I'm very temped to build the CARRERA by Paul Carmody.
As a newby I don't have much experience but learing a lot on the way...
My main goal is to build something to beat my current commercial speakers.
From commercial speakers I like Harbeth M30, Graham LS6 and SF electa amator III.
From what I read so far I think the CARRERA will suit my preferences.
The amp Im using is SUGDEN A21se signature. 30W class A.
I can not do any woodwork and will rely on whats available.
So far I came up with is this 11.5L box
The box baffle match the design but it is only 11.5L iso recommended 15L.
I assume this 11.5L box is better suited for a closed design (which I prefer over a vented box).
When I check the 15W853K00 in a closed box, F3 will be mid 70's.
Considering the 15W8530K01 will have F3 mid 50's in the same 11.5L box.
Question what impact does the 15W8530K01 have on the designed XO? 🙄
- Sensitivity is lower. 84.5db compared to 86db.
From the original design I also would like to lower the full BCS to a mild one of 3-4db with either the 158530K00 or K01.
Which impact does it have on the XO design?😕
I can not do any measurement. Just some simulations I get some rough idea.
Any help and guidance is much appreciated.🙂
As a newby I don't have much experience but learing a lot on the way...
My main goal is to build something to beat my current commercial speakers.
From commercial speakers I like Harbeth M30, Graham LS6 and SF electa amator III.
From what I read so far I think the CARRERA will suit my preferences.
The amp Im using is SUGDEN A21se signature. 30W class A.
I can not do any woodwork and will rely on whats available.
So far I came up with is this 11.5L box
The box baffle match the design but it is only 11.5L iso recommended 15L.
I assume this 11.5L box is better suited for a closed design (which I prefer over a vented box).
When I check the 15W853K00 in a closed box, F3 will be mid 70's.
Considering the 15W8530K01 will have F3 mid 50's in the same 11.5L box.
Question what impact does the 15W8530K01 have on the designed XO? 🙄
- Sensitivity is lower. 84.5db compared to 86db.
From the original design I also would like to lower the full BCS to a mild one of 3-4db with either the 158530K00 or K01.
Which impact does it have on the XO design?😕
I can not do any measurement. Just some simulations I get some rough idea.
Any help and guidance is much appreciated.🙂
Some guessing then, but putting together these things you might want to reduce your tweeter level a few dB.
the ERGO IX looks a good design aswell.
It is a none BSC design though and I guess the OW1 is a better tweeter.
He also said that the free space version isn't as good as the wall mount.
With these drivers one expect top notch performance...
The Carrera is very good as-is. I wouldn't change anything about it, honestly. I think with your amp it should also be a very good pairing.
Thanks for the input Steven.
Will bass not be too strong with full BSC when speakers are around 30cm from the back wall? (measured back speaker till wall)
I also dont know where to find an enclosure of 15L with 8"baffle. I found one but it is 9"baffle. 😕
MrHiFiTunes,
It is difficult to comment on the quality of bass, as each room is a bit different. My ones Carreras were usually placed around 60 cm from the wall (back of the speaker to the wall), and I did not have issues.
Which country are you located in?
It is difficult to comment on the quality of bass, as each room is a bit different. My ones Carreras were usually placed around 60 cm from the wall (back of the speaker to the wall), and I did not have issues.
Which country are you located in?
I live in Belgium. My speakers now are also 60cm from the backwall. But the woofer is only 4.5". I will be moving to a smaller room (5x6m) so I want to place the speakers a bit closer to the wall.
5 x 6 m is a very good sized room IMHO. Many of us have smaller rooms. 🙂
Just for variety and food for though, here you go with another option using the ScanSpeak 15W/8530 driver:
EllamXTmkII-Lewis
This is a low cost variation (less expensive tweeter) of the Ellam 98 MkII
Ellam98-mkII
Just for variety and food for though, here you go with another option using the ScanSpeak 15W/8530 driver:
EllamXTmkII-Lewis
This is a low cost variation (less expensive tweeter) of the Ellam 98 MkII
Ellam98-mkII
Thanks for pointing me to these designs.
I guess I checked them all.
Troels designs are difficult for me because they have stepped baffle. I rely on the cabinets available on the market.
Zaph XO is a bit complicated.
the Carrera seems to tick most of the boxes but still have some issues to tackle aswell.
