Hi All,
Just wanted to show these. A quick photo for now and will post more later as time allows.
Alpair 12 in Studio Reference Monitors. This is phase one of my Clairtone Project G project. I will be working on some globe speakers using these drivers, but as the development proceeds I need a reference, something which I can describe the new work against.
I can`t wait for the drivers to open up, as it is, I am amazed at how much change they go through in just the first couple of hours. They sound pretty good so far, but still tight and not a lot of the lower end. Its there, but there is not the openness that should be there.
Just wanted to show these. A quick photo for now and will post more later as time allows.
Alpair 12 in Studio Reference Monitors. This is phase one of my Clairtone Project G project. I will be working on some globe speakers using these drivers, but as the development proceeds I need a reference, something which I can describe the new work against.
I can`t wait for the drivers to open up, as it is, I am amazed at how much change they go through in just the first couple of hours. They sound pretty good so far, but still tight and not a lot of the lower end. Its there, but there is not the openness that should be there.
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Wow! Those look fantastic! That Alpair speakers are really getting a lot of press/builds lately. Very cool to see. The build quality of those is definitely top notch. What wood is that??
Scott
Scott
Hi Douglas
I love the finish and the method, they look terrific. Be interesting to read the future installments. I agonised over the alignment and port position for my alpair 10 monitors and I'm still not sure I chose the right direction(wicked pun alert).
Will you be doing any in-room measurements?
rgds
Ed
I love the finish and the method, they look terrific. Be interesting to read the future installments. I agonised over the alignment and port position for my alpair 10 monitors and I'm still not sure I chose the right direction(wicked pun alert).
Will you be doing any in-room measurements?
rgds
Ed
It is important to not that before i shipped the drivers to doug, they got at least 300 hrs low lwvel music on th break-in bench. So even with such a head start, the driver still improves as it gets mor juice.
dave
PS: i suspect the guitars in the background of the 1st pictur ar also Doug's work
Thanks, everyone, for the kind words.
These are just basic birch plywood, probably Aspen core, that I bought at Home Depot. Not quite Baltic Birch, but better than MDF. The corners are Cherry from offcuts that I have around the shop. Not required for what these cabinets are intended for but I just didn't want to have the plywood edges showing, not bad on BB, but not cool on this stuff.
One particularly annoying problem that I had is that this plywood was not as flat as it should have been! There are some slight curves to the panels that no one can detect, but made it very challenging to work around.
The finish is 4 coats of spar varnish because that is what I have a lot of here. It is gloss right now, I may sand with fine grit and buff some Tung oil on it. We`ll see how ambitious I get.
As for critical listening and appraisal, I don`t know what I should be expecting from these drivers right now and as they open up. After all, I only got them into the cabinets yesterday. There are so many factors affecting their performance: room, amp, source, ect. They are really revealing the shortcomings of everything upstream!
The only thing that I really have to compare them to are a pair of Saburos that my son made last summer, but different amp, different room. Haven`t compared them yet, so don`t ask yet.
Yes, Dave, I did build those guitars. Thanks for noticing and mentioning.
Here`s a little reminder of what I am working towards. The Clairtone Project G (for globes). Only 400 built during the early `60`s. I will be building an updated version with modern speakers and digital media center inside, we even a correct model turntable for it!
So, Phase II will be to get cabinets for the Alpair 12s that will fit inside an 18`diameter globe. I`m already in discussion with Dave on this problem and the solution will probably be a variation on his Mar-Ken 12. The original speaker was a Wharfedale 10" mounted on a plate at the equatorial region of the globe. I`ll also have to make a decision about the front globe; the original was spun perforated aluminum, one layer of black over a layer of natural. Looks really cool, but at what price is cool?
Don`t worry, I`ll keep the collective posted on progress.
These are just basic birch plywood, probably Aspen core, that I bought at Home Depot. Not quite Baltic Birch, but better than MDF. The corners are Cherry from offcuts that I have around the shop. Not required for what these cabinets are intended for but I just didn't want to have the plywood edges showing, not bad on BB, but not cool on this stuff.
One particularly annoying problem that I had is that this plywood was not as flat as it should have been! There are some slight curves to the panels that no one can detect, but made it very challenging to work around.
