RTiA7 and CSiA6 Crossover Upgrades - A Slightly Different Approach

F1nut
F1nut Posts: 49,708
edited January 2015 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
I decided to finally upgrade the crossovers in my HT speakers. I purchased 3 of Trey's (VR3) beautiful aluminum binding post plate kits, but after I got them decided I wanted to do something slightly different. Instead of stacking I wanted a more modular design and decided to mount two panels horizontally on the rods, the top panel would have the tweeter/mid circuits on it and the bottom panel would have the woofer circuits. I wanted to be able to slide each panel onto the rods, so I purchased custom cut unclad FR4 black boards (PCB) to which I attached square hollow aluminum tubing with 3M VHB tape. I needed a slightly longer length than the rods that came with the kit and I wanted to use stainless steel, so new rods were purchased. At the rear end I used one of the Delrin plates that came with the kit. I mounted a Molex type connector block to it and the mating connector to the internal wires. This makes it a breeze to remove the crossovers if needed. Of course, I stuffed the boards with Sonicaps and Mills. All point to point wiring with panels installed to cover the wiring. I used stainless steel socket head bolts and Hurricane nuts to attach the new crossover plates to the cabinet for a complete custom look.

RTiA7-1.JPG


The new RTiA7 crossovers

RTiA7 original.JPG


The original RTiA7 crossovers minus the inductors

RTiA7-5.JPG


Rear view

RTiA6-1.JPG


The new RTiA6 crossover

RTiA6-2.JPG


View of the other side

They are still burining in, but right away I noticed that the soundstage width increased dramatically, the slightly edgy treble is now much smoother and there is more weight to the mids.
Political Correctness'.........defined

"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


President of Club Polk

Post edited by [Deleted User] on
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Comments

  • B Run
    B Run Posts: 1,888
    edited April 2014
    Wow you did an awesome job, those look great!
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,708
    edited April 2014
    RTiA7-8.JPG


    Forgot one, with the cover panels installed
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • B Run
    B Run Posts: 1,888
    edited April 2014
    I don't know anything about rebuilding crossovers nor mean any offense to Trey's design but that seems like a simpler and cleaner design as long as the caps aren't much larger.
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,708
    edited April 2014
    that seems like a simpler


    It was actually very labor intensive. I had to cut the SS all thread to length, rethread the cut ends and smooth out the burrs. The tubing walls are extremely thin, so I had to rough cut them with a Dremel cut off wheel, then hand file to length. The lay out took a while to get it just right, then figuring out where to drill the holes took a while as well. I was able to use the first A7 board as a template for the second, so that went faster. I used pin/socket connectors for the wires, but had to cut them shorter, a real PITA. Then soldering them to the pins of the Molex without melting the Delrin was yet another challenge. There's a lot more, but I'm sure you get the idea.

    Thanks for the compliment.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,484
    edited April 2014
    Very nice job Jesse! Seems like a "less crowded" design. Congratulations and enjoy the improved sound.
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....


    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

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  • westmassguy
    westmassguy Posts: 6,850
    edited April 2014
    Very nice Jesse! Enjoy them.
    Home Theater/2 Channel:
    Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
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    Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
    Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,056
    edited April 2014
    Nice job looks like all your hard work paid off. How many hours did you have to put into the project?
    Home Theater
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    edited April 2014
    Beautiful work!
  • drumminman
    drumminman Posts: 3,396
    edited April 2014
    Nice work Jesse!

    Fyi, I've cut aluminum similar to the square hollow spacers with my compound miter saw using a carbide tip blade - fast and neat.
    "Science is suppose to explain observations not dismiss them as impossible" - Norm on AA; 2.3TL's w/sonicaps/mills/jantzen inductors, Gimpod's boards, Lg Solen SDA inductors, RD-0198's, MW's dynamatted, Armaflex speaker gaskets, H-nuts, brass spikes, Cardas CCGR BP's, upgraded IC Cable, Black Hole Damping Sheet strips, interior of cabinets sealed with Loctite Power Grab, AI-1 interface with 1000VA A-L transformer
  • monepolk
    monepolk Posts: 1,140
    edited April 2014
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,517
    edited April 2014
    Too bad they are stuffed inside the speaker.

    I would almost want them fully external with a see-through plexi cover to show off my work.

    Its kinda like a hot rodded car..... you gotta be able to just pop the hood to show off the goodies easy :smile:.


