I've built several home audio systems in the past, but mostly just a copy of some of the experts here on the forum. What I'm looking to do on this I can't find a suitable example, if I missed it please shout!
Shop is 48x64x12, heavily insulated and finished on the inside. I'd like to do a 3-way system and I've already got an active X-over and 3 amps left over from other projects. I want the speaker boxes to ascent the shop's physical size, they are going to be much bigger than needed, but that's the point. Music is classic rock, alternative, but will have to endure the wife's newer pop stuff as well. I do want the ability to surprise the audience on occasion, ha ha.
So I was thinking, per enclosure:
Dual Dayton Audio PA460-8 18"
Dual Eminence Alpha-8MRA 8"
Totally lost on tweeter/horn driver ??
Price is not of primary concern and I'm open to all insight and suggestions. I'd actually prefer to go 21", but not sure what I think of that Pyle 21", most of the others I see are just too high when buying 4.
Many thanks
Shop is 48x64x12, heavily insulated and finished on the inside. I'd like to do a 3-way system and I've already got an active X-over and 3 amps left over from other projects. I want the speaker boxes to ascent the shop's physical size, they are going to be much bigger than needed, but that's the point. Music is classic rock, alternative, but will have to endure the wife's newer pop stuff as well. I do want the ability to surprise the audience on occasion, ha ha.
So I was thinking, per enclosure:
Dual Dayton Audio PA460-8 18"
Dual Eminence Alpha-8MRA 8"
Totally lost on tweeter/horn driver ??
Price is not of primary concern and I'm open to all insight and suggestions. I'd actually prefer to go 21", but not sure what I think of that Pyle 21", most of the others I see are just too high when buying 4.
Many thanks
I should add. These will be mounted up high in the corners of the shop, can easily accommodate vented ~10+ cu ft enclosures if necessary.
IMO with classic rock you will completely miss the boat if you don't include 15" drivers, I suggest 18's in dedicated sub enclosures and then a 3-way 15/8/1 top with a passive crossover between the 8" and 1" for 3-way amplification. Use the Selenium D220ti compression driver on the Pyle waveguide with crossovers at 800hz and about 3.5khz. All of this can be flown up near the ceiling if you like but if you do that just make sure the cabinets include steel brackets to lock all the panels together to avoid fall hazards
Fun project.
I run stereo 3-way in a similar size shop. One 2x18" and one 12" coaxial per side. Makes a lot of noise. I leave the doors open when working outside and it still gets loud with 100% reflected sound.
I have those mids and the selenium. Also have 15" kappalites. The 3 way top will sound good but a good coax will sound as good or better.
What's your budget?
I run stereo 3-way in a similar size shop. One 2x18" and one 12" coaxial per side. Makes a lot of noise. I leave the doors open when working outside and it still gets loud with 100% reflected sound.
I have those mids and the selenium. Also have 15" kappalites. The 3 way top will sound good but a good coax will sound as good or better.
What's your budget?
Nothing firm. I'd easily consider $1500 for drivers alone.
Note; I already have dual 15" subs dedicated to the shop.
Is your crossover a dsp unit? Proper time alignment really makes a difference in final sound quality.
If you already have 15" subs, why 18 or 21" mains? Also "15 inch subs" covers a lot of territory. That could range from something totally inadequate to something that will blow the roof off of it.
Yeah, I realize 18-21" if overkill, but the physical size will accident the the size of the shop. When the cabinets are hanging off a 12' ceiling, I want them to be an eye catcher, part of the motif!
The shop is a fully climate controlled man cave, sorta, for lack of a better term.
The shop is a fully climate controlled man cave, sorta, for lack of a better term.
Yes, that's why i didn't mention them in the first place. These are JL audio, mmmm, somethings, in a custom ported box. I don't recall what I tuned them for, it's been 15 years since built.
Hi,
Mounted high in the corners invert a normal design.
The sealed midranges are a pretty grim starting point.
There must be far better options available, not sealed.
The 2x18"ers will need about 15cuft tuned to 30Hz,
though 10 cuft tuned to 30Hz is doable with low boost.
rgds, sreten.
Mounted high in the corners invert a normal design.
The sealed midranges are a pretty grim starting point.
There must be far better options available, not sealed.
The 2x18"ers will need about 15cuft tuned to 30Hz,
though 10 cuft tuned to 30Hz is doable with low boost.
rgds, sreten.
Since you want big...
Compression driver on a large horn with 2x18 per box.
