Exodus Audio

**mdrake** · **05-28-09, 12:02 AM**

I tested the Crown Against the Mackie which almost the same amp as the EP2500 and the Mackie got it's butt KICKED bad!!!!! GO WITH THE CROWN!!!!!! The difference between the amps was NIGHT and DAY! The Crown had so much more control over the woofer and the sound was tighter and much more accurate. I almost bought the EP but I am glad I didn't.

Like the saying goes you get what you pay for. Just my two cents worth.

Matt

**Navydoc** · **05-28-09, 08:17 PM**

Quote:

mdrake wrote:

I tested the Crown Against the Mackie which almost the same amp as the EP2500 and the Mackie got it's butt KICKED bad!!!!! GO WITH THE CROWN!!!!!! The difference between the amps was NIGHT and DAY! The Crown had so much more control over the woofer and the sound was tighter and much more accurate. I almost bought the EP but I am glad I didn't.

Like the saying goes you get what you pay for. Just my two cents worth.

Matt

Matt,

Thanks for the input. I never thought deciding on the amp would be the hardest part of this DIY project.

I had considered a Mackie, but I have seen to many negative comments on the boards. The XLS 802D seems good on paper, but I don't know how to evaluate (going to Guitar Center is an option - but I can't think of what sub they would have there that would be remotely similar to the Maelstrom since most pro subs stop around 30 Hz).

**mdrake** · **05-28-09, 09:22 PM**

Buying the amp was the hardest part me for me!! I went to guitar center and I explained what I was building to the sells manager at guitar and he was nice enough to let me take all 3 amps and bring back the two I did not want. I tested two Crowns and Mackie on my Mal-x, they did not have the EP in stock but according to what I have read the Mackie and the EP are very similar amps. I love my Crown but people seems to swear by the EP.

Matt

**Navydoc** · **05-31-09, 11:44 AM**

Matt,

I see you have Magnepan speakers. I am planning on modifying my MMGs for my next project and use with this MAL-X sub. How does your MAL-X sub sound with your Maggies?

**Navydoc** · **05-31-09, 07:19 PM**

Received more materials for the sub.
Madisound: 12 gauge speaker wire and Socket Head Screws (#8 x 1" Black Ox & Wax)
PE: Dayton BPP-G Premium Binding Post Pair Gold and Dayton SBPP-BK Binding Post Plate Black Anodized
Blue Jeans Cable: 25' Belden 1800F XLR Male/RCA Male (pin 2 hot, pins 1 & 3 bridged)

Sanded the entire enclosure and started gluing the oak trim pieces/legs.

**mdrake** · **05-31-09, 10:24 PM**

Well, the maggies are a sore subject. We tested them and they rolled of at 200hz, so I fell like I was lied to by Magnepan. Your MMG's should work good with the mal-x as they should be good to at least 80hz.

Matt

**random username** · **06-03-09, 09:46 PM**

a couple thoughts to pass on, I hesitate to speak for Kevin but I believe he recommended one pound per cubic foot on the stuffing, which ends up being pretty full. I used WalMart poly stuffing (not pillows). No concern on this sucking into the works of the driver as long as you don't pack it TOO dense. Historically when I've built subs I have just lined the walls like you did, not filled with stuffing so it was a "first" for me to do it that way.

In my opinion you would be better off with a BFD than a two channel EQ. Much more flexible. And knobs are nice for finding the setting you like, but once you find that magic setting there's no way to save it or prevent it from being inadvertently disturbed. The BFD will let you save several sets of settings, each with many parametric boosts or cuts.

Depending on your receiver or source's output, you may also need a signal boost, keep in mind you won't get it from either the BFD or the ED unit, that has to come from another unit (more info elsewhere on this forum,try a search).

**Navydoc** · **06-04-09, 08:02 PM**

Quote:

mdrake wrote:

Well, the maggies are a sore subject. We tested them and they rolled of at 200hz, so I fell like I was lied to by Magnepan. Your MMG's should work good with the mal-x as they should be good to at least 80hz.

Matt

Sorry to hear about the rolled-off performance of the Maggies. I was thinking about adding my MMG's as the side-surround speakers (mated with older Paradigm speakers). I know the timbre won't be matchedm but for side-surround I just don't figure it is that important. If I'm wrong, they will be replaced.

**Navydoc** · **06-04-09, 08:09 PM**

Quote:

random username wrote:

a couple thoughts to pass on, I hesitate to speak for Kevin but I believe he recommended one pound per cubic foot on the stuffing, which ends up being pretty full. I used WalMart poly stuffing (not pillows). No concern on this sucking into the works of the driver as long as you don't pack it TOO dense. Historically when I've built subs I have just lined the walls like you did, not filled with stuffing so it was a "first" for me to do it that way.

In my opinion you would be better off with a BFD than a two channel EQ. Much more flexible. And knobs are nice for finding the setting you like, but once you find that magic setting there's no way to save it or prevent it from being inadvertently disturbed. The BFD will let you save several sets of settings, each with many parametric boosts or cuts.

Depending on your receiver or source's output, you may also need a signal boost, keep in mind you won't get it from either the BFD or the ED unit, that has to come from another unit (more info elsewhere on this forum,try a search).

Random Username (perhaps the best username on the web),

Thanks for the advice, I am leaning towards the poly stuffing over the egg crate. One of my co-workers reminded me that the egg crate material tends to dry out and crumble. Not a good thing inside of a sub cabinet.

I will look into the BFD as a future upgrade, my wife is reaching the end of her tolerance for the project (wood, router, circular saw, power sander, router bits, clamps, etc). I have probably dropped almost $500 on tools - although they will be useful for future projects they were not in my cost estimate presented to the comptroller.

Thanks again.

**Navydoc** · **06-07-09, 01:38 PM**

Finally finished exterior construction. Added oak trim pieces to mimic my mission style furniture. Will try to stain to match. Used a 1.5" x 1.5" solid oak block to reinforce the leg corners. Unit is very solid and does not move.

Have a 3/4" lip around the top of the box (result of adding trim pieces to make the front of the box a square for adding a custom grill from Reliable Hardware [Round Perforated 16 ga. Steel; 5/32'' Diameter Holes; 32.63 Holes per Square Inch; 62.4% Open Area; Semi-gloss Black Powder Coat Finish]). Planning on adding a 24" x 24" piece (or 4 12" x 12" pieces) of slate or granite tile to the top.

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