The XSD Speaker

Founder of XSA-Labs
Joined 2012
Paid Member
I’m going to miss having the XSDs in house. These are shipping to California so that they can be auditioned by one of the principal funding partners. I’ll have to wait for a pre-production sample in white to come to me before I hear them again. Packing these in cardboard honeycomb and cling wrap and hard cardboard corners was like a jigsaw puzzle.
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65lbs each packed.
 
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This is how the woofer array is wired. The cone facing out is wired negative phase. It is 4 parallel sets (of opposed drivers each). then series 2 sets x 2, then parallel those 2 sets for a total nominal 4ohm impedance from 8x 8ohm woofers. Ignore the Power Amp icon that says 1W (8ohm).
View attachment 1073067
I definitely was gonna need help with that, so thanks!
 
I have been playing these for two weeks now, have been trying different drivers up top as it will be awhile till I want to spend more...

Tried some Klipsh and Warfdale that I had, both two way bookshelf's.
not very good in this role and never really liked them anyway.

Now am using JBL LE5's and they at least work here.
Am finding that crossovers are Hard to do..
especially with this driver...
Xsim is a huge help, all else has failed miserably.

I drew up an active crossover board from the Elliott Sound Products article
did the LR 12db version and have started the 24db one also
This is a big improvement and removes the need for large caps and coils.
So many times I go to his site for information.

So my question is what crossover point should I try woofers - mid?
Think am around 500HZ right now using parts on hand.
The higher XO point helps the JBL as it looks to be a 2k -8k driver or so?
And 12db or 24db is better?

Thank You

thanks IMG_20220716_141221.jpg IMG_20220729_142130099.jpg IMG_20220730_001157959.jpg
 
Founder of XSA-Labs
Joined 2012
Paid Member
Hi Congo,
You have been busy I see! Nice work and very neat experimentation with other tops. The crossover design is not trivial and if you really like to experiment like this, best to go DSP and have active amplification. You can test things out to your hearts content with a click of the mouse. If you see a driver combo and filter that you like you can try to replicate it passively with a coil and cap crossover. The advantage is that it allows you to test different amps.

The LE5 should be very nice and close in performance to the 5MR450NDY.

The crossover I recommended for the woofer to mid is 470Hz because there is a natural fall off there due to the mechanical slot chamber dimensions. It gives you 4th order with only an electrical 2nd order on the woofer. The mid can be second order electrical at 470Hz and about 4700Hz. This lets the mid sound coherent and the tweeter adds mostly to the highs and does not play as big a role on the soundstage or imaging.

Good luck!

I see you have an RS225 FAST TL. What full range driver is that?
 
I see you have an RS225 FAST TL. What full range driver is that?
Its a DMA90-8 So a very cheap substitute that works well enough for now. and can be replaced later.
https://www.parts-express.com/Dayto...Aluminum-Cone-Full-Range-Driver-8-Ohm-295-589

I wanted to build both but not spend that much all at once, my only real cost on the FAST WAW was the required RS225 drivers.

So piece by piece I plan to make both better over time. Even though right now I can live with either of these long term..
Thanks
 
Founder of XSA-Labs
Joined 2012
Paid Member
Thanks, X! He's an amazingly skilled person and I am only in awe of how well he builds them :)
Yes, he is a master craftsman that’s for sure. Also, he got good practice on the first build (mine) and now knows all the tips and tricks and it only gets better! You get the benefits of on the job training by someone else. :)
 
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Member
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Hi X,
after checking the first pictures of your build in this thread I noticed some differences.
One picture shows the woofers in one line, the outside mounted ones are on one side, the inside mounted ones on the other side. But one picture shows the woofers arranged in a zigzag pattern. Which one is "right", and when the "in one line" method is better, is there a left and right speaker and should the speakers be built symmetrically? And if so, how to position the speakers, with the woofers facing each other or woofers facing out? Many thanks in advance :cheers: