Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater crazy idea, need some input

Howdy,

So I have been planning on a DIY sub for some time now, and since I now have the M60's/VP150 I have started to move ahead. The reason I am going with a DIY is two fold: 1) my girlfriend was very accommodating with the M60's acquisition, and I am trying to decrease the visible footprint of my audio/visual equipment. 2) the new apartment I am moving into in August is your typical small NYC apartment, so everything is multifunctional.

So the sub cabinet will also function as my TV stand. I realize this limits my sub placement, but that's life and it's a compromise I can live with. I was planning on a dual 15" Rythmik sealed enclosure, but having gone through the planning I am now leaning more towards dual 12" Rythmiks instead (with 600watt servo amp).

Here is the crazy part. I also am planning on building an upper cabinet which will enclose the VP150 above the sub cabinet. In terms of structural security I am not worried, but I am worried that having the center channel so close to the foward firing subs might cause some interference or degradation of sound. Is this true? Also, this is still early in the planning phase so I welcome all and any comments.

Please see the images at the link below for a better idea of the setup. I also have a SketchUp file if anyone wants to take a closer look. Note that the image uses the 15" woofers, and I have not put holes in the braces to allow air passage (yet, but I will). Also the leg pegs are missing. The woman is 5'6" for comparison.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sam.golden/SubwooferCabinet?feat=directlink

Thanks,
Sam

At one time I had planned to build a special shelf to sit my VP150 on top of my horizontal EP600. Axiom recommended I do not do this, not because of any sound issues, but vibration issues from the sub.

I would be more concerned about how this will affect your TV, not a good thing.

Hi Sam,

I really like the technology and value of the Rythmik subs, too. I'd like to build one or two someday.

I must say, I'm with Randy on this deal. The subs are going to vibrate A LOT. Unless you can think of some way to effectively decouple the sub cabinet from the VP150 cabinet, I think you're asking for trouble with both the center channel and especially the TV.

You might be able to mitigate some of the vibration by configuring the subs in a push-pull arrangement instead. I'd check with Brian at Rythmik to see about that.

However, given your situation, I'd probably mount the TV and the VP150 on the wall and build two, separate small sealed sub boxes that you could stash under an end table or something. Or reconfigure the sub array so that it IS an end table.

Yeah, that was another concern of mine as well. I was considering making the top cabinet out of a very hard wood, and placing some dampening materials between the two. And using the sand fill method to significantly weigh down the sub and reduce vibrations (ie, build a section on top of the lower cabinet about 5 inches in height that is filled with sand). Forward firing the subs should also reduce any vertical vibrations.

You all may be correct though, and wall mounting the TV and VP150 may be best. Eitherway this cabinet has to look like/perform as counter of some sort, so this may be a trial by error deal hah.

For people who have a EP800, what are the vibrations like with that beast?

- Sam

You're looking at dual 12" subs when you're moving into a small NYC apartment?

The neighbors are going to love him.

Haha, yes, it's more of a investment/future situation. I have a good idea of what I want for after the apartment, and I'd prefer to build once while I have the time and enthusiasm (and money).

I have spoken to a few manufaturers of various dampening materials, and the general consensus is that it is doable with enough layers.

Hello Golden,

I keep a small New York City apartment and use an EP500 as an end table at one end of my couch. However, when I purchased the apartment, I intentionally bought on the main floor of the building (the room with the elevator motors is underneath me). No apartment except the one above me shares any common wall. No complaints so far.

By the way, using forward-firing subwoofers will not in any way lessen the potential transmission of acoustical and mechanical vibration through the building structure. Deep bass below 100 Hz is essentially non-directional. It radiates in every direction from a subwoofer, which is really a big, low-frequency air-pressure pump. How those pressure waves interact with the walls, floor and ceiling as well as the framework of the building can't easily be predicted.

Like others here, I would have reservations about using the subwoofer as a TV stand.

Regards,

Alan

So, Alan, when you have guests in NY, do you ask: "Do you prefer your Martini shaken, stirred or subwoofered?"

I came across this article yesterday which somewhat has to do with your original question. I can only imagine what the researchers would have to say about using a subwoofer as the TV stand