Brines M10-A10 MLT Speaker Build.

[iamnothim]

More thoughts

Lessons learned
If I built them again I'd use 3/4 ply for the guts, 5/8" for the skins and re-saw some nice hardwood to apply over the 5/8" ply. 
It takes two 4'x8' ply either way.
Non wood costs
Drivers $220pr
Terminal blocks $55
Stuffing $45
Deft $20
Glue $20
Plans $25

IMO They sound as good or better than speakers in the $2,000+ range such as Zu Audio stuff.  (I wasn't impressed) They are not headbangers. 

 

[Tayler_mann]

First and foremost the speakers look great. Second, it looks like the right one needs to be pulled out a little bit. Third thing the next project needs to be an entertainment stand under the TV.  [big grin]

I really do like the look of the maple and extremely like the bases of the speakers. The drivers being copper also work well with the scheme of things too.

 

[Jamie_MA]

[thumbs up]
Congrats! Must be very satisfying to hear the fruits of your labor and be happy with the results! Great job and thank you for sharing!

 

[Cheese]

Congratulations Luke...the speakers look great and you seem to be pleased with the sound quality and sound staging.

A couple of questions having never heard a mass-loaded transmission line speaker:
Do these speakers need spikes on the base?
Are you noticing any internal resonances/sound anomalies with the solid stock?
Is the instrument/performer location easily discernable?

 

[iamnothim]

First and foremost the speakers look great. Second, it looks like the right one needs to be pulled out a little bit. Third thing the next project needs to be an entertainment stand under the TV.  [big grin]

I really do like the look of the maple and extremely like the bases of the speakers. The drivers being copper also work well with the scheme of things too.

Thanks Tayler!
That room is not their final resting place.  I just set them up in the video/family room so I could easily listen to them for a couple hours before I put on a couple more coats on them.  (Coat #4 is drying)
They will live upstairs in the music room, driven my the 300B valve amp and an Adcom preamp.  (see illustration and photo) Presently the room is a disaster because my son took a lot of items for his apartment.  The Amp is going to live under the window between the speakers.  Down the road I will work on acoustic and a nice platform for the amp, turntable, DAC, and Mac Mini.    I think they are going to be a great match with the 300B.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

 

[iamnothim]

[thumbs up]
Congrats! Must be very satisfying to hear the fruits of your labor and be happy with the results! Great job and thank you for sharing!

[smile] [smile] [smile]

 

[iamnothim]

Congratulations Luke...the speakers look great and you seem to be pleased with the sound quality and sound staging.

A couple of questions having never heard a mass-loaded transmission line speaker:
Do these speakers need spikes on the base?
Are you noticing any internal resonances/sound anomalies with the solid stock?
Is the instrument/performer location easily discernable?

Say Cheese!
Until today, I had never heard MLT speakers  [eek]
I have removable "Carpet Spikes" for when they are upstairs.  I put felt on them for the hardwood floor.  The spikes will allow me to level them nicely.
I am very happy to report No Sound Anomalies!  (Yet)  They've got a beautiful voice for brand new cones, digital and vinyl.  I played a few tracks from Paul Simon "Graceland" 96kHz .flac  They did a nice job with the percussion.... blocks, triangles, snares.  Rolling Sones "Exhile on Main Street"  vinyl.  Sweet Virginia Tumbling Dice.  Good percussion (IMO) picked up the kick drum nicely. 
Trondheimsolistene Mozart Violin Concertos No4. D Major  192kHz flac.  Loved it.

Great sound staging.  Far exceeded my expectations.  I believe better than my Thiel CS1.5

Thanks mucho
Luke

 

[iamnothim]

Regarding sound anomalies and Harwood.
I was very concerned about this with hardwood sides or ply for that matter...
As such I used countersunk screws and plugs down the middle to pull the sides into the center cross pieces.
I believe this is mandatory.  I didn't like the seal on one of the side seams to the face so I screwed and plugged that too.

As I posted earlier.... IMO the best way to attack this is put a hardwood nose on the plywood sides, screw/glue the ply sides to all edges and cross members.  (index with dominos) Finally re-saw some nice hardwood to 1/4" book match it on the sides.  Chamfer the inside edge of the nose before attaching the sides.  Chamfer the outside edge after the re-sawn hardwood is applied.  This is more durable and easier to pull off than veneer.  (band saw required) It also takes less hardwood.

As always don't hesitate to contact me.  Happy to help.

 

[iamnothim]

To celebrate the completion of the speakers, I ordered some 1959, Amperex Bugle Boy "D" Getter receiving valves.  It's incredible how something 56 years old can sound better than something made today.  (yes I'm very sketchy..... but ya'll know that already)

Almost forgot.  It doesn't do a lot, but what it does, it does great.....  The MFK700 Trim Router makes putting a chamfer on the edge of a board, child's play.

