10.10.2007

Testing and Conclusion

I don't own any professional audio testing equipment but I wish I did: I'd LOVE to see this baby's numbers - her maiden voyage saw my 3 tests I put all my audio components through - Diva Plavalaguna from The Fifth Element (if you test speakers, you know the scene i mean), Massive Attack's Angel, and Thomas Bangalter's Rectum.

I did a side by side with 3 configurations from the T773 - the cross set to 200hz, 80hz, and 40hz with the fronts and rears set to small in order to hear the bass channeling. The only real competition to the sub however is the fronts so those were the ones i really concentrated on.

I should also point out that the Rythmik Audio AS370 12dB/Octave Amplifier I purchased has customizable settings for a low pass filter and damping factor - VERY handy when fighting cone excursion and clipping. Through my tests i set my amplifier on the DS-15 to a 14hz low pass filter and a high damping factor. The low pass filter acts exactly how one would expect it to work and the damping factor steepens the curve of filtration on the low end. While I would normally want something less harsh, on a 15" bass driver you're going to lose quality quicker than on a 4" mid range.

200hz Cross - Stereo - Playing Massive Attack's Angel provides a good indication of the speakers power handling/filtering/as well as the CD players discrete processing (the track features simultaneous, sharp, tweeter and woofer signal), since none of that is on trial here however, i concentrated on the balance between the sub and full range fronts - I wanted to see how the woofer handled the low end next to the high and mid range that i'm so used to hearing on the Studio-100s.
Though i love my fronts i never realized they rolled off like that - haha. The DS-15 handled itself beautifully, no signs cone excursion. The driver appeared to be a little over driven on the part of the crossover freq, so i tuned it down.

80hz Cross - Stereo - My fronts tend to lose a lil' bit of their bite at freqs around 40hz. The 80hz mark saw everything i dreamed of in a sub - The bass was smooth and clean and after adjusting the phase on the amplifier one couldn't tell the low end on the fronts from the bass. The mid and high end popped over the sub and sounded excellent - complete coverage of the spectrum.

40hz Cross - Stereo - This is really where i want to keep the sub, using the fronts (while still set to 'small' on the T773) full range and keeping the sub for the freqs unheard on the fronts. Where as i expected separation issues and a distorted 40 - 200hz range with the cross tuned so low, i actually received a velvety smooth low end from music that i never knew had that kind of bass. The music sounded rounder, complete, and more dynamic - listening to the full range on the fronts still sounds GREAT but the 'real kick you in the stomach' bass from the DS-15 went perfectly with it. I gotta admit, I'm a puritan and want to stay off the sub for CD playback but I don't think I'm going to be able to...


Now getting down to what I'm sure everyone is wondering - the cost. Did my Rubik's cube project end up saving me money over buying a brand new similar sub? Why yes, yes it did if you read directly from the MSRP of such subwoofers. For the deal that I probably could've received, i really only saved a couple hundred dollars. Granted the bulk of the cost were tools and the way i rationalized it was the tools i purchased would have to be bought sooner or later. Taking that $428.98 cost off the table, the total i spent on materials/supplies was $284.74, not including the driver/amp at a cost of $578.55.

Making my combined total spent on the Rubik's Cube subwoofer: $1586.08

Compared to the MSRP of subs in it's category, all i can say is 'What a Deal!' Compared to what i probably could have purchased one for i did pretty well but of course i had the pleasure of customizing however i wanted. In Conclusion: the DS-15 comes highly recommended! For the money spent and the quality received, you'd be foolish not to investigate!

I'd like to thank Melissa Bazillion with helping to get this site launched and while you're here please give me a comment or send me an email with any questions....










Thanks for visiting!

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

YOU ARE ONE SICK PUPPY! I love this subwoofer. I can't believe you went to such lengths to build a subwoofer like this. And I can't believe you've got such an understanding landlord. If your landlord is single and of the opposite sex, you may have just found the ultimate audiophile spouse.

Anonymous said...

WoW....!

That has got to be the best looking, most imaginative DIY sub I have every seen.

You da "DIY, Rubixs Cube, Sub" MAN......!

Good one...!

aRms

Anonymous said...

This is Truly Awesome !!!

Anonymous said...

is very good, GOOD JOB !!

Anonymous said...

Hi,

What can I say.......
AWESOME and that comes from a dedicated mdf fan!

Just one question tho, what sort of paint did you use to get such a reflective finish?

Beado4ever

Anonymous said...

fantastic...!! Awesome taping job -- I can imagine it took hours.

Zachary Paisley said...

Thanks for the compliments guys!!

Anonymous said...

Sweet sub.. obvious great job building but also a great job in documenting..thx

Anonymous said...

Great job!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

This looks very nice! I must congratulate you for the effort you put to build this cube. The final finish is very nice, smooth, pleasing .
I also enjoyed in this complete tutorial.

Very nice!

Anonymous said...

Very, very nice.

Proper planning, detailed execution, spectacular final outcome.

And what a cool idea!

Ramesh Ramakrishnan said...

Truly amazing !!!!

Anonymous said...

I was a rubix cube for Halloween< but yours looks nicer. amazing

Adam said...

Absolutely fantastic design ! I spent an arm and a leg on my sub design, only to blend it into my décor. Although I'm chuffed with the sound and look, I can't help but be envious of your design!

Here's some renders of mine if your interested.

http://www.8ballaudio.com/HTML/lowball.html

Anonymous said...

O MY GOD. this is absolutely orgasmic!!! i now know which subwoofer im gonna make ITS FANTASTIC!!!!! you are a genius. well done.

i o u a cookie. next time you are in the uk let me know. lol

Anonymous said...

The Mentalist Sub i have ever seen, looks like the real thing just crazy man!! I want 1 how much for it??

Anonymous said...

Cool art!

Anonymous said...

You know the way they say "everything has already been done"? Well, having thought of an idea something like this I was not surprised to actually find it realised on the net - with full instuctions too. I may not have been surprised, I sure am 100% impressed. And I'm not easily impressed.

My point: Oh my God, that sub woofer is WICKED. I love cubes in general, and Rubik's cubes especially.

It's now my life goal to build one of these speakers, I will tell you if I succeed. Damn, I want it so bad. You should sell them on eBay.

PS Have you ever seen the Rubiks cube art on the website of the Wooster Collective. It's good.

Have you seen the Percussa Audio Cubes. Oh Mama.

Did you know Jim Henson, of Sesame Street fame, directed a film - long forgotten - called "The Cube". An existenial masterpiece.

Your Rubik's Sub, Sir, is a top most contender for some of the coolest geometry on the net.

Anonymous said...

wow. lot of work, but for sure one of a kind. makes me wanna build something crazy and unique. something different is always good. especially when it will give you many years of great sound and the looks to boot. props.

Anonymous said...

Very impressive, you have a real innovative mind and great carpentry skills, and also obviously good knowledge of acoustics. Far from a straight forward sub and very well constructed.
Whats also impressive is the way you have documented it, I built a kit car and subsequent site to document the build - and I know how hard it is to tutorial something you are desperate to finish well!
I dont know what you are doing for a living right know - but you could certainly have a business making custom bespoke home/auto audio, get yourself on dragons den!

Good job

Mouez OD said...

I was more than inspired by this project, i had to construct my own...if you want to have a look: www.flickr.com/photos/mouez

Anonymous said...

Congratulations!

This is the most beautiful DIY sub woofer that I have ever seen, truly awesome and perfectly designed and executed.

Well documented too.....!!!

Hatta said...

Incredible!! One museum piece!! Congratulations!!!

Anonymous said...

WOW.... I'm impressed!

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