This video says it is a "cellulose phenolic composite" (which later evolved into natural fibers in a phenolic resin laminate). Google sends me to richlite.
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Fair enough. I've checked out and knocked on cabinets from Wilson and its definitely in the same category as corian et al. Very well damped.
Just spotted this, not sure how I missed it before. Welcome back and good luck with the venture. Recently bought a table saw myself although nothing like in the same league as yours.
Love the Little Avantes. The seas excel drivers are so good looking. The whole design looks spectacular. Well done!
Haven't forgot about this thread and I'm still working hard on these designs.
Here's an update on what will likely the final iterations of the Aurora and Avante. Lots of prototyping has been going on these past few months and I'm pleased to say I have some really promising results and although I'm not quite where I want to be I should be happy enough to commit to start building the first of the final boxes sometime towards the end of this year.
The Aurora works very well in the test boxes. There really is very little if anything left to refine for this design. I did try the Scanspeak 15w Illuminator but found it inferior to the Audio Technology C-Quenze 15H so that's been swapped back. One small cosmetic detail I tweaked was the roundover on the foot, this has now been replaced with a chamfer.
The Avante is still more of a work in progress and whilst its promising there's more to be done. The tweeter has moved on from the small foot print Scanspeak dome to the RAAL 70-20. This has really brought the sound to that next level I was looking for and works so well with the Seas Excel. However its not all good because I'm most definitely still working away on the details for the bass cabinet and in particular the driver selection. I can't seem to find a driver I like in the 8" range that fits the design. I'm thinking that looking at ~6.5" might have to be a choice because my options are limited when it comes to 8" that will work with cabinet volume I'm targeting.
Updates are likely few and far between over the next months until the build of the final models are under way.
Aurora:
Avante:
Here's an update on what will likely the final iterations of the Aurora and Avante. Lots of prototyping has been going on these past few months and I'm pleased to say I have some really promising results and although I'm not quite where I want to be I should be happy enough to commit to start building the first of the final boxes sometime towards the end of this year.
The Aurora works very well in the test boxes. There really is very little if anything left to refine for this design. I did try the Scanspeak 15w Illuminator but found it inferior to the Audio Technology C-Quenze 15H so that's been swapped back. One small cosmetic detail I tweaked was the roundover on the foot, this has now been replaced with a chamfer.
The Avante is still more of a work in progress and whilst its promising there's more to be done. The tweeter has moved on from the small foot print Scanspeak dome to the RAAL 70-20. This has really brought the sound to that next level I was looking for and works so well with the Seas Excel. However its not all good because I'm most definitely still working away on the details for the bass cabinet and in particular the driver selection. I can't seem to find a driver I like in the 8" range that fits the design. I'm thinking that looking at ~6.5" might have to be a choice because my options are limited when it comes to 8" that will work with cabinet volume I'm targeting.
Updates are likely few and far between over the next months until the build of the final models are under way.
Aurora:
Avante:
Attachments
Wonderful as allways with you Shin, master of design.
Since a few years I keep your Concept05 in mind; sure one day I will build it!
Since a few years I keep your Concept05 in mind; sure one day I will build it!
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Looking superb Shinobiwan. Very sophisticated design.
Love that black/white contrast - I might try that effect myself. I think that base is a definite improvement.
Did you consider the Scanspeak revelator 8" which come in both 4 and 8 ohms, paper and aluminium ?
Approx 8" Woofers: Madisound Speaker Store
Also the latest Dynaudio Esotar drivers may interest you (deep pockets required).
Very similar to the Cquenze, but with neodymium magnets.
Dynaudio - Authentic Fidelity
Dynaudio - Authentic Fidelity
Love that black/white contrast - I might try that effect myself. I think that base is a definite improvement.
Did you consider the Scanspeak revelator 8" which come in both 4 and 8 ohms, paper and aluminium ?
Approx 8" Woofers: Madisound Speaker Store
Also the latest Dynaudio Esotar drivers may interest you (deep pockets required).
Very similar to the Cquenze, but with neodymium magnets.
Dynaudio - Authentic Fidelity
Dynaudio - Authentic Fidelity
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Hi Bill,
I'm still playing around with the test boxes but for the Avante I'm quite happy with 2.2Khz 24db/oct. The Aurora is currently running through the DEQX and here I'm using steep 96dB/oct linear phase filters at 2Khz but I also have a great sounding 2.5Khz 12dB/oct crossover which is roughly equivalent to the filter I used with the LGT which isn't surprising since they're exactly the same drivers.
