Here are some opinions from a relative newbie. 🙂
I don't think there needs to be a newbie section. There's a search button. If there's a separate newbie section, it'll just encourage "newbie behavior". It'll be the same 10 questions over and over.
I'm also unsure about exactly what sort of split I'd want to see. I could see a separate section for arrays, and maybe dipoles. Sealed/ported are both so common that it seems a bit foolish to have them separated. If I'm trying to decide between sealed or ported, what forum do I put it in?
Likewise, I find a separate driver forum to be a bit odd. The drivers and enclosure are a matched pair. To discuss them separately seems strange. For the small amount of posts related to driver modifications, it seems like those can survive in the forum as-is.
Honestly, I don't see much need to change what's here. This forum isn't so fast moving that certain topics and ideas get lost. It's pretty easy to read an entire day's worth of posts in one sitting.
I guess my only suggestion would be to put the link at the top of the page
diyAudio Forums > Top > Loudspeakers > Loudspeakers >
at the bottom of the page too. That way I don't have to scroll all the way to the top after reading a thread. 😀
I don't think there needs to be a newbie section. There's a search button. If there's a separate newbie section, it'll just encourage "newbie behavior". It'll be the same 10 questions over and over.
I'm also unsure about exactly what sort of split I'd want to see. I could see a separate section for arrays, and maybe dipoles. Sealed/ported are both so common that it seems a bit foolish to have them separated. If I'm trying to decide between sealed or ported, what forum do I put it in?
Likewise, I find a separate driver forum to be a bit odd. The drivers and enclosure are a matched pair. To discuss them separately seems strange. For the small amount of posts related to driver modifications, it seems like those can survive in the forum as-is.
Honestly, I don't see much need to change what's here. This forum isn't so fast moving that certain topics and ideas get lost. It's pretty easy to read an entire day's worth of posts in one sitting.
I guess my only suggestion would be to put the link at the top of the page
diyAudio Forums > Top > Loudspeakers > Loudspeakers >
at the bottom of the page too. That way I don't have to scroll all the way to the top after reading a thread. 😀
michael said:
I like this idea alot.
Categorizing the loudspeaker section into different specific areas would benefit everyone.
People would be able to get answers faster, having a specialized forum. People would be able to find the info they are looking much more easily.
But, having too many would become cumbersome on the otherhand.
I think personally, a split into 4-5 specialized forums would work out best in the end.
Something on the order of:
crossovers, zebels, bsc, and other electronics.
full range drivers (horns, tls, ob, etc)
PA systems
multi-way systems (2 way, 3 way, 4, etc)
and perhaps a line array forum
Just some ideas to play with 🙂
Roscoe Primrose said:
www.diysubwoofers.org
JeremyD said:
I agree, largely, with the above. Perhaps like:
- Crossovers (not as a sub of Loudspeakers though - dedicated forum)
- Pro Sound
- Transducers
- Multi-way & Full Range Systems ( I think with splitting out the rest, we can keep these together - maybe include Pro Sound too.)
- Subwoofers
- Enclosures
- General (to talk theory, software, etc.)
I also advocate a detailed FAQ for newcomers; I would be glad to help put it together - the easy part of course....
Our general idea was that dividing into enclosure types would not be such a good idea, you only have to look at some threads that start off being reflex, and end up being push pull TQWP for instance.
Many newbies also just have ideas, and maybe a couple of drivers and need advice on boxes, where would we put such comparative threads?
However, this is not a final decision, just think of it as food for thought...😉
Many newbies also just have ideas, and maybe a couple of drivers and need advice on boxes, where would we put such comparative threads?
However, this is not a final decision, just think of it as food for thought...😉
The only problem i see with dividing the forum into seperate speaker types (OB, TL, line array, etc) is that there are lots of designs that are hybrids of one or more of the different speaker types. For instance, right now i have a Open baffle line array i just semi finished.
One good idea for a forum would be an enclosure construction techniques forum. This would cover everything from what glues to use, how do do the joints, what wood to use, how to treat it, minimizing reasonances, mounting hardware, and anything else that relates to the physical construction of a speakers enclosure. This sorta thing would span almost all types of speakers. Once you get the optimum enclosure design you can then take it over to the crossover forum?? I think that you could separate enclosure from xo by simply learning which enclosures will need less work from a crossover (ie having a gradualy curving front baffle so there is minimal baffle diffraction etc) then you can take that basic design and create a good crossover for it.
As a newbie to the site, what would have definately helped me the most would have been a simple set of permanent posts outlining what equipment would be necessary for design of a great speaker. We're talking everything from sanding blocks to microphones. Personally, I had no idea many of you had invested so much in measurement equipment, it had always been my impression that most tuned by ear and free crossover calculators. Along with that llist of equipment, average prices would be great. Tell the newbie what they are getting into before they go jumping in head first into a seemingly bottomless money pit.
