Many thanks to the great members here, Planet10, GM and Scottmoose for the help in figuring out my next fun project, been a long time since I built a pair of speakers.
Long time fan of tube amps and horns so this is just a bit of a different approach than my great Edgarhorn, highly upgraded, Slimlines I just cannot use in our RV, sadly so,
It might be awhile before I can build them as in the middle of an all out rebuild of the big 5th wheel, including adding 18" to the rear length so I had room for a decent system and adding a second entry door.
Plans:
I was looking into a solid walnut front with rounded over corners, BB or maple ply for the rest but now considering all walnut or possibly straighter grain ply with 45 degree corners all glued up, a bit tougher construction but I think I can manage with my decent Makita portable table saw that has virtually no run out and mounted to Roseau fold out tables, bigger fence, etc.
System
Ethernet into WIIM Ultra streamer
Topping V70 Velvet DAC (will look into other DACs later on)
Baby Sophia 10 watt push pull tube amp with upgraded terminals and all caps.
FH Joan with MA200
Conare DIY wiring
I am hoping to not need a sub, music only system, not for movies as we seldom watch anything on the TV.
If sub(s) needed I planned to use the two Image Dynamics 15's I have in storage but the would be a bit of a fitment issue with the big Joan FH speakers.
I could probably fit the.....forgot the name, little triangle shaped subs that go up against the wall behind the mains.
I might get into building a tube front end D class amp, possibly DAC, etc, in the future as well.
Really looking forward to finally having a good system again, been years since had the space to do so, full time RV for over a decade now.
Rick
Long time fan of tube amps and horns so this is just a bit of a different approach than my great Edgarhorn, highly upgraded, Slimlines I just cannot use in our RV, sadly so,
It might be awhile before I can build them as in the middle of an all out rebuild of the big 5th wheel, including adding 18" to the rear length so I had room for a decent system and adding a second entry door.
Plans:
I was looking into a solid walnut front with rounded over corners, BB or maple ply for the rest but now considering all walnut or possibly straighter grain ply with 45 degree corners all glued up, a bit tougher construction but I think I can manage with my decent Makita portable table saw that has virtually no run out and mounted to Roseau fold out tables, bigger fence, etc.
System
Ethernet into WIIM Ultra streamer
Topping V70 Velvet DAC (will look into other DACs later on)
Baby Sophia 10 watt push pull tube amp with upgraded terminals and all caps.
FH Joan with MA200
Conare DIY wiring
I am hoping to not need a sub, music only system, not for movies as we seldom watch anything on the TV.
If sub(s) needed I planned to use the two Image Dynamics 15's I have in storage but the would be a bit of a fitment issue with the big Joan FH speakers.
I could probably fit the.....forgot the name, little triangle shaped subs that go up against the wall behind the mains.
I might get into building a tube front end D class amp, possibly DAC, etc, in the future as well.
Really looking forward to finally having a good system again, been years since had the space to do so, full time RV for over a decade now.
Rick
The PEQ in WiiM ultra is fantastic , it will work also through spdif output to a dac. I doubt you need subwoofers.
Thanks! I am really excited to start putting this together, been without a good system far to long, had a decent one up until more than a year ago when I started on this end of the RV remodel which was a huge undertaking to be able to have a good system in it.
Brace end wall back two feet with a false wall, pull out 5 windows, fiberglass end cap, extend steel frame 18", wood frame in new rear and side walls for a single 6x 5 Anderson dual casement window on the end, single Anderson 2x4.5 awning window on one side, 28" Anderson french door on the other side, shou sugi ban siding I burned and scrapped, add two dedicated double shielded 20 amp circuits, insulate very well with the highest rated foil faced foam boards, foil tape all seams inside and out and over the studs....It was a lot of really fun work🙂
My desk is between the area on each side for floor standing speakers, I left room if need be for the two 15" subs in the rear corners, book shelves above subs and up and over the rear window, Hunter Douglas wood blinds, room treatments will be determined when get to that part. Looking into panels I can place where needed on the sides by the speakers but move/store, etc when not in use.
TV, which we seldom use, will be in DIY custom fold down from ceiling mount covered in the same wood as the book shelves. There is a Martin Logan very good sounding sound bar above the windows that we can use when not wanting the main system on.
I will physically fix any issues I can before applying EQ and only dial down peaks, not add to dropouts. I prefer to drop things a bit on each side of a dropout rather than adding to it.
Brace end wall back two feet with a false wall, pull out 5 windows, fiberglass end cap, extend steel frame 18", wood frame in new rear and side walls for a single 6x 5 Anderson dual casement window on the end, single Anderson 2x4.5 awning window on one side, 28" Anderson french door on the other side, shou sugi ban siding I burned and scrapped, add two dedicated double shielded 20 amp circuits, insulate very well with the highest rated foil faced foam boards, foil tape all seams inside and out and over the studs....It was a lot of really fun work🙂
My desk is between the area on each side for floor standing speakers, I left room if need be for the two 15" subs in the rear corners, book shelves above subs and up and over the rear window, Hunter Douglas wood blinds, room treatments will be determined when get to that part. Looking into panels I can place where needed on the sides by the speakers but move/store, etc when not in use.
