@Deude_Mann
Hi Dude, apologies for a very late reply to your question. In the mean time you have had some great advice from everyone else and I don't think there is much I can add. The only suggestion that I would make is that high aspect ratio's seem to work well and they now form my standard approach to a build, not to say that other ratio's don't work well. I have found DML's to very tolerant designs.
I hope your build goes well
Hi Dude, apologies for a very late reply to your question. In the mean time you have had some great advice from everyone else and I don't think there is much I can add. The only suggestion that I would make is that high aspect ratio's seem to work well and they now form my standard approach to a build, not to say that other ratio's don't work well. I have found DML's to very tolerant designs.
I hope your build goes well
yep. You have the benefit of knowing exactly where they will be installed. Trial and error is your best bet. I would start with a wood/canvas in a large shop like yours as they seem to give better bass and you may not even need a sub (or two).
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The DAEX30HESF-4 is designed to be mounted to a spine to support the heavy magnet this is a must to prevent voice coil sag especially since its one of the most robust of all exciters. That is what the 4 holes are for to secure the exciter with screws to a support beam/spine. Also heavy gauge wire will increase voice coil sag especially since you mounted the wire on the top instead of the bottom.
Cutting the legs off is not a major priority as its more subjective (personal preference) as it will change the sound but if you like how it sounds then leave the legs on.
When you increase thickness of any material you will lose volume output/sensitivity in certain frequencies because its harder to bend a thicker material combine that with a higher density/mass.
What people dont realize is that all materials will act as a FILTER to certain degrees depending on substrate of material , including the thickness, density, weight.mass etc.
The ideal material is the one with the LEAST amount of FILTERING as it will allow most of the frequencies to pass through uninhibited for full range applications. For me this material is (expanded polystyrene) 1/2inch higher density EPS.
OK I have ordered the Dayton Exciters and will report back on construction when I have something interesting to share.
One confirmation question... From what I have read here and elsewhere the diffusion pattern for DMLs generally speaking is near hemispherical in front of the panel (and at the back as well) for all frequencies. Therefore it does not matter whether the long edge or the short edge is oriented vertically. In other words it does not act like a line array even for higher aspect ratios.
Most seem to be orienting them vertically but I suspect that has to do more with available space and not with sonic performance.
Agreed?
Most seem to be orienting them vertically but I suspect that has to do more with available space and not with sonic performance.
Agreed?
Doubt it matters, especially where you plan on hanging them I would go vertical, hell I would make them an oval shape or some organic non linear shape.
i tried 3mm , 5mm and 6mm thick masonite and MDF , I went with the 3mm because the sound was clean and sharp over the thicker panels however that test phase was with a single 40W exciter , Its possible that multiple exciters on a thicker panel might fill your lows but with energy transfer kinetics being what they are , i would expect more losses on the thick high density panel.
I didnt try Twinwall as Andre is using.
I considered using 3mm plywood but made an assumption that with it being a slightly lower density than MDF that it might lose a little sharpness but that depends on what coating you use if any , there are too many variables if you bring coatings / PVA etc into the picture , My MDF has no coating other than laminex on the front.
I like the pine frames.
My panels a couple pages back use both of those; by accident. I didn't realize there were two different versions when I bought them. The one with the twist-off base is my favorite overall -- that's just a really cool feature, and I think they sound bigger. But the others have intense mids, and I've switched back and forth between them and can't convince myself to replace and use all twist-offs.
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I keep meaning to ask though, if money is no object, and panel size/build has no constraints, what's the very best exciter anyone here has ever used?
I didn't do much research because I wanted to get something up and running. Now the pressure is off, I'll slowly want to do some more experimenting.
My panels a couple pages back use both of those; by accident. I didn't realize there were two different versions when I bought them. The one with the twist-off base is my favorite overall -- that's just a really cool feature, and I think they sound bigger. But the others have intense mids, and I've switched back and forth between them and can't convince myself to replace and use all twist-offs.
