Custom AI-1 SDA Dreadnought Project underway

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Toolfan66
Toolfan66 Posts: 16,947
edited March 2012 in Vintage Speakers
Well I got started on my AI-1 Dreadnought project today.

I got the case programed,lasered,formed,and hardwared today. I also got my binding post's from sonicraft today as well. My transformer should be here tomorrow.

I have to do some layout tonight for the feet then tomorrow I will have it powdercoated black..

I am going to use my MIT AVT speaker cables to start with and go from there.

Pics Baby!!!!

AI-1013.jpg
AI-1014.jpg
AI-1015.jpg
Post edited by Toolfan66 on
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,122
    edited December 2010
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    Can you make one of those pretty cases for me? I can make a granite face for it to match my amps.:smile:
    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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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,122
    edited December 2010
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    Lasareath wrote: »
    Very Nice Larry!, Don't make it too nice or everyone will want to order them from you!!!

    Looks a bit to late for that:wink:...

    The trouble with Larry is that he is so damn good at this stuff that everything he touches is a must-have upgrade.
    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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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    edited December 2010
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    I want one!:smile:
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • PolkMaster1
    PolkMaster1 Posts: 847
    edited December 2010
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    I WANT ONE!!! Well, just the enclosure. The transformer should arrive tomorrow.

    I wonder if Larry has ever thought of redoing the enclosures of his stereo equipment.
    Statistics show that 98% of us will die at some point in our lifetime.

    The other 2% will work for WalMart.
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  • PolkMaster1
    PolkMaster1 Posts: 847
    edited December 2010
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    DK -

    Is your Dreadnought enclosure EMI and RFI shielded?
    Statistics show that 98% of us will die at some point in our lifetime.

    The other 2% will work for WalMart.
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,328
    edited December 2010
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    Looking very good Larry!!
    Carl

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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 16,947
    edited December 2010
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    Lasareath wrote: »
    Very Nice Larry!, Don't make it too nice or everyone will want to order them from you!!!

    Thanks!!! That seems to happen with every project I do.
    DarqueKnight wrote: »
    I want one!:smile:

    Ray you have a PM..
    schwarcw wrote: »
    Looking very good Larry!!

    Thanks!! I will post some pics tomorrow after powdercoating.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,842
    edited December 2010
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    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    I am going to use my MIT AVT speaker cables to start with and go from there.

    Isn't that the EXp 3 cable? The AVt series has network boxes on them.
    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

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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 16,947
    edited December 2010
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    F1nut wrote: »
    Isn't that the EXp 3 cable? The AVt series has network boxes on them.

    Yes it is Jesse I was thinking of my IC's hanging in the closet. These are the EXp 3's
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited December 2010
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    Larry, I envy your skills and talents great stuff. I've sent you a couple of few emails. Have you received them?
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited December 2010
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    Wow nice work on the box,it even has PEM's.That would be perfect for a small amplifier project.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 16,947
    edited December 2010
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    I got my case back from paint this afternoon and I have to say I'm not excited about it.I guess I had them pushing to hard today before christmas. It's not bad but I can be very anal, and it's not like this box is costing me anything so I will deal with it..lol
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,122
    edited December 2010
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    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    I got my case back from paint this afternoon and I have to say I'm not excited about it.I guess I had them pushing to hard today before christmas. It's not bad but I can be very anal, and it's not like this box is costing me anything so I will deal with it..lol


    If it's not up to snuff, I can use it.:biggrin: I would make a granite face and paint it to match my tubes anyway.
    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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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited December 2010
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    Granite is for kitchen counter tops, not audio gear.
    "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
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 16,947
    edited December 2010
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    Face wrote: »
    Granite is for kitchen counter tops, not audio gear.

