The making of: The Two Towers (a 25 driver Full Range line array)

[wrankin]

Well, the amazing work you've done in this long incredible thread are okay and all - but I gotta say that I just want that floor.

I've just started down the whole room measurement/equalization/correction route (in no little way inspired by this thread) and I think I got a bit of work ahead of me. We have a fairly open architecture and the listening area is large and irregular shaped but not so irregular that there aren't some very notable bass resonances - one of which pops up right where I want the sub crossover to be.

In any case, thanks for all the information and ideas you are throwing out here and thanks to everyone else for carrying the discussion forward.

-b

[wesayso]

I'll give you the recipe: solid oak floor boards with a Brasil brown oil...
Easy to maintain, we still love the look.

[wesayso]

I notice my patience is running out when I scan the internet for random stories and pictures about sound systems... A hunger that can't be stopped...

I've read all the threads in the loudspeaker forums that usually satisfy my hunger, but lately the forum seems slow. Not enough new wild ideas or theories that can feed my need for more information . The temperatures are low outside, meaning working in my non heated garage is out. Still some tidying up to do on the damping panels but that will be it this weekend.

Scanning the internet didn't help either... I need some music! Music I can feel, drown myself in... so headphones are out. Lately I've had a lot of tunes spinning in my head. The sad part? They aren't the tunes I like! Just random songs I've heard at some point in my life...

[Drengur]

If you are bored, just send me a message. I can write non stop for hours on end. I can't promise it won't make you even ore bored though.

Even though my garage (from 1936) is heated, it barely keeps the heat inside. I bit the bullet and bought an extra electrical space heater (my garage is heated by geothermal water). Electricity is probably a bit cheaper up here than in mainland Europe, but I know I will regret this later. It is not terribly cold here, but it is freezing and the wind can get quite powerful from time to time. A poorly built, and barely isolated shed does not stand a chance.

I took apart my old Dali 606 speakers and "fixed" them in order to have some sound in the garage. They use modified versions of VIFA drivers which makes it hard to find spares at a decent price. I glued them up a bit, instead of throwing everything away. It sounds ok, I have a lot of power on hand so I can make it sound big and dynamic with a bit of basic EQ, but I still need a decent DAC. Currently using Schiit Fulla.

I did some measurements and my arrays will not fit at all in my garage. So, in order to make line arrays from scratch you first have to invent the universe.

The council has approved my new garage, which will be a bit taller (and warmer). But getting contractors is not that easy. Did anyone say built in corner arrays? (Just kidding... I think)

[nc535]

Hi Drengur:
I had the opposite problem with my garage in Florida - had to air condition it to make it usable. Cover the insulation with fabric instead of wall board and you will have built in absorbers. Corner line arrays work well; just flank them with absorbers.

[Drengur]

Originally Posted by nc535

Hi Drengur:
I had the opposite problem with my garage in Florida - had to air condition it to make it usable.

You are welcome up here if you need to cool down. I guess we live in two rather extreme climates. That being said, the largest hailstones I have experienced were in Holland/Netherlands some 25-30 years ago. So I was not surprised wesayso was rocking a metal ceiling!

I would consider built-in corner arrays if I was set on having a dedicated room for only this one purpose. But I feel much more comfortable with a movable pair of speakers.

[wesayso]

Quite a hassle to have to build a garage to be able to build your arrays .

Meanwhile I'm finishing up my new curtains/absorbing panels...

Here's the one that goes next to the couch:


I don't think I've ever shown them before as they were always hidden behind curtains...
This one is 3" in thickness with only a slight air gap between it and the wall behind it. There's wool felt on the back of it as well. It doesn't go all the way down to the floor as it is parked beside the couch. A gap around a wall output socket as you have to live with what you've got .

This one is ready to go up permanently, I only need to wait for my helper to get it there. I'll fix it to the wall in two places up high.

The curtains by themselves did a very good job to remove the echo from the room. The panels are needed for the speaker hobby, as they will do more absorbing in the mid range, leveling out the indirect sound quite a bit.

[wesayso]

By the way, there was no good reason to have a metal ceiling indoors . Not even for hailstones.... One of the previous inhabitants had done it to conceal the old and damaged ceiling made of reed and gypsum...



It wasn't damaged this much, but it had been tampered with so it had to go. Sticking a metal ceiling underneath probably was the easy way. We didn't like that decision so we turned it back to what it originally looked like using newer materials .

[jjasniew]

>I need some music! Music I can feel, drown myself in...

Perhaps the nice looking electric guitar shown in some of your room photos is in need of a little attention. A couple buddy's on bass and drums just might warm up that garage ;')

[wesayso]

Good point!