I'm looking to possibly build a pair of PA speaker top cabinets to compliment the Keystone subwoofers that I'm currently building. My first thought was to build the Syntripps but that level of cabinet work is out of my depth. I'm thinking something simple like a 2-12" plus horn or 2-15" plus horn. Even a single 10'', 12" or 15" with horn would be fine if I can pole mount it, it might even be a better option weight wise. Any recommendations?
New DIY Mid High (90deg) - AKA PM90 | Sound Forums
It will equal 90+% of multi-way designs in terms of hi-fi, and most likely smoke 100% in terms of output 100Hz and up.
Needs dsp for dialing in, especially the dual horn loaded 12"s.
Cabinet build is pretty straightforward.
Mine weigh 77lbs and are 15mm baltic birch, with the 'horn section' 18mm. I believe 12mm and 15mm would work fine.
Outdoors, one box should keep up with 2-3 Keystones.
It will equal 90+% of multi-way designs in terms of hi-fi, and most likely smoke 100% in terms of output 100Hz and up.
Needs dsp for dialing in, especially the dual horn loaded 12"s.
Cabinet build is pretty straightforward.
Mine weigh 77lbs and are 15mm baltic birch, with the 'horn section' 18mm. I believe 12mm and 15mm would work fine.
Outdoors, one box should keep up with 2-3 Keystones.
I got the plans for those speakers and they aren't so easy to build. The parts are also crazy expensive for a diy project. But they would solve many problems. I wonder if anybody has a pair for sale or would consider building some cabinets for sale?
If you have a look on my website (linked in sig), the main speakers I use are very easy to build. 2x Faital 10FH520, 1x 18Sound ND1460 on an RCF HF94 horn.
Given ample power (I use a Powersoft T604 to bi-amp the pair), they get loud and sound very good. Won't be as loud as the PM90s, but these are smaller, lighter, and easier to build.
Here's a quick video of when they were playing in a smallish stadium. 85dBC-slow at 280' (camera position). 103dBC peak.
PA system check at Batley Rugby Stadium - YouTube
Chris
Given ample power (I use a Powersoft T604 to bi-amp the pair), they get loud and sound very good. Won't be as loud as the PM90s, but these are smaller, lighter, and easier to build.
Here's a quick video of when they were playing in a smallish stadium. 85dBC-slow at 280' (camera position). 103dBC peak.
PA system check at Batley Rugby Stadium - YouTube
Chris
I'm just thinking of loud here with zero experience but.... What would be the effect of having two 10" speakers for example side by side with the cabinet front slanted outwards? Maybe have a wide dispersion horn between the speakers? I was thinking that why isn't there a cabinet where the mids throw as wide as the horns in the case of a 110 degree wide horn.
They're ported at the back. I made it so you could block some of them to change the tuning frequency. Flat-to-60Hz requires some boost, but means you can get away without subs for some gigs.
They're also a very simple build - I came up with the plans on the back of an envelope. The drivers are what makes them special.
Chris
Speaking of cabinets built with no tools, much, I have a drill a sabre saw a power screwdriver, a stapler, and no truck. It costs me $80 to have a sheet of plywood delivered from Lowes, and they don't sell birch 13 layer either. More like 21/32" CDX. HD doesn't deliver, their truck rental is $75 for 75 minutes plus collision insurance charge for people that don't carry collision insurance.
I had some much respected Peavey SP2-XT 2 way speakers, in the bar band black so many on multi-way forum disrespect. Mounted up on poles to project highs down at my ears the way tops are set up in a bar. They weren't ugly enough, they were stolen in September along with all electronics tools parts & media.
So I'm building something uglier to replace them. Out for the garbage I found a piece of 1/2" partical board furniture, 26"x27"x16" with peeling wood grain . So with 2 layers of 3/8" underlayment inside it contains 5.8 cuft. If I put a cover on front & back, I would have to cut it out of 48" sheet, which won't ride on my bicycle. So I'll move cabinet bottom up to 24" from top. HD sells 2'x4' plywood cuts which will fit on my bicycle. Now volume = 5.0 cuft. I bought a 15" woofer with Vas 8 cuft, fs 42 hz, Qt .4. So if I build a vented cabinet, David B. Weems says f3 factor of 5'/8' is 1.4, so my 3db down f3 would be 1.4*42 or 58 hz. Okay, not too bad. SP2-XT were f3 54 hz. Cost, two 2'x4' sheets of plywood, cut ends off with sabre saw, cut round hole for 15" woofer & two 3" holes for vents. Some screws to attach the front & back; some staples to attach the jute underlayment batting. Coupla 3" drain pipes for ports, cut to length with hacksaw. 2 Floor flanges to screw down ports. two 5'x7'x3/8" jute underlayment pieces to kill internal reflections.