The finish is 4 coats of spar varnish because that is what I have a lot of here. It is gloss right now, I may sand with fine grit and buff some Tung oil on it. We`ll see how ambitious I get.
As for critical listening and appraisal, I don`t know what I should be expecting from these drivers right now and as they open up. After all, I only got them into the cabinets yesterday. There are so many factors affecting their performance: room, amp, source, ect. They are really revealing the shortcomings of everything upstream!
The only thing that I really have to compare them to are a pair of Saburos that my son made last summer, but different amp, different room. Haven`t compared them yet, so don`t ask yet.
Yes, Dave, I did build those guitars. Thanks for noticing and mentioning.
Here`s a little reminder of what I am working towards. The Clairtone Project G (for globes). Only 400 built during the early `60`s. I will be building an updated version with modern speakers and digital media center inside, we even a correct model turntable for it!
So, Phase II will be to get cabinets for the Alpair 12s that will fit inside an 18`diameter globe. I`m already in discussion with Dave on this problem and the solution will probably be a variation on his Mar-Ken 12. The original speaker was a Wharfedale 10" mounted on a plate at the equatorial region of the globe. I`ll also have to make a decision about the front globe; the original was spun perforated aluminum, one layer of black over a layer of natural. Looks really cool, but at what price is cool?
Don`t worry, I`ll keep the collective posted on progress.
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Welcome to Clairtone
I haven't heard one myself, but hope to. Apparently they sounded quite good, but there are no critical reviews that I have found, as in "quite good compared to..."
Endorsed by Frank Sinatra, Oscar Peterson, and many others. It was the height of '60's cool. They are very, very collectible right now, and very expensive.
I haven't heard one myself, but hope to. Apparently they sounded quite good, but there are no critical reviews that I have found, as in "quite good compared to..."
Endorsed by Frank Sinatra, Oscar Peterson, and many others. It was the height of '60's cool. They are very, very collectible right now, and very expensive.
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After only a few days of playing in, I am very happy to report that these speakers have opened up a LOT! I've got my bass full and rich. These are not the same speaker of only last Friday!
I am very happy with them. I look forward to experimenting with the other planned enclosures en-route to my my Clairtone globes.
RE. the globes. There are many ways to make the hemispherical fronts and I have yet to decide what I want. Part of me wants the original "look", while part of me is willing to go with a different look altogether. I really have no idea about the acoustic impact of the original materials. I will be getting some sample materials to experiment with.
I am very happy with them. I look forward to experimenting with the other planned enclosures en-route to my my Clairtone globes.
RE. the globes. There are many ways to make the hemispherical fronts and I have yet to decide what I want. Part of me wants the original "look", while part of me is willing to go with a different look altogether. I really have no idea about the acoustic impact of the original materials. I will be getting some sample materials to experiment with.
Thanks for the update. I started burning in a pair of 12's last Friday. They've been playing for just over 104 hours (with adjustments as prescribed on Mark Audio's website) and sound very good near-field. I'll have the cabinets, .75 cuft from PE, later this week. Looking forward to the next phase.
The rectangular or curved ones (latter better sonically)? And what are you going to implement in that volume...too small for the DBR, too big for a BR (at least any i'd build).
dave
Rectangular. The depth on the curved won't work in one of the spaces I plan on using these. I'm not to concerned about deep bass response as I use sub-woofers for bottom end support. Haven't decided if I'll port / vent the cabinets or not.
I'll be comparing them to Jordan JX92s in my kitchen dining system initially.
I'll be comparing them to Jordan JX92s in my kitchen dining system initially.
Will do.
This also keeps me from getting into spousal trouble as I'll have more time to finish the OB woofers cabinets sitting in my Living room. Adding another cabinet project onto the stack would have not been popular.
This also keeps me from getting into spousal trouble as I'll have more time to finish the OB woofers cabinets sitting in my Living room. Adding another cabinet project onto the stack would have not been popular.
Not sure what you guys are talking about but I'm pretty sure that it's not about my loudspeakers!
Now I need to find some time to make the Onken style cabs...I just wish that I had more time!
Now I need to find some time to make the Onken style cabs...I just wish that I had more time!
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