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Re: Aren't We Too Tolerant of the British?
When I was a kid, I used to marvel at all the things that said, Made in USA on them. And, they did have a high quality to them. In that regard, to me at least, is that quality and quantity of US made "things" really started to drop off in the 70's. Which seems to coincide with when heavy industry such as steel production pulled up stakes leaving the Rust Belt throughout the midwest and eastern USA. The Japanese were making inroads with car manufacturing in the 80's and had taken over the consumer electronics production. Now all of Asia practically does this for nearly all electronic, consumer appliances, cars etc. America simply in adopting to an economic philosophy that eschewed manufacturing and industry for a service economy and financial dominance in planning the economy shot itself in the feet in today's world economy. All the skills and knowhow have been atrophied from this that cripple a manufacturing industrial base returning. That and a high cost of living driven up from a financialized economy. Even our tech sector has been outdone by the Chinese. Because they've invested and developed a huge supply chain system, educational incentive and research driven by their export and government planning for the future. Our government these days as dictated by our economic strangulation of a small government shunned from participating in planning the economy and relying on whatever the whims of the marketplace is cannot compete with the economy of scale and cost of living going on in Asia and other countries once described as 3rd world. China simply followed the historical economic patterns of what Great Britain, the US and Europe had done with the industrial revolution. The need for socializing the working class's needs for inexpensive living standards to make industry and manufacturing competitive for trade. Finance capitalism has stymied our nation. Made in the USA is a thing of the past.
Guests up next: Barry Solof - Long time regular LSAF attendee Emiko Carlin - Famous musician and owner of T.H.E. Dave Thompson - Owner of Raven Audio
Remember the perception of Japanese products in the 1950s and 1960s? Very similar to the perception of Chinese products today. And back then - when I was a kid - I do remember that most Japanese products were pretty inexpensive, low-quality items. But what I didn't realize was that they were working hard on R&D, making better and better quality stuff. By the 1970s, their motorcycles, cars and electronics were pretty good. And by the 1980s, everyone in America realized that because there was a rapid shift towards Japanese consumer electronics and cars. America has always made very good quality products. We've had our ups and downs, but we've definitely been a manufacturing leader. We still are, in my opinion. But we're not the only ones. Britain and Germany have also usually been up there in terms of quality, and some other countries too. Not so much the orient, at least not for tech and heavy industry, until maybe the last 50 to 100 years or so. But they are definitely catching up. Japan and Korea are there, I'd say. China is probably close. India will probably start catching up next.
Wow, that's cool, Rusty! Thanks for the heads-up!
As one who's enjoyed music all my life, I won't say so to such. I believe playing music at bus stops would help those waiting for buses to feel relaxed, calm, and a bit patient till the bus arrives. Those in charge there should ensure that they play the best songs suited for such a place.
I took my time to watch the interview that you did with Mike Lundy of Uilleam Audio. It was quite insightful, and his journey towards building speakers was interesting. Watching him talk about how he got to love music right from little based on how his dad was an audio enthusiast reminds me of my early days venturing into music. Please keep it up with those interviews. I had a great time watching.
Besides Mend It Mark, I found this other fellow on the tube that fixes up old, used and some abused audio pieces he's bought in 2nd hand stores or even found in dumpsters or peoples basements and crawl spaces. Unlike Mend it Mark, this young feller isn't trained but a hands on learner with some old electronic gear to help him diagnose and repair some rather nice pieces of audio. And some just cheap that can be fixed. Even cars now I see. Nice to see some young one interested in sustainable consumerism. Ah-Fix-it https://www.youtube.com/@AHFixIt
Casper is about the only ghost I believe in. Though I only tolerated him till a better cartoon come on while I was a kid.
Re: Do you like singing when taking your bath?
I don't care if my singing is good, bad or indifferent. I like singing in the shower. Gettin clean lathering up are just made for it. Let yer hair down work up some bubbles and cut loose with a melody. It's good for you.
Are we Americans tolerant of the Chinese? Talk about a success story. They pulled their people out of abject poverty in less that my lifetime. To their enviable standing economically and security of their people enjoying a middle class, affordable life now. All while our middle class has shrunk considerably since the latter part of the 20th century till now. What's the deal about the Brits anyway? I'm of their heritage as are quite a few of the Anglo Saxons that make up a large portion of the US. Britain is sinking economically as we are. Along with Europe & Australia. All from the economic doctrine we all follow in the G7 countries. No other country in the 20th & 21st century has gone to war in this world than the US has. I don't think that's a sign of being tolerant.