    LOL:tongue:
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited December 2010
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    Face wrote: »
    Granite is for kitchen counter tops, not audio gear.
    It might look good in combo with a Baltic Birch baffle no?:wink:
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  • vmaxer
    vmaxer Posts: 5,116
    edited December 2010
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    FTGV wrote: »
    It might look good in combo with a Baltic **** baffle no?:wink:


    Fixed it fer ya....:tongue:



    J/K
    Pio Elete Pro 520
    Panamax 5400-EX
    Sunfire TGP 5
    Micro Seiki DD-40 - Lyra-Dorian and Denon DL-160
    PS Audio GCPH phono pre
    Sunfire CG 200 X 5
    Sunfire CG Sig 405 X 5
    OPPO BDP-83 SE
    SDA SRS 1.2TL Sonicaps and Mills
    Ctr CS1000p
    Sur - FX1000 x 4
    SUB - SVS PB2-Plus

    Workkout room:
    Sony Bravia XBR- 32-Inch 1080p
    Onkyo TX-DS898
    GFA 555
    Yamaha DVD-S1800BL/SACD
    Ft - SDA 1C

    Not being used:
    RTi 38's -4
    RT55i's - 2
    RT25i's -2, using other 2 in shop
    LSI 15's
    CSi40
    PSW 404
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 16,947
    edited December 2010
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    Well I'm done but for the Transformer,I am pretty happy with it but I'm thinking of making the faceplate to match the crossover plate on my 1.2tl's with handles and all..

    More Pics!!!
    AI-1Part2012.jpg
    AI-1Part2007.jpg
    AI-1Part2009.jpg
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 16,947
    edited December 2010
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    The size of the case is 10" X 10" X 4" the transformer is 6.3 X 2.2 if I remember right..
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  • gimpod
    gimpod Posts: 1,793
    edited December 2010
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    It must be SOOO nice to have a shop where you can do this kind of stuff at your disposal :smile:

    I'm jealous.:frown:
    “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited December 2010
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    Very Nice ! What transformer did you order ?
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 16,947
    edited December 2010
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    thsmith wrote: »
    Very Nice ! What transformer did you order ?

    Thanks!!!

    AVEL Y236906, Same one DK is using..
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 16,947
    edited December 2010
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    My Transformer,and my Weller Soldering station was on my front porch!!!

    Goodtimes!!!!

    All thanks go to DK for this project...
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 16,947
    edited December 2010
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    I was going to make this case out of aluminum I'm very glad I went with steel after receiving this transformer,it has a little weight to it (13+lbs) I did make the face plate out of aluminum.

    I think the steel will be better for mounting this little beast..
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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    edited December 2010
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    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    I was going to make this case out of aluminum I'm very glad I went with steel after receiving this transformer,it has a little weight to it (13+lbs) I did make the face plate out of aluminum.

    I think the steel will be better for mounting this little beast..

    The steel might be a problem. It will raise the inductance of the toroidal transformer windings and may magnetically couple more environmental noise into the inductor. The original AI-1 came in a plastic case.
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 16,947
    edited December 2010
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    Good point.. What I will do is make 3 more out of aluminum and see if there is a difference.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited December 2010
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    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    Good point.. What I will do is make 3 more out of aluminum and see if there is a difference.

    You should start making these and selling for profit. Nothing like a part time job to pay for your home audio adventures. I don't need one but I'd bet many on here would buy one for now or the future.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 16,947
    edited December 2010
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    So I'm guessing the Positive Side is working as the Pin?, and the Negitive Side is working as the Blade?

    I have this all together and will be giving this a listen tomorrow morning.I will post some final Pics as well..
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  • geoff727
    geoff727 Posts: 546
    edited December 2010
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    I sense major coolness in the offing, here.
    Polk SDA SRS 2
    Polk RTA 15tl
    Polk Monitor 7C
    Polk Lsi9
    Infinity RS-II (modded)
    Infinity RS-IIIa (modded)
    Infinity RS 2.5 x 2
    Magnepan 1.6QR (modded)

    System: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vevol&1290711373
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 16,947
    edited December 2010
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    Pics!!!

    A1-1part3062.jpg

    AI-1Part2010.jpg
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