The only complaint I've seen of the Carrera is a slightly subdued treble. I think it must be how he voices them because I've heard similar comments regarding his Tarkus speakers.
To increase the treble, It may be a simple case of lowering the value of R1.
To increase the treble, It may be a simple case of lowering the value of R1.
Often, subdued treble is not incorrect.. except that it can be a personal choice to increase it.
Carreras are very nice, I would not change the design. Not sure about the 30 cm from the wall and BSC but I imagine it will be fine. I would not worry about the 9" vs 8" baffle that wont be much of a difference. I say go for it!
I'm almost finish building the CARRERA's.
One thing that is not clear to me is how much and where to put the egg foam. I now have it on all side except front and back. The backplate holds the XO and bass port.
Can someone who build one give some advice? Paul isn't clear on this one...
One thing that is not clear to me is how much and where to put the egg foam. I now have it on all side except front and back. The backplate holds the XO and bass port.
Can someone who build one give some advice? Paul isn't clear on this one...
MrHiFitunes,
Try cutting a hole for port in the egg-crate foam piece for the inside of the back panel. The XO will get covered.
For inside of the front baffle you can leave it as is.
Try cutting a hole for port in the egg-crate foam piece for the inside of the back panel. The XO will get covered.
For inside of the front baffle you can leave it as is.
I too, am planning to build the Carrera.
As background, I built 3 diy speakers from Parts Express this past winter as a way to entertain myself during Covid, and I had fun with the process and was very pleased with the results. I built the C-Note MT, Paul Carmody's Overnight Sensations MT, which I later converted to the Overnight Sensations TMM, and finally Paul's Amiga.
Each model impressed me more than the previous, and the Amiga was so refined it motivated me to think about doing something even more serious; hence my interest in the Carrera.
I am a bit of a fanatical audiophile, and have invested serious $$ in "high-end" equipment. (Some may be judgemental about that, but everyone is passionate about something). I am into tube amplification using Audio Research Ref 75 amplifier and ARC Ref 3 preamp. My DAC is a PS Audio DirectStream Dac, and my speakers are ProAc Response D2R, along with other peripherals. I am not mentioning this to boast, but to discover and report on how well the Carrera will compare to a $4,500 speaker in a high-end system using tube amplification. The Carrera's measured impedence and sensitivity are a good match for tubed amplification.
zman01, I have a question for you.'I read about your build of the Carrera a few years ago, I believe. Are you still as satisfied with them now? I ask because in this topic you refer to the Carrera in the past tense: "My ones Carreras were usually placed"
Another question for anyone is about edge diffraction. In discussions about edge diffraction on techtalk.parts-express, placement of the tweeter on the baffle should be offset from center so that no two distances from edge of the baffle are the same. Is there a reason why this rule was not applied in the case of the Carrera?
As background, I built 3 diy speakers from Parts Express this past winter as a way to entertain myself during Covid, and I had fun with the process and was very pleased with the results. I built the C-Note MT, Paul Carmody's Overnight Sensations MT, which I later converted to the Overnight Sensations TMM, and finally Paul's Amiga.
Each model impressed me more than the previous, and the Amiga was so refined it motivated me to think about doing something even more serious; hence my interest in the Carrera.
I am a bit of a fanatical audiophile, and have invested serious $$ in "high-end" equipment. (Some may be judgemental about that, but everyone is passionate about something). I am into tube amplification using Audio Research Ref 75 amplifier and ARC Ref 3 preamp. My DAC is a PS Audio DirectStream Dac, and my speakers are ProAc Response D2R, along with other peripherals. I am not mentioning this to boast, but to discover and report on how well the Carrera will compare to a $4,500 speaker in a high-end system using tube amplification. The Carrera's measured impedence and sensitivity are a good match for tubed amplification.
zman01, I have a question for you.'I read about your build of the Carrera a few years ago, I believe. Are you still as satisfied with them now? I ask because in this topic you refer to the Carrera in the past tense: "My ones Carreras were usually placed"
Another question for anyone is about edge diffraction. In discussions about edge diffraction on techtalk.parts-express, placement of the tweeter on the baffle should be offset from center so that no two distances from edge of the baffle are the same. Is there a reason why this rule was not applied in the case of the Carrera?