A very nice primer with what our country's foreign policy is rooted in. A modern version of colonialism. The trade of oil/energy in the world is advantageous to be done in US dollars. Our exorbitant privilege since WWII. The circular flow of dollar denominated trade serves to be a financial incentive to perpetuate it. And a world full of American military bases serves to bolster that. Alex Kraimer a former hedge fund manager speaks with Glenn Diesen a Norwegian political scientist addressing this advantage and how it works with the big banking industry of the US and Europe. A nice laypersons explanation to how the system works. And a noticeable connection to the wars that our country has involved itself in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ixj1Q7j904
Re: What material is the best for soundproofing?
With my experience fixing noisy rooms, the best material that I would say has done the job for me quite alright is the mass loaded vinyl. I understand that others might have a different opinion in terms of which material works best, but I've never gone wrong using MLV to fix issues with noisy rooms. I recently used in a new studio that my mentee started last two months and the result was excellent. All I did was use it in dozens of walls and cellings... the outcome was fantastic! So, I will always recommend using MLV instead of other materials like foam panels or thick curtains that won't be able to block sound from moving through the walls. I bet you won't you don't want to have such an experience. I will always advise that you pair the MLV with proper installation and you will figure out the difference straight away. I have used this method in many rooms and assisted my friends in doing same and it has neve failed.
The issue with concrete basements is that it makes songs sound harsh and kinda boomy as a result of the hard walls and floors. There are a couple of tips that I think you can use towards improving it, such as putting heavy blankets on the walls. I used acoustic foams on mine, and it does the job well. Also, having soft furniture and bookshelves filled with books also assist in absorbing the sound. I would ask that you start small, play your guitar, and observe the changes until it feels right.
Re: Is room treatment a must for bedroom producers?
Bercle wrote on Sat, 25 July 2026 13:09 It is not a must if you are not looking to get top sound from your music gears. However, I agree that spending to treat the room is essential if you want to listen to quality sounds while in the bedroom. Everything depends on what you seek to achieve. I desire quality sounds at all time while recording or when I am watching a movie. Its a already work in progress.
Excellent observations, and an excellent question. I'm glad you asked it. The "mirror image" I've always used is purely for aesthetics. There's no significant difference whichever side each speaker is placed. That said, I've always placed the ports outside, except for the four Pi model. I place the tweeters outside on that model. The reason is trivial, but I'll tell you why. It's because of the vertical nulls we discussed earlier. They are perfectly above and below the speaker if the midwoofer and tweeter are both centered. But with the tweeter slightly offset, the nulls are too. Or perhaps I should say the maxima above and below are slightly offset. They track a line drawn between the driver centers. So the upper null is a little bit towards the tweeter side and the lower null is a little bit away from the tweeter side. Just a smidge. Insignificant. Still, that's why I always set 'em up with the tweeters outboard. Back to your speaker placement. That's a great observation too. I've noticed that as well, and it's exactly what the flanking sub configuration mitigates. Try that setup sometime - I'll bet you'll hear the improvement right away, especially since you could hear the SBIR from the wall behind the speakers. Flanking subs are specifically designed to counteract SBIR from nearby boundaries, e.g. the wall behind the speakers.
It seems to be the placement. I pushed them all the way back to the wall and the 'throatiness' went away, perhaps at the cost of soundstage. They are best about 30-36" into the room but I don't have the space for that. Need to put some casters on them, these babies are HEAVY! I assume the best left/right orientation for the horns is on the inside, away from the walls, is this correct?
Re: Does best picture = bigger projector?
I would argue that the issue that those early mini projectors had were the components used and not necessarily about the sizes of those projectors. I noticed that the manufacturers used weak LED bulbs, inflated throw distance specs, and plastic lenses. Doing so affected the picture quality even in dark spaces. While I think the size can be a factor ( not necessarily a big one), I am of the opinion that most mini projectors done nowadays are far more better than what we used to get some years ago. The picture quality is better since companies use better LEDS and 1080p chips in making the ones that we have now.
Malfoy wrote on Tue, 07 August 2018 23:05 Television makers seem to try to imitate the experience we have in the theaters. This could be the reason for all the added innovation done on TV. 3D, curvature, bigger size, and whatnots were all taken from the theaters. We now have more versions of smart TVs, which I can say is proof that TV manufacturers are working hard to ensure that many of us get that cinematic experience right in the comfort of our homes. If you ask me, I will say that it is a welcome development.
