What’s happening with your build Mark ATB Peter
Another old saying - “I’ve cut this twice, and it’s still too short!” lol
Yes, I discovered it this morning -started for a long comfortable read and thought there would be the denouement -
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Hi, I apologise for just dropping out of this topic and going dark, whilst I’ve visited the forum occasionally over the year I just haven’t had the time or mindset to get back to the build, each time I thought I’d be able to resume something happened to prevent it.
2022 was a difficult year that I’m glad to see the back of … work worries, a health scare for my wife, a new job with a lot more responsibilities, dad passing away unexpectedly, trying to get care for mum, rounded off by having to do the worst thing a manager has to do.
I have had several bouts of retail therapy over the year and my system has grown, music really has been a big help.
Anyway, shortly before Christmas this arrived!
I had holiday to use up so I insulated the garage workshop so I could make these, finishing last week (temporary stands, experimenting with the height)
Obviously not the speakers I had been working on, last year knocked my confidence somewhat and I decided to build a pair of more simple and comparatively cheaper speakers first, to prove to myself I could do it all. I was quite confident about the cabinets, it was the crossovers that concerned me and, with speakers being such a subjective choice, whether I’d actually like the sound of Troels’s designs.
These are the Illuminator 71, using ScanSpeak Illuminator drivers as their name suggests. When Troels released these they caught my eye as I originally went to his site looking for something like this to try. Then when he posted his follow up about the pair he built for himself and how excited he was about them I decided to give them a try.
I’m not great at describing sound, so sorry, all I can say is that I feel I’m hearing more of what the system is capable of, incredibly involving, I find I’m listening to entire albums more now. Low end is astonishing given they’re stand mounts, probably better than my floor standers with their dual bass drivers, and certainly better at lower volumes. Treble is so so smooth, they’re still running in and I may tweak it down a bit, will see.
To say I’m pleased is an understatement, I can see why Troels built a pair of these to keep for himself and reckons they’re the best two way speakers he’s designed. I keep looking at them, and listening to them, thinking did I really build these?! … incredibly rewarding, I know Troels did the hard bit, but still!
I’ll follow up with build pics soon!
Cheers,
Mark
PS I still plan to continue the CNOs!
PPS Thank you Richard for reopening the topic
It sounds a dreadful year , and I hope this year is better for you .
We take solace where we can, music , wine and sometimes together
best wishes
Ian
Happy to hear you’re doing well!
And congratulations on finishing this build.
Thank you Ian, very much appreciated … and yes wine and music certainly helps
Cheers,
Mark
That sounds like an awful year. My sincerest wishes things improve in 2023.
And those speakers look really great! Coincidentally I’d started to look at them a bit more closely, seeing them in the flesh, as it were, definitely given me a nudge! What’s holding me back, at least in part, is having regular time to spend, any ideas roughly how many hours you spent on them?
They might be stand mounts in the strict sense, but they’re pretty big standmounts X) Did you consider making the floor standing option? And was there much debate about which tweeter option, I see you went R3004/662000 vs the D3004/660000
Anyway, too many questions, I just wanted to reiterate how great they look, a lot of admiration for you and @Mark84 for committing to DIY builds 8)
All the best for the New Year Mark and great to see a new set of Troels Gravesen speakers completed - they look fabulous! I’ll have a look on his website for the details. Is that a black paint finish or black ash veneer? Either way they look great in situ.
I’m impressed Mark, they look superb (and pretty big). Sorry to hear about your year, I hope 2023 is better for you.
I personally would be tempted to try the NX Studio or the X-LS Encore just Google it (I will get hands smacked for mentioning anymore) … with the best X Over parts (essential)…or if you have more space maybe the Falcon IMF200…sorry came late to this thread…just seen your speakers amazing.
Thanks! How has your build gone? Last I heard you were about to do a woodworking course.
Cheers,
Mark
I’ve done that and I’ve done a proof of concept to prove to myself that I could do something acceptable. i.e. small scale box with some bracing containing all techniques I’ll need for the final thing.
Had a bit of a scare when it turned out that because of the war in Ukraine / sanctions against Russia there’s a shortage of Baltic/Russian Birch plywood. Supposedly a lot of it was made in Ukraine with Russian wood. I couldn’t get 21mm or even 18mm in the desired size and quality from my supplier with no expected stock date (or price), so went ahead and bought 24mm.
The task is now even more daunting as the material is much thicker/heavier, but since I now even own the wood I have no more excuse not to do it.
Thank you, I do hope so
How long did I spend on them? Hmm, hard to say, a couple of weeks probably, there was a lot going on over the holidays and that wasn’t full time, plus there are stages where things have to pause while glue sets etc. I wasn’t in a huge rush, although I did want to try and finish them by the time I returned to work, almost made it, overshot by a couple of days
Yes they look quite big, lower and wider than my previous speakers, same depth. They’re heavy, close on 18kg! The black finish makes them look bigger I think, they’re actually pretty much the same size as Kudos 505s, 5cm taller. I did consider the floor standers option but wanted to try something different … the thoughts I have for the stands will make them look a bit like floor standers though, the current ones are just made from what wood I already had
I chose the tweeter because I like the look and Jantzen had them in stock, so nothing technical really Besides Troels reckons they’re very close and he likes them equally so it wasn’t something I dwelt on for too long (for a change!)
Cheers,
Mark
Someone build SBLs again, pleeeeeeeeeeeez. Bet they sell too.
Thank you!
Yes his page on them is an interesting read, also his follow up article describing a bit of his history and about the pair he built for himself.
They’re built from Valchromat, a high density fibreboard that’s coloured throughout. Crazily expensive compared with MDF, partly due to the general shortages of wood currently, same with Baltic Birch. Amazing stuff, almost doesn’t feel like wood, loved working with it, and the dust is not harmful like MDF, still wore a good mask of course. So the finish was clear satin Osmo hard wax oil, and the Valchromat has a nice effect of small flecks when you look at it closely.
Cheers,
Mark