I've recently been testing a couple of ~6.5" drivers for use as the low end on the Avante. I was originally looking at 8" but these proved disappointing with the limited 10ltrs volume. I did try messing around with EQ and even a Linkwitz Transform to bring up the low end of these but the vast majority of 8's can quickly run out of excursion at anything approaching realistic listening levels with that sort of low frequency EQ.
So I looked at the 6.5-7" range of drivers and ordered the CSS SDX7 and TB W6-1139si. I've been playing around with these for a couple of days now and both are performing very well. I haven't done much aside from extension testing but plan to try them out with the other Avante drivers this weekend. Overall though I'm feeling more positive about these drivers than I was with the few 8's I tried. In particular the SDX7 strikes me as a well built driver with a lot of clean output for only a 7". The TB is very similar looking to the SDX7 but does look a little cheap with its simple stamped basket. However its still a solid driver despite this impression.
Interestingly PE had the TB W6-1139SIF which is essentially a ferro magnet version of the W6-1139SI but were out of stock at the time I ordered. Wouldn't mind trying this one out to see how it compares to the quite a bit more expensive neo version. If its similar then at $54 its a great buy.
Tang Band W6-1139SIF 6-1/2" Paper Cone Subwoofer Speaker
So I looked at the 6.5-7" range of drivers and ordered the CSS SDX7 and TB W6-1139si. I've been playing around with these for a couple of days now and both are performing very well. I haven't done much aside from extension testing but plan to try them out with the other Avante drivers this weekend. Overall though I'm feeling more positive about these drivers than I was with the few 8's I tried. In particular the SDX7 strikes me as a well built driver with a lot of clean output for only a 7". The TB is very similar looking to the SDX7 but does look a little cheap with its simple stamped basket. However its still a solid driver despite this impression.
Interestingly PE had the TB W6-1139SIF which is essentially a ferro magnet version of the W6-1139SI but were out of stock at the time I ordered. Wouldn't mind trying this one out to see how it compares to the quite a bit more expensive neo version. If its similar then at $54 its a great buy.
Tang Band W6-1139SIF 6-1/2" Paper Cone Subwoofer Speaker
SDX7 is a favorite of mine. There is thou what i consider a necessary mod to do to it.
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/full-range/131017-alpair-5-project-completed.html#post1628291
Besides improving its DDR, it cleans up the top end near its rolloff.
Also, unfortunately, supplies are becoming quite limited.
dave
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Thanks Dave, that definitely looks like an improvement in FR with the mod.
Off on a tangent... what is it with China stock piling rare earth magnets? The price of neodymium is through the roof and every driver featuring this type of magnet is seeing price increases by around 15-20%. That's a huge amount considering this is just one component of the driver were talking about here.
Anyway Alex at RAAL has had to increase his prices by 20% to offset the addition cost of the neo slugs he uses throughout his ribbon range. That's a big increase for a drivers that are already at a premium price. I can't blame him, he's running and a business and you have to balance the book but I can't justify the additional cost especially with the Euro being the strongest its ever been against pound.
The Scanspeak D30 'Aircirc' has replaced the 140-15D within the Aurora and the small flange Scanspeak D30 replaces the 70-20XR in the Avante. Maybe when the neo prices have returned to sanity I'll take another look at the RAALs.
Off on a tangent... what is it with China stock piling rare earth magnets? The price of neodymium is through the roof and every driver featuring this type of magnet is seeing price increases by around 15-20%. That's a huge amount considering this is just one component of the driver were talking about here.
Anyway Alex at RAAL has had to increase his prices by 20% to offset the addition cost of the neo slugs he uses throughout his ribbon range. That's a big increase for a drivers that are already at a premium price. I can't blame him, he's running and a business and you have to balance the book but I can't justify the additional cost especially with the Euro being the strongest its ever been against pound.
The Scanspeak D30 'Aircirc' has replaced the 140-15D within the Aurora and the small flange Scanspeak D30 replaces the 70-20XR in the Avante. Maybe when the neo prices have returned to sanity I'll take another look at the RAALs.
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Some fullranges have doubled in price. Neo is gong up a lot. But everything else is going up too.
dave
I'm an investor in rare-earth stocks - I expect the rare-earth prices to remain high and probably rise further due to China (who supplys 95% of the market) tightening quotas.
Neodymium which is used to electric/hybrid cars and wind turbines is especially in high demand.
Neodymium which is used to electric/hybrid cars and wind turbines is especially in high demand.
These scanspeaks are apparently v good but thy have gone up in price considerably. Hsve a look on ebay
10F/8424G00 - Scan-Speak 4 inch wideband coated fiberglass - Europe Audio
10F/8424G00 - Scan-Speak 4 inch wideband coated fiberglass - Europe Audio
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