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Davids 2025 Ohio Speaker Design Competition entry build, the "Marasheenos"

DaveFredDaveFred
edited July 29 in DIY

Hello,

Another overlong post with too many pictures about my build for the 2025 Ohio Speaker Design Competition.

This years entry is in the <$300.00, <2000 cubic inch OD category using the Omnes Audio CX3.3 4" coax ($100.91pr) and Dayton Audio RSS210HF-4 8" subwoofer ($194.98pr Sept 2024 sale).

Starting with the baffle,

Wanted a solid wood looking baffle, without it being solid wood.

Took some plain sawn maple, ripped it, flipped and glued it back together so it is now quarter sawn and less prone to movement.

Resawed that to give me two heavy veneer pieces and glued it to a double thickness of 3/4" baltic birch.

Then glued solid just over 1.5" blanks to either side of the ply/maple veneer blank to give me solid material to use a 1.5" roundover on. Got to use my Domino for speaker building for the first time, normally just gets used for furniture.

I tried something similar for the Fort Wayne gathering back in April, but I used poplar rather than hard maple, and didn't like the green tinge the baffle had, so if you recall, I bailed on that and went with a translam baffle.

Next up, need a box...

Gowa6thplanetkenrhodesTom_Sugly_wooferSteve_Lee

Comments

  • 6thplanet6thplanet

    Massive baffle!! I bet those will sound wonderful🤘🏼Dig the coax.

  • Tom_STom_S

    Looks great. Can't wait to see how those look with a finish applied!

  • PWRRYDPWRRYD

    The clock is going "tick tick tick"...

  • WolfWolf

    Dave, you really should use the current retail cost of the drivers at PE's SDC if at all possible. It's more fair for the majority. I got some free 7" Revelators awhile back..., you see my point.
    (Yes, Craig, I am using the retail cost for my drivers, or the Hancocks could be in the <$300 as well. I happen to be about $18 over the mark.)

    InDIYana Event Website

  • DaveFredDaveFred

    @Wolf , I think there is a difference between purchased commercial retail within the last 12 months and a gift.

    Before this build, I checked with Chris, Matt and Jill at PE to make sure this was okay even though it was more now. If it wasn't I would have picked a different driver.

  • PWRRYDPWRRYD

    @Wolf said:

    (Yes, Craig, I am using the retail cost for my drivers, or the Hancocks could be in the <$300 as well. I happen to be about $18 over the mark.)

    Me? What are you talking about Ben? I was only pointing out that he is running out of time before next weekend.

  • WolfWolf

    Craig, normally, you say something when I talk of pricing for this event. Just stating facts on my entries. In both of my 2ways entered, a pair of drivers were given to me; B-stock RST28F, and a pair of SIG180-4 were either door prizes or a bonus bag item.

    Dave,
    The RSS210HF-4 was originally $95 when introduced close to 15 years ago. It hasn't been that, except when on sale, for a very long time. I still myself would have used the regular price from a year ago were i entering these. That said, someone else brought this to my attention, and i thought I'd say something. As it sits, if the managing parties are okay with it, let it ride. We aren't even in the same category, so to me it matters not.

    InDIYana Event Website

  • PWRRYDPWRRYD
    edited July 28

    Apparently I live in your head rent free! LOL

  • Colonel7Colonel7

    @DaveFred said:
    Hello,

    Another overlong post with too many pictures about my build for the 2025 Ohio Speaker Design Competition.

    This years entry is in the <$300.00, <2000 cubic inch OD category using the Omnes Audio CX3.3 4" coax ($100.91pr)

    Interested about your impressions of using the Omnes coax vs the Sica coax you used in a previous project.

    6thplanet
  • DaveFredDaveFred

    @Wolf said:

    Dave,
    The RSS210HF-4 was originally $95 when introduced close to 15 years ago. It hasn't been that, except when on sale, for a very long time.

    I didn't know that, I guess I lucked out when I went looking that it was on for such a good price!

  • DaveFredDaveFred

    @Colonel7 said:

    @DaveFred said:
    Hello,

    Another overlong post with too many pictures about my build for the 2025 Ohio Speaker Design Competition.

    This years entry is in the <$300.00, <2000 cubic inch OD category using the Omnes Audio CX3.3 4" coax ($100.91pr)

    Interested about your impressions of using the Omnes coax vs the Sica coax you used in a previous project.

    Time between the two has been too great, I will have to do a head to head when I have time to see which I like more. I know that I did really like the Sica speaker I made for InDIYana 2024, it just got put away and I am still listening to the Translam jobbies with the 8" Dayton reference and Scanspeak D2604/833000 in WG300 from MWAF 2023 as my main speakers.

    You can let me know what you think this weekend! :)

  • DaveFredDaveFred
    edited July 29

    Here is making the enclosure for the Marasheenos,

    Box made like you have all seen 5 times by now, make a small tab in the horizontal pieces and grooves in the vertical pieces to ease with assembly.

    • forstner bits for main brace holes because I like big messes.

    • 23g pinner to pin in stops for upper coax chamber and to pin in upper chamber wall since clamping would be a PITA.

    • Titebond extra thick and creamy glue to seal upper chamber seams.

    • Lap front and back of box flat on extra large sanding block.

    • Use dowels to locate case back so no slip sliding while gluing up.

    • Flush trim back.

    • Rinse and repeat with case baffle, use poly glue for front because PVA isn't messy enough.

    Next up, make some veneer and veneer the box!

    Tom_StajanesSteve_Lee6thplanet4thtry
  • Colonel7Colonel7
    edited July 29

    Thanks - Unfortunately can’t make it this weekend so will ask the gallery’s feedback afterwards on the Omnes. Good luck!

    You can let me know what you think this weekend! :)

  • DaveFredDaveFred

    Pics of,

    • Cutting up for veneer from big curly cherry board

    • Gluing up veneer blanks, everything is book matched and in some cases, double book matched (unfolded twice)

    • Gluing veneer on box with poor mans cold press veneer press

    • Rounding over front vertical edges, clamped on sacrificial MDF blocks to 99% reduce tearout on huge roundover, took many little bites

    • Adding speakon connector

    • Stuffing a combo of Sheeps wool and Melamine foam

    • Sanding Sanding and more Sanding

    • Some finishing,

    Just need an XO now!

    4thtryD1PP1NsilverDSteve_Lee6thplanetTom_SEd_PerkinsKornbreadjohnny5jzTurn2and 2 others.
  • BobBarktoBobBarkto

    Nicely figured cherry! Looking good!

    6thplanet
    powered by beer
  • 6thplanet6thplanet

    Yup, quite stunning piece of wood for sure. Love some curly figured wood, there's a piece of walnut on Ebay I've been fighting the urge for.

  • DaveFredDaveFred

    It doesn't seem to matter how long in advance I start, I need up until the last minute to finish things.

    • Measuring speakers

    • Testing alight variations of XO components

    • Trying to figure out a layout where it all fits

    • Starting build

    • Lots of holes drilled for XO components

    • Making feet for external XO box

    • Mounting XO board in box

    • Drilling Speakon and Banana jack holes

    • Routing in/out wires on back of XO board, lots of hot melt glue

    • Finished XO boxes

    • Finally listening to a stereo pair of finished speakers night before leaving for Dayton!

    See you there!

    Thanks for looking, David.

    Steve_LeeTom_Sugly_woofer6thplanetTurn2GowaRon_E4thtry
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