Finally Couldn't Put it Off Any Longer - Dreadnaught Construction

MrBuhl

Thanks to Voltz, Nspindel and Toolfan, I was able to get in "after the fact" on the group buy for an enclosure as well as one of the A/L toroids. Thanks to many, many folks here, there were copius threads I bookmarked for the occasion when I got lost.

Primarily I used a wiring layout detailed by a post of F1Nut's, and copied Westmassguy's design, as much as a "Joe Homeowner" can do anyway. This toroid didn't seem to require having an MDF mount, the center was filled with an epoxy of some sort and drilled for a 5/16" bolt, so I ran with that much easier option. I'm afraid it's not nearly as artful as many I have seen on here. But it is now complete. If anything looks out of whack or incorrect, I welcome your observations folks!

Now I just have to figure out how to make an SDA cable out of Canare 4S11 wire and Speakon connectors! Any suggestions? Specifically, I'm super confused by the +1 -1 / +2 -2 thing going on at the box ends. What does that mean for the speaker ends>

Pictures to follow shortly. Thanks to all who have contributed, developed, tested, and made possible upgrades like this for a guy like me!

voltz

You're welcome Ed!

I finally got me some SDA-CRS+ and I can get a Dreadnaught from Dave and he is also doing my Interconnect cable for me, so I can't help you there. but others can.
Glad your getting it all together. can't wait to hear how it sound to you!

MrBuhl

Thank you Darryl! I feel bad you have to chase down a Dreadnaught after the fact, but I truly appreciate the opportunity! I'm kinda glad I procrastinated a few things, I can appreciate them more as they get added into the completed 1c's. Next up, I still haven't installed my Larry Rings!! Sad I know! The Honey-do list is ever ending!

SCompRacer

MrBuhl wrote: »

Now I just have to figure out how to make an SDA cable out of Canare 4S11 wire and Speakon connectors! Any suggestions? Specifically, I'm super confused by the +1 -1 / +2 -2 thing going on at the box ends. What does that mean for the speaker ends>

Nice work!

It doesn't really matter what numbers you use as long as they connect to the right places.... however....

When I did Carl's 2.3 xovers, I used -1 for ground and -2 for pin I.C.





On Gimpods schematic, it showed pin 2 as the I.C. on the pin of the pin/blade connector which is a neg wire so -2. The ground is number 1 on the blade of the pin/blade connector and it's a neg wire so -1. Polk schematic shows the same scheme. It just made sense to me.

http://www.gimpod.com/pdfs/SDA_SRS_2.3_Schematic.pdf

MrBuhl

Thanks!

And thanks for the pics SCompRacer, I'll have to pull my binding post cups and see what David did there, he upgraded my crossovers and my cups with Speakon connectors at the same time.

So what does it look like on the wire ends do you mind my asking? With four twisted pair in the 4S11 I'm still confused what to do when I terminate the wires?

westmassguy

On your Binding post cups, the SpeakON is wired blue/+1, white/-1.
The Canare can be a PITA on the SpeakOn plugs. I always unscrew the two compression screws until they just catch, then insert a Phillips head jewelers screwdriver in the hole to make sure the inner sleeve is wide open. The twisted pairs of the Canare I strip longer than needed, twist them tight, then trim off the ends to about 3/8'. Bend them so they're close together, and slowly, carefully insert them into the compression sleeves. Watch for stay strands, and make sure they're fully inserted. You need to be a bit of a contortionist to be able to hold the plug and wire tight, and tighten the compression screws.

MrBuhl

As always David, you're a prince among men! Thank you for the tips - I'll give it a whirl.

westmassguy

You're welcome. Just make sure your SpeakOns at the Dreadnaught are wired the same, +1/-1

MrBuhl

Red/Yellow (right pin) to 1+
Black/Orange (right blade) to 1-
Grey/Brown (left pin) to 1+
Blue/Violet (left blade) to 1-

I followed this method - so that should be correct yes?

ZLTFUL

If you think the Canare is a ****, try using MIT Terminator 2 cable. Besides almost crying when I cut the cable, it is like trying to get an angry badger and an angry mongoose to mate.

F1nut

Besides almost crying when I cut the cable, it is like trying to get an angry badger and an angry mongoose to mate.

LOL....did I forget to mention to twist all the different wires counterclockwise at the end? It should come out looking like braided rope.

westmassguy

MrBuhl wrote: »

Red/Yellow (right pin) to 1+
Black/Orange (right blade) to 1-
Grey/Brown (left pin) to 1+
Blue/Violet (left blade) to 1-

I followed this method - so that should be correct yes?

You are correct

MrBuhl

ZLTFUL wrote: »

If you think the Canare is a ****, try using MIT Terminator 2 cable. it is like trying to get an angry badger and an angry mongoose to mate.

LMAO - Honey Badger don't give a ****!

ROHfan

Can someone shed some light on the Dreadnought's function? Too lazy to search today.

MrBuhl

ROHfan - check out this link - it's part two of Darqueknights Dreadnaught build/analysis threads... A Dreadnaught is a massively improved version of Polk's original Al-1 SDA interconnect.

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/129829/the-ai-1-dreadnought-project-pt-2-upgrade-to-1000va-transformer/p1

- Initially the Dreadnaught allows use of a non-common ground amplifier with the 1c's I have (as well as other SDAs). There appears to also be significant sonic benefit additionally based on many members feedback who have added one. I haven't heard mine yet, going to try to construct the cables tonight - will report back when I do - but the reported evidence already makes an overwhelming case for it.

codyc1ark

This thread should really be tagged as NSFW...

Nice work.

MrBuhl

Ha! Thanks CodyC1ark! I don't know that it rises to that level though! LOL.

So last night I gimped together my SpeakON cable ends, (David, you're right, that's a PITA to get right, I can't imagine larger wire going in...) and connected in the Dreadnaught. Instead of cutting down my 4S11, for the sake of time, i just connected one end with the new cable, and used my old cable for the other connection (not 4S11) because it was burning a hole in my pocket.

First, it worked! I must have done something right anyway. Second, even with this mismatched arrangement, I could immediately appreciate a much larger (wider, deeper) soundstage.

I used two vinyl albums I'm familiar with and which also have good SDA effect engineered into the recordings IMO (Paul Simon, "Still Crazy After All These Years" and Rush, "Moving Pictures").

I'd say the width of my soundstage moved significantly out, exceeding the dimensions of the room I'm in by 6-8 feet on each side. What really surprised me was the depth change, as it seemed to move back into the wall 4 feet or so as well as come forward. Everything felt very detailed, but musical, not tiring. This is a mod that is well worth the time, money and effort, especially considering I haven't even burned in or even matched cables, and I'm still running a common ground amp at this point.

Thanks to all who contributed the knowledge to make this happen! Hmmm. I may have to start looking for that used Aragon 4004 MKII I've been wanting after all!