... and a few more questions before I finalise my order. I think I'm still a bit too unsure about everything but anywho...
Any advice on sound deadening? My intuition tells me that the official design is great although possibly overkill. Mainly since quick sums indicated $150 - $200 in bitumen...
Realise this sounds a lot like previous post BUT serious question. Is this just too ambitious of a first project? Don't want to do a shitty job and would rather build something slightly simpler (?) than spend a lot of money and screw it up based on not really knowing what I'm doing.
Also while I'm still changing my mind too often than I should. ZA5.2 v ZA5.3, main difference would be the MTM would have slightly higher efficiency and better lower end right? Although ZA5.3 is not much cheaper than PL18 + XT25 in big scheme of things once shipping is taken into account...
More than anything outside specific designs I'm looking at I'd just like something along the lines of the start of this thread. Something relatively simple for my HT to get me started and then I can build bigger + better or extend or modify later if I get hooked.
Any advice on sound deadening? My intuition tells me that the official design is great although possibly overkill. Mainly since quick sums indicated $150 - $200 in bitumen...
Realise this sounds a lot like previous post BUT serious question. Is this just too ambitious of a first project? Don't want to do a shitty job and would rather build something slightly simpler (?) than spend a lot of money and screw it up based on not really knowing what I'm doing.
Also while I'm still changing my mind too often than I should. ZA5.2 v ZA5.3, main difference would be the MTM would have slightly higher efficiency and better lower end right? Although ZA5.3 is not much cheaper than PL18 + XT25 in big scheme of things once shipping is taken into account...
More than anything outside specific designs I'm looking at I'd just like something along the lines of the start of this thread. Something relatively simple for my HT to get me started and then I can build bigger + better or extend or modify later if I get hooked.
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That's a mental hurdle to get over but can be more economical if you like the speaker etc as it has all the drivers and xo.... you have to look at it as a total and not as a sum of it's parts. All up with shipping would be around the same price as 2 PL18 drivers.
I've never heard the ZA5 series (or drivers) so can't comment if it's good value or not or how it compares to the PL18/XT25 speaker. All I can say is I still feel (hunch only) the PL18/XT25 would be a better long term and more satisfying project.
Thanks again rabbitz. Once again looks link I'm sticking to this design + project!
Been looking at all sorts of sound deadening products tonight. My intuition tells me that the official design is great although possibly overkill. Mainly since quick sums indicated $150 - $300+ in bitumen...
I found stuff like this and was wondering if it would be applicable. Then I found these four products at jaycar which is very close to where I work so very available. Would some combination of those from Jaycar be sufficient?
Unsure if using Barium is a bit of a worry since initial googling for sound deadening for it raised health concerns about its use from this very forum.
After this I think I'm good to order everything and get into the building!
I thought you were doing the PL18 speaker? Your link shows the TJL.
Vifa PL18WO-
I've used the Jaycar AX3694 on loads of projects and works well. For vented enclosures I hang it in the middle of the box and not on the back wall as shown previously in this thread (as well as the 3-way diyaudio ref thread). For a floorstander I add 2 layers in the bottom of the box. I've also used some barium based deadening which looks the same as the Jaycar one and preferred using 5mm - 10mm felt on the walls instead. I used an ironing board underlay or felt from a removalist.
Vifa PL18WO-
I've used the Jaycar AX3694 on loads of projects and works well. For vented enclosures I hang it in the middle of the box and not on the back wall as shown previously in this thread (as well as the 3-way diyaudio ref thread). For a floorstander I add 2 layers in the bottom of the box. I've also used some barium based deadening which looks the same as the Jaycar one and preferred using 5mm - 10mm felt on the walls instead. I used an ironing board underlay or felt from a removalist.
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The enclosure for the PL18 one is more or less the same as the TJL enclosure so he links there for details on sound deadening and more detailed drawings.
So from what you're saying its less detailed / specific / important than something like the XO or enclosure design. Ill order all the parts tomorrow and then just buy a whole bunch of sound deadening stuff from Jaycar and experiment.
Enclosure design and xo is miles more important than damping. Damping really only helps to absorb some of the higher panel resonance frequencies and part of the backwave. If the enclosure is good then you don't have too many damping issues.
You can check this when building by adding no damping and then add damping.... shouldn't be massive differences.
I tend to take away the hard surfaces on the inside of the enclosure with felt on some speakers (most I don't use any) to reduce the SPL/number of reflections. Take a tennis court... 1 hard court and the other grass and think how the ball bounces on the surfaces.... more bounce on the hard court.
You can check this when building by adding no damping and then add damping.... shouldn't be massive differences.
I tend to take away the hard surfaces on the inside of the enclosure with felt on some speakers (most I don't use any) to reduce the SPL/number of reflections. Take a tennis court... 1 hard court and the other grass and think how the ball bounces on the surfaces.... more bounce on the hard court.
Speaker stuff has arrived (YAY!) and is awaiting my pickup but with a twist. PL18s have been discontinued like I thought and they didn't send them. The guys who ordered for me are contacting them now to see if they have any left in stock or a drop in replacement type thing and just see what is going on.
1) This is going to mean redesigning XO isn't it...?
2) If they don't have an alternative woofer any obviously similar designs I should look at? I'm looking at some peerless now.
1) This is going to mean redesigning XO isn't it...?
