelinas]

You guys think the best idea for the amp is in it's own box adjacent to the receiver and run the speaker wire along the wall to the back to the sub? If that's the case, are there any freestanding amps that are around the same price and performance as the typical plate amps used?

Yes. I'm a big fan of pro audio amp for my home theater. I own several Behringer EP1500, which a way too powerful and need the fan to be replaced by a less noisy one (I like to open amp cases!). I also have a Samson servo, which doesn't have a fan. I once had 2 big Bryston power amps that were just too much for my needs.

Only disavantages of pro power amps vs plate amps I can see: there is no low-pass filter or auto-power or any other feature than amplifying the signal.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Only disavantages of pro power amps vs plate amps I can see: there is no low-pass filter or auto-power or any other feature than amplifying the signal.

Interfacing pro amps with consumer gear can lead to all sorts of problems, so unless you're using a pro DSP like the Behringer FDB to handle EQ and filtering duties you're usually better off with a plate amp.

[chjade84]

Any thoughts on other amps with this form factor? There don't seem to be many "table top" amplifiers for subwoofers. This one looks pretty decent for $220 but I wouldn't be opposed to something of similar quality and power for less money.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdet ... er=300-813

[SeisTres]

http://home.comcast.net/~jhidley/

Third way down you'll see the amp. Best amp for the money and will power the mcm and the tangband drivers just fine, maybe even enough for the 10" daytons.

The way I did it for my bro's HT, was to build a little wood box and matched the finish to the rest of the cabs. If you don't like it being in the HT set up, just hide it behind something as the little box solve the problem of it being a plate amp.

[Brew]

Some users of the TT, like myself, just use an unused channel of a 7.1 receiver. I only need the 5.1 speaker settings.Works very well if you have that option.
The TT waay out performs my dual sub set-up it replaced.

[chjade84]

Some users of the TT, like myself, just use an unused channel of a 7.1 receiver. I only need the 5.1 speaker settings.Works very well if you have that option.
The TT waay out performs my dual sub set-up it replaced.

Interesting... I've not heard of doing this before. How would I do that? Just hook it up to the L/R channel(s)? Will those carry the right frequencies for a sub? Can I bridge the left and right for 90W x2? Is 180W enough? I assume I'll have to see if there are high/low pass filter options for those channels...

[Brew]

Here is how I have it set up.
I have a powered Zone 2 option when I run the receiver in 5.1. vs 7.1
Subwoofer pre-out to unused audio input (In my case the "cd" input). Only one channel. L.
TT wired to the powered zone 2 speakers .Only one channel ,same as the input. L.
xovers are adjusted in setup and controlled by receiver.
Assign the zone 2 to "cd" set volume and go.
Zone 2 is always running CD and CD input is from the Sub- out......

[chjade84]

Here is how I have it set up.
I have a powered Zone 2 option when I run the receiver in 5.1. vs 7.1
Subwoofer pre-out to unused audio input (In my case the "cd" input). Only one channel. L.
TT wired to the powered zone 2 speakers .Only one channel ,same as the input. L.
xovers are adjusted in setup and controlled by receiver.
Assign the zone 2 to "cd" set volume and go.
Zone 2 is always running CD and CD input is from the Sub- out......

Very clever!

I wonder if just 90 watts will be enough...

[Brew]

More than enough. My amp rating is a little higher, but the TT replaced 2 subs running a plate amp rated at 500 watts