2 twocents:
Thanks - with this build, I wanted to explore "out-of-the-box" ideas, like:
To tell you the truth, I was planning to test many variations of exciter placement, with mid/high exciters spaced much further apart, but there were two main reasons why I stick to this:
a) First reason is that panels simply sounded good with this initial configuration from start,
b) Second reason is that to get solid bass, with high x-max of the panel, you can't attach exciters with weak glue.
You need to attach them extremely well, or either they will rattle, or at one point they will simply at one point detach from the panel.
So each time I glue & unglue exciters from double side tape (and I am using medium strength tape, not highest possible strength!) I am afraid that I will break something... and that actually happened => I broke two XTB40 exciters during ungluing procedures. 😕
I used thin spatula method, carefully trying to wedge it between exciters and panel, from all sides, as many times before, but still I manage to break them.
Luckily, I could repair them as basically in both cases their "hat" (or plastic mounting ring that is attached to panel) disconnected from the coil former.
Thanks - with this build, I wanted to explore "out-of-the-box" ideas, like:
- using different exciters on common panel,
- positioning them different than common practice ("golden ratio"),
- testing them on maximum stroke, to see practical limitations of 2-way single panel solution.
To tell you the truth, I was planning to test many variations of exciter placement, with mid/high exciters spaced much further apart, but there were two main reasons why I stick to this:
a) First reason is that panels simply sounded good with this initial configuration from start,
b) Second reason is that to get solid bass, with high x-max of the panel, you can't attach exciters with weak glue.
You need to attach them extremely well, or either they will rattle, or at one point they will simply at one point detach from the panel.
So each time I glue & unglue exciters from double side tape (and I am using medium strength tape, not highest possible strength!) I am afraid that I will break something... and that actually happened => I broke two XTB40 exciters during ungluing procedures. 😕
I used thin spatula method, carefully trying to wedge it between exciters and panel, from all sides, as many times before, but still I manage to break them.
Luckily, I could repair them as basically in both cases their "hat" (or plastic mounting ring that is attached to panel) disconnected from the coil former.
Great start then. How it sounds is most important.
Agreed. Talking about xmax of the exciters, I'm still wondering about rigidly mounting (with those very sturdy aluminum brackets) the exciters so close to each other - will the smaller XT32 exciter with only 1.6mm xmax not restrict the larger XTB40 with 2.5mm xmax? Or worse - the larger one could damage the smaller one. Just wondering.
Obviously you are getting great results with this arrangement
2 twocents:
As you noticed - the limitation in such design is XT32 x-max, and it basically dictates maximum volume before distortion starts.
My original plan before this build started was to make "ordinary" 2-way system: separate panel for bass and separate panel for mid/high.
So I started to cut dibond, and made two panels, that I planned for bass....and then I was thinking "what if I just temporarily attach two XT32-8 to this panel, actively cross them between 160 and 320 Hz , just to check will this sound coherent or not?", hmmm... and so I tried , and results were much. much better than I expected, so instead cutting new, separate plates for mid/high, frequencies, I continued with single panel 2-way development, until I got to this stage.
Even though they sound good, obviously there are many areas for improvement, as this prototype was done mostly with generic hardware materials (except XT32-8 mounts).
I could certainly design & make better suspension, install better panel, better frame, etc., but now knowing that even single 2-way panel has potential, now I plan couple of completely different DML commercial designs:
a) One will be standalone DML speaker, with transparent acrylic frame (cut on CNC laser & bent with thermoforming).
The reason why I choose such frame is that I could make a hybrid design, which will be almost invisible (with open baffle sub, mounted on lower front panel) or I can choose to cut large rectangular hole and go with single DML panel on same frame:
b) Second will be large standalone 2-way with separate panels, with best possible materials, all custom machined on CNC & hidden frame & suspension, which should be the most expensive,
c) Third will be small, desktop, hybrid active monitor (conventional driver + DML).
But there is a long way from design phase to actual working prototypes, so we'll see 🙂
As you noticed - the limitation in such design is XT32 x-max, and it basically dictates maximum volume before distortion starts.
My original plan before this build started was to make "ordinary" 2-way system: separate panel for bass and separate panel for mid/high.
So I started to cut dibond, and made two panels, that I planned for bass....and then I was thinking "what if I just temporarily attach two XT32-8 to this panel, actively cross them between 160 and 320 Hz , just to check will this sound coherent or not?", hmmm... and so I tried , and results were much. much better than I expected, so instead cutting new, separate plates for mid/high, frequencies, I continued with single panel 2-way development, until I got to this stage.
Even though they sound good, obviously there are many areas for improvement, as this prototype was done mostly with generic hardware materials (except XT32-8 mounts).
I could certainly design & make better suspension, install better panel, better frame, etc., but now knowing that even single 2-way panel has potential, now I plan couple of completely different DML commercial designs:
a) One will be standalone DML speaker, with transparent acrylic frame (cut on CNC laser & bent with thermoforming).
The reason why I choose such frame is that I could make a hybrid design, which will be almost invisible (with open baffle sub, mounted on lower front panel) or I can choose to cut large rectangular hole and go with single DML panel on same frame:
b) Second will be large standalone 2-way with separate panels, with best possible materials, all custom machined on CNC & hidden frame & suspension, which should be the most expensive,
c) Third will be small, desktop, hybrid active monitor (conventional driver + DML).
But there is a long way from design phase to actual working prototypes, so we'll see 🙂
