Custom RE XXX Subwoofer Build

[funky_waves]

And there was a stack of plywood and Bubinga; Soon to become a 25 cubic foot custom enclosure for a Resonate Engineering 18" XXX Overall dimentions of 66"tall 41.5"wide 22" deep with a downfireing 10" port system designed by the customer, to tune to ~11hz. More pictures will follow.

[Ricci]

It's finally happening!

Nathan if you pull off this craziness with the quality of your other work I've seen... You will truly be the man!

That solid Bubinga looks nice too...

[ISLAND1000]

I like saying . . . . Bu . . . Binga . . . . slowly in my lowest voice. It's sounds like I'm on safari.

[Mike P.]

Will this be a "side firing" tube?

[Ricci]

Nay say I...twill not be a tube at all. That cavernous cardboard tunnel pictured is for the exhaust from the 80lb air pumping device. This to be housed in the laminated flesh of dead birch and bubinga trees.

[Mike P.]

After looking at the pic again you may be right.

[Ricci]

I may be right indeed...it's for me that this monstrous construct of bassitude is to be created.

[Mike P.]

Lucky you! So what's the net volume and tuning going to be?

[funky_waves]

And the router said "Let there be holes" Net volume will be 25cubic feet tuning should be 11-12hz

[ISLAND1000]

Nathan . . . . you've got me conflicted. On the one hand I'm a "tree hugger" on the other hand I'm a neo-subist. After I saw all that debris from all those holes you drilled through my beloved Bu . . . Binga I have decided I can't watch anymore. I'll wait to hear how it sounds.

[Ricci]

Are those line array cabs in the left hand background?

[funky_waves]

Ricci wrote:

Are those line array cabs in the left hand background?

They are not full line arrays, 9 midbases and a ribbon tweeter.

More progress pics;

[Ricci]

Wow! Looks like you are really kicking butt on this thing. Those last 2 pics had me cheesing while I stared at them. The internal bracing looks great. Judging by that lathe picture maybe you should contact Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs!

[Owen Bartley]

First of all, wow that's a crazy amount of complicated looking bracing. And second, there's a lathe involved in this project!? You always have to kick it up a notch, don't you Nathan! I can't wait to see the finished result on this one. Keep us updated!

[MatrixDweller]

I'm wondering what the lathe is making for the sub? Must be something good. I can't wait to see the finished project. It looks like you are a skilled craftsman Nathan.

[Ricci]

Using the lathe, Nathan is making what I presume to be the port flow guides. Here is a rough concept that will help you get the idea...

[MatrixDweller]

That's pretty cool...thanks. There's nothing like dedicated hand craftsmanship. I would suppose that anything mass produced would use cheap plastic.

[Owen Bartley]

Yeah, it really adds a lot of character to the project. I forget who made the tunable sonosub with a similar adjustable wood "spike" built into the port. I'm loving these advanced projects.

[MatrixDweller]

Do the materials available have a huge impact on the final result?

For example if the flow guides, ports and internal bracing were made out of aluminum, other metals, hardwood, softwood, MDF, particle board (LDF) or hard plastic (polycarbonate or acrylics).

Is it all about mass/density and vibration dampening characteristics?

[Ricci]

I gave Nathan a pretty tall order with this sub enclosure. First off it's huge! 25 cu ft after subtracting for bracing, driver and port system. Also it is not a normal ported sub, the port system is much more complicated than just a port in a box. Actually I don't know for sure that it works as described by the patent holder. I'm just assuming that it does, since they had it patented, used it in their products and had technical write ups in mags. Also I opted to go for a premium finish(bubinga like my drumset)look at the snare drum in my avatar) and I had pretty strict dimensional limitations. There are a lot of other details too. It's a big project and I'm really anxious to see it come to life as he builds it.

Concerning the materials used...Some are better than others for certain applications. I really dig the small solid aluminum enclosures that Nathan has done, but for this application imagine the weight! It would be impossible to move! Actually we decided to use Birch ply for this mostly because it would save some weight over MDF. I think that we are estimating the enclosure to be about 300lbs without the 80lb driver in it!

[MatrixDweller]

380lbs...holy smokes! I guess you won't have to worry about it dancing over the floor. I can't wait to see the finished project. I'd love to hear it but I think I might be able to feel it from here! The bubinga finish should look amazing. I love the ornate wood finishes used on musical instruments.

[Owen Bartley]

I don't know how much the materials matter, I think the quality of construction is more important... as long as the materials are actually up to the task. And with 300 lbs of plywood and sweet sweet bubinga, and with Nathan doing the work, I have no doubts at all that this project will be!

[mdrake]

WOW..... all I can say is WOW and WOW. That is some really nice craftsmenship!!!
Can't wait to see the finished result, that bubinga wood should look bomb! 380lbs, I hope Nathan owns a forklift.

Matt

[Ricci]

Nathan probably does! I on the other hand don't! That's why it will have casters and handles.

[Mike P.]

I can imagine what the shipping will be to get that monster to your door!