ELEVATION 3
Building instruction
Exploded drawing
Assembly
Cut out the curved shapes from the front and rear boards (but not from the double baffle and double rear wall boards) first. It makes sense to use two rectangular boards the same size, marked up from the centre outwards. Cut the shapes with a jig-saw as accurately as possible so that you can use the offcuts to make assembly jigs which will allow you to press the bowed side pieces of the cabinet into position when gluing the cabinet together. The boards for the double baffle and rear wall are not required until later. The pieces first needed have the following dimensions:
upper width: 248 mm
lower width: 365 mm
height: 1258 mm
radius: 1776 mm
These two 19 mm curved boards are now firmly placed in position with all the other boards that run from front to back. These are the base, top, intermediate board and two reinforcing struts.
The next step involves making two assembly jigs necessary for ensuring sufficient uniform pressure on the curved side pieces during gluing. The sides of the ELEVATION are made up of two 10 mm medium density fibreboard layers.
First, one layer of MDF is applied to each side of the cabinet. Apply the two assembly jigs, with a layer of fabric or foam rubber between them and the sides, and apply several sash cramps to ensure uniform gluing. Once you are absolutely sure the first layer has stuck and dried properly, repeat the process for the second layer.
The front and rear panels are finished with a double panel. The dimensions of these 10 mm boards are:
upper width: 288 mm
lower width: 405 mm
height: 1258 mm
radius: 1756 mm
When cutting these boards to size, add on at least 2 mm all round so that they can be trimmed and sanded to the exact size later in situ. The top and base of the cabinet are also given double thicknesses later. To do so, proceed the same way as with the front and back panels: i.e. add 2 mm in width for safety's sake and sand to size when the boards are glued in place. Cut-outs and shaping should not be done until the end.
If you do not feel up to building your own cabinets, they can be bought ready made but unpainted (untreated MDF) from:
High End Lautsprecher- und Gehäusebau
Eicher Strasse 6
56637 Plaidt, Germany
Phone: +49 2632 73594
Inner damping
Push 2 mats into the medium range cabinet and 4 mats into the upper part of the chamber; but ensure the mats cannot fall into the lower part.
Cabinet parts list for 1 box
Crossover
Sketch
Sketch
Press
The ELEVATION 3 "produces a very powerful overall sound picture, but without weakening the bass…" The ELEVATION 3 offers "transparent, light sound properties, and the musical activities appear to be separated completely from the speaker positions."
Verdict: Value for money: very good