Yet more AR.com DIY speaker questions

[kexodusc]

I had a few days off last week and spent a good deal of time towards building myself some new stands, and finally starting the AR.com DIY's. I'm just about done, the cabinets take alot longer to make than you'd think, but the nice veneer I've got picked out should be worth it. My first dry run of the speakers yielded some very pleasing results...I haven't done a head-to-head with my Paradigm Studio 40's or 20's yet, but I can tell this it's going to be very interesting when I do...but that's for later.

Anyway, I'm already a few steps ahead of myself and I'm anticipating building a few more of these and incorporating them into a home theater setup.

I've read all the posts here, and I understand Solen in Canada offers shielded Peerless drivers equivalent to the ones called for in the Ar.com design...has anybody actually used those in this design? How'd it go?

Also, I understand that MCH and a few others here have tried making a center channel speaker...Anybody else have any ideas how to go about doing this?

If not, how does the BIC America center channel sound beside these? I'd like to have a perfect match to go with the AR.com's. I haven't heard it, but I'm a bit skeptical that this little speaker is going to sound as nice as the AR.com DIY's. Especially at the price you can have it for...if it does, why would anyone bother with the AR.com DIY's and just use a few BIC America speakers with Ed's crossover mod?
Perhaps you can all understand my apprehension about replacing a $600 center speaker with a $200 (or less) dollar speaker. I'm not so naive to think price is the determining factor, but I know of nobody in my area that carries BIC America speakers and I haven't heard them for myself. I certainly wouldn't want to sacrifice any sound, especially if the AR.com DIY's replace my $800 Paradigm's as I suspect they might.

BTW, I've also got Wayne J's PeeCreek speaker on the go, I'm a bit more doubtful of the tweeter used in that design, but I can't wait to do a 3 way comparison of Ed's, Wayne's, and Paradigm's speakers.

[Beckman]

[QUOTE=kexodusc]Also, I understand that MCH and a few others here have tried making a center channel speaker...Anybody else have any ideas how to go about doing this?

If not, how does the BIC America center channel sound beside these? I'd like to have a perfect match to go with the AR.com's. QUOTE]

You can make an additional speaker identical to the first two and use it as a center channel.

[kexodusc]

It gets rather difficult to do this because the speakers don't use shielded drivers...if I can find a shielded equivalent tweeter and woofer, then I may be okay...I'm exploring this avenue right now.

Thanks.

[poneal]

he recommended the BIC center with his mod or build another AR.Com for your center speaker. I too am in the process of building these monitors (5 of them). Unfortunately, I messed up the flush routing for the vent not only on 1 back but 4 before I got it right. Dummy me kept adding instead of subtracting before I realised my mistake. I sure do like the circle jig from PE for flush mouting though. Make's cutting circles a breeze. I will not be done for a few more weeks though. I still have to glue, recut the rear baffles I messed up, stain, clearcoat, etc. My crossovers from Madisound just came in today (the latest mod ones for the increased midrange performance and adjustable resistor for the tweeter). I'm really anxious to listen to them, but it will be a few more weeks until that happens. I'll take some pictures and let you know how mine come out.

[kexodusc]

Best of luck, Paul...I'm planning on building 4 at least probably 6 altogether...I'm leaning towards the BIC center. From what I've learned, there isn't a comparable magnetically shielded equivalent available anywhere.

Just wondering, are you using the polyfill as per Ed's instructions, or did you get ambitious like some others and buy the acoustic foam from Parts Express or something?

I wondered about the circle jig from PE, my good friend has a great woodshop full of tools and has been gracious so far. I'm thinking for the next 2 pairs it might be a good investment. Especially for someone like me who is mediocre at best at this sort of thing.

BTW, is this your first DIY project?

[poneal]

I used maple plywood instead of mdf though. Ya the jig is great. I have flush mounted all my speakers, ports, and speaker terminals. Ed suggested that the drivers be flush mounted so I just decided to flush mount everything.