Playing around with cardboard

Wardsweb
Wardsweb Posts: 936
edited March 2011 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
Here are some "just because I can" project speakers. The pyramid speakers are made from 500 pound test triple wall corrugate (aka cardboard). I fitted them with Vifa A10CC-07 (made for M&K and $5 from deepsurplus.com) two way drivers and Eminence Alpha 8 ($45 from Parts Express) woofers. Simple 3-way crossovers ($10 from Parts Express) and it is amazing how good they sound.

stand11.jpg
Post edited by Wardsweb on
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2011
    Air hole?
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 936
    edited March 2011
    ben62670 wrote: »
    Air hole?

    If you are referring to a port, there is no port. Although the bottom is open on these, so sitting on carpet is kind of a dampened air flow somewhat like polyfill. They have pretty decent bass as is.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2011
    Sorry. There is a thread by a guy who made a cardboard sub box with an "air hole". I am surprised you haven't seen it. It is up there with where to buy black paint. Are you just mocking a set of speakers you are going to build, or just messing around?
    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • cokewithvanilla
    cokewithvanilla Posts: 1,777
    edited March 2011
    that's pretty sweet.
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  • slammin86
    slammin86 Posts: 238
    edited March 2011
    Dude that is awesome.
    Receiver: ONKYO 709
    Amplifier: Acurus A200x3
    Front: EmpTek E55Ti
    Center: EmpTek E56Ci
    Surround: EmpTek E5Bi
    Sub: Elemental Designs A5-350
    TV: LG 55"
    Blu-Ray: PS3
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  • JimAckley
    JimAckley Posts: 1,138
    edited March 2011
    LMAO ben! That was the FIRST thing i thought when I saw the picture.
    - Computer Rig -
    YAΘIN MS-20L, polkaudio RT5

    - Main Rig -
    Pioneer SC-37, Overnight Sensations, Samsung 52" LCD

    - Currently In Progress -
    Curt Campbell's Uluwatu LCR, LMS Ultra Gjallarhorn, JBL W15GTi stereo subs, 2.1 entertainment system for the gf
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited March 2011
    JimAckley wrote: »
    LMAO ben! That was the FIRST thing i thought when I saw the picture.

    +1

    My speakers are getting too hot, so I had to put an air hole in the box.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 936
    edited March 2011
    In case anyone is wondering what triple wall is:

    cardboard.jpg

    The speakers are hot glued together on an industrial level

    400-benchmark-650-cart.jpg

    And finally: Crossover frequencies of 800 Hz and 5,000 Hz with 12 dB per octave roll-off.
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited March 2011
    My speakers are getting too hot, so I had to put an air hole in the box.
    Yea but the OP speakers aren't too hot but simply hot :wink:

    I too have to admit I was also thinking I was stepping into an "air hole" type thread :redface:
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
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  • JimAckley
    JimAckley Posts: 1,138
    edited March 2011
    Now if someone could just tell me where to find some black paint to paint my cardboard box...
    - Computer Rig -
    YAΘIN MS-20L, polkaudio RT5

    - Main Rig -
    Pioneer SC-37, Overnight Sensations, Samsung 52" LCD

    - Currently In Progress -
    Curt Campbell's Uluwatu LCR, LMS Ultra Gjallarhorn, JBL W15GTi stereo subs, 2.1 entertainment system for the gf
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited March 2011
    JimAckley wrote: »
    Now if someone could just tell me where to find some black paint to paint my cardboard box...
    I cancelled my speakers and ordered the Polk boxes only :cool::biggrin:

    I sure hope UPS doesn't scratch or dent them :eek: I wonder if Polk will double box my stereo 2 channels boxes:frown:
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
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  • Rodeo0530
    Rodeo0530 Posts: 797
    edited March 2011
    I know there's humor abound with this thread, but I do find the cardboard speaker idea very cool...and from a distance, rather nice looking.


