Creative Sound Solutions SDX10 Sub Kit

**Rodny Alvarez** · **03-25-09, 04:50 PM**

Quote:

Mike P. wrote:

Yes, I'm very impressed with this sub. After seeing Rodny's fantastic piano black finish, I'm not sure how I'm going to finish mine. Maybe I'll do a "Canadian Piano Black", spray on truck bed liner!

Just pay the shipping round trip and I"ll painted for you!!

**Pinhead-227** · **03-25-09, 07:30 PM**

Just one question, what is the advantage of PR's versus ports? According to WinISD, with the exact same box size, using the same sub, the ported enclosure beats the PR enclosure all through the freq range. What am I missing?

**Mike P.** · **03-25-09, 10:33 PM**

Apply the HPF on the models so the cone excursion is the same and ported has a 1 db advantage which is unnoticeable. What caught my attention with the CSS kit is the PR's are externally adjustable, I can change the tuning depending on how the sub interacts with the room.

**Pinhead-227** · **03-25-09, 10:56 PM**

Ah, I see. Other than that, though, nada?

**Mike P.** · **03-25-09, 11:14 PM**

You get a slightly smaller box since the PR's displace less than a port, no port noise, and it looks cool! I have read that some people prefer the sound of a PR compared to a ported, I haven't had enough time with the sub yet to see if there is a difference.

**fredk** · **03-26-09, 10:22 PM**

Your measured output is amazing. How do you get that sub playing flat to 10Hz when, in modelling, it has output that falls off a cliff at around 23Hz??

**Mike P.** · **03-27-09, 07:44 AM**

That's the effect of room gain, which are specific to the room I measured the sub in. Bear in mind the sub was corner loaded and the SPL meter was one meter away. This was just a test to see what the sub would do. I'm hoping to post a REW graph next week when I get home from work.

**Owen Bartley** · **03-27-09, 08:22 AM**

Quote:

Mike P. wrote:

Yes, I'm very impressed with this sub. After seeing Rodny's fantastic piano black finish, I'm not sure how I'm going to finish mine. Maybe I'll do a "Canadian Piano Black", spray on truck bed liner!

Yeah, Rodny's piano black really put us all to shame.

Is that a bannable offense!? Can someone at least put him on probation for outclassing us like that?

**Mike P.** · **04-02-09, 06:27 PM**

Here's a quick update. All holes filled and sanded, 3/4 inch round over done to all edges and final sanding done.

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First coat of sealer done. I'll do a second coat later on tonight after this one dries. Tomorrow hopefully it'll be warm enough outside so I can paint the box. I have all the parts cut and glued together for the grills and will start on that tomorrow as well.

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**Rodny Alvarez** · **04-02-09, 07:05 PM**

looking good Mike!!!!

**Owen Bartley** · **04-03-09, 07:47 AM**

Yeah, it looks great! Are you going to cover the PR's too, or will they be left exposed? I guess since you said "grills" you're building more than one. Either way, I like the roundover all around.

**Rodny Alvarez** · **04-03-09, 08:17 AM**

Mike, did you used the wood putty or the bondo to sealed the holes?

**Mike P.** · **04-03-09, 09:42 AM**

I had to use wood putty as it was too cold outside to use the bondo. (I don't have a shop)

**Mike P.** · **04-05-09, 01:29 PM**

Got the grills done. Since the sub and PR's are surface mounted the grills are simple to build using a "friction fit" method. First glue two pieces of MDF together and cut a circle 12 inches in diameter.
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Round over the out side edge.
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Cut out the inside of the grill just a hair smaller then the diameter of the sub and the PR's. A few minutes of hand sanding the inside ensures a perfect fit.
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Grill frame sanded and painted black.
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Grill cloth attached to frame.
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Cabinet painted and components installed.
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Grills installed.
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**Owen Bartley** · **04-05-09, 09:59 PM**

Mike, that's a good lookin' cube. Are the grills pretty snug on there? No worry they'll rattle loose? How do you have it set up in the room... is the non-driver side facing a wall? Would there be any negative effects of one of the PR's facing a wall if it was placed in a corner?

**Mike P.** · **04-06-09, 02:01 AM**

There's no chance of the grills rattling loose, they are on so tight they have to be pried off. I currently have the sub set up in the living room as shown below. Once the sub is moved into the work out room it's place will be a a corner. The sub will sit 45 degrees to the corner so no PR is firing directly into a wall.

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**Ricci** · **04-07-09, 11:00 AM**

Nice work on the grills there Mike.

**Mike P.** · **04-07-09, 09:27 PM**

Thanks. They are on tight, no rattle issues whatsoever.

**focusrocker** · **04-09-09, 04:27 PM**

Great looking build. I just ordered the kit. I am still interested in more listening impressions. Does it provide enough output to feel in your chest? How well does it blend with your speakers. These are my main concerns. I really want it to sound tight and snappy with enough output to feel.

**Mike P.** · **04-09-09, 05:01 PM**

I'm away at work until next Tuesday, then off to a family gathering for 3 days. Then I'll be able to give it a good workout and post my impressions.

**Muzikal-JRNE** · **07-09-09, 04:32 PM**

Great build Mike, thanks for documenting it! I have a few questions about your project, as I am getting started on doing my first DIY home subwoofer build.

(1) What grit sandpaper did you use?
(2) Did you sand the sealer coat.
(3) Can you roll on the sealer coats or should they be sprayed on?
(4) How many coats of the black bed-liner paint did you do?
(5) Did you cover the hurricane bolt holes while painting.
(6) Did you support the box through one of the speaker holes so you could paint all faces of the box at once?
(7) It looks like you used screws to secure the panels together while the glue set. What type/size fasteners did you use, and were there any issues with them interfering with using the router to do your 3/4" round-over an the edges.

Sorry to inundate you with so many NOOB questions, but your build looks very nice and I want to give it my best effort for my build to look as clean as yours. All of my previous experience has been with car subs where I could cover all of the box imperfections with carpet.

Cheers, Joe

**Mike P.** · **07-09-09, 05:26 PM**

1. Initial sanding was 80 grit, then I finished with 180 grit.
2. No.
3. I used a roller and a brush. The sealer was a latex primer.
4. 2 coats. Make sure you spray it on evenly, it is noticeable if the liner is thicker in some places.
5. Yes.
6.No. I sprayed 5 sides, let them dry and then sprayed the bottom. I used a spray can, it had to held upright. 2 cans did a 18 inch cube and I put it on thick.
7. I use screws and glue due to a lack of clamps. I used coarse thread drywall screws 1.5" long. You have to pre drill the holes or the MDF will split. I countersunk them 1/4 inch so not to cause problems with the round over bit. The holes were filled with wood filler, sanded down with 80 grit, and wood filler applied a second time as it shrinks.

http://www.onlinedrywall.com/PhotoDe...e=1+5/8+COARSE

**Muzikal-JRNE** · **07-09-09, 10:44 PM**

Thanks for the info Mike, you have been extremely helpful!

**sub_junkie** · **07-14-09, 01:14 AM**

What is the dimmensions of the room that you did the frequency tests in? Hopefully, my 13x13 room will be similar, if not have better room gain...

**Mike P.** · **07-14-09, 07:07 AM**

15' x 30' living room/dining room that is open to other areas.

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