Horn:
DDS Horns - DDS CFD 2-90X Pro Horn - DDS CFD 2-90X Pro is a large format 2" 90 x 40 fiberglass horn. DDS large format 2" horns available now.
Compression driver:
Radian 760NEOPB High Frequency Compression Drivers - Radian 760NEOPB - Radian 760NEOPB uses a lightweight neodymium magnet. The Radian 760NEOPB 2" high frequency compression driver that handles 105 watts AES. Radian 760NEOPB 2" neodymium high frequen
Woofers:
Eminence Speakers - Eminence Sigma Pro 18A speaker. The Eminence Sigma Pro 18A is a 18" 8 ohm speaker. Speaker is rated at 650 watts RMS.
Compression driver on a large horn with 2x18 per box.
Horn:
DDS Horns - DDS CFD 2-90X Pro Horn - DDS CFD 2-90X Pro is a large format 2" 90 x 40 fiberglass horn. DDS large format 2" horns available now.
Compression driver:
Radian 760NEOPB High Frequency Compression Drivers - Radian 760NEOPB - Radian 760NEOPB uses a lightweight neodymium magnet. The Radian 760NEOPB 2" high frequency compression driver that handles 105 watts AES. Radian 760NEOPB 2" neodymium high frequen
Woofers:
Eminence Speakers - Eminence Sigma Pro 18A speaker. The Eminence Sigma Pro 18A is a 18" 8 ohm speaker. Speaker is rated at 650 watts RMS.
Granted, I'm quite a novice, but that compression driver, 113dB@(1W/1m) surprised me! Wow.
~800Hz X-Over point? I guess if I went 2-way I'd just build or buy a passive.
~800Hz X-Over point? I guess if I went 2-way I'd just build or buy a passive.
500hz would be better. I suggest staying active. Way more likely to get good results.
Consider investing in a mini dsp or a dcx. A setup like this deserves the fine tuning dsp is capable of.
Consider investing in a mini dsp or a dcx. A setup like this deserves the fine tuning dsp is capable of.
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Eyes have been glued to the miniDSP site for a half hour now, awesome, thanks!
OK, so that's an easy decision, miniDSP 2x8 it is. That will also allow me to can that el-cheapo electronic sub crossover I've been using.
OK, so that's an easy decision, miniDSP 2x8 it is. That will also allow me to can that el-cheapo electronic sub crossover I've been using.
Great!
I have another idea for the tops but it requires 3 channels per top. It would have less lobing on the vertical plane. Same size.
Unless you have a pile of the 15's I would leave them out. They most likely can't keep up. Subs capable of keeping up with these boxes will add on another couple grand at least and will be overkill for just about all domestic listening levels.
I have another idea for the tops but it requires 3 channels per top. It would have less lobing on the vertical plane. Same size.
Unless you have a pile of the 15's I would leave them out. They most likely can't keep up. Subs capable of keeping up with these boxes will add on another couple grand at least and will be overkill for just about all domestic listening levels.
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Alternative to the horn/compression driver.
B&C 15CXN76 15" Neodymium Coaxial Speaker 80 x 80 Degree
Something like this crossed at about 1k and around 200 to the 18's. Advantage over the horns would be point source behavior down to a lower frequency where center to center distance won't interfere with vertical dispersion.
B&C 15CXN76 15" Neodymium Coaxial Speaker 80 x 80 Degree
Something like this crossed at about 1k and around 200 to the 18's. Advantage over the horns would be point source behavior down to a lower frequency where center to center distance won't interfere with vertical dispersion.
Very interesting driver! Well, two 18s and that would definitely give me the "girth" I was looking for in an enclosure design.
Sure do appreciate all of the help!
Sure do appreciate all of the help!
No problem! I've learned a lot from this site, it's the least I can do 🙂
If you don't have a measuring mic mini dsp has one for reasonable cost. It will be needed to get perfect crossovers. It's worth getting for professional results. Once dialed in you'll know it. Everything will sound natural and life like.
If you don't have a measuring mic mini dsp has one for reasonable cost. It will be needed to get perfect crossovers. It's worth getting for professional results. Once dialed in you'll know it. Everything will sound natural and life like.
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Mmmm, problem #2, how often are you in Indiana, ha ha ha. 😀
I'm going to sit on this for a day or two, just to leave time for the; "Hey, wait a min, how about this or I forgot about...." type of situation!
I'm on a engineering project till early April, plan is to have all materials on-site by then so construction can begin.
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