P-Audio BM15CX38 (What to do?)

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Democles902

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Joined 2013
#1
P.Audio Coaxial Speakers - P.Audio BM15CX38 coaxial 15" speaker - P.Audio BM15CX38 500 watt 15" coaxial speaker for all full range applications. P.Audio BM15CX38 15" coaxial and other P.Audio coaxial speakers here.
This site has most of the information on this Coax driver.

I don't know if I want to build a Bass reflex or open baffle.
I know that I do not want any supplementary woofers though.
I was thinking of making the open baffles out of bamboo plywood or the Bass relflex out of Baltic birch plywood or MDF.
I want to have two of these drivers on each speaker. Two pairs total.
What crossover frequency should I use for the compression tweeter?
I am going to wire the woofer full range as recommended.
What will the ohms be once I wire the two woofers and two tweeters in parallel?
I am new to diy audio and I want to do this right if I am going to do it.
Should I use a ready made high pass crossover from Parts express?
I have been told that Open baffle speakers have a sense of realism and space that BR cannot match. Is this true? I know the bass is weak but can't I add a good subwoofer?
I am also open to using an audio nirvana super 15 cast frame speaker. What do you think?
I also heard that an open baffle needs to be 2.2 times the width of the driver which would be 33 inches.
Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.
 
#2

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#3
G'day Democles.

The BM15CX38 is a big and expensive driver to select for a first project, especially if using two a side.
Try doing some modelling. You will see that this is not an easy driver to get deep LF extension out of.
Perhaps a friendlier, less expensive driver might be a better choice to start with, maybe one with a higher Qts that will work well in reflex boxes, or even OB.
Eminence, perhaps?

Good Luck!

quarterblakk
 
#5
Yes, all of the P.Audio coaxes I've heard have a certain "bite" that isn't what you want in Hi-Fi. Cuts thru great for P.A. work, tho. You have to be careful and creative with the crossover design to avoid the bite.
 
#6
What full range drivers would you recommend?
On second thought I am open to using a woofer to augment bass.
What do you think about the drivers from hawthorneaudio.us ?
If I can get better sound from a speaker with separate bass, mid, and tweeter then I am all for it if you have any suggestions.
What do you think of audio nirvana speakers in open baffle?
What about a tang band w8-1808 array? Say 4 per side? Am I being extreme?
What if I just mate a bass reflex cabinet with an open baffle? That seems the easiest route, right? Would a good subwoofer take care of the problems of an openbaffle? Run it to or past 1,000 hz?
Just curious. How will the best designed open baffle speaker compare to a magnepan -say 3.5 or 3.7? Used I see a 3.5 for $2250. I thought for an over ten year old speaker that might be a little to close to MSRP $3200.
What do you think? So many questions.
 
#10
  • How experienced are you with speaker building in general?
  • How experienced are you with crossover design?
  • What is the largest speaker you can use in your space?
  • How far away from the walls can you place the speakers?
We need to know your goals and you abilities. We already know the budget. 🙂
 
#11
Democles902 said:
Also what do you think about using compression horn drivers with a supplemental woofer?
JBL 2382A 2" Flat-Front Bi-Radial Horn 120x40 4-Bolt 294-425
JBL 2446H 2" Titanium Horn Driver 8 Ohm 4-Bolt 294-415
Even one per side will cost $2400 total. Expensive, but would it be worth it?
Full range arrays? Horn loaded full range speakers? Planar transducers?
I am not limited to only one idea. I am open to all designs.
Click to expand...

This will be my next approach to speakers after trying the route of coaxials. I like the idea of coaxs but OK not sure I'd be willing to gamble the money a 'good' one from the likes of GPA based on my experiences with the PA drivers I was listening to.

I am hoping 'beyond the aerial' materialises soon as I think that project may be what I've been searching for, but had the lack of expertise to action myself.
 
#15
Some Alternatives

Democles902 said:
P.Audio Coaxial Speakers - P.Audio BM15CX38 coaxial 15" speaker - P.Audio BM15CX38 500 watt 15" coaxial speaker for all full range applications. P.Audio BM15CX38 15" coaxial and other P.Audio coaxial speakers here.
This site has most of the information on this Coax driver.

I don't know if I want to build a Bass reflex or open baffle.
I know that I do not want any supplementary woofers though.
I was thinking of making the open baffles out of bamboo plywood or the Bass relflex out of Baltic birch plywood or MDF.
I want to have two of these drivers on each speaker. Two pairs total.
What crossover frequency should I use for the compression tweeter?
I am going to wire the woofer full range as recommended.
What will the ohms be once I wire the two woofers and two tweeters in parallel?
I am new to diy audio and I want to do this right if I am going to do it.
Should I use a ready made high pass crossover from Parts express?
I have been told that Open baffle speakers have a sense of realism and space that BR cannot match. Is this true? I know the bass is weak but can't I add a good subwoofer?
I am also open to using an audio nirvana super 15 cast frame speaker. What do you think?
I also heard that an open baffle needs to be 2.2 times the width of the driver which would be 33 inches.
Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

DIY-112CX & DIY-115CX system designs [1] should be available frmo P-Audio soon.
In the meantime, see [1a] & [1b] for a preview.
Alternatively the DIY-112T [2] & DIY-115T 115 [3] are available now.
Recommend you consider using the DIY-112 designs with a sub-woofer such as DIY-121S [4)

Of course, this recomendation prempts many of your questions, but I assume you want to ues pro quality drivers and want to take advantage of the value offered by P-Audio.

Regards,
WHG

References
[1] P.Audio System Co., LTD
[1a] P.Audio System Co., LTD
[1b] P.Audio System Co., LTD
[2] http://www.paudiothailand.com/pdf/SystemDesigns/DIY-112T.pdf
[3] http://www.paudiothailand.com/pdf/SystemDesigns/DIY-115T.pdf
[4] http://www.paudiothailand.com/pdf/SystemDesigns/DIY-121S.pdf
 
#16
But if I am going to use the paudio driver I must see a crossover that will get rid of the shoutiness. On commonsenseaudio.com they said I only need a single capacitor but many disagree. What do you think? Any crossovers I can use from partsexpress?
 
#19
No offense, but this seems to be the "Throw it all at the Wall and see what Sticks" school of speaker design. YOU have to narrow down the choices, pick your goals, your budget. We can't do it for you.
 
#20
What "Shoutiness"

Democles902 said:
But if I am going to use the paudio driver I must see a crossover that will get rid of the shoutiness. On commonsenseaudio.com they said I only need a single capacitor but many disagree. What do you think? Any crossovers I can use from partsexpress?
Click to expand...


You can buy crosovers from P-Audio that are designed for the drivers in any of their DIY designs; e.g. from example given before:
http://www.paudiothailand.com/pdf/SystemDesigns/DIY-112T.pdf
(scroll down several pages in this PDF)


Regards,

WHG
 
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