Re: John D'Appolito's THOR (Seas)
I built these speakers about 2 years ago, and like them a lot. They a few weeks to break-in to get deeper bass. I am quite satisified with them, and these were the first speakers that I have built.
Pictures:
http://www.briangt.com/gallery/thor
Here is the article on them from Parts Express, which is what made me decide to build them:
http://www.madisound.com/audioXpress Thor Review.pdf
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Brian
wopo said:Hi Folks!
I can read a lot about the new creation of Joseph D'Appolito he did for SEAS. The name is THOR. Has anyone built up this box and if yes how is the experience with it?
Wopo
I built these speakers about 2 years ago, and like them a lot. They a few weeks to break-in to get deeper bass. I am quite satisified with them, and these were the first speakers that I have built.
Pictures:
http://www.briangt.com/gallery/thor
Here is the article on them from Parts Express, which is what made me decide to build them:
http://www.madisound.com/audioXpress Thor Review.pdf
--
Brian
Brian made a BAD decision! He built the Thors as his first set. He set for himself a high bar for future comparison. I heard them at DIY Atlanta last year (his set) in a conference room (not the best sounding environment) and decided at that time I would not build those for years, as I want to build more speakers. I think, from my current list of great speakers I have heard, these are at the top of the DIY list.
For reference, though, I do not have nearly the realm of experience with high end speakers as many on this site. I hope others who have heard some other great DIY's respond with a more qualified answer.
Sandy.
For reference, though, I do not have nearly the realm of experience with high end speakers as many on this site. I hope others who have heard some other great DIY's respond with a more qualified answer.
Sandy.
I've been an audiophile for over 40 years.
I built a set of Thor speakers about a year ago, after researching for years.
They, overall, are the best speakers I have ever heard.
There are many loudspeakers that have more visceral impact on music that was originally amplified at the concert. I’m not sure I would recommend the Thor in those circumstances. These speakers accurately REproduce music. With classical, jazz or quality vocal SACD source material, this is the closest I have ever come to reconstructing the ‘real thing’.
I built a set of Thor speakers about a year ago, after researching for years.
They, overall, are the best speakers I have ever heard.
There are many loudspeakers that have more visceral impact on music that was originally amplified at the concert. I’m not sure I would recommend the Thor in those circumstances. These speakers accurately REproduce music. With classical, jazz or quality vocal SACD source material, this is the closest I have ever come to reconstructing the ‘real thing’.
I changed NOTHING.
The original design was tremendously well thought out by a true expert in the field.
I also believed that SEAS would not commission him unless they were very satisfied that his design would showcase their drivers.
I work in acoustics and full well know the truly complex nature of the physics.
By the way, I have these set up with a really deep subwoofer with an electronic crossover at 40Hz.
The original design was tremendously well thought out by a true expert in the field.
I also believed that SEAS would not commission him unless they were very satisfied that his design would showcase their drivers.
I work in acoustics and full well know the truly complex nature of the physics.
By the way, I have these set up with a really deep subwoofer with an electronic crossover at 40Hz.
brandzip said:
I'm investigating this kit as well - one question though, does in need a lot of power? I notice that they aren't very efficient and I have been recommended big clean power to get the best out of them.
Jackinnj any chance you could post this correction so that I could verify it against the madisound diagram? I would hate to spend all this time and money on the drivers to find that I was working from a superceded design.
The Thor TL's are very bass shy. If I recall from their response plots F3@100 Hz! As I see it, TL's have two main strengths:
1. natural bass with excellent transient response and depth
2. neutral midrange, a sometimes unexpected benefit
I suspect that the midrange advantage may be related to the fact that a TL tends to have more stuffing to kill the back wave in the midrange. In a vented box you make a compromise in this regard.
I can certainly see that it is appealing to be able to get Seas Excel drivers and follow a passive crossover design that has been done by an expert. However, I expect a much lower F3 for a TL.
If it were me I'd consider using the Thor xo but adding active woofers like the Peerless XLS as used in the BESL kit (although I'd probably go with a 12" sealed on each side). Unless I'm mistaken (I haven't heard the Thor), I suspect most would prefer more bass.
1. natural bass with excellent transient response and depth
2. neutral midrange, a sometimes unexpected benefit
I suspect that the midrange advantage may be related to the fact that a TL tends to have more stuffing to kill the back wave in the midrange. In a vented box you make a compromise in this regard.
I can certainly see that it is appealing to be able to get Seas Excel drivers and follow a passive crossover design that has been done by an expert. However, I expect a much lower F3 for a TL.
If it were me I'd consider using the Thor xo but adding active woofers like the Peerless XLS as used in the BESL kit (although I'd probably go with a 12" sealed on each side). Unless I'm mistaken (I haven't heard the Thor), I suspect most would prefer more bass.
Beta Ray Bill version
Hi, I built the Thor enclosures as a 1st project, unforunately I can't afford the Seas drivers(1k USD) yet.
. So I'm running them with Daytons. X-over is from another Dayton TL design.
I used PVA glue & biscuits(plate joiner)on all joints.
Use the cutting guide included with the AE article, and you shouldn't hit any snags. I ran the binding posts connections into the pedestel rear.
Hi, I built the Thor enclosures as a 1st project, unforunately I can't afford the Seas drivers(1k USD) yet.
. So I'm running them with Daytons. X-over is from another Dayton TL design. I used PVA glue & biscuits(plate joiner)on all joints.
Use the cutting guide included with the AE article, and you shouldn't hit any snags. I ran the binding posts connections into the pedestel rear.
Is there a text about the design consicerations anywere? I'm working on a D'appolito design myself, and found a few strange stings about the Thor design: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=437081#post437081
To quote myself:
To quote myself:
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