I'm only writing about that which my ears have mentioned to my brain, and that of sooooooooooooooooooooooooo many others.
Just The Music.
I agree about comression driver horns and 0-NFB amps. I want BMS coaxial C/D from Santa. Dipole bass, c/d horn >800Hz would be about where I want to be.
Just The Music.
I agree about comression driver horns and 0-NFB amps. I want BMS coaxial C/D from Santa. Dipole bass, c/d horn >800Hz would be about where I want to be.
This is all really helpful and I appreciate the feedback.
I'm thinking I need to re-work this and back into my answer.
Cabinet: BIB
Driver: One that would allow for dual music/HT use
Amplification: either receiver driven or combo receiver/separate amp depending on use
GM, dmason or anybody else:, I'm trying to come up to speed as to what specs I need to look for in a driver that will suit my needs. Do you have any recommendations for a single FR driver that has the dynamic range to accomplish what I am looking for in HT that also pleases in the music dept all while breathing in a BIB?
If there is such a driver, I then need to identify proper amplification. It would have to sound good enough for HT use when being driven by a receiver and hopefully general music listening as well. If it could sound even better with a good amp for 2-channel then so much the better.
I'm thinking I need to re-work this and back into my answer.
Cabinet: BIB
Driver: One that would allow for dual music/HT use
Amplification: either receiver driven or combo receiver/separate amp depending on use
GM, dmason or anybody else:, I'm trying to come up to speed as to what specs I need to look for in a driver that will suit my needs. Do you have any recommendations for a single FR driver that has the dynamic range to accomplish what I am looking for in HT that also pleases in the music dept all while breathing in a BIB?
If there is such a driver, I then need to identify proper amplification. It would have to sound good enough for HT use when being driven by a receiver and hopefully general music listening as well. If it could sound even better with a good amp for 2-channel then so much the better.
My experience with full range drivers suggests that TB drivers work better with Hi Fi receivers than Fostex drivers. They are less aggressive sounding (but also less efficient) and can tolerate solid state amplification without revealing the amplifiers shortcomings.
I have a Yamaha receiver hooked up to TB’s and think the sound is warm and full. But it’s also less detailed than my main rig with Fostex and tubes…
My Pioneer/Piezo combo sounds very good with solid state too as well as the inexpensive Sonic Impact amp.
http://www.zillaspeak.com/recycledsystem.asp
Currently I have the more expensive TB Bamboo’s up on stands connected to the Yamaha receiver and the combo is great. Mostly for movies but for music too. I gave the other speakers using the aluminum coned TB’s to my sister.
To help you choose which driver you want to use I would suggest visiting:
http://www.zillaspeak.com/bib.asp
Here you will find BIBs already designed for many different drivers. Just click on the logos to begin your search.
Good luck!
Godzilla
I have a Yamaha receiver hooked up to TB’s and think the sound is warm and full. But it’s also less detailed than my main rig with Fostex and tubes…
My Pioneer/Piezo combo sounds very good with solid state too as well as the inexpensive Sonic Impact amp.
http://www.zillaspeak.com/recycledsystem.asp
Currently I have the more expensive TB Bamboo’s up on stands connected to the Yamaha receiver and the combo is great. Mostly for movies but for music too. I gave the other speakers using the aluminum coned TB’s to my sister.
To help you choose which driver you want to use I would suggest visiting:
http://www.zillaspeak.com/bib.asp
Here you will find BIBs already designed for many different drivers. Just click on the logos to begin your search.
Good luck!
Godzilla
Trust me Godzilla, I've looked over your site repeatedly.
Now, I'm just trying to figure out the best match for my particular usage and amplification. Do you reccommend any particular TB for HT usage? The Bamboo's? Have you compared these to the Hemp fr8's? Lastly, which do you like better, your Pioneer/piezo setup or the TB's?
Now, I'm just trying to figure out the best match for my particular usage and amplification. Do you reccommend any particular TB for HT usage? The Bamboo's? Have you compared these to the Hemp fr8's? Lastly, which do you like better, your Pioneer/piezo setup or the TB's?
Hi mrpopgun! I like most all the full range drivers I bought which includes a handful of TB’s, handful of Fostex, handful or Radio Shack, a box of NSBs, and one pair of Pioneer B20s. All have their strengths and weaknesses. Basically, the more expensive ones sound better. Even tho they all sound different the common trait they share is a lack of crossover grunge. Speakers with crossovers can sound dead and lifeless. Listen to a full range driver for a few days then go back to your favorite typical speaker and you will hear the difference.