From there, I would advocate a split into as few categories as possible. Crossover design being a definate must. Then perhaps a split into just 3 sections, standard, horn, and dipole. I think any further splitting would just be too complicated as the amount of traffic done on TQWT and MLT designs doesnt' really seem to warrant a dedicated off-shoot.
From there, I would advocate a split into as few categories as possible. Crossover design being a definate must. Then perhaps a split into just 3 sections, standard, horn, and dipole. I think any further splitting would just be too complicated as the amount of traffic done on TQWT and MLT designs doesnt' really seem to warrant a dedicated off-shoot.
Lots of good ideas coming out, here is my newest based on mine and others.
-General
-Exotic - OB, line array, single driver, TL, horn
-Electronics - both passive and active electronics to do with loudspeakers, eg LT, EQ, notch filters, cossovers
-Construction tequniques
-Inspiration gallery- show off your newest project, and look at others for idea and inspiration, this thread could contain system pictures and description, but have questions on it answered in the forum.
-General
-Exotic - OB, line array, single driver, TL, horn
-Electronics - both passive and active electronics to do with loudspeakers, eg LT, EQ, notch filters, cossovers
-Construction tequniques
-Inspiration gallery- show off your newest project, and look at others for idea and inspiration, this thread could contain system pictures and description, but have questions on it answered in the forum.
It's very hard to put DIY speakers under categories as it's all tied together as you can't have crossover without drivers etc and whether it will be easier to find things, don't know.
I do like the idea of Gallery for finished projects which would help many users.
Maybe all you need is:
General
Advanced
Construction Techniques & Tips
Project Gallery
A lot of this other helpful information should be in the Wiki, which should be utilised more. Going to add a section called "Hints & Tips"..... when I get a bit of time and I hope others will add to it with things they have found along the way.
When a newbie joins, the email he receives should explain the Wiki so they know it exists (or a big sign on the front page).
I do like the idea of Gallery for finished projects which would help many users.
Maybe all you need is:
General
Advanced
Construction Techniques & Tips
Project Gallery
A lot of this other helpful information should be in the Wiki, which should be utilised more. Going to add a section called "Hints & Tips"..... when I get a bit of time and I hope others will add to it with things they have found along the way.
When a newbie joins, the email he receives should explain the Wiki so they know it exists (or a big sign on the front page).
I think some of these plans are bit overboard.
IMO, the only reason a forum should be split, is if two topics that prevail in a forum are stepping on each other's toes.
The DIY Driver ideas (this includes the various "UberDriver" threads as well as probably DIY electrostats) have reached a "critical mass"--there are enough of them and they're in competition with regular Loudspeaker threads for bumps, that it would be worthwhile to put them in their own catergory. Building your own driver from scratch, as opposed to using someone else's driver, is a radically different idea. The two really don't belong in the same place.
I think the only other split that would really be worthwhile at this point would be to branch the woodworking / construction threads off into their own forum.
Talking about "advanced" and "exotic" are nice ideas, but the definitions are vague, so lots of posts that really belong in the same place would be split. There would be confusion as to what was or wasn't "exotic", and if someone was just considering an exotic design (Should I go sealed or bipole?) would be really hard to classify. Having to make moderators choose what goes in each category arbitrarily would be A Bad Thing.
IMO, the only reason a forum should be split, is if two topics that prevail in a forum are stepping on each other's toes.
The DIY Driver ideas (this includes the various "UberDriver" threads as well as probably DIY electrostats) have reached a "critical mass"--there are enough of them and they're in competition with regular Loudspeaker threads for bumps, that it would be worthwhile to put them in their own catergory. Building your own driver from scratch, as opposed to using someone else's driver, is a radically different idea. The two really don't belong in the same place.
I think the only other split that would really be worthwhile at this point would be to branch the woodworking / construction threads off into their own forum.
Talking about "advanced" and "exotic" are nice ideas, but the definitions are vague, so lots of posts that really belong in the same place would be split. There would be confusion as to what was or wasn't "exotic", and if someone was just considering an exotic design (Should I go sealed or bipole?) would be really hard to classify. Having to make moderators choose what goes in each category arbitrarily would be A Bad Thing.
Even though i do not post that often in here, i would suggest(or try to suggest) forums be setup on the basic physics principals. I would group like BR,sealed enclosures,and aperiodic into one class, in another i would have MLTL,TWQT,OB and horns BUT even though they are different soooo many have the same or share physical operating principals.Take a TWQT it is part horn, part TL part BR.An OB even has some of the same math as a horn mouth.Problem is they all are either sets or subsets of one another. Example! even BR has some TL action, if you streach a BR the Hz of the TL action goes lower.
