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Here is my DIYSG 1299 build:
Ive wanted these speakers for a long time but never pulled the trigger. When I bought the speakers I currently have, I had them made into a tower speaker. They were originally bookshelf speakers from Elemental Designs. They have one Eminence Kappa Pro 12A and a B&C De250 Compression driver. When I ordered these, me and the ED guy threw around the idea of doing double 12 inch woofers. The price increase wasnt worth it at the time. Fast forward to now and I finally pulled the trigger on the 1299s!
My first issues before ordering were they going to be ported vs sealed, how would I finish them, and the big question: Will I keep the original baffle design or move the top woofer down which makes the waveguide sit up top. After playing around in winisd, I decided ported is the way to go. Also speaking to fellow 1299 owners that went sealed, they regretted it. If I ever want to use them without subs, I can. The plan right now is to prime and paint them with a light texture. Not real sure about duratex, but not ruling it out as of yet. As far as the baffle goes, I might keep the original design, but have a slot port at the bottom. I will have to extend the baffles 5 inches to accomplish this. Baffle is 40 inches tall.
I will post pics of graphs, unpacking, building etc..as we go.
Questions I had which Ill show pics and graphs when I first started:
1. I want to build them ported mainly because everyone I have spoken with that built them ported, loves them, and the sealed guys regret it. Maybe I didn't speak to enough owners yet. Ported it is!
2. I like the look of the towers Kyle built by moving the woofer, but if that is going to cause me issues, I'm out. I want the speaker to sound like it should, So... on that thought brings this:
If i still want to build them ported and keep the ORIGINAL baffle layout, can i just add the 5 inches or so that he did to the bottom of the speaker and do the slot port? I don't care how big the port is, it just looks better to me. As far as the tune, I'm fine with 40 or more. They don't have to dig deep. I have dual 18 subs for that. But like to very occasionally listen to music. The "plan" is to go ported and tune them to roughly44-45hz. Played with this in Winisd.
If I keep the original design, build the slot port, will the wave guide be ok sounding since I'm not sure where it falls compared to being seated. My seated reclined ear height is 32"-33" from floor, My seated ear height not reclined is 36"-37" from floor. (This might not be an issue now, since I have spoken with Ryan the designer of the 1299s and verified it will be ok to move the top woofer down. The waveguide might be moved up top, but Im still thinking keeping the original design.)
3: Will building the left and right speakers ported still match up with the sealed center? Or should be port the center(I can go wider).
After speaking to a buddy about this, he said "if you are making the mains and surrounds ported, why not port the center also" Thats all I needed to hear!
4: Im purchasing 5 total kits, Left, Right, Center, L&R surrounds. If im cutting the wood, Im thinking it will be just as easy to make everything the same, so why not build the surrounds the same as the fronts? Definately going the same on fronts and surrounds unless something changes my mind before cutting wood.
My speakers:
![174169]()
Life of Bliss's design where he moved the top woofer down to the bottom, making the waveguide sit up top.
![Annotation 2020-05-21 090955.jpg]()
![174171]()
Ive wanted these speakers for a long time but never pulled the trigger. When I bought the speakers I currently have, I had them made into a tower speaker. They were originally bookshelf speakers from Elemental Designs. They have one Eminence Kappa Pro 12A and a B&C De250 Compression driver. When I ordered these, me and the ED guy threw around the idea of doing double 12 inch woofers. The price increase wasnt worth it at the time. Fast forward to now and I finally pulled the trigger on the 1299s!
My first issues before ordering were they going to be ported vs sealed, how would I finish them, and the big question: Will I keep the original baffle design or move the top woofer down which makes the waveguide sit up top. After playing around in winisd, I decided ported is the way to go. Also speaking to fellow 1299 owners that went sealed, they regretted it. If I ever want to use them without subs, I can. The plan right now is to prime and paint them with a light texture. Not real sure about duratex, but not ruling it out as of yet. As far as the baffle goes, I might keep the original design, but have a slot port at the bottom. I will have to extend the baffles 5 inches to accomplish this. Baffle is 40 inches tall.
I will post pics of graphs, unpacking, building etc..as we go.
Questions I had which Ill show pics and graphs when I first started:
1. I want to build them ported mainly because everyone I have spoken with that built them ported, loves them, and the sealed guys regret it. Maybe I didn't speak to enough owners yet. Ported it is!
2. I like the look of the towers Kyle built by moving the woofer, but if that is going to cause me issues, I'm out. I want the speaker to sound like it should, So... on that thought brings this:
If i still want to build them ported and keep the ORIGINAL baffle layout, can i just add the 5 inches or so that he did to the bottom of the speaker and do the slot port? I don't care how big the port is, it just looks better to me. As far as the tune, I'm fine with 40 or more. They don't have to dig deep. I have dual 18 subs for that. But like to very occasionally listen to music. The "plan" is to go ported and tune them to roughly44-45hz. Played with this in Winisd.
If I keep the original design, build the slot port, will the wave guide be ok sounding since I'm not sure where it falls compared to being seated. My seated reclined ear height is 32"-33" from floor, My seated ear height not reclined is 36"-37" from floor. (This might not be an issue now, since I have spoken with Ryan the designer of the 1299s and verified it will be ok to move the top woofer down. The waveguide might be moved up top, but Im still thinking keeping the original design.)
3: Will building the left and right speakers ported still match up with the sealed center? Or should be port the center(I can go wider).
After speaking to a buddy about this, he said "if you are making the mains and surrounds ported, why not port the center also" Thats all I needed to hear!
4: Im purchasing 5 total kits, Left, Right, Center, L&R surrounds. If im cutting the wood, Im thinking it will be just as easy to make everything the same, so why not build the surrounds the same as the fronts? Definately going the same on fronts and surrounds unless something changes my mind before cutting wood.
My speakers:
Life of Bliss's design where he moved the top woofer down to the bottom, making the waveguide sit up top.
