Now with a real crossover. 😀
I picked up a used Behringer CX3400 for very cheap from my local Guitar Center and have a more refined sound. Crossover is set at 300Hz for now. Woofers driven by my upgraded Hafler DH220C and mid-tweets driven by an Aiyima TPA3251.
I was using just a coil on the woofers until now for a first order low pass at around 290. That worked quite well. I’m going to say it’s significantly better now.
$60 for the crossover is the only real cost for this project. That’s pretty satisfying.
After futzing with the variables here for a few days I plan on experimenting with suspending these from the ceiling in another room.
OB is very fun.
The Dodge racing stripes look great, MITsound.
I picked up a used Behringer CX3400 for very cheap from my local Guitar Center and have a more refined sound. Crossover is set at 300Hz for now. Woofers driven by my upgraded Hafler DH220C and mid-tweets driven by an Aiyima TPA3251.
I was using just a coil on the woofers until now for a first order low pass at around 290. That worked quite well. I’m going to say it’s significantly better now.
$60 for the crossover is the only real cost for this project. That’s pretty satisfying.
After futzing with the variables here for a few days I plan on experimenting with suspending these from the ceiling in another room.

OB is very fun.
The Dodge racing stripes look great, MITsound.
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hanging from the ceiling is not a bad idea
i remember used record store, which had pair of electrostat panels hanging in the middle of the store
sub was on the floor
interestingly, since they were open baffle, you got great sound on the front side of the store, and as well in the back
they were hanging on the chains i remember
i remember used record store, which had pair of electrostat panels hanging in the middle of the store
sub was on the floor
interestingly, since they were open baffle, you got great sound on the front side of the store, and as well in the back
they were hanging on the chains i remember
hanging from the ceiling is not a bad idea
It works. We put small magnepans on the ceiling of a local restaurant, and a favorite record store had upside down DCM TimeWindows.
dave
Finaly complete. The crossover is also finished but its a mock up so far.
Very Nice!
Decades ago I had speakers hung from the ceiling with nylon cord in my oddly shaped apartment. They sounded really good! I always wondered if if was because there wasn't any furniture in the way.
Baffle Enhancements
Great discussion of hanging them, thanks. I will definitely try that this weekend.
Is it advisable to stiffen the baffles if they flex?
There is certainly extra character added by a foamcore baffle. This may be enjoyable, but I suspect it’s largely distortion.
I don’t have measurement gear, so I’m asking about theory. I was thinking about using pieces of angle aluminum to reinforce the baffles on the back. Would a frame-plus-ribs make sense?
Or would more foamcore layers make a big enough difference in stiffness?
Great discussion of hanging them, thanks. I will definitely try that this weekend.
Is it advisable to stiffen the baffles if they flex?
There is certainly extra character added by a foamcore baffle. This may be enjoyable, but I suspect it’s largely distortion.
I don’t have measurement gear, so I’m asking about theory. I was thinking about using pieces of angle aluminum to reinforce the baffles on the back. Would a frame-plus-ribs make sense?
Or would more foamcore layers make a big enough difference in stiffness?
Attachments
Midrange driver suggestion request.
What are the thoughts on using the SB Audience Bianco-8MW125 8" Mid-woofer for midrange in an open baffle? I'd have them carry from 200hz to 1200hz. Above that is the Heil AMT 2, below is 2x 12" high efficiency woofers.
I'm open to other drivers, of course, but definitely looking for high efficiency, at least above 92dB.
Will be on a baffle similar to my current setup, see picture.
Thanks!
What are the thoughts on using the SB Audience Bianco-8MW125 8" Mid-woofer for midrange in an open baffle? I'd have them carry from 200hz to 1200hz. Above that is the Heil AMT 2, below is 2x 12" high efficiency woofers.
I'm open to other drivers, of course, but definitely looking for high efficiency, at least above 92dB.
Will be on a baffle similar to my current setup, see picture.
Thanks!
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Finaly complete. The crossover is also finished but its a mock up so far.[/OUOTE]
Very nice!
Agreed, Drewaudio! Those are beautiful speakers, superlian.
My proof of concept is live! I will experiment with more forward tilt over the weekend.
They’re merely suspended by magnet wire around the woofer magnet going up to a zip tie around a screw in the ceiling. This gives several degrees of forward tilt. More sturdy anchoring will be needed, but this is fabulous and sounds great. So much fun.
My proof of concept is live! I will experiment with more forward tilt over the weekend.
They’re merely suspended by magnet wire around the woofer magnet going up to a zip tie around a screw in the ceiling. This gives several degrees of forward tilt. More sturdy anchoring will be needed, but this is fabulous and sounds great. So much fun.
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First OB attempt
I just assembled this from existing parts, to get a taste of OB sound.
Digital xo, 4 way active system, using NT2 for now: sealed subs up to 70Hz, 2x10" 70-500Hz, 8PE21 500-1500Hz, TPL-150H above.

