AINOgradient v31 outdoor measurements
Still some more tuning. I also tríed to measure bass box outside but it was meaningless, the floor and room make such a big difference! It was difficult to match level and the radiation/spl spectrum was so different. I tested the box and tower in my living room and I got a very nice result - but I didn't save it.
I measured individual drivers' responses at angles. The upper mid (2x Vifa NE95) is making the 2kHz bump in 60 and 90¤ measurements. It is perhaps the reflection from the top plate of bass box and the Fountek tweeter. However JohnK is having same problems with his NaO designs. - I can't make it any better with Aino. I also took vertical measurements, but angles are "by hand"
All in all, it looks like I'm done with outdoor tuning
Horizontal angles 0, 30, 60 and 90¤
Still some more tuning. I also tríed to measure bass box outside but it was meaningless, the floor and room make such a big difference! It was difficult to match level and the radiation/spl spectrum was so different. I tested the box and tower in my living room and I got a very nice result - but I didn't save it.
I measured individual drivers' responses at angles. The upper mid (2x Vifa NE95) is making the 2kHz bump in 60 and 90¤ measurements. It is perhaps the reflection from the top plate of bass box and the Fountek tweeter. However JohnK is having same problems with his NaO designs. - I can't make it any better with Aino. I also took vertical measurements, but angles are "by hand"
All in all, it looks like I'm done with outdoor tuning
Horizontal angles 0, 30, 60 and 90¤
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AINOgradient v3 (sic!) outdoor
Vertical dispersion
Angles are rough estimates. I was alone and didn't use a measuring tape. When listening by ear, you can hear upper mids going down first. I think that it is too difficult for me to do any better vertical measurements (other more important tasks like mowing the grass...)
Vertical dispersion
Angles are rough estimates. I was alone and didn't use a measuring tape. When listening by ear, you can hear upper mids going down first. I think that it is too difficult for me to do any better vertical measurements (other more important tasks like mowing the grass...)
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8-channel power amplifier construction has begun!
I went to the community junkyard looking at recycling bin of electronics. I picked a Philips dvd which has a full steel box in good condition (I was hoping to find an AV-amp with lots of RCA-connectors but the bin had been emptied recently.)
The internals were taken away and a copper plate works as installation plate for 4 B&O ICEpower modules. AC connector has a 2-pole switch, a fusebox and condensators to kill peak currents when switching. The speaker connectors are 4-pole Neutrik speakons. There will be speakons also at the AINO-end of cables, they will lock securely and easily!
Christian from Grävenwiesbach, Germany has delivered special connectors for ICEpower modules (not shown), thank you Christian!
I went to the community junkyard looking at recycling bin of electronics. I picked a Philips dvd which has a full steel box in good condition (I was hoping to find an AV-amp with lots of RCA-connectors but the bin had been emptied recently.)
The internals were taken away and a copper plate works as installation plate for 4 B&O ICEpower modules. AC connector has a 2-pole switch, a fusebox and condensators to kill peak currents when switching. The speaker connectors are 4-pole Neutrik speakons. There will be speakons also at the AINO-end of cables, they will lock securely and easily!
Christian from Grävenwiesbach, Germany has delivered special connectors for ICEpower modules (not shown), thank you Christian!
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AINOgradient v31 minidsp settings
The bass and tweeter don't have any PEQ.
T lower and upper mids have LR2 (12dB/oct) electronig xo at strange frequencies compared to acoustical measurements. I have tried various LR and BW curves and frequencies, but the dipole function gives the dirvers so strange output that I had to stop caring how electric/dsp xo look. I have started from empty table many times but I end up something like this every time.
Because of low HP xo and mild slope the LM (Beyma12") takes quite lots of energy in, but it is very hard to feel the membrane moving at all. There should ot me any problem of hitting Xmax or even getting high distortion. Reember that this is a PA midwoofer!
The bass and tweeter don't have any PEQ.
T lower and upper mids have LR2 (12dB/oct) electronig xo at strange frequencies compared to acoustical measurements. I have tried various LR and BW curves and frequencies, but the dipole function gives the dirvers so strange output that I had to stop caring how electric/dsp xo look. I have started from empty table many times but I end up something like this every time.
