Houston DIY Home Theater Group?

**mrstampe** · **01-09-08, 10:15 PM**

Houston Home Theater DIY January Meeting

Time:
Saturday, January 19
2:00pm - 4:00pm

Location:
Wayne Pflughaupt's home
See general map below
Directions with your RSVP

Agenda:
1) DIY cable demo: types of wire runs required for different applications, quality vs price of cable components, cable anatomy, terminal differences, building codes, and a cable construction demo. Bring your own cheap RCA plugs for a guided tutorial (yes, you will be building cables!).
2) Room EQ Wizard demo: see how to perform live room audio testing with free software. If someone could bring a DIY subwoofer, we'll use it as an example and get to see/hear your handywork.
3) SDX15 Subwoofer Build-Off: details and planning. This is how you build a DIY sub enclosure with guidance and win a free driver to put in it!! It doesn't get better than that!!
4) Recent release DVD screening: come for the education, stay for socializing. We're taking suggestions on the movie title.
Wayne and Donna are kind enough to offer refreshments during the event.

Contact:
Mark (mrstampe)
832-723-2119
or PM me

Cables, REW and a DIY sub are the 3 most commonly requested meeting topics -- you get them all in one day with us!! All are welcome, but for security purposes we'll release specific maps and directions only to those who contact me by PM or phone.

**Sprtex** · **01-09-08, 10:32 PM**

This is awesome! What a great agenda you've put together. I know it's a lot of work to bring this all together and sacrifice from your family and from Wayne to volunteer his time and home as well. Thanks a million for doing this.

I'll definitely be there.

Please let me know if you need anything at all for this get together.

Tony

**FlashJim** · **01-10-08, 05:40 AM**

Wayne's an excellent host and really knows his stuff. You can't help but have a good time.

**Wayne A. Pflughaupt** · **01-10-08, 09:42 AM**

To clarify a couple of things in the announcement...

Quote:

Bring your own cheap RCA cables for a guided tutorial (yes, you will be building cables!).

...actually what you want to bring is a cheap RCA plug, so you’ll have something to practice on. Something like this from Radio Shack. I have a few RCAs on hand, but probably not enough for everyone.

And:

Quote:

If someone could bring a DIY subwoofer, we'll use it as an example and get to see/hear your handywork.

There would be no need to bring an amplifier; I have one.

Jim, sorry you can’t make it – I know you’ve been wanting to try your hand at DIY cabling.

Regards,
Wayne

**udaman** · **01-10-08, 09:56 AM**

I'm in.

REW demo is exactly what I need. Actually, I first try REW last night for two hours and couldn't get pass the mic loopback test to work correctly.

cheers,
Marcus

**FlashJim** · **01-10-08, 11:36 AM**

Quote:

Wayne A. Pflughaupt wrote:

Jim, sorry you can’t make it – I know you’ve been wanting to try your hand at DIY cabling.

Yep, I'd love to do the cables and see how to properly use REW.

Our Pinewood Derby is on 1/26. The HT meet is on the last work weekend before the race, but I might be able to sneak away long enough to figure out REW.

**Bear5K** · **01-16-08, 07:26 PM**

Pencil me in as tentative. I've been on the road a lot, but I can hopefully convince The Boss to let me out of the house to play.

**Maceo23** · **01-18-08, 02:02 PM**

Count me in. I just hope I don't get everyone sick. I got the bug that's going around, but I think I've turned the corner. Really looking forward to it.

Gal

**lvisneau** · **01-19-08, 06:46 AM**

Looks like I'll be totin my little sono along for some rew. should be fun. And it's nice that waynes house is only 2 miles away!

**FlashJim** · **01-19-08, 10:34 AM**

I might actually be there today. I'm about to go to the garage to work on some pinewood derby stuff. I hope to finish up in time to hang out with you guys.

**FlashJim** · **01-19-08, 07:33 PM**

Wayne, thanks a BUNCH for hosting. The demos were fantastic. I learned a lot.

I snapped a few pics ...

Leon and his "Man Speaker"

REW Demo

DIY Cable Demo/Killer Soldering Lesson

**Sonnie** · **01-19-08, 11:07 PM**

Wow! Looks like you guys had a good crowd and fun time. Congrats!

That house looks familiar.

**udaman** · **01-20-08, 02:44 PM**

A big thanks to Wayne and his wife for hosting the get together. Learned a lot with REW and how to make diy cables. The few times I solder in the past, I've been doing it all wrong. Now I know better thanks to Wayne.

**mrstampe** · **01-20-08, 07:44 PM**

Wow, what a great meet! Special thanks to Donna for feeding all of us! Wayne provided excellent instruction in how to build very high quality A/V interconnects for pennies on the dollar, and he put on a full demo of Room EQ Wizard. Very high yield info!!

Also, many thanks to Leon for hauling his enormous sonosub over for a discussion of his build goals, process, a look at the finished product and advice for prospective builders. We only went to 75dB for REW, because it runs a nominal 2ohm load. Rather than make amplifier soup out of Wayne's gear, and because of some low frequency filter issues, we decided to rain check a full sub demo.