Never heard the Hemps but I want too. Based on what’s been written here they must sound very good. They are usually compared to Fostex and several have said they are even better.
For me, the TB’s are better for solid state than Fostex because they are less sensitive, less revealing, less detailed. They don’t rise on top as much as the Fostex and are less forward. Receivers are usually somewhat bright and grainy since they don’t use the best components. A Fostex driver will reveal both of these weaknesses. The TB less so.
I will not use my Fostex 127e speakers with the Yamaha receiver I have in the den. I choose the less revealing TB bamboo’s. The Fostex are very ‘in your face’ and you can barely turn the volume up without it always sounding too loud. So I recommend TB for use with solid state.
The Pioneer B20 is a different sounding driver than any of the TBs I’ve had. It’s not really full range because it needs a tweeter IMO. But the combination of a B20 with a tweeter has a livelier and larger sound than the TBs I’ve heard. Overall, I prefer the B20 but that’s subjective and others may disagree. It’s really a matter of taste. The TB sounds flatter and more like an accurate monitor speaker whereas the B20 sounds fun (to me).
I’d love to hear the Hemps and reserve judgment on them for another day.
Never heard the Hemps but I want too. Based on what’s been written here they must sound very good. They are usually compared to Fostex and several have said they are even better.
For me, the TB’s are better for solid state than Fostex because they are less sensitive, less revealing, less detailed. They don’t rise on top as much as the Fostex and are less forward. Receivers are usually somewhat bright and grainy since they don’t use the best components. A Fostex driver will reveal both of these weaknesses. The TB less so.
I will not use my Fostex 127e speakers with the Yamaha receiver I have in the den. I choose the less revealing TB bamboo’s. The Fostex are very ‘in your face’ and you can barely turn the volume up without it always sounding too loud. So I recommend TB for use with solid state.
The Pioneer B20 is a different sounding driver than any of the TBs I’ve had. It’s not really full range because it needs a tweeter IMO. But the combination of a B20 with a tweeter has a livelier and larger sound than the TBs I’ve heard. Overall, I prefer the B20 but that’s subjective and others may disagree. It’s really a matter of taste. The TB sounds flatter and more like an accurate monitor speaker whereas the B20 sounds fun (to me).
I’d love to hear the Hemps and reserve judgment on them for another day.
mrpopgun,
FWIW, I love the Hemp FR8's. I'm working on a pair of BIB cabs as we speak. They new Hemp Matrix version should be available soon, and I bet it will be great. The TB Bamboo looks great too; I've been looking for a reason to build a pair.
For your purpose the Neophone might be a great option. It falls between the two in price, but closer the TB is size. Given it's healthy Xmax, it should be a perfect HT BIB. They look fine too. It would need a tweeter (it's done at about 14K), but at it's sensitivity, it shouldn't be hard to find something that would work. The only downside is that few have tried them thus far. Given Brian's (Diy Hi Fi Supply Guy's) track record, and Thorsten's (Loesch) praise, I have no reason to doubt they aren't great.
Paul
FWIW, I love the Hemp FR8's. I'm working on a pair of BIB cabs as we speak. They new Hemp Matrix version should be available soon, and I bet it will be great. The TB Bamboo looks great too; I've been looking for a reason to build a pair.
For your purpose the Neophone might be a great option. It falls between the two in price, but closer the TB is size. Given it's healthy Xmax, it should be a perfect HT BIB. They look fine too. It would need a tweeter (it's done at about 14K), but at it's sensitivity, it shouldn't be hard to find something that would work. The only downside is that few have tried them thus far. Given Brian's (Diy Hi Fi Supply Guy's) track record, and Thorsten's (Loesch) praise, I have no reason to doubt they aren't great.
Paul
I would second the Neophones; interesting stuff there, and lots of Xmax would make for good, dynamic BIB's. Aluminum cones have proven themselves to sound excellent with T amps as well.
Paul,
I look forward to your assessment of orchestral music on the Hemp BIB. We could find it another audio "epiphany!" -D
Paul,
I look forward to your assessment of orchestral music on the Hemp BIB. We could find it another audio "epiphany!" -D
dmason said:
Neophones don't have aluminum cones. Feels like a plastic variation to me. I was going to put them in a Fonken variation, but did we get BIB dims for them?
dave
Greets!