This lady reinforces how I feel about this country of ours. That this has been going on for some time, and through both political parties. Her new book called, "Crime & No Punishment: Wealth, Power and Violence in America". She goes over through how most certainly is our economic doctrine that has allowed for wealth to accumulate at unprecedented levels since the 1980's, basically from when Neoliberal economics took hold. And through the capture of the legislative process through campaign financing. Which has corrupted our democracy to the point there isn't much left of it. She emphasises how corporate and big banking has managed to escape being accountable to being punished for their crimes inflicted on the public. Big Pharma, the real estate bubble collapse in 2008 for example. And the gun lobby that has made violence an everyday occurance, mass shootings a regular news happening. And privatized prisons everywhere. America is one of the most violent advanced countries in the world. Our war mongering throughout the world unabated. And a military complex that with a budget over a trillion a year now. Can't provide the weaponry to sustain our war machine for any length of time. Which may be it's only saving grace. Though at the expense of our society and our wellbeing. From the Chris Hedges Report, (a fine journalist). Marie Gottschalk and her book. https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/how-americas-corporate-class-became
If I can find it on a free Roku app. I will too. I don't subscribe to any of the pay to pay and pay some more to watch channels.
Rusty wrote on Thu, 23 July 2026 16:12 I liked him in the remake of War of the Worlds, and with Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man. And, I thought his character was very compelling in the movie Collateral with Jamie Foxx. Has anyone seen him in the movie, American Made? I'm curious about that film. About an American drug runner, Cruise, flying planes from South America to the US. His action films though I haven't gotten into. I have not really seen American Made. My cousin recently recommended the movie to me, and it seems I should plan on watching it soon.
It is not a must if you are not looking to get top sound from your music gears. However, I agree that spending to treat the room is essential if you want to listen to quality sounds while in the bedroom. Everything depends on what you seek to achieve.
I'm an electrical engineer and I grew up in the 1960s and 1970s. Those were years when tubes were in decline, and by the 1980s they were probably at their lowest acceptance point. There are several disadvantages to tubes, and so I understand why they were being left behind in that era. They are large, vulnerable and relatively power hungry. They are not only vulnerable to physical damage but also to microphonics from vibration. Combine that with our rapid movement in the digital realm and tubes were getting left in the dust. My mindset tracked with those thoughts too. I considered tubes an interesting piece of history, something like the horse and buggy. I enjoyed the nostalgia of a tube radio but didn't think they had a place in the future. When I heard guitarists say things like "tubes sound better," I discounted their opinions because they also said things like "tube watts are louder than transistor watts," which I knew was nonsense. A few facts started presenting themselves in the late 1980s and 1990s that slowly changed my opinion. The first one was a realization that tubes are inherently resilient to lightning strikes and electrostatic discharge. In the 1980s, one of the things I did was to design large lightning protection systems for computers and computerized controllers. I used primary and secondary protection - Intentionally placing lightning rods to attract strikes to a known location as primary protection and incorporating surge-clamping diodes and other solid state protection devices as secondary protection on the power lines and the even more vulnerable computer interface lines. The strikes would induce a current in the control and/or signal lines, and the SCD and/or MOV devices would clamp those. I couldn't help but to ponder that a tube transmitter had a huge antenna just luring lighting towards itself, but it had a natural resilience to strikes. The tubes might be vulnerable in some ways, but this is one way they were much less vulnerable to solid state. The second thing I realized was that I had been mixing amplifier topology with single-element performance all my life. What I mean by that is since transistors are so small, much more complex circuits can be built in the same space. Naturally transistors are better for computers for that reason alone. And even in the analog space, you can make a much more complex solid-state circuit in the same size chassis. So you can employ numerous gain stages and feedback mechanisms in a solid-state amplifier, and those can be employed to reduce distortion. So much of the performance gains of a solid state amplifier were actually from topology - You could design-in more gain stages and distortion-reducing negative feedback in a relatively small solid state amplifier. But those extra gain stages and feedback loops have their own disadvantages too. As the amplifier nears limits, the feedback loops become ineffective. When the amplifier enters clipping because of the power supply limits, feedback can no longer work and distortion rapidly increases from nearly zero to nearly 100%. An amplifier that isn't so dependent upon that mechanism may have a little more distortion