Onken speaker cabinet, need a few build suggestions

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Maple Apple no void plywood in one inch

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called "apple ply" here, excellent stuff!

Hey Don, I talked to you over at LH about which woofers to use.416-8B :2thumbsup: Well anyway here in NJ the 1" ply comes in 4x8 sheets and the 3/4" comes in 5x5 sheets the 3/4 Baltic Birch(BB) is $38 a sheet and the 1" 4x8 is around $180 a sheet it is very expensive.So just be very careful before you make your cuts at those prices you would like to keep the scrap pile to a minimum.It's nice to see you getting started Cool ! ;) Please post pics of the onken.I always liked the look of the onken W with dual 416's :D And contemplated building one before my current project but going with a corner box instead.So I would like to see it for sure.

Hello Lads,
Thanks for the remarks.
I am having them cut and assembled at my local cabinet maker, and he has one of those ginormous flat bed table saws that are accurate to 1MM on cuts. He has laid out the Hiagra plans to maximize the plywood and has got it down to 3 sheets of 4x8.

I will be going up there quite often during assembly and will get some photos.
I am not going to use a veneer, and am leaving the screw heads flush and visible. We are using 2 and 1/4" hex head black screws for assembly, and the holes for the front panel and the speaker screws will be lined with brass tubing to prevent wood crush on the final assembly of woofer to face to box. The face cleat will have threaded inserts so I can torque down the face without damage to the wood.
I haven't decided on a stain yet, but all I really want isto pop out the grain and preserve the wood.
I still need to find a source for the 10 MM wool felt insulation, that doesn't have a ridiculous price.

Now it's a wait, as I am in his shop Que, but the wood is in and is good looking and stable. The sheets are dated 2004.

Thanks to everyone, and will keep you posted.

Donald Bowman

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Originally Posted by MrMonster

We are using 2 and 1/4" hex head black screws for assembly

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May I make a suggestion for the sides WRT the screws, black screw heads will stick out from the wood grain like a sore thumb from quite a far distance.In my area we have Colored deck screws and for a natural wood grain I would recommend a tan/beige colored screw they come in Philip's,hex,torques/star,square drive configurations and would blend in quite nicely.You may find after awhile the color of those black screw heads bothersome.;) YMMV though. But for me it would be tan/beige for a natural wood grain all the way! :2thumbsup: Kind Regards ~ John

Dear Altec Best,
That is just the point, this gives this box and industrial tech look, as the dsign of the cabinet itself has a kind of industrial elegance to it. That plus my music room has an industrial look to it so it goes together.
Here is a photo of a pair built this way.

Thanks,
Donald Bowman

MCM was selling some stuffing I meant to buy. 2/3 wool, 1/3 polyester. It's on backorder now, of course. Great price.
Acoustic Dampening Pad | LS00916 | Distributed By MCM

Also check out the cotton insulation by Bonded Logic. You can order it thru Home Depot if you don't find it locally. It is very good acoustically.


I need to go measure a 16" 416. Back in a minute.

EDIT: OK, Measured my 16" frame 416s. At 35cm you are right at the edge of the gasket, all of the cone and suspension are in the clear. At 34cm, you'd be be blocking about 5mm all around the edge. I don't know how this compares to the older frames, maybe someone here knows. I do remember in Hiraga's article a mention of a slightly smaller than cone diameter opening to hide some noise off the surround.

Your call.

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Originally Posted by MrMonster

Dear Altec Best,
That is just the point, this gives this box and industrial tech look, as the dsign of the cabinet itself has a kind of industrial elegance to it. That plus my music room has an industrial look to it so it goes together.
Here is a photo of a pair built this way.

Thanks,
Donald Bowman

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Gotcha Cool ! :2thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by MrMonster

The only thing I can find no definitive answer to is the Altec 416A or 416B choice, While Hiagra wrote that "he did not care for the sound of the B, there was no other reflection as to why.
I have not found anyone so far with experience with both the woofers to expound on it.

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Over at Lansing heritage, ALTEC BEST posted a link to Jean Hiraga's Onken cabinets, so I read it thoroughly. Hiraga said he feels that the 416-8B sounds a little muddy in the extreme low end. The 416A doesn't exhibit this characteristic, according to him.

I don't know, I have only heard 416-8B and 8C, but when I find the link to Hiraga's words I will post them here, it's what Hiraga said!