Coaxial Questions

I found 4 of the 15CXN88s on eBay, but then realised that the horn that goes under the dust cap for the compression driver is missing, unfortunately. If anyone wants to take a look at them and fancies 'repairing' them, here's the listing:

i wonder what have happened to that driver, and why is the horn missing? and i wonder how they could remove the dustcap without leaving a sign on the cone? aha, is this a repaired driver with a new cone fitted? i would stay away
 
The test cabs are getting close. Ready for the slot port and bracing. I did the crosscuts and rips, and my buddy has been knocking out the precision cuts and glue up! Glenn.
 

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If the polars here are giving a true indication then these shouldn't sound too bad - Vortex Speaker Kits | HiFiCircuit . I can't see an indication that the crossover is doing anything significantly wrong based on this limited information. On the other hand I'd expect you to do some global equalising of your own as a matter of course.

As far as the waveguiding is concerned, I'd consider a nice big roundover starting near the edge of the cone. This will probably be overall a big enough waveguiding for the tweeter.

The roundover may not do too much for the woofer but I'd try to get baffle support in down to the Schroeder frequency for the room, kind of eliminate the 'baffle step' as an issue. So at the least I'd use a wider box, maybe a couple of feet wide.

Yes, I think I'll definitely make enquiries about the Vortex-15s. I have the room to make something that large.

I'll take a look into the Shroeder frequency. Does it usually take much woodwork to create a roundover that large? And given that it's for the benefit of the HF it would have to be smooth, rather than a series of petals or something like that.

Decide on size first. 10, 12 or 15. Depends on room I guess. Is 150l ok?
Then decide if you want a replaceable screw-on HF or a combined solution/shared magnet type. See what your budget is. That should narrow down to three or four drivers. Then there is availability. Everything is sold out these days. The pandemic have really changed the game.

I can say one negative thing about the betas that might help you go in another direction. The steel frame is very soft and bends if you do not have a perfect baffle cut out. From here on I only buy die cast aluminum.

I noticed that 'softness' with some Alpha 8as that I have. Gently does it!

I think I want to go for a 15" woofer. I like the idea of a simple design without subs, but if need be I could probably get some of the woofer's sensitivity back if I took the Bass from the coaxials.
 
The test cabs are getting close. Ready for the slot port and bracing. I did the crosscuts and rips, and my buddy has been knocking out the precision cuts and glue up! Glenn.

#gotclamps? :)

Looks good Glenn! When you've built them and set them up, could you share a sound demo of them on YouTube (or similar)? It doesn't have to be with a high-precision mic...camera and phone mics can tell us quite a bit about the character of the speakers (like this video from Joseph Crowe, for example).
 
Yes, sir. I'll borrow Jay's Zoom to record some. It has stereo capsule mics and should give an idea. I'll run a db meter too. Any particular tracks that you like? It may still take a bit to get to that point due to schedule, but I want to get them up and running as soon as I can because I'm dying to hear them jam, myself. Glenn.
 
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Does it usually take much woodwork to create a roundover that large?
There are so many ways to do this, I've drawn an example of one. Cut yourself a trowel out of thin plywood. Laminate some pieces onto the baffle. Backfill them with filler/plaster and rotate the trowel to shape it.
 

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Yes, sir. I'll borrow Jay's Zoom to record some. It has stereo capsule mics and should give an idea. I'll run a db meter too. Any particular tracks that you like? It may still take a bit to get to that point due to schedule, but I want to get them up and running as soon as I can because I'm dying to hear them jam, myself. Glenn.

:)

There are 4 songs that come to mind, initially:
  • Jamiroquai - Space Cowboy
  • Jamiroquai - Canned Heat
  • Robert Glasper - Afro Blue
  • Vulfpeck - Dean Town

They all seem to follow a similar vein in terms of production (70s-style mixing where they're aiming for warmth).

Fingers crossed that your schedule doesn't drive you to insanity! ;)

There are so many ways to do this, I've drawn an example of one. Cut yourself a trowel out of thin plywood. Laminate some pieces onto the baffle. Backfill them with filler/plaster and rotate the trowel to shape it.

Fantastic Allen, thanks! For some reason I was thinking that the round-over extended around to the back of the flare (like a Le Cleac'h horn), but I see the concept now - rounding out to the baffle to smooth the transition. Much simpler than what I was thinking! :rolleyes:
 
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I did a quick search, and found the 32930 driver - is that what you're referring to? I did wonder if elliptical drivers were used or manufactured! That's a cool piece of history you have there champco!

How do you use them in your system? Full range, or with a subwoofer, or part of a larger system?