The TPL has the back cover on, so no OB above 1.5kHz now. Plan to remove the cover this weekend and remeasure.
The 8" is on a swing. I realize I built the frame too narrow and on next iteration will leave more open space behind the midrange.
I'm thinking of hanging the 10" on a swing as well, detached from the MDF but leaving a 2mm gap only. But Before further work there I want to listen more and understand if OB sound is for me, and for my room. Unfortunately I only have two 10" units, so I just built one speaker and listening mono. I probably need larger drivers here. Maybe 2x12", or 1x15" or 2x15"?
I just assembled this from existing parts, to get a taste of OB sound.
Digital xo, 4 way active system, using NT2 for now: sealed subs up to 70Hz, 2x10" 70-500Hz, 8PE21 500-1500Hz, TPL-150H above.

The TPL has the back cover on, so no OB above 1.5kHz now. Plan to remove the cover this weekend and remeasure.
The 8" is on a swing. I realize I built the frame too narrow and on next iteration will leave more open space behind the midrange.
I'm thinking of hanging the 10" on a swing as well, detached from the MDF but leaving a 2mm gap only. But Before further work there I want to listen more and understand if OB sound is for me, and for my room. Unfortunately I only have two 10" units, so I just built one speaker and listening mono. I probably need larger drivers here. Maybe 2x12", or 1x15" or 2x15"?
I like the baffle shape and all.this is my first attempt:
Properly finished it could make quite an impression in a living room.
(unlike lots of other OBs ;-))
mine for example!(unlike lots of other OBs ;-))
A work in progress...
Used to be an Alpair 7.3 sealed with a sealed side-mounted woofer (6.5").
Didn´t like it and put a h-frame underneath (A&D R1524).
Very nice so far but I´m not sure I like big H-frames (visually) and going without a tweeter.
XO/Amplification: Minidsp/Aiyima A04, TA2024, chipamps.
This might end up in some kind of baffle.
The baffles for the Alpair are almost ready.
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After spending some time with PAP and doing the Leonidas XO for them , lately I'm doing things for Lii Audio.
I do like the drivers very much and one of the first things I did was designing the Liionidas Open Baffle.
I'm still very happy with this design.
It later transformed in the Liionidas platform for testing several drivers in this setup.
The firt one was the Liionidas light.
You take out the Crystal 10 and replace it by the F8.
You get 95 % of the Liionidas at halve the price !
So some more efforts toke place.
At this very moment I'm doing a single driver open baffle that should run on low power tube amps.
It's all fun 🙂
Some photo's added saying more then text 🙂
Enjoy the music everybody !
sinc. Leon
I do like the drivers very much and one of the first things I did was designing the Liionidas Open Baffle.
I'm still very happy with this design.
It later transformed in the Liionidas platform for testing several drivers in this setup.
The firt one was the Liionidas light.
You take out the Crystal 10 and replace it by the F8.
You get 95 % of the Liionidas at halve the price !
So some more efforts toke place.
At this very moment I'm doing a single driver open baffle that should run on low power tube amps.
It's all fun 🙂
Some photo's added saying more then text 🙂
Enjoy the music everybody !
sinc. Leon
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I just assembled this from existing parts, to get a taste of OB sound.
Digital xo, 4 way active system, using NT2 for now: sealed subs up to 70Hz, 2x10" 70-500Hz, 8PE21 500-1500Hz, TPL-150H above.
View attachment 880743
The TPL has the back cover on, so no OB above 1.5kHz now. Plan to remove the cover this weekend and remeasure.
The 8" is on a swing. I realize I built the frame too narrow and on next iteration will leave more open space behind the midrange.
I'm thinking of hanging the 10" on a swing as well, detached from the MDF but leaving a 2mm gap only. But Before further work there I want to listen more and understand if OB sound is for me, and for my room. Unfortunately I only have two 10" units, so I just built one speaker and listening mono. I probably need larger drivers here. Maybe 2x12", or 1x15" or 2x15"?
Maybe I'd rather hang the whole baffle with a bungee cord and keep the woofers attached to the baffle.
Regards
Maybe I'd rather hang the whole baffle with a bungee cord and keep the woofers attached to the baffle.
Regards
I need to experiment with that. One school of thought says the woofer attached to the baffle transmits vibrations which the baffle ends up releasing as sound/distortion. Hence swinging the woofer and having a detached baffle (cutout circle about 1-2mm larger than driver) would prevent that. Like mige0 has done here.
Another approach is to use a non resonant material for the baffle, attach the baffle to driver, and swing the whole assembly, as you said. Here's Mattes' take on post #2680 in this thread.
And maybe attaching a stiff baffle to the driver/s and hanging the whole assembly is indistinguishable from one of the above, but have to say I see their logic, so I'm intrigued.
Currently thinking whether to go with 1x18" per side or 2x12" or 2x15", leaning towards 1x18" I think.
BTW, I removed the back of the TPL so now I experience dipole above 1.5kHz, and has made a huge difference. It still has the horn on the front, so not a perfect dipole, but I'm liking the improvement. Not sure if I should remove the horn.
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