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DIY Sound Group Fusion 12 Tempest

StevenZ

StevenZ

Texas or nothin'
Well folks, I'm excited to announce that I've finally gone big. After a few years of building various speakers using single driver fullrange units and various 2-way bookshelf speakers I've finally decided that I need a big mamajama. To be honest I'm not sure what to expect from this kit. I'd like to assume that it will be dynamic, accurate, and overall very good in less than optimal rooms due to it's constant directivity design. Who knows. In any case, I cannot wait to get the parts in and start making some sawdust.

The kit I bought is sold by DIYSoundGroup.com and is sold per side (2 kits needed for stereo). In my eyes the kit is an outrageous value in that it ships with all parts needed per speaker and even includes the front baffle already machined for you AND ships for free. We all know the front baffle is really the hardest part to building your own speakers. While I do have access to a CNC router, most people don't so this is a big big plus when buying from DIYSoundGroup.com

http://www.diysoundgroup.com/waveguide-speaker-kits/fusion-series-kits/fusion12-kit.html


I've read a bit about the team who designed the SEOS-12 waveguide as well as the Denovo DNA-360 compression driver and am impressed with what the DIY folks were able to accomplish. The waveguide and the compression driver were made for each other. Literally they were made for each other and are said to be absolutely stellar. From what I can tell the Denovo DNA-360 is almost a direct copy of the B&C DE250. The kit also directly competes with Wayne Parhams speakers of PiSpeakers.com and I have seen more heated threads about which is superior than I care to admit. I feel they each have their place but it's apparent that DIYSoundGroup wins on the value front. A pair of the Fusion-12 Tempest speakers cost less than half of one single channel of the competing speaker from PiSpeakers, which is the 3 Pi. This is pretty much what won me over. I'm a sucker for good deals and am more than willing to support a community of DIY'ers in their work on a completely new waveguide and all the effort they have put into DIYSoundGroup.

To sum it up, I'll be posting photos of all parts when they arrive and will hopefully be building by the second week of July. This of course depends on when the parts actually get shipped and delivered. By the way, I opted for the glossy waveguide. :banana:


Cheers,
Steven
 
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dnewma04 said:
Are you going to go crossoverless?
:)
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Hahaha, unfortunately this design calls for one. Crossoverless designs will always hold a special place in my heart but I think to get the dynamic output I want I'll have to sacrifice this once. :)
 
Bi-amping such speakers with a mini-DSP is about as crossover-less as a crossover can get, just sayin'. ;)

az
 
audiozaz said:
Bi-amping such speakers with a mini-DSP is about as crossover-less as a crossover can get, just sayin'. ;)

az
Click to expand...

I appreciate the option but I think Jeff Bagby has gotten the passive crossover as good as it possibly can be with this design and with these 2 drivers. For now I'll stick to the stock crossover and if I see need for upgrading or running active I will definitely pursue that avenue at a later date.

-Steven
 
donprice said:
Got a subwoofer or three to run with them?
Click to expand...

With it's claimed F3 of 37Hz I'm going to try and run it without subwoofers. I'm guessing my actual in-room extension will be slightly lower than 37hz so I might not be lacking. We'll see how they sound running by themselves first and then go from there.

I'm hoping to get the parts pretty soon but I realize DIYSG is run by a fella in his spare time so I'll be patient. I've got 2 sheets of 18mm Russian birch 4x8 ready to be cut. I could probably build the enclosures while I wait and just throw the double front baffle on whenever the parts come in. I'll see if I can get some time on the saw today and give it a go.

Cheers,
Steven
 
If you run Jeff's Response Modeler you can get a pretty good idea of the room gain in your room. Less guessing.
 
StevenZ said:
I appreciate the option but I think Jeff Bagby has gotten the passive crossover as good as it possibly can be with this design and with these 2 drivers. For now I'll stick to the stock crossover and if I see need for upgrading or running active I will definitely pursue that avenue at a later date.

