Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions Naked cabinets

Back in the "young and stupid" days one of my friends was veneering a set of big-ass ported speakers and forgot to cut out the veneer over one of the ports. He was building the speakers for a friend who never took the grills off and so never knew that he had 2 speakers but only one port.

The veneer made a wierd kazoo noise when the volume was cranked. Eventually the veneer cracked and the kazoo sound got really bad, so the speakers came back and the problem was discovered.

What about removing the drivers and using a heat gun to strip the vinyl first?

I've done it with a pair of those "Doo It Yerself" Sauder furniture bookcases to make a shelving unit deep enough for my HK Carousel.

Bren R.

Leaf - click on the link below. About half way down, you will see a picture of a speaker fully cut, but unassembled. In the fore ground, it is "vinyl side down". On the table, it is "vinyl side up".

As you can see, the "V" grooves are cut, then the whole thing is folded to form the cabinet.

Now here is a simple test: In the picture, there are 2 different speakers in the foreground waiting for assembly. Which models are they?

Axiom Tour 2004

with axiom adding the newer line of subs and getting up there a little in price,id be willing to bet my m80s that they are working on some nice wood finishes

It may be more expensive and I'm not even sure if Axiom whould do it but what it you asked them to send you the naked cabnets, broken down, you then apply your work to them, ship them back to Axiom for assembly. I would bet that you would have to sign all the paperwork telling them it is ok if sonic is off because of your alterations.

I think the way they assemble them with the vinyl preattached is one of the reasons axioms are so reasonably priced. Also adds to if not the reason the fit and finish is so complimented on.

As far as the veneer coming loose thats just a matter of proper application and using the right adhesive. Along with alot of patience. A big concern for me would be changing the characteristics of the cabinet so getting a naked cabnet is almost manditory.

Theirs also the voided warranty to consider..gulp.

We've got some pretty neat ideas flyin around like real wood on top and bottom to avoid a nasty seam and maybe a real wood face plate.

This is probrably a bad idea so I'm not getting my hopes up. The more I think about it the harder it seems to do since I suspect all the figures are glued on post vinyl. Especially the ports and the fittings for the grille. I don't have an axiom yet so can anyone let me know about that. Are the figures glued in or held by pressure?

As far as removing the vinyl...I suspect that as it's been said that the vinyl actually helps hold the unit together. It would be great if the vinyl could be removed without tearing or stretching it though...ie a built in template.

Leaf
oh real thats a vp 150 and an m80

Oh, is that what that one is?! I knew it was the M80, but I thought that the other one was a screwed up M60 missing a port. Dur.

Has Axiom said anything about it yet?

Naw it's the weekend so I don't expect an answer till later this week. Yeah the one on the left had me stumped for a bit too.

At one point Axiom offered a Reference lineup, with the AX lineup - but before the ASW shaped AX lineup cabinets.

I have a pair of AX3's that are real wood. As good as the vinyl (I remember calling this Mac Tac in the 1970's!!!), real wood is much better. Of course, it is not a factor in the sound quality - although Totem I believe veneers inside and outside of all cabinets (or they once did) believing the cabinets would change - it certainly would change pricing.

Brent sent me an email.

"We do not have the speaker enclosures available without a vinyl adhered to the
product."

Asked if it's possible to remove the vinyl.

Wait and see I guess.

Leaf