My first DIY Speaker: Progress Report

[Raptor550]

Hello, this is here im going to be posting my stuff.

Our story thus far:
After moving to Ohio I had no sound setup, with virtually no money. after staring at the madisound frequency responses for an amount of time I would rather not disclose I found some speakers I wanted. searching for information on these speakers, a kevlar SS and a VifaXT stumbled onto some forums. After much staring at more graphs and charts and sifting though a TON of audiophile nut-job ramblings, reviews, and squabbling written by people (often with more money than reason) I found Zaph, my web vicarious tutor! I was led by his charts and graphs and my pocket to the Dayton RS180 and Vifa D26 -err make that Seas TBFCG. From there I had high hopes for Jon Marsh's Modula MT -but my wallet book was weak...

**enter Jay WJ's design**

Its sound, cost effective, and if I reeeally want to, it uses many of the same parts as the Modula MT so I always have the option to switch between designs.

So far, I have a KLH box gutted and refinished. I also have speaker stands nearly finished, they are cut, beveled, and stained They only need be assembled. Off I go to PE to get my stuff!

[Raptor550]

Now to take on those crossovers, armed with my precision layout I'm ready to go!

As you can clearly see, from the diagram: the swilrygig goes to the thingamabopper that meets up with the woofer and the other whirligig

-meanwhile-

The tweeters "+" splits off into two doodads one goes into dirt while the other becomes a thingymajig and a swirly, its only the swirly that gets power.
Assign some values to all of it and "viola" thats ammore!

[Jay_WJ]

What a nice component layout! You must be very talented!

BTW, I guess it's only the "thingymajig" that gets power (+) in the tweeter circuit, rather than "swirly." Isn't it?

[Jay_WJ]

Don't forget the proper inductor placement. Here's a good read: http://www.parts-express.com/project....html#inductor

[Raptor550]

Your absolutely right Jay, the thingymajig is what gets the power, good eye.

After desperately searching for this inductor placement map for about an hour with no luck I got the advice I needed from several awesome people on the forums. Heres my crossover:

and to show its flow:

Ready for a play test.

[69stingray]

Looking good. Nice link to the inductor placement...off to rotate one of my swilrygig.

[Raptor550]

Did construction, its a cannibalized KLH speaker repainted gutted, and then restored. 6 bucks for the pair with grill at the goodwill. As you can see I damaged the face a bit in enlarging the hole for the seas tweeter, I've never used a jigsaw before and this one had a bent blade.

On the stands:
I finished cutting shaping and most of the lacquering. None of the pieces are glued, so I can mix them around and experiment. I cant decide if I should make it 2 tone like on the right, or solid like the left. These were done in a day. I want to attach chrome stripping to the sides and then spray paint the speaker box chrome to match. The podiums are actually more deep red than they appear on my camera, its 'Bombay Mahogany' midwax.

[Raptor550]

I wish I can test equipment. I think somethings wrong, it seems kinda quiet, I think the new crossovers may be making the efficiency lower, I don't know it sounds alright but its like theirs something missing, its definitely clear and I can hear all sorts of subtleties but I was expecting more. **thinks to self**: "this demo song sucks, why did I even add it to my test CD? lets take a look at my notes.. ladada 'Panning and Imaging', hmm, this song sucks at panning i wonder what the difference would be if I turned it to mo..."
SWEET ARCTIC MONKEYS! I'VE BEEN RUNNING MONO!!!

Umm - I'll get back to you guys I have some listening to do..

[Raptor550]

Well it was quite a relief that mono was the culprit and not my design being flawed!
I listened to these speakers through KLH El'cheapo crossovers 4th order at 2800k until I got my part's. All things considered they sounded pretty good. better than most if not all best buy bookshelf's Ive heard.

I do not have a well disciplined ear, it takes me several days before I spot all the things wrong with a speaker. Now with the new crossover these speakers sound good, real good, its hard for me to pinpoint exactly what has improved since switching out the crossovers -but things are better. Heres me enjoying my nearly complete speakers:

What I heard...

In Air(the band)'s song 'Venus' off the CD 'Moon Safari' you could notice their slight French accent. It appears that there national heritage is only obvious in hifi:
shadow - shawdu
lover - luv-aire
you could - yu ch'uud
To make sure I double checked with the web - Verified: they ARE INDEED a French band!

In Cowboy bebop's theme by The Seatbelts 'Tank', I noticed 4 distinct trumpet parts. Before I only heard a "mass-O-trumpet". Again I went onto the web to verify. Yup, The band has 4 trumpet players.

For Transients I listened to Becoming the Archetype and Immortal Souls, two very disciplined hardcore bands: The speakers faithfully reproduced the heavy staccato slams of noise while preserving the intricate chord changes of each instrument and transitioned from fortissimo rythmic strumming and screaming to piezzo violin and piano and then back again. I wanted also to see at what level the precision noise turned into formless racket. My ears gave out before the speakers did.

For immersion I put in "Tortuous: It's all around you": This CD had a ton of fun little things to hear with a high grade system, If you havent heard it GET IT! Anyways, the bells in it were produced very realistically.
Furthermore, the deep 40 & 46hz bassline was heard well having distinct notes.

US Airforce preforming "pennies from heaven", was smooth and the Seas tweeters held the trumpets at their loud 2828hz where they normally would loose there definition and fuse. My sister (a trumpet player) commented that she could now notice the strain of the trumpet players on that note now.

For voice It was Sara K- 'If I could feel your blues' and Fiona Apple - 'The first taste': These were a real treat because they sounded very transparent. With the crossovers you could here there lips smacking, there breathing and even there tounges sticking to there dry mouths as they sung.

Thoughts:
I think the greatest things these speakers do is resolution, very little goes unheard. I have heard higher resolution speakers but they were 12 grand.
Midbass and the body of the music is SO clear. They kept the experimental and often busy 'Youngblood Brassband' and 'The Bad Plus' musical -which can be very challenging.

Also the bass is very palletable, though I wouldn't say "velvety" though, not like SS anyways. These speakers can hold there own without a sub, you can feel there sound waves hit you. If you have a good sub Id still use it.

As I find myself turning my amp up higher more often I wonder if they are less sensitive now and need more power, or am I just able to turn it up louder without noticing because a lack of pain?

Also, the slightly pronounced lip smacking I mentioned, I am wondering if the girls were not singing to close to the mic? I wonder about Jay's suggestion of switching the 8uf thingy with a 7 would help, The back of the enclosure still needs sonic barrier right now I just have foam, so that might also make it a bit relaxed.

Until I get a chance to drive down to the nearest boutique store or have a DIY guy over for lunch, I'm not going to change anything. I am still figuring out placement, and how much I should toe them in if at all.
I had two of my neighbors over. Initially the proud Cerwin Vega Bumper was surprised and I think a bit humbled. Both guys said that they have never heard speakers so clear and were surprised at the little speakers output. I would love compare these with the esteemed Modula MT's and other speakers.

P.s. If you haven't heard the songs I listed I highly recommend them

[Lord_Humongous]

Wonderfully written, says the first-time poster... Interesting songs for testing as well, i´ve only heard the Cowboy Beebop one before...