New DIY project

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#7
Parts is not always parts

My friend and I have been working on a 3 way speaker project of similar scope. We found that the Solen capacitors were not the best choice for a speaker at this level of refinement. (Actually we found our electronics weren't really good enough either and ended up replacing nearly all of it).

For the mid high pass we used the Zen capacitors (better ones are just not affordable at the hundred microfarad or up values) and for the tweeter; tin and polystyrene although the foil and polypropylene were a close second. You need patience for break in, the capacitors won't sound their best for quite some time.

http://www.northcreekmusic.com/Zen.html

http://www.percyaudio.com/Catalog.pdf

We also found that the Zobel networks benefited from higher grade capacitors.

I know these things can get insanely expensive. Try the series C for the tweeter first you won't need to sell the house for that one. If you hear what we heard you'll probably be motivated to try other caps as well.

Nice work. Diffraction matters, round shapes sound better.
 
#12
Passive defense!

Andy Graddon: sure, no problem!

Adason,

Thank you for your compliments.
The passives were indeed not cheap at $123/ea, however, they were the only means to achieve a low F3, which was among my design goals.

It seems that using any 2 woofers instead of one, in any kind of box, will rise the F3(see photo: yellow=one driver, red=two drivers), unless you double the box volume.

With this goal in mind, all vented designs fell under one of these problems:
1. 'Port airspeed' problems (port diameter too narrow);
2. Unfeasible port length (port diameter too wide);
3. High F3 (port length too short).

This is how I came to decide on a passive. 😀
 

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#13
Those speakers are absolutely beautiful. Did you design them yourself or did you use some type of plans? It looks like they are your own design which is awesome. I am just getting into DIY audio and I am really impressed by the steps that you took to make the speakers.

Congrats on the great speakers!
 
#16
It seems that using any 2 woofers instead of one, in any kind of box, will rise the F3(see photo: yellow=one driver, red=two drivers), unless you double the box volume.
Click to expand...

you are right, fpara, in all the instances you mentioned, except that you forgot the isobaric

ISOBARIC: (isobarik, compound loading) - a method of using two drivers working in tandem in order to achieve a smaller box size for a given design. Theoretically, the Vas of the complete system will be half that of a single driver, which results in a net box size that's also reduced by half. The sensitivity of the isobaric system will be the same as that of a single driver, but you've got to spring for that extra driver! "Clamshell" mounting, where the two drivers are mounted face to face and one driver is wired out of phase, seems to the most popular isobaric system used today, as it is the easiest to build.
Click to expand...

ed
 
#18
There's another couple advantages to isobaric. It tends to reduce distortion, and also, allows a more rigid box to be constructed with less materials and labor due to the reduced size. The clamshell isn't favored only because it's easier, it also improves the coupling of the units, maximizing the distortion cancellation.
 
#19
Superb work.

Shame on the 56 people who viewed this thread and didn't congratulate fpara on his stunning design.

http://www.stormpages.com/elfranche/photos/photo84.html

BTW: You are a sanding GOD!

http://www.stormpages.com/elfranche/photos/photo61.html
Click to expand...


Thanks for sharing! I know it is just as much work to put the images and descriptions on the web for people to review.

Those speakers deserve some quality veneer. The slope on the sides seem large enough that veneering should not be a problem.

I would recommend a medium-dark veneer on the sides and front, like a cherry. And around the 12" woofer and Passive Radiator, I will put a high figure, light veneer like Eucalyptus.

http://www.joewoodworker.com/catalog/

What did you have to give to Salon to design your crossover? Did they give a predicted Frequency response? I would be curious to see it.
 
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