My Maelstrom-x build

**Rightbrained** · **08-11-08, 04:56 AM**

Edited to include more details of the build...

Here are a few photos of my new Maelstrom-X . This is based on NeoDan's easy button table design . Many thanks Dan.
The enclosure is covered with laminate flooring ,the front and rear baffles as well as the port runners are 3/4" oak. The joints are dovetailed and glued(yes its overkill). Net volume is a little over 6 cubic feet . The tuning frequency is around 10hz. The Maelstrom-X is mounted with 1/4-20 x 1 1/2 screws mated to 1/4 -20 hurricane nuts which are press fitted with Gorilla wood glue.

**Owen Bartley** · **08-11-08, 06:14 AM**

Interesting idea TK, I don't think I've seen that before. It looks good! I like your setup, very clean and neat. I'd be very happy watching movies on that! How's the Maelstrom sound?

**Ricci** · **08-11-08, 11:00 AM**

Nicely done! Did you follow Dan's Easy button end table design?

**Rightbrained** · **08-11-08, 04:47 PM**

Quote:

Owen Bartley wrote:

Interesting idea TK, I don't think I've seen that before. It looks good! I like your setup, very clean and neat. I'd be very happy watching movies on that! How's the Maelstrom sound?

I am breaking the Maelstrom in slowly. I havent pushed it at all yet mainly because I have a low level hum that I am trying to resolve.. Thanks for the compliment.

Quote:

Ricci wrote:

Nicely done! Did you follow Dan's Easy button end table design?

Yes this is Dan's design. It is a very solid piece I can assure you of that

**NEO Dan** · **08-11-08, 04:53 PM**

did you figure out the ground loop issue?

how does it sound in your room? I've just finished my second box and my limited placement options are giving me fits

, it's super loud at 35-40Hz and tapers off smoothly to 10hz. If that box is finished on all sides you should try it in several different orientations to make sure you get the best response you can in your room.

**Rightbrained** · **08-11-08, 05:11 PM**

hey Dan ,
I havent gotten the noise out yet. I took the satellite completely out of the system and the hum is still with me. When I disconnected the sub interconnect and 1/4 input adapter the hum stopped immediately.
Yes the enclosure is totally finished so it can be used anywhere and in any orientation.

**Ricci** · **08-12-08, 01:21 PM**

What is in the signal chain of your sub? Is it just from the reciever, to EP2500 , to the sub? I had horrendous hum problems in both of my HT set-ups. As soon as I added a piece of equipment between my reciever/pre-amp and sub amp the hum was dramatically reduced. In one case it was a DCX2496 and the other was a Rane PE-17. The hum is still barely there if I really crank the gains, but it is unnoticeable now with my normal settings. Even reference level movie watching. That's what worked for me.

Cheater plugs did nothing for me. Anyway your sub finish looks great!

**Rightbrained** · **08-12-08, 03:59 PM**

Quote:

Ricci wrote:

What is in the signal chain of your sub? Is it just from the reciever, to EP2500 , to the sub? I had horrendous hum problems in both of my HT set-ups. As soon as I added a piece of equipment between my reciever/pre-amp and sub amp the hum was dramatically reduced. In one case it was a DCX2496 and the other was a Rane PE-17. The hum is still barely there if I really crank the gains, but it is unnoticeable now with my normal settings. Even reference level movie watching. That's what worked for me.

Cheater plugs did nothing for me. Anyway your sub finish looks great!

Thanks Ricci.
My chain is straight from my Denon to the EP2500. I ran my satellite cables through my panamax conditioner and now the hum is barely audible with the amp gain all the way up and no LFE input . I do have a BFD on the way and it should be here tomorrow or Thursday . Hopefully I can get all the hum out then.

**fackamato** · **08-20-08, 02:33 AM**

How would this design compare to a sealed one at, say, 7 cubic feet?

**Rightbrained** · **08-20-08, 04:20 PM**

The ported will definitely get deeper extension but a 7cu. ft. sealed will get you well into the teens using EQ. Give the MAelstrom enough power and EQ and sealed will be very good.

**Ricci** · **08-21-08, 11:35 AM**

TK,
Do you plan on taking some measurements of your sub with REW? If you do it would be cool if you could take some measurements of it sealed with the port plugged up also. Maybe some listening comparisons? The volume will not be too far off from what could be considered for a Mal X sealed build.

Did you get your BFD?

**Rightbrained** · **08-21-08, 03:18 PM**

Ricci ,
I will be taking some in room measurements with REW before too long. I got my BFD and the parts just came in for my DIY cables so I can connect it to my system. When I do the measurements I will also try to plug the ports to see what it looks like there too. Thanks for the suggestion. That might possibly help someone who is undecided on whether to go ported or sealed.

**thxgoon** · **08-22-08, 11:44 AM**

Quote:

Rightbrained wrote:

Ricci ,
I will be taking some in room measurements with REW before too long. I got my BFD and the parts just came in for my DIY cables so I can connect it to my system. When I do the measurements I will also try to plug the ports to see what it looks like there too. Thanks for the suggestion. That might possibly help someone who is undecided on whether to go ported or sealed.

Awesome!

Did you ever get your hum figured out?

**Rightbrained** · **08-22-08, 03:24 PM**

Yes ,
The hum was introduced through the incoming satellite cables. I ran those through my panamax 4310 line conditioner and the problem is solved.
I hope to have measurements posted in a week or two. I am currently very busy but I will post them asap.

**robertcharles123** · **08-22-08, 08:30 PM**

Did you use different cables to see if the hum will go away? I would try a different cable just to be safe.

Is the cable an xlr with an adapter for rca, or rca with adapter for xlr. I have had really good results wth xlr with rca adapter plugs since 1999.

Good lick,

Robert

**Rightbrained** · **08-22-08, 08:40 PM**

I have just finished building a DIY RCA to XLR to connect my Denon to the DSP1124p but havent not had a chance to try it out yet. The existing cable is a Monster RCA with a 1/4 TS adapter. Yes ,I bought monster cables in the past when I was a total noob

**robertcharles123** · **08-23-08, 07:05 AM**

If this means anything. I have had monster cables in the past that actually caused hum in my other system circa 1994. The cable was the problem, and when I finally realized it, I almost could not believe I lived with the hum for years thinking " It can't be the cables?".

Good luck,

Robert

**Jodean** · **08-25-08, 09:57 PM**

How are u going tostain the inside of that port??

Thats beautiful!!!..its been awhile since sub research but that must be the tempest's big brother? Looks just like mine.

**SQCherokee** · **08-26-08, 01:23 AM**

that looks really nice. how does it sound with 3 separate vents?

**Rightbrained** · **08-26-08, 05:16 AM**

Quote:

Jodean wrote:

How are u going tostain the inside of that port??

Thats beautiful!!!..its been awhile since sub research but that must be the tempest's big brother? Looks just like mine.

lol , I am not going to bother with staining inside the port. Yes , this is the tempests big brother.

**Rightbrained** · **08-26-08, 05:17 AM**

Quote:

SQCherokee wrote:

that looks really nice. how does it sound with 3 separate vents?

In all actuality there is only one vent with dividers. There is absolutely no port noise at all . I will be trying to get some in room measurements tonight if I have time.

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