CNC Bubinga JBL 2397 "Smith" horns

Wardsweb
Wardsweb Posts: 939
edited December 2011 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
Here is a pic as some 1" African bubinga was being machined into custom horns. The holes you see are where the bolts go through to hold the CNC billet aluminum vanes.

2397a.jpg
Post edited by Wardsweb on
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 939
    edited October 2011
    Here is a finished set with the custom CNC billet vanes. The wood is just as it was coming off the CNC. It has not been sanded yet. So it will only get better.

    2397d.jpg
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 939
    edited October 2011
    Here is how they go together. They will actually bolt together with inserts in the top half of the horn for the bolts to thread into.

    2397e.jpg
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 939
    edited October 2011
    Here is a look head on. Still need to sand, polish the vanes, apply Danish oil and make some stands.

    2397g.jpg
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 939
    edited October 2011
    These will be used along with a pair of JBL 2405 tweeters with my JBL C50 Olympus speakers.

    2405q.jpg
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,604
    edited October 2011
    Beautiful work! Simply stunning.
    --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.
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  • strider
    strider Posts: 2,568
    edited October 2011
    Beautiful work. Do you have access to a CNC router, or did you hire the cutting out?
    Wristwatch--->Crisco
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 939
    edited October 2011
    strider wrote: »
    Beautiful work. Do you have access to a CNC router, or did you hire the cutting out?
    There is a plastics supplier/fabricator about 3 or 4 miles from my house. They will CNC anything. Their CAD designer is an audio guy. His is coming over for a listen.
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,604
    edited October 2011
    So what does it cost to CNC something like that? If you don't mind me asking.....
    --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.
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 939
    edited October 2011
    halo71 wrote: »
    So what does it cost to CNC something like that? If you don't mind me asking.....
    This was two hours of machine time. Different shops have different labor rates but you can figure $60-80 an hour as a ball park.
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 939
    edited October 2011
    Ok sanding was a lot more of a task than I had anticipated. The very hardness that made machining nice, makes sanding difficult. I ended up using 120 grit on a random orbital palm sander to get the paper to even cut. I then hand blocked a little with some 320. Running your hand over it, you would think it had been finished in 600 grit.

    Here is a picture as the first coat of Danish oil was going on.


    2397h.jpg
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  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited October 2011
    beautiful work!
    design is where science and art break even.
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  • Oldfatdogs
    Oldfatdogs Posts: 1,874
    edited October 2011
    Beautiful work and wood.
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,322
    edited October 2011
    We don't hear from you often, but when we do it always seems to be an awesome project, like your garage find and refurbed Mac/amps
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 939
    edited October 2011
    txcoastal1 wrote: »
    We don't hear from you often, but when we do it always seems to be an awesome project, like your garage find and refurbed Mac/amps
    If you ever make it over to San Antonio, we'll spend a day playing in the audio sandbox.
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 939
    edited October 2011
    A couple pics in daylight

    2397i.jpg

    2397j.jpg
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,322
    edited October 2011
    Wardsweb wrote: »
    If you ever make it over to San Antonio, we'll spend a day playing in the audio sandbox.

    Will do
    I graduated from Churchill a couple moons ago in SA, family is still there. Really appreciate the wood work, beautiful...my after school and weekend job in SA was cabinet building

    Cheers
    Ron
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 939
    edited October 2011
    Comparing the JBL 2397clone against an Altec 511B, the JBL wins hands down. The mid range is smoother and warmer. The 511B seems bright and edgy that I can only attribute to the undampened aluminum horn.

    The adapter is a one off prototype I threw together. It is made from two pieces of 3/4" batic birch. The first has a 1" hole and recessed bolt holes to mount the LE85. The second piece transitions from the 1" hole to a rectangle that matched the horn. The two pieces bolt directly to the horn. The wood is so dense, I drilled and tapped it for 1/4x20.

    sunroom2397.jpg
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 939
    edited October 2011
    Here is a final pic of the setup.

    sunroom102211a.jpg
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,604
    edited October 2011
    Those are beautiful! I'd probably just sit there and stare at them. No even listening to music.
    --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.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,461
    edited October 2011
    awesome work... Have any of that wood left?
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • gidrah
    gidrah Posts: 3,049
    edited October 2011
    Looks great Luther. You always do some amazing work and I'm sure it sounds as good as it looks.
    Make it Funky! :)
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 939
    edited October 2011
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    awesome work... Have any of that wood left?
    I have a couple planks about five feet long but only half as wide. When I want more I just make a run up to McKinney Texas to http://www.mckinneyhardwoods.com
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited October 2011
    They look very nice and the finish is better than I expected.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • McKinneyMike
    McKinneyMike Posts: 1
    edited October 2011
    I bet that they sound as gorgeous as they look! Outstanding series of progress posts! I am so happy that the Bubinga worked out so well for you Luther!

    If you need any extra we have plenty of equal quality available! Thanks again for the business and may your horns and the construction be an inspiration to others!

    Best regards,

    Michael Mastin
    McKinney Hardwood Lumber
    McKinney, Texas
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 939
    edited October 2011
    McKinneyMike wrote: »
    I bet that they sound as gorgeous as they look! Outstanding series of progress posts! I am so happy that the Bubinga worked out so well for you Luther!

    If you need any extra we have plenty of equal quality available! Thanks again for the business and may your horns and the construction be an inspiration to others!

    Best regards,

    Michael Mastin
    McKinney Hardwood Lumber
    McKinney, Texas
    Welcome Mike! Glad to made it here. There are a lot of great guys and gals here. You may know Russman. He lives just a few miles from you .

    I'm sure I will be by your place when my next project comes around.
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited October 2011
    That African Bubinga wood looks fantastic! I was thinking of redoing my 3.1TL's and more recently my 2.3TL's with this wood. I love the look of it. Fantastic job on the horns Luther!

    Greg
    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

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,341
    edited October 2011
    Beautiful job Luther!
    Carl

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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 939
    edited November 2011
    I have put up a build page with more pictures on these JBL 2397 clones.

    http://wardsweb.org/audio/Smith%20Horn/
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  • saemark30
    saemark30 Posts: 146
    edited December 2011
    That's amazing.
    Are the top and bottom wood pieces just flat pieces?
    How do I get the plans for the curves?

    Thanks
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