Currently I have 2.5-way JSE Model 1 "infinite slope" speakers (photo attached) that I have tweaked and modded extensively since originally buying them forever-ago. Woofers and tweeters upgraded, crossovers were re-done, no longer infinite slope. With a DIY sub to help fill in the lowest octave, the sound is very amazing overall, but... These speakers have served me well over the years, and I've gotten nice little incremental improvements with all the tweaks, but I've probably taken them about as far as they can go. I've put much effort into my DIY preamps, amps, and more recently a DAC/music server, so now it's time to tackle designing/building my own speaker to get to the next level.
I am intrigued by high efficiency systems, I may eventually go all the way to low power tube and horn designs as in the incredibly long "Beyond the Ariel" thread. But for now the plan is to build a classic 3-way similar to Troels "Fusion BAD", but keeping the efficiency up there with the 95 db Satori tweeter by using a "pro audio" mid driver, i.e. the FaitalPro 6PR160. For the woofer I want to use 2 - 10" woofers instead of the single 12" that Troels uses. The intent is to maintain or even improve dynamics since I'm planning on going from my 100 watt class AB (Bonsai's NX amp) to a 25 watt class A amp to power the mid and tweeter. I recently tried bi-amping my JSE speakers, using a Crown XLS1502 to power the woofers, and I feel it made an improvement. So I am sold on Troels Fusion BAD configuration, and plan on using the DSP-enabled Hypex to power the woofers in the new design. Thanks for reading my long post and I appreciate your comments or suggestions!
I am intrigued by high efficiency systems, I may eventually go all the way to low power tube and horn designs as in the incredibly long "Beyond the Ariel" thread. But for now the plan is to build a classic 3-way similar to Troels "Fusion BAD", but keeping the efficiency up there with the 95 db Satori tweeter by using a "pro audio" mid driver, i.e. the FaitalPro 6PR160. For the woofer I want to use 2 - 10" woofers instead of the single 12" that Troels uses. The intent is to maintain or even improve dynamics since I'm planning on going from my 100 watt class AB (Bonsai's NX amp) to a 25 watt class A amp to power the mid and tweeter. I recently tried bi-amping my JSE speakers, using a Crown XLS1502 to power the woofers, and I feel it made an improvement. So I am sold on Troels Fusion BAD configuration, and plan on using the DSP-enabled Hypex to power the woofers in the new design. Thanks for reading my long post and I appreciate your comments or suggestions!
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I just found this thread in Loudspeakers, Multi-Way which happens to be pretty close to what I was thinking of doing.
Also, for using the 2 - 10" woofers, I like this "Twin Bass Drive", as Pioneer called it, used in the TZ-9 to help minimize cabinet vibration. Any thoughts?
Also, for using the 2 - 10" woofers, I like this "Twin Bass Drive", as Pioneer called it, used in the TZ-9 to help minimize cabinet vibration. Any thoughts?
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The 6" Satori MR16P-4 with Fs=31Hz is normally used with the Satori TW29DN-4 NdFeB based dome tweeter.
The FaitalPro 6PR160 with triple roll suspension and low Le=0.28mH also looks like a good match around 2.0 - 2.3kHz crossover for the Satori TW29DN-4, but the Fs=90Hz would move the lower crossover around 250Hz.
To avoid any lobing(250Hz quarter wavelength = 13.5") from the 25" span to two 10" woofers, a single 15" woofer would be the normal high efficiency bass selection.
I am not a fan of mounting a plate amp with a fan into a speaker cabinet.
If you purchase a stand-alone 2-way or 3-way DSP you could use your own amplifiers and have a flexible setup for any future new design. Maybe 3-way. Just add wires. No Fans.
The FaitalPro 6PR160 with triple roll suspension and low Le=0.28mH also looks like a good match around 2.0 - 2.3kHz crossover for the Satori TW29DN-4, but the Fs=90Hz would move the lower crossover around 250Hz.