Leon, we've got to hear that monster!! Anytime you'd like to have us over, you'll have an instant audience!

We need to start getting serious about the Subwoofer Build-Off, if we're going to do this. Anyone even slightly entertaining the idea of entering should contact me. We'll make sure there's a more than reasonable amount of time to finish, and anyone who wants it will have access to a full woodshop with assistance)! Remember, you're building for the chance to win a nearly $300 sub driver. Wood costs are negligible.

Upcoming meet topics... Leon's sub and theater demo, Jim's DIY speaker and Infinite Baffle Sub demo, my DIY speaker and sub demo, a talk on video calibration, a lesson on speaker/sub cabinet building including veneering, other home theaters, etc... Post your ideas and feedback.

Let's keep it going!!

**lvisneau** · **01-20-08, 07:56 PM**

My first meet ever................. Very cool indeed! But no more moving the sub(except across the floor w/ my ce2000)

A calibration demo would be nice, maybe video essentials or another cal. disc walk through? Boy does wayne know his cable stuff or what?? Wayne you were an excellent host, Thanks.

**buggers** · **01-22-08, 09:04 AM**

Don't suppose you'd consider moving to Chesapeake Virginia?

**IndoSlim** · **01-22-08, 09:48 AM**

I've been out of it for a weeks. I sure hate that I missed the meet up. Looks like y'all learned a lot and had a good time. Hope I'll be able to make the next one.

**Maceo23** · **01-22-08, 03:21 PM**

Had a great time this weekend. I really enjoyed meeting everyone. Wayne, thank you so much for hosting. I'm going to get started on my own sonotube build this weekend. Hopefully, if all goes well, I'll knock it out quickly. If so, Mark, you can count me in for the build off. I already have a few design ideas rolling around in my head.

**Wayne A. Pflughaupt** · **01-22-08, 05:56 PM**

Glad everyone had a good time! I was really surprised that Mark was the only one who wanted to try his hand at it.

Mark, it might interest you to know: After the meet I naturally had to rework the set of Mogami cables I had “sacrificed” for the demo – i.e. cut the other "unbutchered" lead down to the right length, and re-install the RCAs on both leads. When I re-soldered the one you had practiced on, I didn’t have to re-prep the cable. I just soldered it to the connector “as is.” Your “maiden” prep was that good!

Quote:

lvisneau wrote:

Boy does wayne know his cable stuff or what?? Wayne you were an excellent host, Thanks.

Thanks for the kind words everyone – just hope it wasn’t TMI!

By the way, Leon, we sorely short-changed your sub here. I noticed as everyone was leaving that I forgot to turn off the DSP “Cellar Club” processing I use for music (which I was playing before everyone showed up). My REW measurements with it engaged have shown it to just annihilate response below about 30 Hz. That’s why your extension didn’t look any better than it did. Despite that it showed great extension all the way to the bottom of the graph (10 Hz), which is better than I’ve ever seen with that DSP on! I look forward to hearing it and measuring it in your own HT!

Regards,
Wayne

**jwhite8086** · **01-28-08, 01:36 AM**

Sory i missed the get togethers my wifes been a crazy person lately , she thinks Im cheating on her

**Sprtex** · **01-28-08, 04:07 AM**

That really was a fruitful get together - a lot of great information. I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer, but I think seeing that sonosub upclose was worth the trip by itself...what a beast! I loved it.

Wayne, you are a gracious host and I truly enjoyed meeting you and Donna.
Mark, you did a great job with organizing this event - many thanks!

I'm excited about putting a sub together and I have to say that sonosub was amazing.

Thanks again for the gathering.

T.

**mrstampe** · **03-03-08, 11:55 PM**

HHT-DIY
How 'bout another meet?

Any ideas for topics, or offers to host/present?
Lvisneau, care to treat us to a demo of that great sonosub?
FlashJim, how about a comparison of your DIY sealed sub vs. Infinite Baffle sub?
Jack, we'd love a demo of your awesome HT setup.
Bear5K, a video calibration lesson and recent release DVD screening would be great.

anyone else?

**lvisneau** · **03-04-08, 06:24 AM**

Quote:

mrstampe wrote:

HHT-DIY
How 'bout another meet?

Any ideas for topics, or offers to host/present?
Lvisneau, care to treat us to a demo of that great sonosub?
FlashJim, how about a comparison of your DIY sealed sub vs. Infinite Baffle sub?
Jack, we'd love a demo of your awesome HT setup.
Bear5K, a video calibration lesson and recent release DVD screening would be great.

anyone else?

I'm having some "buzzing" issues w/ the sono but we can still do a demo.
I also just got the epson pro cinema 1080UB, so we can demo that also if we want.
And I just did a diy masking system for my screen(nothing special, just some moveable felt).
Maybe A multiple stop meet?

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