We are ready to install the sonotubes and other interior parts before putting on the sides. Where did you obtain the sonotubes that are the smallest of the 8" diameter size. I am going to try a concrete tool and form supply place here in SLC, but I curious where other builders were able to locate.
It is a little tough during COVID-19 to go to a lot of stores to find the smallest diameter which is 7.5" x 7.5" as in the instructions.
Thoughts?
-david BTW
It is a little tough during COVID-19 to go to a lot of stores to find the smallest diameter which is 7.5" x 7.5" as in the instructions.
Thoughts?
-david BTW
I got. mine at Home Depot. You need to go through the inventory they have with a tape measure and find the one with the right diameter. I ended up with ones that were just a little large for the “box” and they were compressed to fit. Curt said that’s ok.
Still looking for a 7.5" diameter sonotube. It is kind of tough when you are high-risk for COVID-19 to go into a store and search through a bin.
This week we did a dry fit of all drivers on our front baffle. They all look good with just a small adjustment for the bass port. The next thing is to build the crossovers into the base unit.
I upgraded the crossover components to much larger clarity caps, and decided to supply an air-core inductor for the Madisound sledgehammer inductor.
I have laid them out in the base cabinet as now it is time to wire it all up and prepare to put the other side on the main. So fully assembling the crossovers and putting in the wiring are the next steps.
-david BTW
This week we did a dry fit of all drivers on our front baffle. They all look good with just a small adjustment for the bass port. The next thing is to build the crossovers into the base unit.
I upgraded the crossover components to much larger clarity caps, and decided to supply an air-core inductor for the Madisound sledgehammer inductor.
I have laid them out in the base cabinet as now it is time to wire it all up and prepare to put the other side on the main. So fully assembling the crossovers and putting in the wiring are the next steps.
-david BTW
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I often go later in the evening. Few people are in the store at that time and even fewer hang around the sonotube bins.
Looks like a nice layout David! I predict you will enjoy the clarity caps.
-One thought: Make sure the DCR of the air core inductor is close to the DCR of the Sledgehammer inductor it replaces. An increase of a few tenths of a ohm can make a significant difference in the output of the woofers. Conceivably far more audible than any possibility of hysteresis induced distortion from the laminated core.
C
Looks like a nice layout David! I predict you will enjoy the clarity caps.
-One thought: Make sure the DCR of the air core inductor is close to the DCR of the Sledgehammer inductor it replaces. An increase of a few tenths of a ohm can make a significant difference in the output of the woofers. Conceivably far more audible than any possibility of hysteresis induced distortion from the laminated core.
C
Hello, Before i even ordered the inductor I got the specs of the sledgehammer. Steel Laminate 2.0 mH 15 AWG Inductors This inductor has a DCR of 0.156 ohms.
The Solen 10 AWG inductors I obtained also (At quite a cost actually) is specified at 0.15 ohms. I will also be careful to wire up this crossover to minimize any wiring problems that might cause any problems.
Thanks for the heads up but I did consider it.
The Solen 10 AWG inductors I obtained also (At quite a cost actually) is specified at 0.15 ohms. I will also be careful to wire up this crossover to minimize any wiring problems that might cause any problems.
Thanks for the heads up but I did consider it.
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I presumed you had David, but it never hurts to mention, as DCR can be easily overlooked by less experienced builders when sourcing parts.
As previously noted, a slightly oversized fit for the sonotub is fine as the deformation will not significantly alter the reduction in standing waves in the lateral axis. The snug fit also will help eliminate potential buzzing between the tube and the enclosure.
As previously noted, a slightly oversized fit for the sonotub is fine as the deformation will not significantly alter the reduction in standing waves in the lateral axis. The snug fit also will help eliminate potential buzzing between the tube and the enclosure.
Agree Curt, this is often overlooked, and more attention usually goes to caps and other XO parts. Thanks for pointing this out.
Alan,
Splendid work! The speakers are looking really nice in your room.
And if it is the first veneered pair of Halcyons, it deserves its place on the podium. 🙂
Splendid work! The speakers are looking really nice in your room.
And if it is the first veneered pair of Halcyons, it deserves its place on the podium. 🙂
Thanks, Zman,
I used tung oil, but I think I put it on too thick as it’s still a little sticky. Bob suggested I wipe it off with mineral spirits and re-apply very thin coats.
On a separate note, Curt says that the small round over I chose (by accident) is probably not a serious problem for me as a non-audiophile because diffraction effects modeling shows that for real consequential results, the round over should really be closer to 3 inches. So while my 1/2 inch round is far from ideal, it’s not the end of the world.
I used tung oil, but I think I put it on too thick as it’s still a little sticky. Bob suggested I wipe it off with mineral spirits and re-apply very thin coats.
On a separate note, Curt says that the small round over I chose (by accident) is probably not a serious problem for me as a non-audiophile because diffraction effects modeling shows that for real consequential results, the round over should really be closer to 3 inches. So while my 1/2 inch round is far from ideal, it’s not the end of the world.
A couple details
Being able to see the white stuffing through the port was bugging me, so I took the port off, and dusted the inside with flat black spray can. Not sure if that damaged the effectiveness of the stuffing, but it looks better. It’s not how you feel, it’s how you look.
The port itself was very glossy, shiny plastic, which I thought looked a little out of place, so I sanded it down a little to take off the sheen. You can’t really tell from the picture, but in the flesh it blends better with the flat black speakers and base.