    Front - Polk Audio Monitor 70
    Center - Polk Audio CS2
    Rear - Polk Audio TSi 100
    Sub - Klipsch rw-10d
    AVR - Onkyo ht-rc180
    Main Amp- Parasound HCA-2003
    Surround Amp- Sonance Sonamp 260
    Tuner- Parasound tdq-1600
    Turntable- Pro-ject Debut III USB w/upgraded platter
    IPod dock - Pure i20
    TV - Panasonic Viera tc-p46g10
    Sony Playstation 3(250GB)
    Nintendo Wii
    Power Conditioner- Panamax 5100

    Not in use-
    Polk Audio Monitor 60
    Polk Audio PSW10
    Parasound p/sp-1000
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  • slammin86
    slammin86 Posts: 238
    edited March 2011
    I wanna see a cardboard sub box...lol...
    Receiver: ONKYO 709
    Amplifier: Acurus A200x3
    Front: EmpTek E55Ti
    Center: EmpTek E56Ci
    Surround: EmpTek E5Bi
    Sub: Elemental Designs A5-350
    TV: LG 55"
    Blu-Ray: PS3
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  • allstock
    allstock Posts: 136
    edited March 2011
    Love it...Looks like your havin' fun to me! Maybe we should have a contest to see who can come up with (or has) the oddest material/design cheapest speaker around.:tongue:
    Two Channel-SDA SRS 1.2tl's,modded, Cambridge Audio 851w amps(2),Cambridge 851e pre, VPI Scout 1.1 tt, Moon audio phono pre,oppo bd105.
    HT-Denon avr3808ci,Carver a-753x,Panasonic ae4000 projector,120" screen,ps3,wii console w/full rockband,Panamax conditioner,dbx120 subharmonic synthesizer,jvc dvd-a player, Polk RTi12 mains,Polk CSiA6 centre, Energy ES-18xl sub,two custom 10" powered subs, Def Tech bp2x surrounds(4),Paradigm monitors-rear(2)
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  • Outfitter03
    Outfitter03 Posts: 563
    edited March 2011
    That's a nice looking glue gun but it looks awfully hard to get inside of the driver cutouts for detail work!
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited March 2011
    I have to say that is a pretty cool set of speakers. Nice job.

    Did you do this to try out ideas or was this the final version?

    I could see trying out an idea this way. As Cardboard is cheaper than wood although I have no clue how much triple ply cardboard goes for.
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  • slammin86
    slammin86 Posts: 238
    edited March 2011
    dskip wrote: »
    complete with airhole (for heat dissipation obviously).

    8ee78f69_htf_imgcache_40312.jpeg

    lmao.
    Receiver: ONKYO 709
    Amplifier: Acurus A200x3
    Front: EmpTek E55Ti
    Center: EmpTek E56Ci
    Surround: EmpTek E5Bi
    Sub: Elemental Designs A5-350
    TV: LG 55"
    Blu-Ray: PS3
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited March 2011
    Joe08867 wrote: »

    DIY PolkSub.jpg


    I have to say that is a pretty cool speaker. Nice job.

    Did you do this to try out ideas or was this the final version?

    I could see trying out an idea this way. As Cardboard is cheaper than wood.
    Humm :eek::tongue:
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
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  • Fongolio
    Fongolio Posts: 3,516
    edited March 2011
    I wonder if the idea behind only duct taping half the sub flange added to the overall musical coherence of air escaping from the rim and sounding like farting noises. Otherwise known a fl (flatulance level).
    SDA-1C (full mods)
    Carver TFM-55
    NAD 1130 Pre-amp
    Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
    The Clamp
    Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
    Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
    Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
    Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
    Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
    ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
    Ben's IC's
    Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM
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  • bkeane1259
    bkeane1259 Posts: 54
    edited March 2011
    I'd like to see an "all duct tape" speaker system. Can we send this to mythbusters for further review??
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,339
    edited March 2011
    Don't laugh too hard there are several high end auto (Cadillac, Lexus) makers who are using cardboard on five sides of their sub boxes. And not the triple wall stuff either
    Carl

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  • xj4094dg
    xj4094dg Posts: 1,158
    edited March 2011
    Finally! A 2-channel system for the homeless.:wink:
    "The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it." Neil deGrasse Tyson.
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited March 2011
    TECHNOKID wrote: »
    Humm :eek::tongue:

    I am kidding! I think the whole thing is silly. They are neat to look at but how could they sound really?
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 936
    edited March 2011
    Joe08867 wrote: »
    I am kidding! I think the whole thing is silly. They are neat to look at but how could they sound really?

