Thanks, and yes, absolutely, automotive paint. My better half chose the color, which is one of the (many) strategies I utilize to circumvent WAF issues.
The "grills" on top of the loudspeaker were the last parts to be finished - which I did last week - but they've been playing for a few hundred hours now. The mids sound as often advertized in these "pages", low end support is needed with certain music choices.
Thanks Again,
Ronmeister I agree 100% with mhouston. Those are very nice looking cabinets! How do they sound? Their sonics pluses & minuses?
I'm listening to: Latin Color by Armi Grano
Thetubeguy1954 (Tom Scata)
Hi Studio Au!
I'm curious are those spheres two wooden bowls that you glued together? If so what an innovative idea! I have been looking for a wooden sphere to mount some different drivers into that wouldn't cost and arm and a leg to have made. So if you did use two wooden bowls thanks for the idea. Heck even if you didn't use two wooden bowls looking at your design gave me that idea so thanks anyways! I know this will sound like a broken record. But it's the first two questions I have of anyone who's made a new speaker. So here goes, how do they sound and what are their sonics pluses & minuses in your opinion?
I'm listening to: Latin Color by Armi Grano
Thetubeguy1954 (Tom Scata)
do coaxials count?
Tannoy 12" Dual Monitor Gold (circa mid 70s), walnut veneer on 18mm "Apple" ply - last photo includes FH3 /Alpair MAOP7 and Pensil7s for scale
Tannoy 12" Dual Monitor Gold (circa mid 70s), walnut veneer on 18mm "Apple" ply - last photo includes FH3 /Alpair MAOP7 and Pensil7s for scale
Hi Tom,
Thanks for the compliment, it took some doing to have them look like this so the positive comments are very, very welcome 😉.
I listen(ed) to these speakers with two amplifiers (Accuphase E-204 & DIY EL84 PP), a receiver (the newish Sony STR 1040 with subwoofer support for the BiB's) and a Sony X222ES CD Player as source.
The - subjective - positives are soundstage depth and layering of the music. The mids are detailed with a good mix of analytic and warmth. There's a surprising amount of bass for such a small unit.
The - subjective - negatives are, first of all, that there's not enough bass to provide a solid foundation for most music genres. They can get confused when music gets complicated, think orchestras for example.
A sidenote: they're shockinly horrific when new out of the box. Nasal doesn't begin to describe them... Mine have been playing for 200 hours, all the while they've opened up and extended their range to the lower echelons.
My conclusion, after listening to a wide variety of music with the above audio-chains is that this speaker is superb for a narrow selection of music. If you're into chamber quartets, jazz trios and quartets, small ensembles, acoustic music and so on it's hard to imagine better for the money. If your music taste involves more complicated genres that utilize a larger part of the sound spectrum these are not for you. I managed to integrate them with a fairly nice KEF Sub, and it worked, but it was not "special" and in my view defeated the object of building them.
They are made for Armi Grano, truly, they're amazing with that kind of genre/repertoire. Her voice, the emotion she puts into the songs are portrayed in expert fashion by these speakers.
Hope this helps to paint the right picture, it'll always be difficult to put these experiences into words.
All the best, thanks again for the compliment,
Ron
Thanks - somes you get lucky and find two sequential matching sheets with nice figuring- makes things a breeze 😉
Actually only about 6 hours of that 35 was for the veneering & sanding
Ron,
You've put into words my experience with a lot of (though not all) full range projects. They do seem to shine on small groups - quartets/combos and the like - but can get muddied by more involved recordings. And the nasal/honking quality when fresh is definitely something I've experienced. They can be REALLY good when they're good, and not so good when not. My Pass BOFU TL speakers - http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/full...ge-speaker-photo-gallery-196.html#post2896693 - with a helper tweeter (so not technically single driver) turned out to be a pleasant exception, but even they are weak on certain fronts.
You've put into words my experience with a lot of (though not all) full range projects. They do seem to shine on small groups - quartets/combos and the like - but can get muddied by more involved recordings. And the nasal/honking quality when fresh is definitely something I've experienced. They can be REALLY good when they're good, and not so good when not. My Pass BOFU TL speakers - http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/full...ge-speaker-photo-gallery-196.html#post2896693 - with a helper tweeter (so not technically single driver) turned out to be a pleasant exception, but even they are weak on certain fronts.