The super tweeters are just sitting there. Not connected.
Being able to see the white stuffing through the port was bugging me, so I took the port off, and dusted the inside with flat black spray can. Not sure if that damaged the effectiveness of the stuffing, but it looks better. It’s not how you feel, it’s how you look.
The port itself was very glossy, shiny plastic, which I thought looked a little out of place, so I sanded it down a little to take off the sheen. You can’t really tell from the picture, but in the flesh it blends better with the flat black speakers and base.
The super tweeters are just sitting there. Not connected.
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Surprising(?) difference in sound stage by elevating the speaker front by 1 inch. Listening position 8 feet back from plane of baffles.
I had been eyeing the Halcyon as I've been looking to experience the full-range driver phenomenon again. I'd made electrostats and magnetic planars before but never played with a regular cone full range. After finding this thread, I took the plunge and started the process. Ordered the flat pack from Bob at Big Wood Studio. It showed up today. I'll be ordering the driver kit from Madisound next month and start the process of gluing the cabinets up. Thanks, Alan, for sharing and making the decision easier.
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6SX7,
Glad to be of service. Primary thanks, of course, goes to Curt, but I appreciate the sentiment. And thanks to Bob, of course. Never would have happened without him.
Good luck with your build. Please post your progress here. davebtw’s build looks really nice. Can’t wait to see that one finished. Mega crossover. I’m eagerly awaiting some more finished samples and listening reviews.
I probably have 200 hours on my pair, and the bass keeps getting bigger. I keep adding more stuffing as the midwoofers break in, to keep it “musical”. Wasn’t expecting that. But I would order extra fill if I were you. Those speakers in that deceptively voluminous cabinet configuration can punch out a lot of bass.
Glad to be of service. Primary thanks, of course, goes to Curt, but I appreciate the sentiment. And thanks to Bob, of course. Never would have happened without him.
Good luck with your build. Please post your progress here. davebtw’s build looks really nice. Can’t wait to see that one finished. Mega crossover. I’m eagerly awaiting some more finished samples and listening reviews.
I probably have 200 hours on my pair, and the bass keeps getting bigger. I keep adding more stuffing as the midwoofers break in, to keep it “musical”. Wasn’t expecting that. But I would order extra fill if I were you. Those speakers in that deceptively voluminous cabinet configuration can punch out a lot of bass.
Yar, thanks to Curt Campbell for taking the time to design and listen and design and listen.
Thanks for the warning on the bass. I'm a bit apprehensive about it as my little Dynaudio studio monitors already fill up the living room pretty well. I haven't glanced at the Qts to see if closed box is an option. Will get the extra stuffing and see where it goes. Pairing them with some of the Amp Camp Amps. Will see how they interact. Might be an excuse to try some digital x-overs/eq'ing.
Thanks for the warning on the bass. I'm a bit apprehensive about it as my little Dynaudio studio monitors already fill up the living room pretty well. I haven't glanced at the Qts to see if closed box is an option. Will get the extra stuffing and see where it goes. Pairing them with some of the Amp Camp Amps. Will see how they interact. Might be an excuse to try some digital x-overs/eq'ing.
My long absence from this thread is due to a septicemia illness that I contracted in early November. The Bacterial infection lodged itself in my spine leaving me in great pain. Needless to say, my Halcyon speakers have been placed on the back burner. I am almost fully healed from it and now hoping to get them finished during the month of February.
My next step is the mega crossovers as alanhuth mentioned but until this past week, I couldn't sit up in a chair for more than about 30 minutes. As soon as the crossovers are wired, we will wire up the cabinets and finished them off. They are just waiting for me!
Luckily I have not contracted COVID-19 but have spend time in the hospital and flat on my back as I have healed up. Been off work from my full time job as well. Lots of Physical Therapy and IV administered anti-biotics. Starting to re-engage. It seems that when ever I have a speaker project it takes a VERY long time to get them done. Oh Well...
My next step is the mega crossovers as alanhuth mentioned but until this past week, I couldn't sit up in a chair for more than about 30 minutes. As soon as the crossovers are wired, we will wire up the cabinets and finished them off. They are just waiting for me!
Luckily I have not contracted COVID-19 but have spend time in the hospital and flat on my back as I have healed up. Been off work from my full time job as well. Lots of Physical Therapy and IV administered anti-biotics. Starting to re-engage. It seems that when ever I have a speaker project it takes a VERY long time to get them done. Oh Well...
davebtw,
Sorry to hear about your illness and glad to know that you are on the mend. May you continue recovery and get back to full strength soon.
And no hurry, we'll be waiting here to hear about your progress on the speakers when you're able to get to it. 🙂
Sorry to hear about your illness and glad to know that you are on the mend. May you continue recovery and get back to full strength soon.
And no hurry, we'll be waiting here to hear about your progress on the speakers when you're able to get to it. 🙂
yes, glad to hear you are on the mend.
I have no excuse for slow going. I got as far as partially gluing up the cabinets over a month ago and they have sat since. Bought some sonotube on Sunday and ordering the driver kit later today. Hoping to get some inertia going and finish them out.
I have no excuse for slow going. I got as far as partially gluing up the cabinets over a month ago and they have sat since. Bought some sonotube on Sunday and ordering the driver kit later today. Hoping to get some inertia going and finish them out.