Because of low HP xo and mild slope the LM (Beyma12") takes quite lots of energy in, but it is very hard to feel the membrane moving at all. There should ot me any problem of hitting Xmax or even getting high distortion. Reember that this is a PA midwoofer!
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8ch amp overheating!
After being on idle power for one hour, the amp started to give rattling pulses to LM channel. I opened the case but did'nt find weak solderings by hand. The temperature at power stage coil housings was 55¤C, elsewhere 37¤C.
When swtichin on (4 modules simultaneously) the house's regional fuse blows. After switching the fuse (a relay really) on the start is ok (condensators partially loaded?)
This means: separate right and left channel in two ventilated boxes. Resolder wires.
- a new visit to the junkyard tomorrow!
After being on idle power for one hour, the amp started to give rattling pulses to LM channel. I opened the case but did'nt find weak solderings by hand. The temperature at power stage coil housings was 55¤C, elsewhere 37¤C.
When swtichin on (4 modules simultaneously) the house's regional fuse blows. After switching the fuse (a relay really) on the start is ok (condensators partially loaded?)
This means: separate right and left channel in two ventilated boxes. Resolder wires.
- a new visit to the junkyard tomorrow!
AINOgradient w. ICEpower inroom measurements
V1 xo settings and the protoversion of bass cabinet. The pole was not at an ideal position and at some 80cm distance from the woofer. It was impossible to get W to LM phase right. I didn't have lots of time to set parameters but it was nice to notice that room response is very constant at different time windows.
The horizontal angulation was 0¤ to the microphone, at ^2m distance and 105cm height (near my sweet spot) The speaker pole was some 50cm from the front wall (actually a window!) and at 30¤ angle to it. The living room can be seen in one of my previous posts. It has RT around .4-.6 but quite evenly. A nasty room mode appears at 61Hz.
One speaker playing (left)
V1 xo settings and the protoversion of bass cabinet. The pole was not at an ideal position and at some 80cm distance from the woofer. It was impossible to get W to LM phase right. I didn't have lots of time to set parameters but it was nice to notice that room response is very constant at different time windows.
The horizontal angulation was 0¤ to the microphone, at ^2m distance and 105cm height (near my sweet spot) The speaker pole was some 50cm from the front wall (actually a window!) and at 30¤ angle to it. The living room can be seen in one of my previous posts. It has RT around .4-.6 but quite evenly. A nasty room mode appears at 61Hz.
One speaker playing (left)
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AINOgradient ice v1 inroom measurements
Left speaker
Looking at the decay in a non-treated living room with highish RT - I must say that the strong and controlled directivity of AINOgradient really works
Left speaker
Looking at the decay in a non-treated living room with highish RT - I must say that the strong and controlled directivity of AINOgradient really works
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I went a little back in xo versions and revisited proto v3, because it seems that the bumps in 60¤ response are at dipole peaks of LM and HM drivers and could be treated only by setting xo very close (advice from Rudolf).
I lowered xo-frequencies and tried to get as shallow slopes as possible. Setting frequencies in minidsp plugin has only mild reflection to acoustic measurements. Numerous adjustments to parametric eq and at least 100 measurements during 2 days was needed to get things settled. I didn't use the bass box outside - it is a number in itself to match with the rest indoors.
But it looks better now. Also the low end of LM driver looks easier to match with the woofer.
It was rather noisy outside and the last measurements (saved) were taken late in the evening at low level. The minidsp starts making high distortion after saving the settings - an annoiying habit!
AINOgradient ICEpower v42 outdoor measurements
I lowered xo-frequencies and tried to get as shallow slopes as possible. Setting frequencies in minidsp plugin has only mild reflection to acoustic measurements. Numerous adjustments to parametric eq and at least 100 measurements during 2 days was needed to get things settled. I didn't use the bass box outside - it is a number in itself to match with the rest indoors.
But it looks better now. Also the low end of LM driver looks easier to match with the woofer.