Its difficult.
ron
Its difficult.
ron
peterr said:
I would love to have a separate ESL forum
hello, i see you are from holland, well in holland there is a very good ESL club which has an messange board on yahoo groups, they organise gigs, where everybody who build something comes and listing. you can get a lot of information there, i was once part of it. I listened a lot to it, but was to be honest, (i talked with very friendly holland guys with whom i walked trought all the designs : nowhere we did here something really spectacular, and they had been building ESL for 20 years themself. It's very heard to get it right. It isn't cheap, you gotta have a lot of power, and most of all, after a few years the most had to redo the folie of their ESL. SO it has to be really a hobby, because it takes some time.
But there was one guy which did it really good, the best thing i heard there was the QUAD ESL, really very nice. You can find them on german ebay for 1000 euro, so if that's an option. (not always but once in a while they pop up)
see you
I like loudspeakers forum as it is and I dont think it should be changed. Heres why.
Amplfier boards take the solid state and valve boards for example. If you ask a question about the differences in Fet and BJT ouput stages its hardly going to get an inclusion of valves thrown in for god measure. If you ask a solid state question or a valve question it more often then not STAYS SS or Valve.
But what I see happening lots in the loudspeaker forum is people ask a fairly simple question regarding one thing but dont realise its a factor of many others. They often get asked, what did you have in mind, what cabinet are you going to use with that, so people can give better more informative answers. Its very rare, (unless you ask about something specific like one of my last posts, can a SS97 be used at 1.5khz you cant really turn that into cabinets) that a loudspeaker question will stay stuck on the thing is started as. It will end up probably containing ideas for crossover, drivers, and the cabinet used.
If the Lspeaker section is to be split then I think we will have to be fairly generous with the location of which post goes where. For instance if the original question is about an xover in the xover forum if it starts to drift from xovers, its just stays where is is. I do think sometimes that there isnt a long period of time for people to post replies before the post moves down. That isnt a problem for me as I look here at least once a day to keep on top of things. But for people who dont and look say every three days they can miss quite a lot. Splitting forums would slow this process down.
I certainly think I project gallery is a great idea though as I really like to see other peoples work.
Amplfier boards take the solid state and valve boards for example. If you ask a question about the differences in Fet and BJT ouput stages its hardly going to get an inclusion of valves thrown in for god measure. If you ask a solid state question or a valve question it more often then not STAYS SS or Valve.
But what I see happening lots in the loudspeaker forum is people ask a fairly simple question regarding one thing but dont realise its a factor of many others. They often get asked, what did you have in mind, what cabinet are you going to use with that, so people can give better more informative answers. Its very rare, (unless you ask about something specific like one of my last posts, can a SS97 be used at 1.5khz you cant really turn that into cabinets) that a loudspeaker question will stay stuck on the thing is started as. It will end up probably containing ideas for crossover, drivers, and the cabinet used.
If the Lspeaker section is to be split then I think we will have to be fairly generous with the location of which post goes where. For instance if the original question is about an xover in the xover forum if it starts to drift from xovers, its just stays where is is. I do think sometimes that there isnt a long period of time for people to post replies before the post moves down. That isnt a problem for me as I look here at least once a day to keep on top of things. But for people who dont and look say every three days they can miss quite a lot. Splitting forums would slow this process down.
I certainly think I project gallery is a great idea though as I really like to see other peoples work.
actually as a beginner i think the same about it, it's easy because a lot of knowledge is coming to getter here. but i do admit that it is sometimes very hard to find something even with the search function and knowing that it is on the fora. Maybe splitting is neccesairy because of the webspace ?
I have come to the same conclusion as many others that there would be many problems in splitting the forum, but i think perhaps adding a couple of new sections would be good.
-General
-Gallery
-Construction tips/techniqes (no asking about what size to use or what shape is best, only how to do it with tools etc and how thick with what wood etc.)
-DIY drivers (for home built motors, ESL, etc, this category may interest many and give you better answers when building yourself.
-General
-Gallery
-Construction tips/techniqes (no asking about what size to use or what shape is best, only how to do it with tools etc and how thick with what wood etc.)
-DIY drivers (for home built motors, ESL, etc, this category may interest many and give you better answers when building yourself.
I have not read everything in this thread so far, but my guess is that multiple forum pages would be just the same... Loudspeaking is complex and its hard to judge what goes where... Newbies would be lost anyway... We have a showoff thread already and its going fine... DIY drivers are very rare, its not worth the effort creating a new section for em...
When building speakers, almost everything must be considered so a ONLY WOODWORKING would be kind of a pain...
my two or three cents
When building speakers, almost everything must be considered so a ONLY WOODWORKING would be kind of a pain...
my two or three cents
then_dude said:
Hello then_dude,
I know of the dutch forum, I am a member for about 3 years now. And you are right I did learn a lot there.
It is just that most people there (including myself) build more or less the same wirestator linesource that originated from the book by Eddy Fikier. I feel it would be useful to have input from around the globe to get a broader perspective and possibly learn new things.
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