After getting some ACA MinMaxes done to use in place of the 1st Watt F4s in the summer, I put them in the system. One channel was louder than the other so I decided to take a break from the amps. Out of frustration in not being able to give the MinMaxes a good listen, I decided to attempt finding optimal speaker placement again. Inspired by visiting a friend's I just plopped them down as close as the F4 placement would let me and pointed straightforward. I put on some music, ready to start experimenting. Instead, I just heard this wall of sound with so much fullness and detail. I ended up sitting down and having a listening session for a couple hours. This morning, I tinkered with walking them apart an inch at a time. Settled on them being 6 feet apart, still pointed straight forward. Even the GF noticed a difference commenting they sound so much bigger and warm. Working on meal prep in the kitchen is even more of a joy, food and music.
having fun with a signal generator. Getting useful output down to 32Hz. High end, I can hear up to 12kHz. The GF can hear up to 16Khz. Pretty capable speakers.
Interesting as I've been tired of looking at birch plywood. Been thinking of doing a matte black and eventually putting on multiple clear coats in an attempt to get a deep finish.
That is the plan. I however don't have a workshop at all and that wont change for a couple of years. I do like the look of a deep high gloss enamel but it takes some special skills and a low dust environment of teh effect is quickly ruined.
I will post images as this progresses. Final go-ahead for the cabinet maker is TODAY! Hopefully all of teh measurements are correct.
Hey folks,Madisound supplied woofers have a 2dB lower sensitivity than the originals Curt designed for, I think there are other areas to investigate.
Thanks for all the detailed experiences and photos from your builds, some gorgeous speakers and listening rooms on display in this thread! And great build tips too.
I'm planning a Halcyon build but haven't made any purchases yet.
I'm a bit confused by the comment I quoted above, in terms of the woofer sensitivity. On Curt's site he says "A 2 way vented design featuring the SB17RNX2C35-8 uncoated paper cone woofer and the Mark Audio Alpair 10P full range driver." It looks to me like Madisound has the exact driver mentioned on Curt's site available (both individually and in the kit); same model number at least. It's listed as 87dB sensitivity on the spec.
Does anyone know if there was a revision without a model number change, or Madisound has restocked the original driver, or something else?
Just want to know if this is something I should take into account when I'm planning my build.
Thanks,
Francis
AFAIK, there was no revision. When I asked, Madisound says there is no appreciable difference between the SB17RNXC35-8 and the SB17RNX2C35-8. Somewhere in the port over to his new website, someone put in the "2" model in the lead-in. If you read the design specifics, it still calls out the SB17RNXC35-8 (minus the "2"). As the original model had already been discontinued, my kit came with the "2" version. I am very happy with the as-built. Exercise in learning would be to look at the 2 frequency graphs to get a handle on the differences. My ears say "the waters fine, jump on in."
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A10p is NLA, so hard to get, original woofer also.
Time for a new design with CHP-90 and similar woofers. Hopefully design can be further optimized. XO is always the hardest part.
dave
Time for a new design with CHP-90 and similar woofers. Hopefully design can be further optimized. XO is always the hardest part.
dave
No ideas what their inventory is but Madisound lists the 10p as "in stock". https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.c...rkaudio-alpair-10p-a-paper-cone-6-full-range/
I've got a crap tonne of amplification channels on hand, I've been considering playing around with active x-overs since I already have the cabinets and drivers. But I've also got CHP-90s among a bunch of other drivers sitting around waiting to be played with.
I've got a crap tonne of amplification channels on hand, I've been considering playing around with active x-overs since I already have the cabinets and drivers. But I've also got CHP-90s among a bunch of other drivers sitting around waiting to be played with.
Thank you for that! I missed that pesky "2" when I was reading the design specs and comparing that to what was on the website. Appreciate you pointing it out. And glad you are enjoying your build.AFAIK, there was no revision. When I asked, Madisound says there is no appreciable difference between the SB17RNXC35-8 and the SB17RNX2C35-8. Somewhere in the port over to his new website, someone put in the "2" model in the lead-in. If you read the design specifics, it still calls out the SB17RNXC35-8 (minus the "2"). As the original model had already been discontinued, my kit came with the "2" version. I am very happy with the as-built. Exercise in learning would be to look at the 2 frequency graphs to get a handle on the differences. My ears say "the waters fine, jump on in."
Dave - a design around the CHP-90 sounds great. I really like paper cone drivers. Before I became aware of this project I was looking at the Frugel-Horn XL with one of the MA drivers. Then I started reading about WAWs; XRK's current flatpack group buy was intriguing but I'm running a DIY F6 and those speakers low sensitivity seems like it would be a better fit for a more powerful amplifier. (I like building Class A amplifiers, so I don't want to invest in speakers that aren't a great match for amps in the 8W - 50W range.)
I have neither the experience nor the tools necessary to build cabinets from scratch, so I've been limiting my explorations to currently-available-in-the-US Flat Pack enclosures. Sticking within the Full Range / WAW bucket that left the XRK project, this project, and the Fostex BK-16. Of those three, this seems like the best option. But if anyone is aware of other options I should consider, I'm all ears. I assume Bob at Big Wood Studios is no longer in business; I e-mailed him but haven't heard back.
Francis
Congrats. Would appreciate one piece of information/confirmation: the 12/16kHz upper limits were off-axis how many degrees approximately? Thanks.having fun with a signal generator. Getting useful output down to 32Hz. High end, I can hear up to 12kHz. The GF can hear up to 16Khz. Pretty capable speakers.
BTW the new MA200 listened-to off-axis 30-45° was essentially flat to at least 15kHz; by-ear and confirmed with umik-1 (which was spec'ed only to 16kHz).
It i a good idea. You will lose some sensitivity which could help for those with the less sensitive woofers (the replacement)
Some adjustment might be required to get the levels right. In a series XO mucking with anything affects everything. And specific filtering would need change.
dave
Some adjustment might be required to get the levels right. In a series XO mucking with anything affects everything. And specific filtering would need change.
dave
I heard back from Bob. He said "I have just started the relaunch of my business. It will still take some time to get up and running and once I am I will let you and everyone know. Please let everyone know they can reach out to me with any questions or interest, people have been doing so and I am just not getting back to them with the news. If you don't hear from me soon enough ask me again. "I assume Bob at Big Wood Studios is no longer in business; I e-mailed him but haven't heard back.
I'm very happy to hear this! Not sure where else to post this, or if we should all just give Bob some time to set back up without bugging him, but figured I'd post it here at least.
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