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I keep meaning to ask though, if money is no object, and panel size/build has no constraints, what's the very best exciter anyone here has ever used?
I didn't do much research because I wanted to get something up and running. Now the pressure is off, I'll slowly want to do some more experimenting.
Its not much different then conventional cone speakers. Take a MTM design for example you can use them vertically or horizontally for L/R mains and or you can use them horizontally for center channel. There are pros and cons to each and its personal preference.
I would think masonite (aka hardboard) would be terrible as would MDF. Their mass to stiffness ratio is not very good. MDF is good for damping which is of course one of the reasons it is used in standard speaker enclosures. It also excels at generating sawdust but that's another topic.
How did they sound?
I've had great success with horizontal panels. My current application has a pair of approximately 6' panels stretching across a 12' wall. You can find photos in earlier posts.
I formed an opinion that MDF was harder than Ply based on me pushing my thumbnail in to both , The Ply had a just discernible dent while i couldnt make any impression on MDF at all , Ply being alternating cross plys it should have a higher structural strength but i didnt test its sound qualities.
The sound is awesome on one speaker , but the other has resonance / rattle at certain frequencies because where i have used 4 mounting screws back to the spine , i have 1 or 2 screws not tensioned evenly , If i cant get rid of that noise by adjusting the threaded rods i will have to redo one speaker by cutting off the exciters and do them again with fresh superglue.
The exciters that have one single 3mm thread on the back will be a whole let easier to set up with a straight axis when attaching the screw to the spine.
The newer exciters have around double the surface area of VHB tape compared to the ones i used above , hopefully they dont require any superglue.
@Earborne 963Hz
You do know that DAEX30HESF-4 have a M6 screw in the center under the sticker?
Even if the VHB tape holds up, it can affect the treble response, so you might want to stick with superglue anyway.
You do know that DAEX30HESF-4 have a M6 screw in the center under the sticker?
Even if the VHB tape holds up, it can affect the treble response, so you might want to stick with superglue anyway.
Always happy to share photos of the kids...
Note: TV now has a pair of Thrusters on the back and serves as a center channel.
Aluminum panels rest on dense foam supported by L-brackets and lean at an angle against another bit of foam against the wall.
Attachments
Oh wow . i had no idea about the thread underneath , That is a huge help.
You just earnt yourself a virtual beer
Yes, I chopped off the legs and removed the plastic housings (utterly useless additions) to get the magnets mounted hard onto heat sinks to improve heat dissipation. Nothing to do with damping.
I suspect that any difference in sound with and without the legs will be psychological. There's no difference in measured performance.
The damping that I have applied is around the edges, and one or two spots on the panels where the resonant tails are obvious. These are probably at the second or third modes where the bending waves create the highest excursions.
I have tried both and there is no difference is dispersion that I can detect or measure.
I cant believe some of you think there is no difference between a speaker placed horizontally and one placed vertically. Physics will dictate that there will be differences. A tall/long panel placed vertically will be closer to the ceiling while placed horizontally will be further away from the ceiling. This will change the way the panels sound as the dispersion pattern is not the same due to the physical shape.
Its like saying there is no difference between a small panel vs a big panel or a thin tall panel vs. a short rectangle or square shaped panel. Or a circular shaped panel vs. an oval shaped panel. Anytime you change the physical structure including placement it will change the sound. Tilting the panel even 1/4 inch up or down will change the sound. Toe in of the panels will change the sound. Some of you seem to think that DML's dont abide by the same physics as conventional cone drivers do.
Now I am beginning to understand why Spedge bowed out. 😉
Its like saying there is no difference between a small panel vs a big panel or a thin tall panel vs. a short rectangle or square shaped panel. Or a circular shaped panel vs. an oval shaped panel. Anytime you change the physical structure including placement it will change the sound. Tilting the panel even 1/4 inch up or down will change the sound. Toe in of the panels will change the sound. Some of you seem to think that DML's dont abide by the same physics as conventional cone drivers do.
Now I am beginning to understand why Spedge bowed out. 😉