[attachimg=1]

 

[Cheese]

The Paul Simon Graceland track is a nice choice to audition these speakers with.  [thumbs up]
My take on these speakers is that they are almost electrostatic like in their presentation of the upper registers and especially the percussive instruments.
I wonder how they'd perform on a choral ensemble and how'd they'd image with the same?

 

[Tayler_mann]

Pick up a copy of "Wish You Where Here" by of course, Pink Floyd on 180 vinyl. That is one of my go to for tests. Along with my Donald Fagen and Steely Dan collections. Also, for a good CD I like Herbie Hancocks The Imagine Project. It's a great sounding CD but you will need a real nice CD player. I have an older Oppo DVD player and it really shines with that along with my stereo. My stereo isn't even much of anything either I still am buying to many tools and skydive equipment.

 

[iamnothim]

The Paul Simon Graceland track is a nice choice to audition these speakers with.  [thumbs up]
My take on these speakers is that they are almost electrostatic like in their presentation of the upper registers and especially the percussive instruments.
I wonder how they'd perform on a choral ensemble and how'd they'd image with the same?

Electrostats.  That a very interesting comparison.  It's been at least 10 years since I listened to my friends Martin Logan's.
I'm not going to go out of my way or intentionally listen to other speakers.  Ignorance is bliss and it makes the leather last longer [big grin]  I truly think they are on par or better than my Thiel's.  Yet, they have a different sound than the Thiel's.  My memory is very bad, so switching back and forth doesn't accomplish much.  Note: My MRI indicated I don't have any brain disease but I'm going for more testing.

Choral ensemble.  The closest thing I have is The Beach Boys "Pet Sounds".  Then there's the benchmark for testing speakers.  Any track from Diana Krall.

 

[iamnothim]

Pick up a copy of "Wish You Where Here" by of course, Pink Floyd on 180 vinyl. That is one of my go to for tests. Along with my Donald Fagen and Steely Dan collections. Also, for a good CD I like Herbie Hancocks The Imagine Project. It's a great sounding CD but you will need a real nice CD player. I have an older Oppo DVD player and it really shines with that along with my stereo. My stereo isn't even much of anything either I still am buying to many tools and skydive equipment.

The Floyd album is indeed a good choice.  Donald Fagen, Steely Dan, and Herbie Hancock are not my favorite genre.  I do have Miles Davis Kind of Blue.

I like Da Blues.  As in Chicago.  Hound Dog Taylor,  Buddy Guy & Junior Wells (Alone and Acoustic) John Lee Hooker, and Muddy.

 

[iamnothim]

Dear friends,

Please read my updated signature.
Thanks

Luke

 

[iamnothim]

I'm putting this in all my threads.... so you'll get multiple emails.

Ok Guys n’ Gals,  Tool-Home

Let’s see if we can make Tom Bellmare’s phone ring.
Even if it’s to purchase Dust Collector Bags, Saw Blades, or Sandpaper, every order will help. This is business not charity…. that’s the way Tom would like it. 

I understand from [member=4105]tjbnwi[/member] (Bader) that he he’s back home from the hospital, and is teaching Veronica, his wife, the business.  It wouldn’t surprise me if “Tex” answered your call directly, pain and all.  He’s that kinda guy.

I would imagine there’s a business learning process going on with Veronica, so I’m thinking it might take a little longer to ship your order.  But then maybe not…  So get on the phone and keyboard

Phone: 512-428-9140

 

[iamnothim]

Be sure to post what you ordered.

 

[iamnothim]

Luke's Order:
6" Random Orbit Sander ETS EC150/5 - 571892

 

[iamnothim]

Guys,
I apologize in advance for the multiple posts but this is important and it's a great way to get in contact "my loyal followers"
Side Bar:  I can't believe this many guys read my threads.  I'm humbled.  Was it Yogi Berra that said "I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have me in it"?
[size=14pt]
Back on point.  Let's get some Mojo Going.
Order some CT bags or sand paper.  You always need those.  It's understood that not everybody is in a position to order a machine.

Even if it's a small purchase. 
Please post it!
It matters.
Get the Mojo Going!

 

[bertv]

>> Was it Yogi Berra that said "I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have me in it"?

Nope, Groucho Marx.

Wonderful initiative, Luke.

 

[JimSpence]

Ordered RAS 115.  Spoke with Tom.  Turns out he spent a summer in my neighborhood in Houston.  Great guy.

I love following your work, Luke.

- Jim