Floorstanding woofer advise?

Lewis Moon · 11th February 2009, 03:20 PM

While I love my Wharfedale 8.2s, they have a rather steep roll off below 80 - 100hzs. Since this is well up into the directional range (bass fiddle and bassoon) I was thinking of building two passive (sub) woofers with a cutoff in the 120hz range and using each as the "stand" of the two 8.2s.
Two questions: Will setting the speaker on top of the woofer caus distortion issues? How should I drive them?: In series, out of the B hookups (probably in series anyway) or with a seperate dedicated amp?

Thanks.

badman · 11th February 2009, 03:45 PM

Not distortion issues, but there are other concerns. I'd suggest using active subs rather than passive, for the sake of tuning. Rythmik Audio sells kits that you can build to work as stands, you just keep the same internal volume. That's the route I'd go.

Lewis Moon · 11th February 2009, 04:25 PM

I guess my issue with a single sub would be directionality in the +-100hz range. Two powered subs would be speckie but the two plate amps would triple the price of the speakers.
I'm thinking particularly of using two HiVi M8N 8" woofers as they would be easier to drive than true subs or larger woofers and they extend well into the lower ranges.

Opinions?

planet10 · 11th February 2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lewis Moon
Two powered subs would be speckie but the two plate amps would triple the price of the speakers.

Have you priced what passive parts for an XO that low would cost?

There are ways to do it without store-bought plate amps too ...

dave

Lewis Moon · 11th February 2009, 04:53 PM

My dream is to build a seperate amp for my subwoofer(s) but quite honestly, I didn't want this project to become a time/money/sanity sink. I wanted them to provide a more complete bottom end (for music, mainly) and to be doable in the short term. I can always scavange the drivers at a later date for another proj.
Back to the basic question: Is it practical to run these as woofers, functionally turning my speakers into 3-ways? Will my 100 WPC Onkyo safely drive the increased load?

planet10 · 11th February 2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lewis Moon
My dream is to build a seperate amp for my subwoofer(s) but quite honestly, I didn't want this project to become a time/money/sanity sink. I wanted them to provide a more complete bottom end (for music, mainly) and to be doable in the short term. I can always scavange the drivers at a later date for another proj.
Back to the basic question: Is it practical to run these as woofers, functionally turning my speakers into 3-ways? Will my 100 WPC Onkyo safely drive the increased load?

Practicality would dictate an XO>200 Hz

dave

Lewis Moon · 11th February 2009, 05:23 PM

The Wharfedales have a bit of a lump in the response curve in the 100-200HZ range. Would a XO that high accentuate that?

planet10 · 11th February 2009, 05:40 PM

Depends on how well you execute the XO. With the woofers resonant peak it is tricky designing passive XOs this low.

dave

11th February 2009, 03:20 PM	#1
Lewis Moon diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2008	Floorstanding woofer advise? While I love my Wharfedale 8.2s, they have a rather steep roll off below 80 - 100hzs. Since this is well up into the directional range (bass fiddle and bassoon) I was thinking of building two passive (sub) woofers with a cutoff in the 120hz range and using each as the "stand" of the two 8.2s. Two questions: Will setting the speaker on top of the woofer caus distortion issues? How should I drive them?: In series, out of the B hookups (probably in series anyway) or with a seperate dedicated amp? Thanks.

11th February 2009, 03:45 PM	#2
badman Custom Title diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sunny Tustin, SoCal	Not distortion issues, but there are other concerns. I'd suggest using active subs rather than passive, for the sake of tuning. Rythmik Audio sells kits that you can build to work as stands, you just keep the same internal volume. That's the route I'd go. __________________ I write for www.enjoythemusic.com in the DIY section. You may find yourself getting a preview of a project in-progress. Be warned!

11th February 2009, 05:40 PM	#8
planet10 frugal-phile(tm) diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Victoria, BC, NA, Sol III Blog Entries: 4	Depends on how well you execute the XO. With the woofers resonant peak it is tricky designing passive XOs this low. dave __________________ community sites t-linespeakers.org, frugal-horn.com ........ commercial site planet10-HiFi p10-hifi forum here at diyA

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11th February 2009, 04:25 PM	#3
Lewis Moon diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2008	I guess my issue with a single sub would be directionality in the +-100hz range. Two powered subs would be speckie but the two plate amps would triple the price of the speakers. I'm thinking particularly of using two HiVi M8N 8" woofers as they would be easier to drive than true subs or larger woofers and they extend well into the lower ranges. Opinions?

11th February 2009, 04:53 PM	#5
Lewis Moon diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2008	My dream is to build a seperate amp for my subwoofer(s) but quite honestly, I didn't want this project to become a time/money/sanity sink. I wanted them to provide a more complete bottom end (for music, mainly) and to be doable in the short term. I can always scavange the drivers at a later date for another proj. Back to the basic question: Is it practical to run these as woofers, functionally turning my speakers into 3-ways? Will my 100 WPC Onkyo safely drive the increased load?

11th February 2009, 05:23 PM	#7
Lewis Moon diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2008	The Wharfedales have a bit of a lump in the response curve in the 100-200HZ range. Would a XO that high accentuate that?

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