My system I use for stereo is is in a 12x17 room that was a computer room then a office with book shelves and file cabinets. Of course there needed to be music so i had a pair of Klipsch KSB 1.1's I bought new online and used my old PL 200 Amp thru a Gemini DJ amp I picked up used.
When I decided to repair my TT I began looking into a Preamp. I was shown a HK Citation 11 which is built like a tank. Multiple In's and outputs. I repaired a pair of Nova 7's and could add a amp so I bought a used HK Citation 12 and went to two amps and four pair of speakers.
Well the bug bit me and I found additional Citation's in various states of need and so I bought em right. I have two sons so why not make two systems.

Shortly after fixing the Nova 7's I found a pair of Boston VR-M50 at a garage sale and they took my offer of $50.00.
Point is within this room these small speakers sound great but none does it all. The Boston's need midrange and the EMI lack good deep base. It's there just not loud at all. Together they sound full no matter which amp i use for what speakers. All the stuff in the room there is no perceivable echo. It sounds like a studio in here. I mostly listen at levels 1/4 to 1/2 volume which reveals any flaws in the recordings. I can go louder but these EMI are only 30-35 watt so no sense in that.
I have another pair of speakers I am working on and the EMI will join the Nova's on a shelf till I get the second system finished.
 
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There are other ways, so what was the specific reason you were interested in 15"?

Generally, the quotes here and elsewhere seem to suggest that 15 coaxial drivers are favourable, either due to the potential to run them as full-range drivers (or thereabouts), directivity, but also that I've personally enjoyed the 'sound' of 15" drivers more in the past.

It's a good question, though. If the 12" drivers measure somewhat similar (without as much low-end extension), they could be run in conjunction with subs.

I did start thinking about this after Erich replied, but then I also wondered about the Celestion drivers. I'm prepared to change my mind at any time :)
 
Erich may have more Vortex-12 drivers listed soon. I’m getting a pair to go with my three Vortex-15 drivers (the 12” vortices are for a friend).

How are you going to cross to a sub at 200Hz? I’m trying to crack this nut with some midbass drivers I have and can’t find a plate amp that will low pass that high. I know there are other options, just curious what you’re thinking.
 
Erich may have more Vortex-12 drivers listed soon. I’m getting a pair to go with my three Vortex-15 drivers (the 12” vortices are for a friend).

How are you going to cross to a sub at 200Hz? I’m trying to crack this nut with some midbass drivers I have and can’t find a plate amp that will low pass that high. I know there are other options, just curious what you’re thinking.

Ah, so they're an on-going project? I wonder if he'll list some more Vortex-15s, or if that was a finite project for him.

As for crossing the subs, in the past I've just ran them as the 'bass' part of a multi-way setup on my receiver. If I tried to use the sub channel it only goes up to 160Hz, so I use each sub and stack the rest of the units on top of them. I just make sure that they're correctly placed, and that gives me a clear line of sight for the 'tops' :)
 
To me its still confusing whats the difference of the Vortex kit and the Eminence Kappalites. The Kappalites are in stock with Parts Express. You just need to choose HF driver. I think PSD2013 is a perfect fit. Eminence even recommend the stock 1,6kHz crossover for this solution. With a variable LPAD that is. 1,6kHz may be a bit high for a 15" though so I have a feeling the 12" would give a more neutral sound with a 1" CD. I think in any case a sub is a good idea. Especially at louder levels where I assume a coax playing full range the sub bass may distort the mids (depending on the music style of course).
 
The whole project was a bust for Erich. He’s getting rid of his inventory of both the Vortex-12 and -15 though I think he’s going to add more of the 12 soon. The 15 may be all sold out though. I know he’s selling these at a loss.

Erich did indeed reply and say that the Vortex-15s were all gone, but I asked him how much of a difference he thought there was between that kit and the Vortex-12. He said that there was little difference unless you're looking for more output, and the Vortex-12 could go to 120dB anyway - far more than my ears could handle!

To me its still confusing whats the difference of the Vortex kit and the Eminence Kappalites. The Kappalites are in stock with Parts Express. You just need to choose HF driver. I think PSD2013 is a perfect fit. Eminence even recommend the stock 1,6kHz crossover for this solution. With a variable LPAD that is. 1,6kHz may be a bit high for a 15" though so I have a feeling the 12" would give a more neutral sound with a 1" CD. I think in any case a sub is a good idea. Especially at louder levels where I assume a coax playing full range the sub bass may distort the mids (depending on the music style of course).

From what I've seen here, the Denovo drivers in the kit have an added flare in the HF channel under the dustcap, which I'd guess improves the HF's path to the woofer cone that's acting as the waveguide.

The cones themselves are a different shape (forming another flare, or at least continuing it for the compression driver), and don't have any ribbing on the cone surface which may interact with high frequencies travelling along the surface of the woofer cone.

I'll still take the look at the Kappalites though. Thanks for the advice - that's a good point regarding the crossover, er, point :)