-Steven
Click to expand...

I have no doubt his design is good. :) It can be just as seamless as a good FR driver when well done IMO. I think you'll like it. You will have a further reach into macro-dynamics and the option to play them "stupid-loud" if that ever needs to happen. :thmbsp:

az
 
Awesome! If they're as seamless as fullrange drivers I'll be in hog heaven. And yes, another reason for buying them is because I drink a little too much on occasion. Being able to take the musical abuse is a definite bonus.

I will be ordering the cabinet flat packs some time next week as I keep on finding myself with no time to get into the shop lately. I figure the flat packs look well designed and are easy enough to slap together within a day. All that leaves me to do is throw some veneer on the cabinets and paint the face black. I'm hoping to source some ribbon striped veneer and cover the faces with a wheat colored speaker cloth. I think it would look really nice.


-Steven
 
Happily I just got confirmation that my package was sent out. No ETA on the FedEx site yet, but I'm hoping to have it before the weekend. I also ordered a sheet of MDF to save myself the money of ordering the flat packs. I figure I'll just use the Russian birch that I have for internal bracing and for the stands I'll need; the MDF will be for the cabinets themselves. I suppose it was the laziness in me that made me want to order the flat packs instead of build my own cabinets. Hell, I've got a CNC router at my disposal. May as well use it.

At least this way I have more money for some pretty veneer. :)
 
Just a quick update:

1. The kit will be delivered tomorrow.

2. All enclosure parts and internal bracing have been programmed and cut on the CNC.

3. Due to the rounded over front baffles supplied with the kit, veneer is out of the equation. I have bought some Acrytech DuraTex speaker coating. Color: Black

4. Stands/risers will be made after speaker completion and measurements taken. Will most likely be made from left over Russian birch and whatever stain is currently available in the paint room.


I will post a few photos of the build process, crossover assembly, and kit parts in the coming days. That's all for now.


Cheers,
Steven
 
Have I mentioned that your easy access to a CNC router makes me very angry and jealous and you should be ashamed of yourself for flaunting said access?
 
dnewma04 said:
Have I mentioned that your easy access to a CNC router makes me very angry and jealous and you should be ashamed of yourself for flaunting said access?
Click to expand...

I forgot to mention that it took me 30 minutes from drawing the parts to stacking the parts. And it only took that long because I was eating my lunch at the same time. :D

I'm ashamed.
 
dnewma04 said:
Don't anger people with the power to ban you. :D
Click to expand...

Well noted. :yes:

Also, one more quick update. Just ordered some nice hook up wire and Dacron from Meniscus. I've used the Dacron before and it works very well. I've got a thing about using fiberglass :nono:

The hookup wire I've never used but think it should be just fine. See below

10' of both red and black
http://meniscusaudio.com/lynk-wire-14ga-silver-hook-p-218.html

6' because I've got a bit leftover from a previous project
http://meniscusaudio.com/bonded-dacron-p-185.html

I was instructed by Jeff Bagby to line the side and rear walls and apply some loose fill above the waveguide. I've got some loose polyfill so I'll add that when the time comes.

The binding posts to be used are standard Parts Express offerings. I've found over many projects that they are a very hard to beat post for the money. They're extremely durable and can be used multiple times. I've banged on them with a hammer before and didn't even chip the coating (ymmv).

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=091-1245


-Steven
 
Hey a set of speakers a month. I thought you were slowing down.:) Haven't got to hear the last set.
Looking forward to your progress!

Mark
 
opa1 said:
Hey a set of speakers a month. I thought you were slowing down.:) Haven't got to hear the last set.
Looking forward to your progress!

Mark
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm really hoping this will be my last set for a while. Though unfortunately I seem to say that about every set I build. Hahaha. It's really addicting building speakers. I like the anticipation of the build and then finally getting to hear it for the first time is just wonderful. It's just a great feeling knowing that I've created something that plays beautiful music. Most of you DIY'ers can relate.

-Steven
 
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