EnABL - Listening impressions & techniques

[BudP]

Here is the generic 8 inch pattern set.

Bud

[BudP]

Finally, here is the generic flat pattern ring set.

This cone will respond to just the patterns shown in the picture of the virtual EnABL job. I have not treated one of these drivers yet, so I am not offering anything more complex than what I would put on a B200 I was treating, as a base minimum patterns set. The phase plug also has a set of patterns, three of them actually, so look closely. The tip has the typical six Block sets in two rings, around a droplet of paint.

When and if I do treat a pair, I will provide the mid cone rings and a set for the backside also. You will be able to add them to the patterns and Gloss coat already applied.

Now, will you please use the mateials in your kit from Ed, and the generic rings, to practice on some cheap speakers? Perhaps your computer speakers, or some in a boom box in the closet, just about anything really. You need to get your hand and eye skills aquainted with both the updide down pen's and the three curve pattern application you will be performing. This is not difficult to do, but you should practice until you are comfortable, before you treat the Visiton B200 drivers.

Bud

[BudP]

For all of you who were looking at your Visaton 200 cones and wondering what planet I got my picture from, it came from the 10th planet.

Dave set me straight on the B 200 phase plug issue. So, here is a virtual EnABL for the stock B200. Note that the inner rings have been condensed into three rings of blocks, from what could have been four. Looks like the voice coil dome is attached directly to the cone in the picture, and if so then three will work as well as four here.

Bud

[Geek]

Forgive me if this was already asked, but wouldn't a silkscreen really speed this process up?

Cheers!

[BudP]

Geek,

Has been tried. There were many problems uncovered. The paint is too runny, then it skins over and clogs the fine screen pores, and then there is the wicking control, which doesn't.

Nu Way has suggested something called tamp printing. Haven't a clue as to what that means. They also want to look at a metal template with static charge control, of the flow from an air brush. Another possibility that may come about is a relief embossed extension left on the cone from a restamp plate. But all of these are aimed at large scale production activities. To set up, debug and apply any of them, will take more time than to sit down and do ten by hand.

Admittedly it would be a lot more interesting than the rather tedious nature of the hand work. And, as DIY geeks, it would be a lot more fun for us to do. If you dig back into the warren, there was an early look at DIY silk screen kits that C2CThomas poked a stick at. He wasn't fond of those results either.

Bud

[planet10]

Originally posted by BudP
Looks like the voice coil dome is attached directly to the cone in the picture

Directly to the cone, with a glue that is quite hard.

dave

[tilroh]

I know there are printable iron-on T-shirt transfers. I wonder if it would be possible to print an EnABLbe pattern, cut it out, tape to the speaker cone and use a small heat source to transfer the pattern to the cone.

[ghpicard]

For mass production an inkjet coder could do the trick...

http://www.ketanautomated.com/Pages/HitachiStart.html

This, plus a circular rotating jig... Of course, under-whizzer could be more complicated to get done.
But also, a well trained human does marvels so China could take this one too...

Gastón

[tilroh]

I just installed Planet-10 Phase Plugs which has made my FE166E BIBs listenable at higher volumes for longer before painful treble makes me turn the Trends Audio 10 down.

question: Will PVAing the cones interfere with EnABLing if decide to later? Should I paint PVA on both sides of the cone? wizzer cone too?

I've found that building the speakers is easy/quick part.

Thanks!

[jameshillj]

Possibly, a good quality R-C network centred at about 6 - 7kHz will soften down your 166E's - suggest propylene other than Wima/Solen and such.

After that Skiff, a "von Swikehard"(sorry!) speaker would be simple!