through its normal operating range, but it doesn't rapidly rise as it nears clipping. That "graceful clipping" is why those guitar players thought tube watts were "louder." They weren't as nasty sounding when you pushed 'em hard. And multiple stages introduce noise. So having a very simple amplifier brings a benefit of the potential of super-low noise at quiescence. Provided the power supply can be made pure, a simple class-A amplifier with few stages can be ultra-quiet. Another little factoid - When distortion is even and particularly when it is mostly the lowest harmonics, the distortion is much less objectionable than higher orders. So 4% purely second harmonic is much less ugly sounding than 1% THD, if the harmonics are mostly odd and high, like 5th, 7th and 9th. Ironically, a solid-state amplifier that depends upon negative feedback for distortion reduction tends to have very low THD, but when it distorts, it's a mixture of all harmonics, low and high. I was surprised to learn that when I compared two output devices - one a common tube and another a common transistor - the tube was actually much more linear than the transistor. The transistor circuit actually depends upon negative feedback to actively clean up the signal it has produced. A comparable tube is much more linear. As an example, compare the 300B tube to a 2N3055 transistor. Both are commonly used as output devices in audio amplifiers. The 300B is a directly heated triode, celebrated precisely because its internal structure is inherently linear. Its transfer characteristic follows a smooth 3/2 power law. When plotted on a graph, its plate curves are remarkably straight, parallel, and evenly spaced. This means that as the music signal swings up and down, the tube scales the signal with minimal warping. The 2N3055 transistor, by contrast, is an inherently non-linear device governed by an aggressive exponential law. At the bottom of the audio wave, it suffers from a sharp conduction turn-on curve. Even when biased deeply into pure Class A to keep the transistor permanently "on," its current gain still warps significantly depending on the temperature and the amount of current running through it. When comparing both devices as open-loop single ended amplifiers without negative feedback, they share a common trait: they do not cancel out distortion and generate a dominant 2nd harmonic. However, the type and amount of distortion differ vastly. The 300B creates predominantly low-order 2nd harmonic distortion, with a rapid, steep drop-off to the 3rd, and virtually undetectable higher harmonics (4th, 5th, 6th). At moderate volumes, the open-loop Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) sits around 1% to 3%. The 2N3055 - or any other standard bipolar transistor for that matter - has an open-loop transfer curve that bends much more sharply than a tube. This sharp bend creates significantly higher overall distortion. More importantly, it creates a long trail of higher-order odd harmonics (5th, 7th, 9th). So the truth is that tubes are actually vastly superior to transistors when it comes to linearity. That one simple truth was kind of a shock to me. I hadn't bothered to look at that in my youth, even a decade or so into my career. I was mostly focused on computers and digital electronics, and in those realms solid-state is almost a requirement. And solid-state output devices can handle a ton of current, so they're great for driving motors and other high-current loads. Solid-state can be used to make excellent amplifiers too. So I simply overlooked the truth of the matter which is that solid-state amps require topologies that employ negative feedback to mitigate the high levels of harmonic distortion they create. Food for thought.
I've always paid attention to how happy my dog, tiger, always look when certain songs come up. I've never thought it was basically because of the songs as of that time until recently.
Spotify and YouTube music serve the same purpose. They are platforms where users have the opportunity to stream their preferred songs. Picking one ahead of the other is not always as straightforward as some would make it look. I am talking about possibilities where Yt music, for instance, could have features that suit certain people and even situations than Spotify. If one has that clear understanding that having both is the best approach, it saves the stress of being forced to pick one instead of another.
Rusty wrote on Thu, 23 July 2026 16:40 I'm not a technically adept enthusiast but have tube and SS amplification. Maybe one myth of tube audio is that it has this inherent warmth to it. Maybe some do. I use an OTL design tube amplification and I don't sense this cosy warmth as much as clarity and articulation with its sound. Fact is maybe my SS amp is more warm sounding. It's hard to discern without side by side A/B listening. Which I don't have capability. But, I enjoy both. I think at the end of the day, it is all about feeling at home with anyone that one decides to be using just like you mentioned that there are cases where some tubes amps ain't as warmth as anyone would assume that they are.
I'm not a technically adept enthusiast but have tube and SS amplification. Maybe one myth of tube audio is that it has this inherent warmth to it. Maybe some do. I use an OTL design tube amplification and I don't sense this cosy warmth as much as clarity and articulation with its sound. Fact is maybe my SS amp is more warm sounding. Hard to discern without side by side A/B listening. Which I don't have capability. But, I enjoy both.
