New smaller "Harper" speaker from Gedlee

[markus76]

Earl,

I read in another thread that there will be a much smaller version of your waveguide speaker. Would you be so kind to post some more info on how they compare to the other Summas, basic specs and what applications they are designed for.

Best, Markus

[tomcat9]

These Parts Express cabinets might work for these smaller Harper's. If someone if wanting a very nice finish, these have it done for you. The only thing would be to check the fit of all the drivers and hardware for the Harpers, but it looks like these would work. Maybe too close of a fit on the baffle?


http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=302-733

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=302-730

This one is taller.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=302-753

.

[gedlee]

Markus

Thanks for the query.

Yes, I have now finished the prototype of the Harper8, a small speaker at a very attractive price point. Its target is for a good surround to match the Summa line (Summa, Abbey and Nathan). Matching the sourround sound tembre is judged to be a seriuos issue with surrounds as a wide difference in the tone color is very noticable, and if one notices the surrounds this can be objectionable (it is to me). The Harper frequency responses are shown in the attachments below. This is extremely close to the Abbey and Nathan and as such these speakers would not be noticable as surrounds.

However, they would also be acceptable mains in a smaller system, but would require subs. All of my deisgns assume subs, multiple subs of course, so the Harpers are not unique in this regard.

The sensitivity is about 94 dB / watt m, which is not bad, but not as high as the other mains. The LF response is about -6 dB at 90 Hz.

I don't have a final BOM cost tally as yet, but I expect these speakers to be about half the cost of a Nathan, so thats in the $350 ballpark. The performance was surprisingly good for a speaker at that cost.

The driver makeup is the B&C 8PS21 and the DE10 on an 8" waveguide with foam plug.

I expect to be able to ship these in a mnth to six weeks and I will take pre-orders now.

[planet10]

Originally posted by tomcat9
These Parts Express cabinets might work for these smaller Harper's.

The rectangular boxes need additional bracing to be really useful... the curved back boxes are good value, The MDF is pretty soft and it is pretty easy to samage.

The 6 layer mdf plywood (interspersed with 5 kayers of glue) on the sides, under tension, makes for a whole lot stiffer box.

dave

[augerpro]

Earl if you don't mind sharing, what is the crossover point you are using with the DE10?

[markus76]

Guys, why do you think that those Parts Express cabinets have anything to do with Earl's new speaker??

[gedlee]

Originally posted by augerpro
Earl if you don't mind sharing, what is the crossover point you are using with the DE10?

I guess I'd call it 1500 Hz.

A slight crossover mod is below.

[tomcat9]

Hi Markus,

I don't know if the cabinet size will work, but if it does, do you not think it would be a good option for some people?

I saw a black pair of these once. The finish was excellent.

[gedlee]

Originally posted by markus76
Guys, why do you think that those Parts Express cabinets have anything to do with Earl's new speaker??

Well I guess if you bought the kit you might be able to adapt the baffle into one of those cabinets to save on finishing it yourself or buying it finished from me. But that's risky as I can't guarantee how it would work. If I were to buy those cabinets and install my systems into them it would nearly double the cost.

[KevinP]

what's the size of the enclosure for these? Could I add an 8 or 10" powered sub to the face under the woofer without affecting response too much, while keeping the height under 31" total?