2) If they don't have an alternative woofer any obviously similar designs I should look at? I'm looking at some peerless now.
They've discontinued the PL18? I just finished building a set of speakers using them. I guess they're a one-off.
Speakerbits are still listing the PL18s on their website if it helps:
Vifa bass/midranges, Peerless bass/midranges, Scan-Speak bass/midranges, Quadral bass/midranges - Speakerbits
AJ
Speakerbits are still listing the PL18s on their website if it helps:
Vifa bass/midranges, Peerless bass/midranges, Scan-Speak bass/midranges, Quadral bass/midranges - Speakerbits
AJ
You're a godsend 🙂.
I can order from them without any fancy trade accounts or ABNs right? Just checking before I tell other guy that I've found an alternative supplier.
Don't know. To be honest I've never ordered from Speakerbits.
I've always bought my drivers from Madisound because they were always so much cheaper: The PL18 was US$58 at Madisound vs AUS$130 in Australia. Even with shipping Madisound were much cheaper. Besides, if I ordered from Madisound on Friday, I usually had a knock on my door from the courier at 7am on Monday morning. I don't mean to be unpatriotic but I've never had that kind of service from an Aussie supplier.
Good luck with it.
Cheers,
AJ
I've always bought my drivers from Madisound because they were always so much cheaper: The PL18 was US$58 at Madisound vs AUS$130 in Australia. Even with shipping Madisound were much cheaper. Besides, if I ordered from Madisound on Friday, I usually had a knock on my door from the courier at 7am on Monday morning. I don't mean to be unpatriotic but I've never had that kind of service from an Aussie supplier.
Good luck with it.
Cheers,
AJ
My reasons for AU suppliers was based solely on dollars. Also it is quite stupid how regularly ordering stuff from US will get to my house much faster than something from the Eastern States.
It was just initial costings (different design) had WES being a large amount cheaper even without shipping. That and when I finalised on this design I couldn't get the PL18s from Madisound. I still can't see it so looks like they just don't supply it anymore, unless I am being that dumb at navigating a website... I would love to get them for $58US each since that is like $20AU or something right
Cheers.
I have been buying my drivers from hasaudio.co.nz his shipping and prices are good.Also I have had the ZA14W08 woofer its a nice driver.
Also he has free shipping over a certain amount and his prices are good and so is his shipping is very reasonable as well.
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Phone speakerbits today. They had two PL18s in stock so I ordered whilst he was on the phone :-D.
WES got back to us about it. Their explanation was that since ScanSpeak have bought Vifa they are discontinuing a lot of the higher end stuff so it doesn't compete with the already existing ScanSpeak stuff. Some is probably being integrated and renamed (and price risen) but most of the Vifa stuff that was still available will now be a part of ScanSpeaks lower end range.
WES got back to us about it. Their explanation was that since ScanSpeak have bought Vifa they are discontinuing a lot of the higher end stuff so it doesn't compete with the already existing ScanSpeak stuff. Some is probably being integrated and renamed (and price risen) but most of the Vifa stuff that was still available will now be a part of ScanSpeaks lower end range.
Boy your lucky to get those pl18's.... havent had those in atleast a year!
With regards the scanspeak equivalent...there isnt one, although I must say the 18w series in their discovery range are great value for money. 🙂
With regards the scanspeak equivalent...there isnt one, although I must say the 18w series in their discovery range are great value for money. 🙂
Im just wondering will the seas excells be on special again as in the next month I am thinking about doing another order.
I was just starting to do a project using 2 seas l26 with the seas W15CY with the Discovery 9130 tweeter.
I was just starting and have broken my leg.
I am wondering if I should put the project on here but I am no good at posting.
I am going to build a home theatre system 7.1 so it will be interesting for me.
I have all the gear measurement mikes soundeasy v17 etc.
Oldbar, I find it interesting that although I live in NSW, I have bought more stuff in recent years from WA, QLD, VIC and even NZ.
Starting a thread here on your new project could be good for all concerned.
Starting a thread here on your new project could be good for all concerned.
Does anyone on the thread have Fane Sovereign 10-300's or Eminence Delta 10A's, or know where I can get them?
A heads up for Oz builders
This speaker has been brought to my attention and could be good for builders in Australia as the parts are readily available and are reasonably priced. Design looks very good and the build is quite simple. I have no connection with this speaker design and am not affiliated with the designer.
Just DIY It !Prima Just DIY It ! Just translate from French.
I can vouch for the D2608/9130000 tweeter as I use that in my main floorstander as well as a bookshelf. The Scan Speak Discovery 18W4434G00 mid woofer looks good and Tony G uses a smaller version in some of his designs.
This speaker has been brought to my attention and could be good for builders in Australia as the parts are readily available and are reasonably priced. Design looks very good and the build is quite simple. I have no connection with this speaker design and am not affiliated with the designer.
Just DIY It !Prima Just DIY It ! Just translate from French.
I can vouch for the D2608/9130000 tweeter as I use that in my main floorstander as well as a bookshelf. The Scan Speak Discovery 18W4434G00 mid woofer looks good and Tony G uses a smaller version in some of his designs.
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Thanks for the link to the Prima. I didn't know that speaker, but the filter design really looks great to me. Acoustically it seems to have a 4th order Bessel filter on woofer and tweeter IMO (even though the designer says LR24), very promising anyway.
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