TLAH and curved SLA

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ecut1
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Re: TLAH and curved SLA

#31 Post by ecut1 »

Progress has been a bit slow but they're coming along when I have time. I'm pre-mounting the speakers then I'll take them out before finishing the cabinets. After mounting one tweeter I'm thinking I'll wait and just hot glue the tweeters in like the plans mention. For those who have done it that way... is there enough time to work with the hot glue to get the tweeters centered, etc? I've worked with hot glue and it doesn't seem to me like there'd be enough time.
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Tom Smit
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Re: TLAH and curved SLA

#32 Post by Tom Smit »

Add a couple of dabs just to hold for the moment, assess for correct location (change if necessary), and then fully glue up. That would be the way that I would approach it. :)
TomS

ecut1
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Re: TLAH and curved SLA

#33 Post by ecut1 »

That's too simple Tom! :D

I guess in my mind I was thinking I'd need glue all around the face of the tweeter to keep it air tight. Really, the tweeter could be held with just a dab of hot glue then get sealed up with caulk around the inside. Problem solved. Thanks!

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Tom Smit
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Re: TLAH and curved SLA

#34 Post by Tom Smit »

Glad to help.
TomS

johns811
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Re: TLAH and curved SLA

#35 Post by johns811 »

My history with caulking... That could be a big mess trying to caulk such a small tight area. Why not caulk the back side? Nice job btw.
ecut1 wrote:That's too simple Tom! :D

I guess in my mind I was thinking I'd need glue all around the face of the tweeter to keep it air tight. Really, the tweeter could be held with just a dab of hot glue then get sealed up with caulk around the inside. Problem solved. Thanks!

ecut1
Posts: 148
Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2013 7:48 am

Re: TLAH and curved SLA

#36 Post by ecut1 »

johns811 wrote:My history with caulking... That could be a big mess trying to caulk such a small tight area. Why not caulk the back side? Nice job btw.
Thanks! By caulk the inside I meant the inside of the cabinet which in this case would be the back side of the tweeter. They're being mounted from the inside of the cabinet.

ecut1
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Re: TLAH and curved SLA

#37 Post by ecut1 »

I started on my curved SLA tonight.
IMG_20131203_195148_442 (Small).jpg
The plans have to be scaled up because I'm using 5.25 inch speakers instead of 4 inch speakers. Also, I'm going with the nine speaker configuration. I think in scaling up the baffle I may have doubled up on a measurement because the side of each 5.25" speaker ends up being 1 1/8" from the cut line.
IMG_20131203_195218_033 (Small).jpg
Should this be something more like 3/4"? There isn't an exact measurement in the plan but when I add/subtract a few measurements I come up with 3/4. If that's the case it's no big deal to move my cut lines (I don't care about the grain matching - everything will be black). I don't know how the distance of the speakers from each other affects the sound. As far as width I'm good either way as it's going under a eight foot wide screen.

Thanks in advance for any input!

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Bill Fitzmaurice
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Re: TLAH and curved SLA

#38 Post by Bill Fitzmaurice »

ecut1 wrote: Should this be something more like 3/4"?
You want the individual baffle sections as small as possible while still allowing comfortable mounting of the drivers. But a difference of 1/4" one way the other won't bother anything.

ecut1
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Re: TLAH and curved SLA

#39 Post by ecut1 »

Bill, thanks for the info! I reduced that measurement to 7/8" making each driver 1 3/4" apart. I do have one more question though, sorry to be a pain...

When I got the baffle all glued up it ends up being 57" wide. I'm not concerned with that measurement but I am wondering about the depth of the curve. At the deepest point (middle speaker) it's 9" deep. Looking at the plan it seems that with 4" drivers I'd be around 4.5" - 5" deep. Should I be concerned about that or does it all balance out where I'm using the 5.25" drivers? I followed the plans and went with 3 degree cuts since I'm using 9 drivers and tweeters.

Here's a few pics of the finished baffle:
IMG_20131205_211344_130 (Small).jpg
IMG_20131205_214524_288 (Small).jpg
IMG_20131205_214614_283 (Small).jpg

ecut1
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Re: TLAH and curved SLA

#40 Post by ecut1 »

Resurrecting this project...

I spent Friday night and most of yesterday priming, guide coat sanding, and lacquering my TLAH's and curved SLA. I have one row of mid bass drivers all soldered up on the kitchen table. Hopefully I can finish them this time. Life has been too busy!
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Tom Smit
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Re: TLAH and curved SLA

#41 Post by Tom Smit »

Ooo-la-la!
TomS

ecut1
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Re: TLAH and curved SLA

#42 Post by ecut1 »

Got one TLAH all wired up and running tonight. Wow!

Can't wait to get them both going.

ecut1
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Re: TLAH and curved SLA

#43 Post by ecut1 »

I finished putting the second TLAH together tonight and have been listening to them for a couple of hours. They sound excellent! I'm very happy with them.

If I could improve one thing I'd boost the high end at low volumes and reduce the mid at high volumes. Could this be adjusted by tweaking the crossover or would it have to be done with an EQ?

They sound perfect at a normal listening volume but the tweeters seem low when the volume is down and the mid gets a bit harsh when the volume is cranked.
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Bill Fitzmaurice
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Re: TLAH and curved SLA

#44 Post by Bill Fitzmaurice »

ecut1 wrote: They sound perfect at a normal listening volume but the tweeters seem low when the volume is down...
To understand why look at an equal loudness chart. The cure is dynamic EQ, which boosts the highs and lows at low levels but backs off the boost when the volume goes up.

ecut1
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Re: TLAH and curved SLA

#45 Post by ecut1 »

I did some searching and one of the first things I found is the built in EQ my amp has. I have a Denon AVR-3806.

I didn't think to use the mic to re-calibrate with the new speakers. :oops: I'll give that a try after work tonight and see how it sounds.

Thanks Bill!

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