SLA PRO with Dayton PA6's in White

[miked]

Looking good so far. It's nice to see you thinking through all of your options and "what-ifs?" A word on Reliable: They do good work, but they are slow. It took them two weeks to ship out (to ship, not the total time to my door) 4 simple unbent grills for my OTops. Not sure if you're on a deadline or not, but if time is an issue, order the grills sooner than later. YMMV, but that was my experience just a couple of months ago. I absolutely LOVED they way they packed the grills though. Each grill was wrapped in newspaper and the grills were sandwiched b/t two pieces of 1/2" plywood. They arrived in absolutely pristine condition.

[mems]

Baffles and side on.

[mems]

Looking good so far. It's nice to see you thinking through all of your options and "what-ifs?" A word on Reliable: They do good work, but they are slow. It took them two weeks to ship out (to ship, not the total time to my door) 4 simple unbent grills for my OTops. Not sure if you're on a deadline or not, but if time is an issue, order the grills sooner than later. YMMV, but that was my experience just a couple of months ago. I absolutely LOVED they way they packed the grills though. Each grill was wrapped in newspaper and the grills were sandwiched b/t two pieces of 1/2" plywood. They arrived in absolutely pristine condition.

Very cool. Thanks for the heads up. Wedding is Sept. 8th so I have some time although I'm going to need to get them here, painted and installed to make sure there is no rattles or the like. These are fashioning up to be a very simple, well thought out build. I would venture to say that someone could get them done in two days if they had to without applying an exterior coat of something, with the proper tools. I usually head out and put an hours work in each day. Keeps it relaxing and its easier to get done.

I would like to try another build, maybe a little more difficult, just to see where I'm at. Maybe a few dr200's next, athough I would really like to build an indoor/outdoor house stereo for listening to tunes. Maybe I could incorporate the SLA's some how for the outdoor portion while im not dj'ing with them.

[miked]

Coming along nicely! Did you make the side panels longer to accomodate the rabbet for the grill, or are those the stock length side panels? Looking great so far.

[mems]

Stock length. Came out from the baffle just a scosch over 1/2" out. That way if I move up to the Alpha's then I dont have to worry about the surrounds hitting. The XMAX appeared to be more than the Dayton's when I compared the technical specs.

I really like the wrap around grill that someone had on their SLA i was looking at the other day (DanielNY) but the $$$$ is around 80 bucks just for grills. If I end up doing another wedding with these, then I will certainly get those grills. I just cant justify it right now and will do the slide in grills instead. I will probably get some speaker foam to go behind the grills as well to kinda hide the black of the speakers as much as I can.

I'm also thinking about adding an asthetic aspect to these to make them look a little more commercial and a little less boxy. I will see if I have time to do it. I dont want to ruin them but I think it'll dress it up nicely. It'll basically have 1/8" board curved around the back creating a curved back to it. We'll see.

[miked]

Yeah, grills aren't cheap. But cutting them yourself (or trying to) can get expensive real fast. I really like the slide-in idea. How will you keep the grill secure in the slot? I.E. keep it from rattling? Maybe that's what you meant by using foam (gasket tape?) behind them? Sort of having outward pressure from the baffles pushing the grills forward to keep them from rattling? I think they're going to look great.

[mems]

Ill use gasket tape so that i can remove them if I find I want to swap to new grills.

Here is what i am thinking for the foam.

http://www.thefoamfactory.com/opencellfoam/filter.html

[DJPhatman]

http://www.thefoamfactory.com/opencellfoam/filter.html

They are a few miles from me. I have used their products for different projects (I am sitting on one of their foam cushions now!) and they are very good. If you need anything custom made, call them ASAP. They need time to get materials. My custom ordered camper cushions took over 2 weeks.

[mems]

Ok all,

Its been a few weeks and I have been crazy busy with work and other hobbies.

I currently have the bottoms attached and all the crossover components wired and in the box. I am going to be using a sheet of perforated metal from HD or Lowes to use as the grills. I just need to find a way to cut these appropriately. Im thinking buying a metal cutting blade for the skillsaw and then strapping the metal to a sheet of plywood. That way I can cut these with no issues and maintain a clean line.

Then I will attach the top to cap the metal in place and cinch it all down will glue and the like to prevent rattling. I bought some white epoxy paint that I will then begin to slather on in numerous coats to get a good base going, all coats with many hours of dry time in between. Only issue is trying to figure out how Im going to be able to paint the front baffle now that the speakers are wired "in". I havent attached them yet but it still not going to be fun. We'll see.

I have to install top hats next and then they should be good to go.

One quick question would be on the BBE DS-24 that I am running for the Jack's. Would I have to change any of the settings that Im currently running in this unit to accommodate for the SLA's?

Im currently running the system with 48DB Link-Riley with the high pass on the Jack's at 100Hz. The system has the jacks limited to 45volts I believe. Im guessing the limiting will have to be changed for the SLA's but everything else should be ok?

[MissileCrisis]

100 hz hp is fine for the SLA Pro.

[mems]

Ok well, the gig is in a few weeks. Finally getting around to finishing these.
I'm also working on a table top facade that will be back lit for a great effect and to cover a little of the dj workings going on.

Speakers test fit and glue tweets. Crossovers inserted and nailed down.


First coat of the black background so that its more difficult to see the speakers once the grills go on.


Bought some perferated steel from Home Depot for the grills. The first cut was not good. Tore the hell out of the edges. You can see here I added a top board to the bottom to sandwich the steel in between and then cut along that straight line that was created by the two boards. The grills came out great and fit perfect. There is a little rattle that'll be taken care of by tape but you cant hear it when the music is playing anyways.


Grill test fit. I need to paint it first, black, and then I can fit the top on and secure everything. It may look like there isnt enough perferation but I test played it in the garage and it sounds great. I just didnt push it to far because it wasnt all glued and screwed together.


Got the grills painted.


Tomorrow I will assemble the grills and the SLA tops and then sand everything down and hopefully get to the epoxy. It is still going to be white. Ill probably try them at war volume before paint just to ensure they will work for my application. I will be bringing the Jack's regardless, incase I'm not happy with the out put of the SLA's at this venue. I just need to give them a quick coat of rustoleum paint and hope that they dont look that bad if i have to use them.

Only thing needed for the speakers that I dont have is the top hats for the bottom for mounting them to tripods. I have still to get a pinspot and mic cable so ill be picking up all three at guitar center.

[Grant Bunter]

Did you find the open area percentage of that grille?

What you bought looks good, but if the open area is less than 60%, for speaker cabs, you're killing your sound...

[mems]

Definitely something I was worried about. Hence the test. There wasnt anything on the tab or shelve that indicated its openess. Ill try and do some research on it.

[miked]

That grill looks really restrictive, airflow-wise. I know it "works" but I think you would be better served getting some grills made. Reliablehardware does great custom work, but they are a bit slow.

[LelandCrooks]

I can tell you from my research into grille stuff that those are about 40-50% open area at best. You need to be in the 60's.