Troels VS. Zaph - 2 Way Bookshelf Showdown

[harrisni]

I've been search for forum for awhile now looking for a high end 2 way bookshelf speaker to build.

Two drivers kept popping up the Scan Speak 15W8530K00 and Vifa XT25.

Two designs, but which to choose, lucky they both use the same drivers.

Troels - http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/EllamXT.htm

VS.

Zaph - http://www.zaphaudio.com/ZD5.html

Any takers? Which one would you choose? Who has built them?

[MisterTwister]

I would go with Troels version
less components in crossover and rising fr toward lower frequencies (shoud have fatter sound than other design)

[ChuckT]

I would add the AR SXO to the list.

http://www.acoustic-reality.com/ar-sxo2.htm

I am using it right now with the 8530 and XT25, and it can sound very good.

[sdclc126]

"Any takers? Which one would you choose? Who has built them?"

If you haven't already try searching - there are at least a few people who have built the ZD5; I don't know about the Ellam, but it would take one person who has built or heard both to provide any kind of useful comparison.

As for the Ellam having fewer crossover components, Zaph makes no apologies for his XO for the ZD5 - it is deliberately as high-end and thorough as he was able to go - given the cost and quality of the drivers he felt a no-holds-barred crossover was the only sensible thing to do.

[nordhaven]

http://www.geocities.com/woove99/Spk...Usher_2way.htm

Better bang for the buck.

[nordhaven]

But if you want to go all out big time: http://www.seas.no/index.php?option=...d=26&Itemid=41

[sdclc126]

Originally posted by nordhaven
http://www.geocities.com/woove99/Spk...Usher_2way.htm

Better bang for the buck.

Agreed - I am building the sealed version with the Seas 27TBFC/G tweeter which, incidentally, is both superior to the Millenium tweeter in the Trym and easier to work with (also cheaper) than the Peerless.

Recommended if you have access to the brands.

[Jay_WJ]

Originally posted by harrisni
Two designs, but which to choose, lucky they both use the same drivers.

Troels - http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/EllamXT.htm

VS.

Zaph - http://www.zaphaudio.com/ZD5.html

Between these two, I'd definitely choose Zaph's. There's a reason why Zaph's crossover is complex. This is a true 2nd order (LR2) design which means a larger overlap between drivers for more natural, seamless integration. Troels' is a loosened LR4 design (i.e., a little shallower rolloffs than 4th order for phase alignment of drivers on a flat baffle). Zaph's crossover, in this sense, is more sophisticated and, as a result, has less distortion in time domain. At least in theory.

[peter_m]

Just a generalization here. Zaph tends to have a no non-sense approach toward x-over complexity and component selection. If he decided to build a high-end design, I would tend to believe he made it more complex for a reason. A real reason!

Zaph gives you more options for "tuning" the x-over and the enclosure...

Hey, I just might be a fanboy!

[nicoch58]

HI I have the Troels Ellam with ss9800 sound soo good !!! the next are ellam d'appolito ......