TV, which we seldom use, will be in DIY custom fold down from ceiling mount covered in the same wood as the book shelves. There is a Martin Logan very good sounding sound bar above the windows that we can use when not wanting the main system on.
I will physically fix any issues I can before applying EQ and only dial down peaks, not add to dropouts. I prefer to drop things a bit on each side of a dropout rather than adding to it.
If for some reason I am not happy with the top end of the MA200 drivers I will have some fun trying different tweeter setups like OB planars, etc.
Also running an Ethernet line all the way to the other end to the bedroom so we can use it for surfing and music when not using the main system. With more great help here decided to install a pair of MA drivers in the ceiling above the bed as no wall space to properly mount speakers in the redesign of the layout. Plenty of air space for good bass, out of the way, will do the job fine I am sure.
Also running an Ethernet line all the way to the other end to the bedroom so we can use it for surfing and music when not using the main system. With more great help here decided to install a pair of MA drivers in the ceiling above the bed as no wall space to properly mount speakers in the redesign of the layout. Plenty of air space for good bass, out of the way, will do the job fine I am sure.
I didn't know that anyone was doing a JOAN horn with the MA200 driver, please update us on how works out for you
I am excited about it but also a bit sad as it will be some time before I can build them, at least a few months if not longer, priorities on our full time RV rebuild which has to progress more in the area I will be using them. Also weather as I have to work outside under a canopy, after the end of the snow season here and around spring rains, if we get much, we had a very dry winter, not good being so close to CA and all the big fires they have had.
The idea was to get as much bass out of the speakers to not need a sub and I have just enough room to fit the JOAN. The MA200 was recommended to me by the members mentioned as well as the JOAN cabinet for them, I was not even aware of it until then.
I believe I will be very happy with the JOAM, MA200 setup but if it ends up just being to big for our space I will try some XL's and whatever best driver for them.
Have a great day!
Rick
The idea was to get as much bass out of the speakers to not need a sub and I have just enough room to fit the JOAN. The MA200 was recommended to me by the members mentioned as well as the JOAN cabinet for them, I was not even aware of it until then.
I believe I will be very happy with the JOAM, MA200 setup but if it ends up just being to big for our space I will try some XL's and whatever best driver for them.
Have a great day!
Rick
Just as a clarification: I didn't recommend it (or anything) myself. What I actually said was:
It's marginal, but does go in with some extra damping as the enclosure is a little undersized, acoustically speaking.
Thanks for the clarification on that, I should of went back and looked up what you had posted, sorry about that.
Is there a driver you would recommend as a better fit for the enclosure? Something in the "copper" color is best for our overall design theme.
I have not ordered the drivers yet so still time to decide🙂
Sincerely,
Rick
Is there a driver you would recommend as a better fit for the enclosure? Something in the "copper" color is best for our overall design theme.
I have not ordered the drivers yet so still time to decide🙂
Sincerely,
Rick
MA200 drivers on order🙂
I have gone back over everything I can find about these drivers and the Joan as well as the rest of the FH enclosures and think I am going to be very happy with these and with the Baby Sophia tube amp.
Since the cones are so delicate I am going to make some grills for them to protect them when the grandkids or others here I feel I need to protect them from, not very often, we all live a long way apart but I will have guests over at times. I ordered some magnets I will embed in the baffles and then figure out the best grills to make.
Looking into the best renewable resource quality plywood to build them from or use BB and veneer.
Still going to be some time before I can build them but I will have all I need on hand for when I get to it.
Rick
I have gone back over everything I can find about these drivers and the Joan as well as the rest of the FH enclosures and think I am going to be very happy with these and with the Baby Sophia tube amp.
Since the cones are so delicate I am going to make some grills for them to protect them when the grandkids or others here I feel I need to protect them from, not very often, we all live a long way apart but I will have guests over at times. I ordered some magnets I will embed in the baffles and then figure out the best grills to make.
Looking into the best renewable resource quality plywood to build them from or use BB and veneer.
Still going to be some time before I can build them but I will have all I need on hand for when I get to it.
Rick
WooHoo! Got the drivers in today and my lovely lady loves them, she is all into quality audio and doing what it takes as long as artistically matches our design goals for everything.
Also got the eutectic solder in as well, now to decide on speaker wire which I will solder directly to the drivers, my preferred method.
I need to pick out the damping material/stuffing.
I still have some left over RAAMmat I can use in them if needed.
Any suggestions of if needed and or where to use it?
Rick
Also got the eutectic solder in as well, now to decide on speaker wire which I will solder directly to the drivers, my preferred method.
I need to pick out the damping material/stuffing.
I still have some left over RAAMmat I can use in them if needed.
Any suggestions of if needed and or where to use it?
Rick
Unless Dave or Scott say otherwise, I would use the damping plan in the FH3 doc. as a reference. Download the plans here in post #601. https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/frugel-horn-mk3-builds-build-questions.172937/page-31
jeff