The horn tweeter doesn't have to be in the woofer chamber, so for maximum ugly I'm going to mount it on a pole up in the air. Woofer will be 6' above floor since voice will split between woofer & tweeter @ 1000 hz. I found used Peavey RX22 2" tweeters with plastic horns, $150 for two. Eminence deltapro 15a woofers $159 ea. Maybe this will be ugly enough to not be stolen. Certainly cheap enough.
Even easier is a sealed box for these woofers, which would be 1.5 cu ft. Could be built out of 2' plywood panels from HD. There may be pressure problems with partical board in a sealed speaker. However, too easy to steal, would fit under one arm of a pedestrian. The last burglar had a Jeep Cherokee to carry goodies off with. Towed to the impound lot when the city picked him up for me. This build will be vented for maximum difficulty in carrying away to the fence.
Crossover components will be on NemaCE 1/8" board on back of the woofer. I'm not gigging with these. One goal is boxes light enough to put up on stools. the SP2-XT were 94 lb and I had to hire somebody to put them on the poles for me. The used cabinet rode home on the back of my bicycle; that's light enough.
Beauty is in the sound IMHO, not the woodworking of the case. I'm not trying to sell these things, just the opposite. Make them un-sellable. The burglar left an ugly 3 way organ speaker by shober, which unfortunately sounds bad too.
Will be supressing the 1000-1300 hz rise of Delta-Pro 15a with a parallel LCR trap the way Mr. Weems said. .82 mh parallel 33 uf parallel some ohms to taste.
Happy building.
I had some much respected Peavey SP2-XT 2 way speakers, in the bar band black so many on multi-way forum disrespect. Mounted up on poles to project highs down at my ears the way tops are set up in a bar. They weren't ugly enough, they were stolen in September along with all electronics tools parts & media.
So I'm building something uglier to replace them. Out for the garbage I found a piece of 1/2" partical board furniture, 26"x27"x16" with peeling wood grain . So with 2 layers of 3/8" underlayment inside it contains 5.8 cuft. If I put a cover on front & back, I would have to cut it out of 48" sheet, which won't ride on my bicycle. So I'll move cabinet bottom up to 24" from top. HD sells 2'x4' plywood cuts which will fit on my bicycle. Now volume = 5.0 cuft. I bought a 15" woofer with Vas 8 cuft, fs 42 hz, Qt .4. So if I build a vented cabinet, David B. Weems says f3 factor of 5'/8' is 1.4, so my 3db down f3 would be 1.4*42 or 58 hz. Okay, not too bad. SP2-XT were f3 54 hz. Cost, two 2'x4' sheets of plywood, cut ends off with sabre saw, cut round hole for 15" woofer & two 3" holes for vents. Some screws to attach the front & back; some staples to attach the jute underlayment batting. Coupla 3" drain pipes for ports, cut to length with hacksaw. 2 Floor flanges to screw down ports. two 5'x7'x3/8" jute underlayment pieces to kill internal reflections.
The horn tweeter doesn't have to be in the woofer chamber, so for maximum ugly I'm going to mount it on a pole up in the air. Woofer will be 6' above floor since voice will split between woofer & tweeter @ 1000 hz. I found used Peavey RX22 2" tweeters with plastic horns, $150 for two. Eminence deltapro 15a woofers $159 ea. Maybe this will be ugly enough to not be stolen. Certainly cheap enough.
Even easier is a sealed box for these woofers, which would be 1.5 cu ft. Could be built out of 2' plywood panels from HD. There may be pressure problems with partical board in a sealed speaker. However, too easy to steal, would fit under one arm of a pedestrian. The last burglar had a Jeep Cherokee to carry goodies off with. Towed to the impound lot when the city picked him up for me. This build will be vented for maximum difficulty in carrying away to the fence.
Crossover components will be on NemaCE 1/8" board on back of the woofer. I'm not gigging with these. One goal is boxes light enough to put up on stools. the SP2-XT were 94 lb and I had to hire somebody to put them on the poles for me. The used cabinet rode home on the back of my bicycle; that's light enough.
Beauty is in the sound IMHO, not the woodworking of the case. I'm not trying to sell these things, just the opposite. Make them un-sellable. The burglar left an ugly 3 way organ speaker by shober, which unfortunately sounds bad too.
Will be supressing the 1000-1300 hz rise of Delta-Pro 15a with a parallel LCR trap the way Mr. Weems said. .82 mh parallel 33 uf parallel some ohms to taste.
Happy building.
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