B&W DM309 crossover mod

baggystevo82 · 1st February 2004, 09:22 PM

Hi everyone!!

I've just had quite a quiet Sunday and decided to take my speakers apart and have a look. Ultimately I'd like to construct my own speakers, but as I'm fairly new to all this I think I'll mod these a bit and get some experience under my belt before going further.

Has anyone got any ideas as to how I might improve the crossover? Maybe Jensen caps or something, and how benificial these modifications may be.

Thanks,
Steve

baggystevo82 · 1st February 2004, 09:24 PM

and a slightly different view...

baggystevo82 · 1st February 2004, 09:25 PM

and a pic of the tracks....would it be benificial to make some kind of hardwired board?

Thanks again,
Steve

rabbitz · 2nd February 2004, 11:55 AM

IMO you'd be better off leaving it alone. Crossovers are one of the hardest parts of speaker design.

B&W are probably one of the better commercial speaker manufacturers. I've had several B&W's and I'm amazed at what their designers can do with some quite ordinary drivers. If they are like the DM303's the drivers have el cheapo plastic baskets, no bracing and plastic baffle but B&W designers can make them sing. They have probably wrung the most out of the DM309.

You're better off learning about DIY speaker building and selling the DM309's to pay for the project if you want to proceed. That way you'll get a better set of speakers (if designed properly) and some dosh in the pocket.

While you have them apart draw a schematic of the crossover and learn from what they have done and what all the bits do. Have a look at the box, port, driver position, damping etc and research what they have done. When you understand all that then look some some projects on the web.

sreten · 3rd February 2004, 07:12 PM

Have to agree with rabbitz, hardwiring the crossover and
expensive capacitors will make litttle difference IMO.

Possibly the only simple thing you can do is reinforce the cabinets.

A U section, extended base and two sides, could be added.

sreten.

baggystevo82 · 3rd February 2004, 07:26 PM

by 'u' section do you mean reinforce the back and sides, kinda making a u shape? I guess this would be good, as the enclosure is only chipboard, not MDF, so may benifit from something a little firmer i guess, but wouldnt this also change the internal volume? Or isnt this as critical as I thought?
Thanks,
Steve

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Crossover for vifa 2 way setup - how can I find out what this crossover is doing?	Tino	Multi-Way	11	17th May 2009 04:21 AM
crossover 2-way	Beto	Chip Amps	3	23rd January 2009 04:05 PM
Passive crossover into active crossover	hahfran	Multi-Way	16	10th February 2008 06:16 PM
Crossover help please :)	Tenson	Multi-Way	17	15th April 2006 09:34 AM
Can you hear the crossover point of a speaker with a well-designed crossover?	454Casull	Multi-Way	11	2nd April 2004 05:48 AM

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate Search Privacy Statement Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read


	Please consider donating to help us continue to serve you. Ads on/off / Custom Title / More PMs / More album space / Advanced printing & mass image saving

2nd February 2004, 11:55 AM	#4
rabbitz diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Newcastle, Australia	IMO you'd be better off leaving it alone. Crossovers are one of the hardest parts of speaker design. B&W are probably one of the better commercial speaker manufacturers. I've had several B&W's and I'm amazed at what their designers can do with some quite ordinary drivers. If they are like the DM303's the drivers have el cheapo plastic baskets, no bracing and plastic baffle but B&W designers can make them sing. They have probably wrung the most out of the DM309. You're better off learning about DIY speaker building and selling the DM309's to pay for the project if you want to proceed. That way you'll get a better set of speakers (if designed properly) and some dosh in the pocket. While you have them apart draw a schematic of the crossover and learn from what they have done and what all the bits do. Have a look at the box, port, driver position, damping etc and research what they have done. When you understand all that then look some some projects on the web.

3rd February 2004, 07:12 PM	#5
sreten diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brighton UK	Have to agree with rabbitz, hardwiring the crossover and expensive capacitors will make litttle difference IMO. Possibly the only simple thing you can do is reinforce the cabinets. A U section, extended base and two sides, could be added. sreten.

3rd February 2004, 07:26 PM	#6
baggystevo82 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Herefordshire	by 'u' section do you mean reinforce the back and sides, kinda making a u shape? I guess this would be good, as the enclosure is only chipboard, not MDF, so may benifit from something a little firmer i guess, but wouldnt this also change the internal volume? Or isnt this as critical as I thought? Thanks, Steve

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)