Hello,
I'll use this thread to post my builds and questions that I think are interesting. I just want to have a place to catalog my work and get some feedback.
My first posts on this forum were this build:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/sb-acoustics-2-way-with-passive-radiators.386597/
This build turned into the attachments below and were a 2023 Midwest Audio Fest Over $300 entry.
Overall I've been happy with the outcome. These are among the oldest speakers I've built that are still assembled and get use. I really like how small they are, it makes it easy to lend out to people to see what they think. As I've gotten more experience with measurements I've noticed some things that aren't right in my simulation so I may go back and re-do the measurements and filters.
I'll use this thread to post my builds and questions that I think are interesting. I just want to have a place to catalog my work and get some feedback.
My first posts on this forum were this build:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/sb-acoustics-2-way-with-passive-radiators.386597/
This build turned into the attachments below and were a 2023 Midwest Audio Fest Over $300 entry.
Overall I've been happy with the outcome. These are among the oldest speakers I've built that are still assembled and get use. I really like how small they are, it makes it easy to lend out to people to see what they think. As I've gotten more experience with measurements I've noticed some things that aren't right in my simulation so I may go back and re-do the measurements and filters.
I had a second entry at Midwest Audio Fest which is below.
I decided to try a 2 way build with a large woofer after seeing the Helios kit. I honestly though there was no way the W024P would sound good covering the midrange but I had a pair and mocked it up. I was very surprised. I fought with the crossover through a few iterations.
I really liked the sound of these and they were in my main system for a while until I picked up some Tekton Double Impacts.
I decided to try a 2 way build with a large woofer after seeing the Helios kit. I honestly though there was no way the W024P would sound good covering the midrange but I had a pair and mocked it up. I was very surprised. I fought with the crossover through a few iterations.
I really liked the sound of these and they were in my main system for a while until I picked up some Tekton Double Impacts.
I commend you on a successful inexpensive design to start with. Alot of people don't achieve those results the first time around on a budget build. Sure, the midrange has a healthy hump in it, but its not that peaky or rough despite the amount of smoothing in the graph.
You definitely want to reduce the mids a few dB and try to shelf the top end a little, but thats a matter of taste at that point. I also like your cabinet design. All in all a very good effort and result. I'd certainly be happy with those and use them for a long time.
Edit- I guess the driver choice doesn't make it that much of a budget build, but the second design is a great build for a large woofer 2 way.
I did a 2 way with Vifa M26WR0908 and Audax TW034 many years back. It was one of the best larger builds I've done. There is something special about large 2 ways. Like Dynaco A25s, they have that pleasant, smooth sounding midrange that can be listened to without fatigue for hours and hours.
You definitely want to reduce the mids a few dB and try to shelf the top end a little, but thats a matter of taste at that point. I also like your cabinet design. All in all a very good effort and result. I'd certainly be happy with those and use them for a long time.
Edit- I guess the driver choice doesn't make it that much of a budget build, but the second design is a great build for a large woofer 2 way.
I did a 2 way with Vifa M26WR0908 and Audax TW034 many years back. It was one of the best larger builds I've done. There is something special about large 2 ways. Like Dynaco A25s, they have that pleasant, smooth sounding midrange that can be listened to without fatigue for hours and hours.
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That brings me to the first build of 2024 which is actually a restoration? of a build I did in college for a friend. I've learned a lot in the past 12 years and made him give them back so I could fix them. These are TQWT with the mouth of the line in the back about midway up. This build marks the first time I didn't rush the crossover and iterated through simulation and trying different parts with the crossovers outside the cabinet.
Original - Fostex FF125WK + FT17H
Update - Seas ER15RLY + SB26STWG
Original - Fostex FF125WK + FT17H
Update - Seas ER15RLY + SB26STWG
Yeah they are Tektons. They rock my face off.
I picked these up a few months ago after a long search on USAM for Pendragons or Double Impacts. I had to check out the tweeter array. Eric Alexander has an interesting take on speakers and watching interviews only made me want them more. The only other speakers I've purchased were Thiel CS2.3s. My favorite thing about the Double Impacts are how great they sound at low volumes.
The latest build to finish up was another re-do project. I had built these parts-express 33L cabinets for a 2 way tower and have been through a couple driver pairings. I started off with Morel TiW 634 + SB26STWG then moved to Satori MW19P-8 + TW29RN-4. The Satori build sounded nice but I was never fully happy with the bass. In hindsight I'm pretty sure I just had the alignment tuned too low but I didn't figure that out until it was too late to mess with it.
I had already chopped the face off to give it a go with ScanSpeak 18W Revelator + D3004. I really liked the 15W Revelators and had been planning to try the 18Ws at some point. The updated D3004 sealed the deal and I went for it.
I'm pretty happy with the way the measurements turned out. The initial measurements for the crossover were taken outside for the first time. The final measurements were done with new measurement gear. I moved from UMIK to a UMC202 + EMM6. I'm pretty sure the high frequency boost is from the EMM6, I took all the final measurements with the mic pointed straight at the drivers instead of 90deg orientation.
I had already chopped the face off to give it a go with ScanSpeak 18W Revelator + D3004. I really liked the 15W Revelators and had been planning to try the 18Ws at some point. The updated D3004 sealed the deal and I went for it.
I'm pretty happy with the way the measurements turned out. The initial measurements for the crossover were taken outside for the first time. The final measurements were done with new measurement gear. I moved from UMIK to a UMC202 + EMM6. I'm pretty sure the high frequency boost is from the EMM6, I took all the final measurements with the mic pointed straight at the drivers instead of 90deg orientation.