My first Open Baffle Speaker

[audiojoy]

HI Simon, you are talking a lot of sense I like your stance on the situation. Perfect.

The dipoles are the best woofer speakers i have had. Not expensive at all- 200 pounds for the 4 x 8 inchers plus their boxes (car woofer boxes cost £15 each on Ebay just pull the backs off and you have open baffle). These are the only woofers that can keep up with the speed of my stacked quads. They do need at least 150w for deep controlled bass, and of course require a crossover.Behringer do one for £30 and it is excellent for what I need it for. I have now acquired the 12 inch version and again found the ready made boxes on ebay for £20 each.

Alas I have no measurements for them

[SimontY]

Enjoyment is key, the measurements can follow.

Interesting that you're using an Eminence Beta 12xx. I decided to go with a Beta 8A in my design.

I see you've been wondering about cone treatments. Have you heard of EnABL?

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showt...72#post1460272

I tried it on my mids (painted on quite crudely) and it works wonders!! You'd better get reading..

I also cut the dustcap off and inserted a DIY phase plug. I may also try this on my Eminence mids. There's a possible ("oilcan") resonance happening in there. Also a phase plug makes the driver appear smaller as far as standing waves are concerned. The only drawback is weakening the cone slightly. Without a lot of tinkering the little Audax mids sound extremely coloured, but mine sound great now.

Simon

[audiojoy]

Simon what are the differences between the ENABL and the small circular pads BAstanis uses on the inner perimeter or the violin lacquer treatments used at two different circumferences (if you have already tried this) in terms of sound enhancement??

Here are MR Bastanis's comments

http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/ba...sages/627.html

[SimontY]

The lacquering is not as interesting as EnABL, but could be a complimentary treatment! The lacquer will probably raise the resonant frequency but if applied appropriately might help to create a more favourable characteristic. It should make the cone stiffer. The felt pads are probably a poor substitute for EnABL but doing a similar job. I'm no expert in this area so you'll have to read up on what Bud Purvine (the creator of the EnABL pattern) has to say. Sadly, there's no quick way to find out all about this. There are long threads to trawl though, but it's worth it. Basically EnABL lets you hear the speaker better, with less "noise" accompanying your music. It's measurable in waterfall response plots.

EnABL Processes

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showt...readid=119852/

BudP's "Electron Pool" idea also works but don't tell anyone you're doing such crazy things with speakers

Simon

[Telstar]

Originally posted by SimontY

Download ARTA, get a flat microphone (like the one on the site I linked to) and build that kit or get a preamp. (...) The capsule will do the same or a better job for peanuts. It needs soldering to a bit of coax or something - this is as good a stand as you need and avoids reflections.

Hi Simon,

How did you make them work? Care to post/mail a picture?
They have great specs and are very cheap comparing to decent measurement mics (200€ and up)

[audiojoy]

Simon I am the master of doing crazy things, just look at the problems i have had by reading my threads, you will see the controversy i have caused!!!!!!As a newbie i am obviously an easier target. OOOps sorry i know i registered way back in 2005 but have only been active in more recent months
Luke

[SimontY]

I just soldered the capsule onto some coax and that onto an RCA plug. This plugs into the kit preamp and you're away.

The capsule comes with a calibration file, which is easy enough to load into ARTA. I think you have to rename the file extension to make it work.

Simon

[Stuey]

Hi Simon,

Can I ask you if the LED on your mic pre flashes very briefly when the switch is moved one way, and stays lit slightly longer the other way?

If this is correct I assume the long flash is the higher of the two gain levels available...I haven't tried mine yet.

Cheers

Stu

[SimontY]

Hi Stuey,

I can't remember how long it flashes for each way I'm afraid

It is normal, however, for it to briefly flash when turned on (to either high or low gain). Centre position is off. Otherwise it only flashes during clipping.

Simon

[Stuey]

Thanks Simon...so long as the brief flash is correct....said the actress to the bishop.

Cheers

Stu