Double-wide T18

[Flint222]

Finally! After many nights lurking here, I decided to build a T18 for my home theatre about 2 months ago. I was able to plug it last night and test drive it with some cool movies.

One word: wow! I now have definition in the low frequencies!

Since I was using Baltic birch, I decided to do the false legs in birch, with some accents made of bubinga. Three coats of Danish oil later, some wiring and tada! The drivers are Dayton Audio DCS 205-4 and a Dayton Audio DA230 is powering it.

I retrospect, I am still wondering why I chose the T18. Make no mistake, it came out great, but I wonder if I should have built a Table Tuba instead since I will use it for my home theatre … Well, there is nothing preventing me from doing one…

Next step: SLAs!

Oh, and thanks Bill. This is so fun.

[Chris_Allen]

Very nice. iRobot?

[Tom Smit]

Nice job!

[Middelkevin]

Very nice! looks great

[DJPhatman]

Absolutely stunning looking T18, and a big WOW on the WAF!

but I wonder if I should have built a Table Tuba instead since I will use it for my home theatre

Or, a THT even! LOL! If you want 30Hz, build a Table Tuba. If you want 20Hz, and lower, build a THT. T18 is a 40Hz horn. Super awesome for music listening, but a bit lacking for a true HT experience.

IMVHO, you have the skills and room for a THT. Build it, dress it up real nice, then unleash it on the wife!



And don't forget they both can be built as low profile!

BTW, in case you hadn't noticed, we are a bunch of EVIL BUGGERS around here!

[Flint222]

Thank you all for your nice words.

Chris_Allen: yes, that was iRobot.

DJPhatman: I agree that a TT or THT would be better. I guess I needed an excuse for another build. Sorry honey, I built the wrong one

[Yarz]

That looks beautiful! Very nice work!

[shawn_g]

Looks great!

I had the same feeling after I built my first T18. They're great sounding subs for music, but I eventually built a Table Tuba for more low end on movies. I run them both now (using a MiniDSP to add delay to the T18 to match the TT horn length) and have been plenty happy with the results. I'm still going to build a THT someday though.

[Flint222]

Hi gang,

My double-wide T18 has been living in my home theatre for a few weeks now. Still sounds good, great definition but...

... I cannot get it to play very loud.

I did the break-in of the drivers by connecting them to the b zone output of my receiver. I had no problem generating a 30 hz tone at 10 volts for 12 hours. I could have pushed more if I wanted, but I stuck with the recommended voltage.

Now everything is plugged for home theatre enjoyment (or so I think):
- receiver LFE out to Dayton SA230 LFE in
- SA230 output to sub

With that setup, the best I can get is like 2 volts by maxing both the receiver and the SA230.

Is my SA230 behaving badly?

Any thoughts?

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

With that setup, the best I can get is like 2 volts by maxing both the receiver and the SA230.

Something is way off. 2v is like 1 watt into 4 ohms.

[J_Dunavin]

Does your sub amp have its own crossover?
Maybe run a good known signal from the mains and see how that shakes out.
I'm guessing there is a set up issue with the receiver.

[Tom Smit]

With that setup, the best I can get is like 2 volts by maxing both the receiver and the SA230.

Is my SA230 behaving badly?

Any thoughts?

Are you able to share the settings in the receiver, and the SA230?

[Flint222]

Well, well, well...

Got home tonight and decided to double check the settings on my receiver... I had a hunch... yup, subwoofer level -10db

Got owned by the auto calibration again (I did the calibration when I plugged the sub initially and never thought to verify the settings).



Ok, nothing to see, move along, move along...

[Tom Smit]

Haha! I take it that you found the reason, then? Good!