Here goes my first DIY post. After many recommendations and build threads I (too) decided to have Frugal Horn MK3 as my primary stereo setup. With months of hesitation decided to go ahead when one of my friends travelling from Singapore got a MA CHR 70 pair. But I didn't start with the build by then.
After going through Manniraj & Bijin thread with so many inputs, I realized without carpenter I wont be able to complete the build. And hiring a carpenter for a petty work like this is not easy job too. After 3 months again the opportunity came in the name of wardrobe. Hired my regular carpenter for a new wardrobe and pitched in Frugal as add on. He agreed to do after the wardrobe.
THE BUILD:
I chose 18 mm MDF for the build ( just like others did), some unknown brand but I was told good quality and waterproof. With plans handy my carpenter was patient enough to go through the plans to choose the appropriate cutting plan. Though carpenter finish is very neat but they were not ready to be accurate to millimeters, so I have to sit along to make sure they do.
Once sliced boards are ready carpenter took a break from my work which gave me good time to procure other materials. For damping I decided to go for Woollen felt which I wasn't able to find right one initially. At last from Indiamart I found few sellers who sell woollen felt for industrial purposes, when I enquired one about my need of small sale he was OK to give. The shop is in Broadway - Chennai. They sell woollen felt only in kgs. Each KG cost 750 INR. The felt which I asked for is 12mm (actually its 13 mm) and size available is Width of 1 metre and length according to our needs. So I took length a little above 1 foot which comes to 2.4 kgs, after my use still exact half of the felt is lying unused. It sounds costly for a felt but the quality is top notch. Its real wool and its compressed very tight which makes it very hard to cut with a sharp knife or even a wooden saw. It took almost 3 days to cut all felt parts according to plan. Still I am unsure if woollen felt have effect on the sound quality. Used Fevicol SR rubber resin for felt.
After felt in place my carpenter is back from his busy schedule, placed all in place with fevicol and wooden screws completed the boxes. Later finished with mica.
For extra damping I used polyfill cotton, but I wasn't sure on exact amount of damping that is required, hence didn't screw the speakers first. With drivers in place tightened them only with strings fired up the speakers with Tripath Topping VX1 amp. Was very sceptic on the speakers capability to fill my living room but I was wrong, it was crisp on high frequencies and low was deep, but mids I don't see much of my taste. I hope it may get better. Felt right channel has more deep bass than the left. After adjusting the cotton in the front section finally made both channels sound same. Then screwed the divers in place and speakers put in place where I wanted to.
Now after listening for month, some times I feel my edifier C2 sound almost par with Frugal at low volumes (though missing some details), but once the volume is above 40% frugal shows its strength, with no distortion clean sound will put a smile. Clear vocals and punchy bass with all small instruments in the background audible feels the efforts worthy.
For testing when I fired up the speakers initial times speakers were away from side walls and couple of feet away from rear, it was more pleasant to listen. But now being placed in tight corners bass is more punchier and highs/mids aren't that sweet any more. Still working on placements. Also fiddling with equalizer to see any improvements in low volume.
Next addition to the setup will be Amp Camp Amp. Hope the sound signature will be better than tripaths.
Current Source: Foobar2000 --> Essence ST (analog) --> Topping VX1
PS: Anyone interested in the remaining woollen felt PM me. It is more than enough for one pair.
/Arun
After going through Manniraj & Bijin thread with so many inputs, I realized without carpenter I wont be able to complete the build. And hiring a carpenter for a petty work like this is not easy job too. After 3 months again the opportunity came in the name of wardrobe. Hired my regular carpenter for a new wardrobe and pitched in Frugal as add on. He agreed to do after the wardrobe.
THE BUILD:
I chose 18 mm MDF for the build ( just like others did), some unknown brand but I was told good quality and waterproof. With plans handy my carpenter was patient enough to go through the plans to choose the appropriate cutting plan. Though carpenter finish is very neat but they were not ready to be accurate to millimeters, so I have to sit along to make sure they do.
Once sliced boards are ready carpenter took a break from my work which gave me good time to procure other materials. For damping I decided to go for Woollen felt which I wasn't able to find right one initially. At last from Indiamart I found few sellers who sell woollen felt for industrial purposes, when I enquired one about my need of small sale he was OK to give. The shop is in Broadway - Chennai. They sell woollen felt only in kgs. Each KG cost 750 INR. The felt which I asked for is 12mm (actually its 13 mm) and size available is Width of 1 metre and length according to our needs. So I took length a little above 1 foot which comes to 2.4 kgs, after my use still exact half of the felt is lying unused. It sounds costly for a felt but the quality is top notch. Its real wool and its compressed very tight which makes it very hard to cut with a sharp knife or even a wooden saw. It took almost 3 days to cut all felt parts according to plan. Still I am unsure if woollen felt have effect on the sound quality. Used Fevicol SR rubber resin for felt.
After felt in place my carpenter is back from his busy schedule, placed all in place with fevicol and wooden screws completed the boxes. Later finished with mica.
For extra damping I used polyfill cotton, but I wasn't sure on exact amount of damping that is required, hence didn't screw the speakers first. With drivers in place tightened them only with strings fired up the speakers with Tripath Topping VX1 amp. Was very sceptic on the speakers capability to fill my living room but I was wrong, it was crisp on high frequencies and low was deep, but mids I don't see much of my taste. I hope it may get better. Felt right channel has more deep bass than the left. After adjusting the cotton in the front section finally made both channels sound same. Then screwed the divers in place and speakers put in place where I wanted to.
Now after listening for month, some times I feel my edifier C2 sound almost par with Frugal at low volumes (though missing some details), but once the volume is above 40% frugal shows its strength, with no distortion clean sound will put a smile. Clear vocals and punchy bass with all small instruments in the background audible feels the efforts worthy.
For testing when I fired up the speakers initial times speakers were away from side walls and couple of feet away from rear, it was more pleasant to listen. But now being placed in tight corners bass is more punchier and highs/mids aren't that sweet any more. Still working on placements. Also fiddling with equalizer to see any improvements in low volume.
Next addition to the setup will be Amp Camp Amp. Hope the sound signature will be better than tripaths.
Current Source: Foobar2000 --> Essence ST (analog) --> Topping VX1
PS: Anyone interested in the remaining woollen felt PM me. It is more than enough for one pair.
/Arun
. 
