[chadci]

Ib ii, finished with pictures

I've been planning this for quite some time and now it's finally time. When we bought our new(to us) house a few months ago I harvested the old IB consisting of Dayton IB 15's and PA 240 and sold them to a friend who wanted an entry level IB to give it a try.

I had planned on using the proceeds to start buying the new IB but life got in the way and the money had to be used elsewhere. Fast Forward a few months and I have 2 (used) MJ18's on their way( should arrive Tuesday) and I'll be getting 2 more in a month or so. I also have a Peavey amp I "won" from Ebay the other day coming soon. Even thought the specs don't match up as advertised and the seller did offer to cancel I decided to keep it for another project later on. I'll be able to upgrade amps in a few months and this one should be fine for the first 2 drivers.

Yesterday I placed an order from Parts Express for the rca-1/4" plugs and all that fun stuff. Saturday I'm planning on getting BACK over the Lowes or HD and having some wood cut. My last IB was double thick MDF, but it was mounted in wall just above floor level so no trouble. At our new house it's going in the ceiling. I've gone back and forth between manifold and array but I'm going with a manifold but it's going to be plywood. I can't afford the birch 13 ply stuff, but, I'll probably double up some nice 3/4 stuff, I may even consider 3/4 and then a 1/2 piece of MDF, that should be managable. A member at another forum has suggested ply and osb, so I may attempt that as well. Weight is a concern regardless of what I do. I do not want to hurt myself trying to install this.

Want to do a cube shaped manifold, joists are 24" on center. I have having a difficult time finding an air vent large enough to cover the hole. I'm thinking I could make the maifold large enough to fit but then block off part of the opening, but, that would restrict output so what's the point. Really want to find something that will blend into the ceiling as it's our living room.

If everything works out this should be complete within the next 2 weeks. I'm pretty excited as I've been going subless for quite some time. Well, I did hook up my old JBL E250p to test some locations, even used it for a movie or two. Funny how when I first had it I was happy with it. Now that I listen to it post IB I really don't know what I ever saw in it, sort of like an ex wife

 

[chadci]

Sonnie, thanks for the heads up! I'll do my best to take pictures... or have them taken.

Also. Thanks goes to Otto for upgrading drivers

 

[chadci]

Almost 3 hours until I can go home and get dirty. First thing I'm going to get in the attic and get some braces in and measure one last time...

 

[chadci]

A 24^2 grill would be fine if I can find one, the biggest I have found is 20x20 and that leaves NO room for error.

Sonnie, I wondered why he sold them so cheaply

 

[chadci]

That's basically what I'm looking for just a bit on the small side, but, I'll look through the site to see what else they have. I don't really even need it to be hinged, although, the frame would cover a world of sin and make for easier access... that might BE the ticket. Thanks Otto man, I'll take back all the nasty things I WAS going to write on your wall tonight when I get home.

 

[chadci]

Sweet another IB build! Be sure to post lost of pics :R

Are you planning on mounting the drivers opposite in the baffle?

No just going with a manifold. I wanted to center it inbetween the mains but I don't know if my fat **** will fit that far over and still be able to work.

 

[chadci]

No progress what so ever. I started on braces but can't find any screws over 1.5" long... at least they're cut.

Since I can't center I'm starting to think about two manifolds, one right, one left. Thoughts?

 

[chadci]

Since I'm doing 2 now and 2 later it's no big deal. I could probably do them one on either side of the center channel.

My biggest concern about doing this is they will be right next to an exterior wall in the attic... I would be forced to keep it down out of general concen of the neighbors. Although, the attic is full of blown stuff so I wonder if that will kill some of the sound. i remember going into the garage at my old house and it really did not seem that loud. BUT It was a brick wall, this is just vinyl... I've toyed with the idea of porting into my daughters room below, but, I'd never hear the end of that one.

 

[chadci]

Well, they're here and they're big! Still don't know how I want to do this build..

 

[chadci]

Ok, so, really bad cell phone picture time. This was taken down in the basement, so, ignore the mess. That's a CD in front and a 32" tube tv on the side for scale.
And before somebody asks, yes, this is 2 separate photos... I'll try and get some better pictures up this weekend.

 

[chadci]

I've not made any progress. We have 5 kids and 4 of their birthdays are this month. Yesterday we had to do housework all day then had a party for the last night. Today I'm recovering and I guess we are going to put the tree up. One of these days I'll get something done...

 

[chadci]

Nope. I have a metal support post in my basement...

 

[chadci]

So I got the amp out to give it a test run today before my return period runs out. I think I need one of the clean boxes for it. I tested it on a smaller, easier to tote around driver and while it was passing sound, it was not anything to speak of. I ran it full blast up to my ear and could barely hear it, much like trying to run a turntable with no pre-amp. Anyway, is there more than one model of clean box or what should I be looking for?

 

[chadci]

Well, my receiver is an Onkyo 7.1, I don't remember the model number off hand, but, it's up for update. I've had several plate amps hooked to it and they have all done well signal wise.

The pro amp I got is a Peavey.. again, don't remember the model off the top of my head.

 

[chadci]

Right, I understand. Like I said above output was nil. You have a good point about the driver not being in a box or even a baffle to cancel front / back waves, however, I tested the driver about a year ago with the amp from a computer speaker and it was moving pretty well, I expected at least the same which is why I suspected the signal might need boosting. I had the gain at full crank and turned the LFE channel up all the way while testing.

The amp is just a temp solution, I'll probaly go with an EP2500 in a month or two.

 

[chadci]

Mike, that's correct.

Otto, there was a signal and there was sound coming out, however, well, the best way I can explain it is it was like connecting a turn table to a receiver with no phono pre amp. You can hear it but you really need that pre-amp to boost it. I tried it with movies and music.

I read at AVS of some guys having issue connecting Onkyo receivers to pro pieces as there is a voltage issue or something along those lines which is why I assume it would require one of the clean-boxes or something of the sort.

 

[chadci]

Finally making some progress

And all put together. I painted the inside black, drivers will be innies. I need to cut the holes and will once the glue dries, I also have some braces to put in, I may do there in a few minutes.

[img]http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i257/Blueice41/Multimed6.jpg

 

[chadci]

No way I can do this after it gets mounted

 

[chadci]

All the holes are cut

I did some soldering to get the speaker wires into 1/4 plugs for the amp and learned a valuable lesson. If a hot iron falls off the table, don't try to catch it... OUCH

 

[chadci]

Gave it the old "Stand on it test". I'm a big guy.. 6'3 and pretty heavy, it did not even creek when I stood on it

I wanted all 4 drivers to be innies, but, I may have to do 2 in or all 4 out. I'm worried about the rafters, but, I should be able to make it work

My son said "Is this for me?"

Who knew girls liked big speakers too