It was rather noisy outside and the last measurements (saved) were taken late in the evening at low level. The minidsp starts making high distortion after saving the settings - an annoiying habit!
AINOgradient ICEpower v42 outdoor measurements
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AINO's directivity is close to what Dr. Geddes shows as ideal here http://www.gedlee.com/downloads/directivity.pdf and his Summa and Abbey make that too. AINO has more directivity below 1kHz though, because of the dipole function.
Also a very different concept gives same results, KS-483 of Kimmo DIY archive of Kimmo Saunisto
Also a very different concept gives same results, KS-483 of Kimmo DIY archive of Kimmo Saunisto
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
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It was thundering, I had to do measurements indoors. First I set the speaker in the middle of the room for directivity measurements, then to listening position. I have only the proto woofer box available now but the poles play stereo well, singers are on left/woofer side though.
AINOgradient ice v42 indoor with woofer
basic measurements of the speaker
rta ambient noise reveals some strange peaks, I believe that they come from minidsp.
AINOgradient ice v42 indoor with woofer
basic measurements of the speaker
rta ambient noise reveals some strange peaks, I believe that they come from minidsp.
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AINOgradient ice v42 indoor directivity
there is a dip in 90¤ response at 1kHz, I don't know where it comes from, but I guess it is a phase issue. however 0 and 180¤ phases are ok.
there is a dip in 90¤ response at 1kHz, I don't know where it comes from, but I guess it is a phase issue. however 0 and 180¤ phases are ok.
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This is what happens when I put AINO to it's supposed position (left main speaker) in my living room. Well - minidsp has also the possibility to use PEQ in the input channel (L and R separately)
This is not the finished version. When I get them I must start room measurements/eq, placement adjustments and room treatment (something easy because this is the family living room!)
I don't want to comment the perceived sound quality much, but some notes:
- stereo imaging very good and solid
- bass very very good, deep and clean, easy to follow bass lines (but heard only from one woofer so far)
- vocals extremely good, specially male voice
- clean and crisp transients (piano, cymbals etc.)
- kind of airy and light overall sonic atmosphere in the room.
- sweet spot -listener gets rewarded also
I believe that main reasons for this are:
- a good woofer in a solid sealed box and downfiring - less reflections (all of sound reflected from floor!)
-100-400Hz is radiated from two tranducers 60cm apart, reflections get mixed too
- dipole funtion minimizes lateral radiation, thus lower level of late reflections from the floor, walls and ceiling
- double aluminium 4" and a ribbon tweeter, thus good transients at hig Fq
- better than average phase matching of a 4-way speaker
This is not the finished version. When I get them I must start room measurements/eq, placement adjustments and room treatment (something easy because this is the family living room!)
I don't want to comment the perceived sound quality much, but some notes:
- stereo imaging very good and solid
- bass very very good, deep and clean, easy to follow bass lines (but heard only from one woofer so far)
- vocals extremely good, specially male voice
- clean and crisp transients (piano, cymbals etc.)
- kind of airy and light overall sonic atmosphere in the room.
- sweet spot -listener gets rewarded also
I believe that main reasons for this are:
- a good woofer in a solid sealed box and downfiring - less reflections (all of sound reflected from floor!)
-100-400Hz is radiated from two tranducers 60cm apart, reflections get mixed too
- dipole funtion minimizes lateral radiation, thus lower level of late reflections from the floor, walls and ceiling
- double aluminium 4" and a ribbon tweeter, thus good transients at hig Fq
- better than average phase matching of a 4-way speaker
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It was raining again, I took measurements of my version of MarK's ER18DXT, to find out the real measured differencies compared to AINO.
I show here some graphics that open up the question. The differencies that matter are:
- less decay smearing with AINO
- less group delay humps with AINO
- more even direct response with AINO
- better low and high Fq extension with AINO
- more even bass response at listening position with ER18DXT
I show here some graphics that open up the question. The differencies that matter are:
- less decay smearing with AINO
- less group delay humps with AINO
- more even direct response with AINO
- better low and high Fq extension with AINO
- more even bass response at listening position with ER18DXT
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