C-Notes from Parts Express...Final Thoughts

[RoyB]

Here is an update on the C-Note kit I just built.....My kit came with plenty of wire, banana jack binding posts and screws. Only thing I needed was glue and lots of clamps. (Although lots of folks build these with duck tape or masking tape to hold together while glue dries.

The MDF parts I received were 100% perfect. I did not need to even touch them with sandpaper. The router bits must have been sharp when the CNC machine made these parts.

I glued and clamped the cabinets together at 8AM and I was listening to the speakers at 8PM the same day.

I used TiteBond glue for the cabinet and Industrial Strength Hot Melt Glue for the crossover components mounted on an ABS plastic board. The board was Hot Melt glued to the bottom of cabinet.

I covered all interior surfaces with 2" of Pink Fiberglass. Not glued to cabinet but tightly fitted.

I did not use the extension of the bass port.

Sanded and awaiting paint.

The final comments..... In a word "FANTASTIC".......I compared them to KEF103.2 and B&W DM601......My wife and I agree they are 98% of the B&Ws and 95% of the KEFs sound quality. Simply amazing for $109!

LIKES: Great imaging when tilted slightly inward....Excellent bass response when 24" from rear wall (24 X 12 X 8 room)......Excellent vocal response

DISLIKES: Very inefficient.....Required about 20% more power from 150W/ch amplifier (Yamaha M-45)

Note: I used them with and without a B&W subwoofer. At one point playing some 80s rock I was impressed with the bass response and thought the subwoofer was on. It wasn't!

I wonder what a stack of these would sound like?

 

[RoyB]

before I paint them I decided to round over the top and bottom edge of the baffle. I might round over all the edges as they will wear better than the sharp corner and the MDF is very soft and will dent easily on such a hard point.

Crossover mounting

 

[DTiberius]

Very nice build! I've been sitting on the fence about buying these for awhile. The last thing I need is another pair of speakers, lol! But, seeing your build and the speakers you're comparing them to... I'm gonna order the kit as soon as they're back in stock!

 

[weasels]

On a scale of 1-10 of woodworking skills I am probably a 0.5.

Would I be insane to try to build these?

 

[Ron Texas]

OP must have done this before. That's a nice collection of clamps.

 

[mhardy6647]

Well... heck...
And I managed to resist them when they were... well.. a C-note.
I guess it's like the stock market: buy high. Time to get the credit card out.
w - w - w - dot - p - a -r - t- s...

On a scale of 1-10 of woodworking skills I am probably a 0.5.

Would I be insane to try to build these?

No. The '"woodworking" is done for you. All you have to do is assemble.
And solder. Can you solder? Sure you can!

Don't use this model as a model, though -- please.

Now, to make you feel better about yourself. Here, lemme show you what it looks like when I torture plywood umm, I mean, when I do woodworking.

diy from heck front by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

 

[RoyB]

I finally finished them....Three coats of Hammer Metal finish...