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Audio Build - My neighbors are gonna hate me

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DavidRam

DavidRam

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I'm really enjoying this. I know very little about the high end side of audio, and this has been a very instructive post for me.
Thanks! DO NOT get into this stuff, it's very addictive and very expensive! Lol
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DavidRam

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I'm so short on time, so this build is moving at a snails pace... Here are the last "interior" pictures before the box gets painted black (because the inside will be visible through the plexiglass window):

IMG-20200311-191813128.jpg


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IMG-20200311-194305982-BURST001.jpg


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I didn't treat the inside because I didn't want to reduce the interior volume of pods that are already to small... The outside treatment was to take away the hollow, plasticy sound of the pods, and it did a really good job of that.
I don't think it would make a noticeable difference to do this to factory pods with factory equipment, but my pods with the Morel speakers will be getting 150 watts rms so they needed all the help they could get.
Good to know. I'll be replacing/swapping out the pods for the Metra 6.5" pod with a good Focal 6.5" woofer (part of their PS165F3's), seems like a simple fix that would take very little extra sound treatment material. Thanks!
 

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Rough cut for the 1/2" birch plywood baffle

IMG-20200204-155342061.jpg
I looked through and didn't see an explanation, why did you attach this birch baffle to the pod? Looking at the speaker pod re-installed, it looks like you still have (barely) enough clearance to the knee panel, so that's not a problem. I've found that the Focal speakers I have, the 6.5 woofer in their flax 3-way, doesn't quite fit into one of the pods, because of the way the interior is and the weird backside of the Focal speaker. I need about 1/4" of material to build up around the hole to make it sit nice, I'm wondering if this is partly why you did that birch baffle?
 
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I looked through and didn't see an explanation, why did you attach this birch baffle to the pod? Looking at the speaker pod re-installed, it looks like you still have (barely) enough clearance to the knee panel, so that's not a problem. I've found that the Focal speakers I have, the 6.5 woofer in their flax 3-way, doesn't quite fit into one of the pods, because of the way the interior is and the weird backside of the Focal speaker. I need about 1/4" of material to build up around the hole to make it sit nice, I'm wondering if this is partly why you did that birch baffle?
Yep, exactly. I wanted something stronger and more dense to attach the speaker to.
 

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A couple little updates:

I painted the inside of the box in the areas that will be visible through the acrylic window.

IMG-20200318-141602519.jpg


IMG-20200318-141716673-HDR.jpg


I cut out the frame openings for the acrylic window. You can see I am a little ocd with things fitting and clean cuts... The radius of the acrylic window was supposed to be 1/4", but it came in 5/16" (maybe from polishing?). So I had to adjust the radius up for the outer cut out and down for the inside cutout... Blah blah blah

IMG-20200325-095518691.jpg


IMG-20200325-130718473.jpg


Too close to the edge?! I had to use the M5 tee nuts because I got some special hardware for the window. I had to trim them flush with the opening. I'm pretty sure 8 automotive grade bolts will hold the window really well.

IMG-20200325-164658762.jpg


IMG-20200325-164730362.jpg
 
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I took a break from the sub box to mock up a little housing to hold the dsp remote and main volume knob. It absolutely will not fit anywhere else, but right where it's going... I do like having the volume and bass knob right at my finger tips while my arm is resting on the armrest.

IMG-20200324-134158379.jpg


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Obviously it won't be cardboard! I'll use some 1/4" plywood (of course) to make the structure and wrap it in vinyl upholstery to match the center console. The top will not show the MiniDSP logo, there will be an aluminum cover or faceplate to finish it off.
 
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Added the LED light strips, I decided on red... I glued down the wire and painted it as well. One more coat of black paint and the inside should be done.

IMG-20200331-141228846-HDR.jpg


Test fit

IMG-20200331-200017564.jpg
 
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And back to the remote housing... It's starting to take shape.

Stainless steels top cut out and bent:

IMG-20200407-145608985.jpg


Wrapped in vinyl upholstery

IMG-20200407-191154582-HDR.jpg


Cut outs for the volume and buttons cleaned up and smooth out

IMG-20200407-195151676.jpg


Here it is without the faceplate and with the solid aluminum knob I'll be using

IMG-20200407-202538898.jpg
 
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Finished the housing...

Shaped the stainless steel faceplate:

IMG-20200408-140140658.jpg


Test fit

IMG-20200408-155241551-1.jpg


Hey, it looks just like the cardboard template!

IMG-20200408-155436595-1.jpg


Wrapped it in matte black vinyl

IMG-20200408-170505208.jpg


I am happy with the fit-n-finish, it turned out pretty clean, imho

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Coming along great! Great work and attention to detail! Love following this one!
 
 



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