Hey, here is the right place to post my new, barely started speaker project. After using the Gizmo for a smaller 8" Audio Nirvana driver and being impressed, the next logical step was to get one of their larger drivers and instead of using the ZOB cabinet, make my own. I had some thick maple cut up slabs from other projects and figure they would make decent baffles. Here are a few shots of the beginning of glue up for the baffles and the 12" drivers.

last one

Small update, but a lot of work. I routed out the holes for the drivers. The maple is 1 3/4" thick. I had to route from both sides to make it through. I still have to rout out the 6" port in 1 1/2" maple. Maybe tomm.

But the thing with MDF is that I find it to be tough on router bits. I guess when you think about it, the bit has small area that it is cutting, but that means a lot of heat buildup. No real way around it. I have used carbide bits to help with the issue.

LR,

 I remember trying those type of bits a long time ago. It was really weird, but the upward spiral bits would work themselves free from the router collet! Imagine my surprise when the bit had dug deeper and deeper before I noticed a problem. I tried to tighten the collet on my Freud router, but it happened every time.

Thanks for keeping us up with your progress 4K.

backside With mounted T-nuts

When a friend of mine insisted on having logo made for me, I rolled my eyes at her. That was 22 years ago, and I still use it.
One more shot at a mock up of the cabinet. Lots of details to work out.

Will,
 My hope is to limit some of the standing waves inside the cabinet caused by parallel walls of the cabinet. In this case, I don't think that I really did much good, but the slanted baffle may help to project the front wave at an angle that may enhance the listening experience. Lastly, these speaker will hopefully end up in a business that has a large room to fill, but not so much with loud music, more like background music or maybe more if the people are in the mood for it.
I will be using a slot at the bottom of the cabinet since talking with Steve about the differences between slots and ports. The original design called for a 6" port without a tube. I really sgould try it in my next project, but this one, no. I am very anxious to hear what the final product sounds like.
One more shot for the day. I am using a strange kind of water soluble coating on the inside of the cabinet. I bought it some time ago, and forgot about it. It seems to stiffen the walls and give a dull thud sound to the cabinet. It will definitely change the way that I use stuffing etc.

Looking awesome! I like what I see so far.

last one

Interestingly, I am using a Deflex circle for the large magnet on the rear of the driver. Great stuff. I also have some Deflex corner pieces, but will now continue with caution. One step at a time for the damping process.

Ok ok, I put the driver in and listened. More about that in the morning. I'm beat.

Bingo Will, yes the slot is on the bottom of the front. I even routed the back side of it to pass bass more easily. And yes, the cabinet is desperate need of tuning. Pretty harsh midrange and a bit of one note bass too. Polyfill to the rescue. I might also mention that the cheap D amp that I am using for break in is not very impressive sounding. I expected a bit more than this from it. Sounds a bit distorted. I am using an old Yamaha music server for the source.
Here is a lesson learned in choosing music for break in of a SINGLE speaker. I was listening to an old Beatles Abby Road recording, and being quite concerned that the vocals were way off. Yup, switch channels and bingo there are the vocals. Of course, it is all about the mix. So I have chosen a modern recording of a jazz group that is lively and the mix much more able to be played by just one speaker. That is push enough for me to get a start on the second cabinet.
The driver itself has been coming around, laying back  a little and producing more bass. there is a ways to go, and I am anxious to hear it's best performance.

Since I am inside the cabinet again, this is a good time to show the polyfill, and the Deflex damper on the back of the driver. I used "Emergency Plumbers Tape" to hold it on.

Friday update.   No, no I'm just continuing to burn this driver in. It has settled down a bit, but now the Gizmo is taking over. The effect is very good, and i am anxious to get some more hours on it before the customer will hear them. Time to start on the other cabinet. Brace yourselves, I have another surprise coming to these cabinets.

A lot of sanding and shaping for the correct fit. I still have a bit left.

Side view

This is one of the last decisions that I will make for the speakers. I have two pair of binding posts that I have made for use with speakers. Both are very beefy. In fact the gold 5 way binding posts are off of my Rachel amp. I replaced them with a different set for no other reason than to do it. Let's have a vote, which set might look better on these speakers?

LR,

 That is the primary question that I ask about most connections. The large turn posts with wings do give great leverage, but they are not 5 way binding posts and accept spades only. The binding posts from my Rachel are 5 way, and my preference is to use either a pin type wire connector or bare speaker wire. The trick to getting heavier stranded gauge wire tight is to first tighten, wait a second, and slowly tighten again. Too much of course damages the wire and is counter productive. It's just that vibration can be effective in loosening connections. That is the same reason that I use T-nuts and copper washers along with hex key type bolts on the driver. Again, over tightening would disastrous if it were to crack the cast frame. The copper washers are ever so slightly dished as to provide constant pressure.

Sounds like you got them where you wanted. Did you find a bass port adjustment that you felt was well balanced for your tastes, and multi-note? For me really good bass balance is huge. If it is slightly empty, or if it slightly overwhelms the mids and highs, I find the sound less alive. But it is all about "real" for me, not sweet reproduction. I wonder if you tried tuning by extending the round port to various depths inside. I like the idea of the 10" anlico. This is the one I have been considering. Thanks for the story!

Glad to hear you have tried and liked the 10" Anlico.

I can imagine the shipping concerns for those heavy dudes. Have you had speakers shipped from ZYGI? Basically makes a styrofoam box within a box that perfectly fits the speaker. Beautiful.

Looking forward if you decide to post future projects. I have been following your Rachael mod thread too. Looks good!