Pensil 10.2 or 12 wrt bass extention?

[skeeter99]

Originally Posted by Musik007

My cabinets are not from SAC. May stick the ebony veneer from a same source. I like the textures of this black wood much more than this.

Wow! Simply stunning! I wish I could do work like that ...

[Musik007]

This is Pensil 10.2 (oakwood cabinets) at Kenneth's place.

[doorman]

Originally Posted by Musik007

This is Pensil 10.2 (oakwood cabinets) at Kenneth's place.

Eagerly awaiting your (further) listening impressions!
I'm uncertain which enclosures to use for my 10.2's, probably Dave's "Fonken-prime"-- (maybe that should be "Monken - Prime!)
The Pencils are also attractive, maybe both!
Best, Don

[markaudio]

Originally Posted by buzzforb

Mark,
I am breaking in my speakers and have a stupid question. how do i know how hard they are being pushed without some sort of measurement device? I have them playing on very low levels to the point where they are hard to hear with any other noise present. Is this sufficient or can i push them a little more. I can hardly tell the cone is even moving. In your break-in thread you speak of excursion when defining how hard they are being pushed. Is there a way to measure this with any accuracy? THanks!

Hi Buzz,
Good question and my apologies. As engineers, we get used to observing moving objects all day long. Its reasonably easy for us to look at a driver's power-train while under load to broadly assess the amount of excursion. We also have laser based excursion-load measuring equipment.

A good way for the DIY'er to judge is........

First 100 hours, use light background type music (vocals, easy listening etc) at Very modest levels where the cone hardly flickers and you can easily hold a conversation without having to raise you your voice. Basically, the drivers should be playing in the background rather like hotel lobby music, gentle and soothing, not intrusive.

After this first 100 hour period, gradually increase volumes. Start introducing bass music. Between 100 to 200 hours, your just need to see the cone flicker up and down with little movements. A good way to gauge this is carefully place a ruler next to front suspension. Visualise the mm scale on the ruler and pan across to the cone's outer edge. You're looking for around a maximum 1 mm of excursion on a drum beat. After 200 hours, a bit more volume so the cone's now moving more regularly, up to normal listening levels and a touch more volume when you're in the mood for a bit of musical drama.

Its worth noting that in a well matched driver/cab combination, the driver's power-train won't need to move much. About 2 to 3-mm should generate a very pleasing bass from Markaudio drivers. Take a look at Olav's experience (post No.6):

Alp10.2 in 17literBR

Cheers

Mark.

[OlavHaal]

Hi everyone!

What I do to see and keep track of how much the cone is moving is: I hold my finger AT the Black RubberRing that runs around the rim of the diameter of the cone. That way you can feel the rubber move ca. 1 mm - maybe a LITTLE more(1,5mm mostly). Depends on how much bass on the tracks you are playing.
Today I have had about 200 hours on the drivers - and still I am careful!
And the speakers fill the room nearly - even with this low volume. Sounds like much bigger speakers - really!

Best to all

Olav

[norman bates]

musik007, those are beautiful.

Norman

[Musik007]

Thanks, Norman.

Originally Posted by norman bates

musik007, those are beautiful.

Norman

[Musik007]

A new pair Pensil 10.2 finished yesterday. It took me 5-6 hours for assembly and installation. Great style and nice looking for the finished Pensil 10.2. I love them. Thanks for the efforts made by Mark and Scott on Alpair 10.2 full range driver and Pensil 10.2 cabinet.

Cheers!

Tony.

[StevenZ]

Beautiful work. Are those bottom braces a new addtion to the plans? Perhaps a more practical alternative to cabinet bracing than the super pensil type of bracing? Or do they possibly shape the sound of the cabinet? Just curious.

[Scottmoose]

They're not as effective, but they're easier. Tony's boxes are very pretty.