Couple of questions

[Atjan]

In theory the curved boxes are better for sound-more rigid design and less paralel surfaces between which standing waves form.
However...be warned that if you're not well equiped and fairly handy with woodwork, it does take a lot of time. The least of your worries is coming up with a curve you like and calculating the volume of your resulting cabinet. There's a few options in terms of how to make the curved box etc. I used kerfing for mine.
Front port is better for positioning closer to a wall. However, do consider that if you have to position close to a wall, you probably have a small room. Here you've got to be careful of the tuning freq so it doesn't coincide with room nodes.....

[Cirr]

If you want curved, and don`t know how or not enough tools,
Pm me, I`m in Pta. I have a 'smallish' woodshop.
Just bring a plan,don`t do it like I did without one. Lots of waisting time.

It will take less than 10 min to cut panels,I built my boxes in 30 min with a jig, a jigsaw,tablesaw and a nailgun.
But my kiaat veneer/piano finish is taking up to 30 hours now. 

[Abu]

Thanks for the suggestions gents. I guess rectangular it is then as I don't want a too complex build at this stage.

My room layout is like this:



So ideally I would like to put the speakers flat against the wall on either side of the TV. Distance from TV to couch is probably 3 meters I would imagine.


EDIT: Forgot to mention the couch is on the left of the bit that juts out on the right side

[Abu]

If you want curved, and don`t know how or not enough tools,
Pm me, I`m in Pta. I have a 'smallish' woodshop.
Just bring a plan,don`t do it like I did without one. Lots of waisting time.

It will take less than 10 min to cut panels,I built my boxes in 30 min with a jig, a jigsaw,tablesaw and a nailgun.
But my kiaat veneer/piano finish is taking up to 30 hours now.

Wow.. Thanks for the offer Cirr... I will give it some more thought/planning and maybe come visit you.

[Abu]

Hmm.. just phoned TimberCity in Randburg and they have 3mm Meranti plywood 1.2 x 2.4 for R185... not bad

Don't know what shade of meranti so will have to go take a looksie after work.


Can you "stain" meranti so some parts are darker than others ?

[JimGore]

You can definitely stain wood to be darker in certain spots.

What people rather do (because it's easier) is they stain the entire panel to the required shade, then lightly scuff sand some areas lighter.

This does however require you to use a raw stain, and not the varnish type.

Ian.

[Cirr]

Chamberlain`s in Randburg have a so called commercial ply(3mm)@ R110-00,same thing as meranti ply
Try them,they also cut well enough(1mm out @ Waterglen branch)

[Abu]

Chamberlain`s in Randburg have a so called commercial ply(3mm)@ R110-00,same thing as meranti ply
Try them,they also cut well enough(1mm out @ Waterglen branch)

Aw shucks man... i phoned them and they replied no to the meranti... didnt realise that commercial ply as the same thing... grr.. I hate spending more money than I should.

I bought the meranti now... it's light on the 1 side and dark on the other side. I can use both sides correct?

[JimGore]

You will find that one of the surfaces is smoother and possibly of a better quality than the other.  That is usually the "face" side.

Ian.

[chipwelder]

Ja, with that wall-mounting setup I would go for sealed, or low tuned BR, but that could use up a whole lot of excursion rather easily - but since you will be coupling to the room in BIG way, you wil possibly not play that loud in the first place... These details will require some more intimate knowledge of the drivers and their characteristics.