    I think you would be surprised. These sound a lot better than they have any right too. No, they don't compare to my Martin Logan Prodigys or even the my big 3-way DIY horns, but then they were never intended to. They have decent bass for the small woofer, smooth mids and crisp highs. They would work well for a small room, office or dorm. All in all, more speaker than one could buy for $120 in parts, that they cost to build. IMHO YMMV
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  • Earthy
    Earthy Posts: 488
    edited March 2011
    You should bring them to the Texas Polk Fest. I bet they would be a hot topic.
    Polk Audio SDA SRS 2.3TL
    Parasound Halo A21
    Parasound Halo P3

    Home theater
    Polk LSiM 707, 706c, 703, 705
    Polk Blackstone TL3 for height
    SVS PB12-ISD Sub
    Denon AVR-X6400h
    Parasound Halo A51
    LG OLED65B7A
    Sony UBPX800
    Logitech Harmony Elite
    PC LSiM 703
    Spare LSIM 702 and 706c

    Home Theater #2
    Polk Audio LS70, CS350LS, LSF/X, S4
    Onkyo TX-NR808



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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 936
    edited March 2011
    Earthy wrote: »
    You should bring them to the Texas Polk Fest. I bet they would be a hot topic.

    Is it still on for April 16th?
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited March 2011
    DSkip wrote: »
    Complete WITH airhole (for heat dissipation obviously).

    8ee78f69_htf_imgcache_40312.jpeg
    Joe08867 wrote: »
    I am kidding! I think the whole thing is silly. They are neat to look at but how could they sound really?
    Joe, didn't you notice I tampered with your post to reflect only what I wanted for joking purpose (look at the face I gave you :tongue:) :wink: I know you would be joking just as Dskip would (or at least we'll give him the benifit of the doubt :tongue:).
    Wardsweb wrote: »
    I think you would be surprised. These sound a lot better than they have any right too. No, they don't compare to my Martin Logan Prodigys or even the my big 3-way DIY horns, but then they were never intended to. They have decent bass for the small woofer, smooth mids and crisp highs. They would work well for a small room, office or dorm. All in all, more speaker than one could buy for $120 in parts, that they cost to build. IMHO YMMV
    The joking was not around your speakers, just look at Dskip fine engineering :wink: Now, even with strong cardboard like you are showing us, I would believe the enclosure would start to vivrate at higher volume, right? They look really nice and as you pointed out, maybe for a computer rig at low level (heck can't be worse than many of the crap that is sold for computers nowadays) however, I might be wrong but I would be scared to crank them up too loud (vibration and potentially chasing the speakers all over the room :wink:)
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,164
    edited March 2011
    bkeane1259 wrote: »
    I'd like to see an "all duct tape" speaker system. Can we send this to mythbusters for further review??

    LOL.

    I saw a flaw in their 4' car subwoofer that some others should have pointed out while they were building it. It might have worked had they had a better linkage system!

    Duct tape encloser, No resonances...LOL
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 936
    edited March 2011
    TECHNOKID wrote: »
    however, I might be wrong but I would be scared to crank them up too loud (vibration and potentially chasing the speakers all over the room :wink:)

    I guess I need to take these to the Polk Fest in April so others can hear them. They only weight in around 10 pounds each but pushing them with a 250 watt per channel amp, when the power meter approached 25 watts they rocked the room. Again they won't go up against Wilson Watt Puppy but they are simple, cheap and have decent sound. They were never intended to do anything more.
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited March 2011
    Wardsweb wrote: »
    I guess I need to take these to the Polk Fest in April so others can hear them. They only weight in around 10 pounds each but pushing them with a 250 watt per channel amp, when the power meter approached 25 watts they rocked the room. Again they won't go up against Wilson Watt Puppy but they are simple, cheap and have decent sound. They were never intended to do anything more.
    I am convinced they would be quite entertaining at a PolkFest. At the price it cost you, why not having fun with a little project like that. You've just making my point by stating the weight. What I was trying to say is at higher volume level the little buggers must be dancing, jumping and running all around the floor space :wink:
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
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