    If I ever get my LSi's modded, I would love for the new crossovers to look like that. Work of beauty Jesse!
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,475
    edited April 2014
    I've tried to come up with some off the wall remark, but instead I find myself in agreement with all here



    awesome job
  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    edited April 2014
    Beautiful work Jesse. Looking forward to your listening impressions of the improvement after they break in for awhile.
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2014
    Great job Jesse!
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • polk500
    polk500 Posts: 1,171
    edited April 2014
    Awesome skills enjoy the improved sound.

    Cheers
    Roger
  • Oldfatdogs
    Oldfatdogs Posts: 1,874
    edited April 2014
    Very clean job Jesse,but I thought you were woodworker.:razz:
  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,010
    edited April 2014
  • Zentish
    Zentish Posts: 127
    edited April 2014
    Drop Dead Sexy!
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  • eclypse
    eclypse Posts: 595
    edited April 2014
    Very awesome job man!! Yeah i agree, i would want to still see them inside the speaker.

    How about photo of them framed on the wall behind and above the speakers? Haha.. that would do it! ;)


    Would love to one day do mods formu lsim when i get bored.. maybe 5-10 years from now.. new 14 year old house has be busy! haha.
    Full 5 channel set of Polk Audio
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    Loving the new Family! :)
  • Inspector 24
    Inspector 24 Posts: 1,308
    edited April 2014
    Definitely deserve an external mount.
    They are still burining in, but right away I noticed that the soundstage width increased dramatically, the slightly edgy treble is now much smoother and there is more weight to the mids.

    This is awesome to hear. Some time I want to upgrade my A9's, I'd love to smooth out the treble even more than the Parasound did.
    Up
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    Down
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  • eclypse
    eclypse Posts: 595
    edited April 2014
    Im sure everyone would like to know how much and how long did this job take?? Ok atleast how much more then the parts from the mod master himself?
    Full 5 channel set of Polk Audio
    Fronts - LSiM 705
    Center - LSiM 706c
    Sides - LSiM 703
    Mits WD-82842 82" DLP 3DTV
    Denon AVR-3313CI Receiver
    Emotiva stealth DC-1
    Emotiva XPA-2/Fronts XPA-3 Center-surrounds
    Oppo 103

    Loving the new Family! :)
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,708
    edited April 2014
    Thanks guys, much appreciated.

    Cost, you can price the caps and resistors at Sonic Craft. The binding post plates you can price at VR3mods. I would guess all the rest was about $150.00. Time, about 2 days (16 hours) for everything.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • BKphoto
    BKphoto Posts: 409
    edited April 2014
    wow, clean, impressive...
    Marantz 1152 DC- Denon DP 1200, Soundsmith Carmen MKII- ADS L980 - Blue Jeans IC's
  • gce
    gce Posts: 2,158
    edited April 2014
    Wow very nice! Maybe I should of had you do mine instead of Tray...j/k :razz: Tray did a great job and the sound is so much better.
    Anaheim Hills CA,
    HT 5.1: Anthem MRX 720 / BDP-Denon DBT1713UD / Polkaudio LSiM703 / W4S mAmp's / Polkaudio LSiM706c / Polkaudio LSiM702F/X's / SVS PC12-NSD / Panasonic TC P55VT30

    2 Channel: Rogue RP-5 / WireWorld Electra power cord / Marantz TT-15S1/ Ortofon - Quintet Black MC / Marantz NA8005 DAC / W4S mAmp's / Synology DS 216+ll-4TB / Polkaudio LSiM703
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 27,966
    edited April 2014
    Looks great Jesse!

    Excellent take on the stack design that I had never really thought about. :)
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,517
    edited April 2014
    VR3 wrote: »
    Looks great Jesse!

    Excellent take on the stack design that I had never really thought about. :)

    Do I sense a new "version" of the mods coming :smile:
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 27,966
    edited April 2014
    Jesse had called me a few days ago when he completed these and as I was telling him -

    I can do my Fortress design in about 3-4 hours now from start to finish. This design being based around the tubing to have the substrate attached to slows it down tremendously due to how you have to cut it.

    I have changed a lot of what I do and take in modification wise.

    I love to see stuff like this though! :)
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,567
    edited April 2014
    Wow! Those look very very nice.
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
  • zane77
    zane77 Posts: 1,696
    edited April 2014
    Very nice and clean job Jesse
    Home Theater
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited April 2014
    Pretty cool, Jesse!