To avoid any lobing(250Hz quarter wavelength = 13.5") from the 25" span to two 10" woofers, a single 15" woofer would be the normal high efficiency bass selection.
I am not a fan of mounting a plate amp with a fan into a speaker cabinet.
If you purchase a stand-alone 2-way or 3-way DSP you could use your own amplifiers and have a flexible setup for any future new design. Maybe 3-way. Just add wires. No Fans.
The Faital Pro 6PR160 has F3 frequency of 229 Hz (F6 = 179 Hz) with a Qtc = 0.6 for the sealed enclosure. You will want to select woofers which blend well at this frequency, and also generate a smooth continuous polar pattern.
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Test Bench: The New Faital Pro 6" 6PR160 Midwoofer/Midrange | audioXpress
Test Bench: The New Faital Pro 6" 6PR160 Midwoofer/Midrange
August 28 2019, 06:10
'I followed my usual protocol and proceeded setting up computer enclosure simulations using the LEAP LTD parameters for Sample 1. I programmed two computer box simulations into LEAP 5—one a sealed box with a 70 in3 volume (50% fill material) and the second, a vented enclosure QB3 alignment with a 70 in3 volume simulated with 15% fiberglass damping material and tuned to 140 Hz.
Figure 2 displays the results for the 6PR160 in the two enclosures at 2.83 V and at a voltage level sufficiently high enough to increase cone excursion to Xmax + 15% (3.5 mm for the 6PR160). This produced a F3 frequency of 229 Hz (F6 = 179 Hz) with a Qtc = 0.6 for the sealed enclosure and –3 dB = 213 Hz (F6 = 176 Hz) for the vented box simulation."
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Test Bench: The New Faital Pro 6" 6PR160 Midwoofer/Midrange | audioXpress
Test Bench: The New Faital Pro 6" 6PR160 Midwoofer/Midrange
August 28 2019, 06:10
'I followed my usual protocol and proceeded setting up computer enclosure simulations using the LEAP LTD parameters for Sample 1. I programmed two computer box simulations into LEAP 5—one a sealed box with a 70 in3 volume (50% fill material) and the second, a vented enclosure QB3 alignment with a 70 in3 volume simulated with 15% fiberglass damping material and tuned to 140 Hz.
Figure 2 displays the results for the 6PR160 in the two enclosures at 2.83 V and at a voltage level sufficiently high enough to increase cone excursion to Xmax + 15% (3.5 mm for the 6PR160). This produced a F3 frequency of 229 Hz (F6 = 179 Hz) with a Qtc = 0.6 for the sealed enclosure and –3 dB = 213 Hz (F6 = 176 Hz) for the vented box simulation."
Thanks LineSource, very good suggestions. A separate DSP/crossover unit along with the Crown amp for the bass may be a better choice and leaves more options for future designs as you pointed out.
I wondered about the issue of lobing and the back woofer being too far from the mid in that setup on the TZ-9, I hadn't yet calculated the wavelength at the crossover freq. BTW I was looking at around 300 - 350 woofer/mid and 2.8 - 3.3K mid/tweeter for crossover points. Troels seems to really like the fabric dome TW29RN too, not sure if the difference in price for the Be dome will be worth it...
And yes, I had previously read the test bench article at Audio Express on the Faital 6PR160 which had me seriously considering that driver over some of the other high-efficiency mids from Faital or B&C.
I wondered about the issue of lobing and the back woofer being too far from the mid in that setup on the TZ-9, I hadn't yet calculated the wavelength at the crossover freq. BTW I was looking at around 300 - 350 woofer/mid and 2.8 - 3.3K mid/tweeter for crossover points. Troels seems to really like the fabric dome TW29RN too, not sure if the difference in price for the Be dome will be worth it...
And yes, I had previously read the test bench article at Audio Express on the Faital 6PR160 which had me seriously considering that driver over some of the other high-efficiency mids from Faital or B&C.
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