Yep, absolutely, when I think of it and sum up my experiences with single driver loudspeakers the "summary" often sounds similar. In detail there are differences, larger single drivers suffer in the highs, smaller in the lows and so on - generalizing. I do enjoy the building and listening to them a lot, but choose the music carefully. Unlike some I'm not totally hung up on one type of loudspeaker. I really enjoy my old MB Quarts, my restored Cantons, the odd ESL and so on.
All that said, I'm glad my writing struck a chord so to speak. I find it difficult to write about listening; almost as much as I find it difficult to listen to writing...
Hi Ronmiester & Carlp!
I had somewhat similar results myself using Fostex Fe206E, FR206ES-R and the very rare & expensive FE208ES-R in Sachiko double-back-loaded horns. That's until my friend Mike R. brought over a pair of fairly inexpensive at $256/pr Dayton PS220-8 full-range drivers. He dopes the cones with a very special, 7-step, proprietary, treatment that absolutely transforms these drivers. It doesn't simply change them they sound completely different. Now I can play YES, Styx, Triumvirate etc. at levels that will hurt your ears if you remained in the room. Yet there's not a hint of breakup, shout or any of the shortcoming associated with playing most full-range drivers very loudly. But go back to some nice jazz quartets and they display all the nuances and beauty people purchase full-range drivers for!
The first time I heard the treated cone Dayton PS220-8 full-range drivers in my Sachikos I was so flabbergasted at how good they sounded, I immediately gave Mike what he felt the drivers were worth and would be charging future customers. Then I asked Mike to install a pair of untreated Dayton PS220-8 full-range drivers in their place and couldn't believe how mediocre they now sounded. I never put the Fostex FE208ES-R full-range drivers back in the Sachikos and I have sold them since. The only area in which the Dayton PS220-8 full-range drivers still need assistance is in the bass below 40Hz. Not all full-range drivers are like you described. One needs only to seek out what's available to them.
I can honestly say I haven't heard ANY speakers in the $5K and possibly up to $8K that I would prefer to own. Goodnight all...
Thetubeguy1954 (Tom Scata)
In audio, as in life, there are always tradeoffs.
This is why one drives a Prius for groceries and a Porsche for thrills!
Single full range drivers for intimacy, more complex multidriver active crossover speakers for impact.
Happy Easter!
This is why one drives a Prius for groceries and a Porsche for thrills!
Single full range drivers for intimacy, more complex multidriver active crossover speakers for impact.
Happy Easter!
do coaxials count?
Tannoy 12" Dual Monitor Gold (circa mid 70s), walnut veneer on 18mm "Apple" ply - last photo includes FH3 /Alpair MAOP7 and Pensil7s for scale
ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!!!
Chris we need...I repeat.... NEED more info, a thread, drawings (if subject to charge, ignore), detailed description. Everything you want and can share....
Perhaps I found a monitor for my father 🙂
Danny
A discussion already underway here: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/plan...en-fonken-picture-gallery-25.html#post3895195
dave
Apple ply, can,t say ive ever seen that before, it has beautiful heartwood, but usually in small doses. I have a few firewood length logs to open up and see if there is any good veneer slices in there.
Apple ply, aka multilam Birch.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=appl...terplywood.com%2Fproduct_gallery.htm;1280;960
https://www.google.ca/search?q=appl...terplywood.com%2Fproduct_gallery.htm;1280;960
"Apple" is a brand name by one of the US sheet goods manufacturers for their version of "baltic / Russian etc birch multi-layer plywood, and is often used in the trade as a generic. I use both shop grade Russian Baltic birch (5x5), and a
higher grade product by Murphy Plywood (Eugene Oregon) - perhaps not widely distributed, but wonderful product.
The stock face veneers are maple - some splices, but very few pin-knots and I;'ve not found a football patch yet.
higher grade product by Murphy Plywood (Eugene Oregon) - perhaps not widely distributed, but wonderful product.
The stock face veneers are maple - some splices, but very few pin-knots and I;'ve not found a football patch yet.
Da
that would be a lot of apples, i mean apple trees, i mean big apple trees, i mean 😕 wait what do i mean,
opps lost my train of thought, oh ya i need a beer thats it
that would be a lot of apples, i mean apple trees, i mean big apple trees, i mean 😕 wait what do i mean,opps lost my train of thought, oh ya i need a beer thats it