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Author Topic: Open Source Speaker Project  (Read 644 times)

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Marvey

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Open Source Speaker Project
« on: March 23, 2012, 05:14:06 AM »

BACKGROUND:

After the big meet in August, I will leave HF forever and go back to my speaker projects. My original intention was to build big a huge compression driver / horn system with 15" woofers. Until I realized I will never have enough room in my garage or house for such a monstrosity.  These setups require a ton of space. Listening directly into a big horn at relatively close distances is not pleasant either. So I've decided to go with a more conventional design.

This will probably be my most challenging project yet because it's set to meet price constraints and the cabinetry will be better than anything before because of the use of CNC equipment.


DESIGN GOALS:
  • Cost: $1k-$2k in parts depending upon drivers.
  • Three way: tweeter, midrange, woofer. Floorstanding.
  • Closed box, friendly for smaller rooms. Open baffle needs several feet from the back wall - so this idea was nixed. Besides, open baffle bass is waste of power.
  • Trapezoidal top section for tweeter and midrange for precise imaging, even at close distances.
  • Fairly narrow profile - within limits - to suit the wife-acceptance factor. That is no 15" woofers.
  • Almost full range - at least down to 28Hz.
  • Cabinet will be machined with heavy internal reinforcements. Will be extremely heavy. CNC will look nice- not like a stupid box.
  • Moderate amping requirements. Target will be 90db / 1m 1W sensitivity.
  • Tuned for reasonably close placement to walls.
CONSIDERATIONS:
  • Selection of well behaved drivers - instead of fast sounding exotic material drivers with ringing artifacts - will simplify crossover design - keep costs low. Some trade offs here.
  • Future upgrades to more exotic drivers and active crossovers? Will require multiple amps.
  • Two woofers or one bigger woofer?
« Last Edit: March 23, 2012, 07:34:34 PM by purrin »
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Marvey

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Re: Open Source Speaker Project
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2012, 05:25:32 AM »

DRIVERS

In selecting drivers, I'm relying a lot on Mark K and Zaph's measurements. Those guys are awesome.


TWEETER:

ScanSpeak D2608/9130 (previously Peerless HDS)  $81.40 ea.
http://www.audioheuristics.org/measurements/Testing/SS6600_peerlessHDS/SS6600_PeerlessHDS.htm
Excellent performance for the price.



MIDRANGE:


18Sound 6ND430-8 $139.95 ea
http://www.zaphaudio.com/6.5test/
Really good CSD and non-linear distortion numbers.


WOOFER:
« Last Edit: March 23, 2012, 08:50:00 PM by purrin »
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Marvey

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Re: Open Source Speaker Project
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2012, 05:25:41 AM »

reserved
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Anaxilus.

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Re: Open Source Speaker Project
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2012, 05:37:39 AM »

Schweet!
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timjthomas

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Re: Open Source Speaker Project
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2012, 09:11:53 AM »

Marv,


Are you familiar with Duke's designs (Audiokinesis)?  He has a sub-forum at: [size=78%]http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=135.0[/size]


I own a pair of Fritz Carbon 7s, but from what I've read Duke's designs are something special.
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Marvey

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Re: Open Source Speaker Project
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2012, 03:16:02 PM »

I've used the same tweeter and all the woofers (the Seas and the Scanspeak) he's used on the 5" monitors. Interesting approach with the series instead of traditional x-over. I've never built one of those x-overs (too much of a pain in the ass with 3 ways.)
« Last Edit: March 23, 2012, 03:21:23 PM by purrin »
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LFF

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Re: Open Source Speaker Project
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2012, 06:15:51 PM »

I know we have talked about the full size statements but have you looked at the mini statements?

http://speakerdesignworks.com/MiniStatements.html
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Marvey

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Re: Open Source Speaker Project
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2012, 07:27:23 PM »

Similar idea. Two woofers, one mid and one tweeter.

As for the layout, probably a separate box for the mids and tweeter - keeping the baffle area as small as possible - to have pin-point imaging. Probably end up looking like the VonSchweikert or Wilson WATT/Puppy. A separate mid/high box will also allow easier construction in modules.

I'm aiming more for a "monitor" sound than lush, bloomy, organic. Although with the more well behaved drivers I plan on choosing (paper / doped paper instead of metal), they will probably sound more like ES5s than UERMs.

I'm not a big fan of ribbon tweeters though. I would rather just go buy Maggies and call it a day rather than use a ribbon tweeter. I like silk domes because they just work. They integrate well with the midrange drivers without odd disparities in speed. The midrange on the Mini-Statement is 87db efficient which will limit the overall system efficiency to that.  I may look toward higher efficiency pro-gear drivers that sound good for the midrange. I would also like something a little bit bigger than 4" for a midrange driver because I don't want to cross over too high (in the middle of the fundamental notes of voices and most instruments.)

Ideally, I would like at least 91db efficiency.  Huge expensive mono-block mega-wattage amps are not my thing anymore. I'm just getting sick of all these audiophile speakers that require 1000 watts to run properly. In any case, I've found that more efficient speakers sound more dynamic regardless of amp. It's a trade off between "detail" and dynamics.
« Last Edit: March 23, 2012, 07:33:54 PM by purrin »
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LFF

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Re: Open Source Speaker Project
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2012, 08:12:46 PM »

Similar idea. Two woofers, one mid and one tweeter.

As for the layout, probably a separate box for the mids and tweeter - keeping the baffle area as small as possible - to have pin-point imaging. Probably end up looking like the VonSchweikert or Wilson WATT/Puppy. A separate mid/high box will also allow easier construction in modules.

I'm aiming more for a "monitor" sound than lush, bloomy, organic. Although with the more well behaved drivers I plan on choosing (paper / doped paper instead of metal), they will probably sound more like ES5s than UERMs.

I'm not a big fan of ribbon tweeters though. I would rather just go buy Maggies and call it a day rather than use a ribbon tweeter. I like silk domes because they just work. They integrate well with the midrange drivers without odd disparities in speed. The midrange on the Mini-Statement is 87db efficient which will limit the overall system efficiency to that.  I may look toward higher efficiency pro-gear drivers that sound good for the midrange. I would also like something a little bit bigger than 4" for a midrange driver because I don't want to cross over too high (in the middle of the fundamental notes of voices and most instruments.)

Ideally, I would like at least 91db efficiency.  Huge expensive mono-block mega-wattage amps are not my thing anymore. I'm just getting sick of all these audiophile speakers that require 1000 watts to run properly. In any case, I've found that more efficient speakers sound more dynamic regardless of amp. It's a trade off between "detail" and dynamics.

Well put sir....
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Questhate

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Re: Open Source Speaker Project
« Reply #9 on: March 23, 2012, 08:13:05 PM »

Looking forward to this project! Maybe I can copy your project just for fun/education.
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