A thread search yielded this: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=923945#post923945
GM
A thread search yielded this: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=923945#post923945
GM
I have to admit I fancy trying this. FWIW, the specs are excellent for the load (and the price), and should suit a wide variety of amps, tube, SS, GC, some of the more powerful T-amps, the works. They'd also drop nicely into Terry's original cabinet IMO.
As far as a tweet, I've used Apex Jr 8ohm supertweets crossed over to a CSS WR125STs (16ohm for one of Dave's Bipolar Bipoles) with a 1.8uf Solen cap. Would this same setup work for these Neofone drivers in a BIB as well? I have no idea what the frequency range is of those tweets nor the effect of the cap as I built those speakers in a sort of build by numbers manner.
Piggybacked on this question (I didn't get a reply on an earlier post), I'm wondering about my current WR125ST's. I've seen posts about the possibility of bipole BIB's, but I am wondering about a BIB with two WR125ST's on the front. Actually 2 x WR125ST's and a supertweet in a MTM. See, these drivers are 16ohm so they have to be paralleled. Would I really screw things up putting them one on top another in a BIB?
Piggybacked on this question (I didn't get a reply on an earlier post), I'm wondering about my current WR125ST's. I've seen posts about the possibility of bipole BIB's, but I am wondering about a BIB with two WR125ST's on the front. Actually 2 x WR125ST's and a supertweet in a MTM. See, these drivers are 16ohm so they have to be paralleled. Would I really screw things up putting them one on top another in a BIB?
planet10 said:
I don't doubt you Dave, as you've got a pair and I don't. They do say on their website and forum that they are "alloy" cones, and Brian has mentioned some sort of special damping coating. Perhaps that makes them feel plastic?
Re: tweeters, if one has cash to burn, their website has a crossover for the Fostex ribbon tweeter that's on sale at PE for $60.
In any case, they seem like they'd have strong dynamic capabilities for one of the smaller BIB cabs. There's a big advantage to that, as my arms are tired after just cutting the panels for the Hemp BIB's. I've got the double thick front baffles glued together now, and all of the holes cut. I'm getting excited to hear them, but not to move them around.
Paul
Check them out...
Pjanda1 use a small neo magnet to check the cone. Aluminum is still magnetic enough to feel some pull. The term "alloy" is used to discribe plastic composites as well as metal mixtures. Regards Moray James.
Pjanda1 use a small neo magnet to check the cone. Aluminum is still magnetic enough to feel some pull. The term "alloy" is used to discribe plastic composites as well as metal mixtures. Regards Moray James.
Greets!
Yes, you can make MTM BIBs, just put the tweeter at the driver position and double the mouth area of the single driver's alignment.
GM
Yes, you can make MTM BIBs, just put the tweeter at the driver position and double the mouth area of the single driver's alignment.
GM
OK, so the dims for the FR125's (which I assume will work just fine for these WR125's) show a line length of 120", driver at 23.5" down and a Sm value of 55"^2. If I were going to build these MTM, I would put the tweet at the 23.5" down position with the WR's above and below and would increase the Sm to 110"^2, right? Is there a ratio I should try to stick to? I've seen it mentioned but haven't paid attention.
I think I might have to build a pair of these then evaluate whether or not a pair of NeoFone's might be in my future. However, I'm first going to get together with a local guy I found on craigslist to listen to my current speakers with some decent amplification. It may very well be that I'm in love with my current speakers, but because of my amplifier, I just don't know it yet.
Thanks!
I think I might have to build a pair of these then evaluate whether or not a pair of NeoFone's might be in my future. However, I'm first going to get together with a local guy I found on craigslist to listen to my current speakers with some decent amplification. It may very well be that I'm in love with my current speakers, but because of my amplifier, I just don't know it yet.
Thanks!
pjanda1 said:
Could do. I'll try Moray's trick when i get home. I guess i could just ask Brian too...
dave
mrpopgun said:
Greets!
You're welcome!
Correct.
Yes, me and others have made some suggestions and I posted a little Excel calculator, but I didn't save the post numbers. Anyway, I recommend ~8.812" W x 12.50" D. You can also use TC's cab height/driver location with the same W x D.
GM
Oh wait, there is no way I can do an MTM with these drivers - these CSS drivers are deep and the upper driver would collide with the baffle I'm sure. I don't think I could rebate enough without punching through the baffle.
What would putting both drivers below the tweeter do to the sound? I would think they would fit alright that way.
What would putting both drivers below the tweeter do to the sound? I would think they would fit alright that way.