Re: Do you bother about lyrics when listening to music?
The orchestration you refer to as beats. A big band R & B backing is great too. That's part of the whole charm of the song and music in general. That's what gives me pleasure listening at least. The total package.
I liked him in the remake of War of the Worlds, and with Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man. And, I thought his character was very compelling in the movie Collateral with Jamie Foxx. Has anyone seen him in the movie, American Made? I'm curious about that film. About an American drug runner, Cruise, flying planes from South America to the US. His action films though I haven't gotten into.
Azuri wrote on Fri, 16 October 2020 10:59 It's a shame that the company didn't sell the software to someone else when they were they were going under. Take some money on the way out and not disrupt the customers they did have. That's the issue that they had back then. I would say a lot of things are changing for the better right now with how major investors are getting interested. The link below talks about how Humanoid, a robotic company, was able to raise $1.4 billion from investors. You can check it out. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/10/neura-robotics-funding-ai-humanoid-robots.html
Hank wrote on Thu, 16 July 2026 09:19 Rusty wrote on Wed, 15 July 2026 19:02 Being older I find them a statement on our society and culture. I have no desire to wear earbuds or earphones. I go to a university gym to do my geezer workout and virtually all the young students there have their ears plugged up with these things. No one talks to one another and inbetween sets on the weight machines they're riveted into their smartphones. To me this generation doesn't socialize as much as stay in their personal artificial environment. I speculate on whether or not that will have unforeseeable implications in the future. When I went to a YMCA to do my ritual I refer to, "trying to keep the grim reaper playing solitaire". There were many other mature types like me that liked to commiserate with one another. I just wonder about this isolation the younger generation prefer. Anyway, speakers are my preference. Big ones. Quality tall speakers excites me. I can't deal with what this generation are doing with their use of earpuds. To what end exactly? When they should focus mainly on blasting their favourite songs through well built DIY speakers that has the best components. Do you rate DIY speakers ahead of the ones sold in the market? What has been your experience so far?
I am confident this movie is going to become a success with the news that Alejandro G. Inarritu is going to be the director. He's directed a couple of other amazing movies, and I expect less from what Digger will offer. It feels great having Tom Cruise back as a lead actor in this movie. I will say it is a must watch.
Rusty wrote on Sat, 18 July 2026 15:48 Of course I bother. As much as I can make out the lyrics. I mean, with a song like, I Want a Bowlegged Woman. By Bull Moose Jackson. How could you not care about the lyrics? It's what makes it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHHfQjxNcdg&t=1s Are you saying the beats didn't make the song what it is as well?
It's so cool you found that catalog! I was buying stuff from them in the late 1970s, and the catalogs looked very much the same. Such good memories! Today, I interviewed Bryan Miller of Miller Audio. His company makes an amplifier that's essentially an improved Dynaco ST-70. Good stuff. The Dynaco ST-70 was designed by David Hafler, and now Miller has brought even a few more improvements to that design, like auto-bias circuitry and other goodies. Plus, the chassis made by Miller Audio are just stunning. I should be able to upload the interview video tonight or tomorrow. Check it out!
Found this ad for the old McGee Radio catalog from 1983. About the time I was just finding out about the place. Another big mail order outlet based in where I live was Bernstein Applebee's. Where I purchased my first stereo back in the early 70's warehouse sale. A Rotel integrated amp of about 20 watts, a Voice of Music turntable and some no name two way speakers that had a beautiful walnut cabinet but cheap drivers. Them's were the days. When our nation was still movin & groovin and if you watched Soul Train, Boogaloovin. Yeah, it almost seems like yesterday.
Looks kinda cool! And fitting for the times.
A new movie with Tom Cruise will be out in the fall that looks like a total departure from his usual high octane features. I've never been a big fan, but have likened a few of his roles. I don't know the jest of this role, other than he's a gazillionaire, old and does something that threatens the whole planet if I read it right. A dark comedy its billed as. I'll wait for the reviews for if I go see it. At a real theater. Which I haven't been in since prior to the pandemic. Can't even remember what I saw. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qORTe1wW3Wg&t=2s
Re: Which genre of music is popular in your area?
Where I live was once one of the main jazz hub of the nation. Charlie Parker, Ben Webster, Big Joe Turner, Count Basie, Coleman Hawkins. Many more. Those days faded but there's still a vital music scene with a variety of genres. Back in my clubbin days as I refer to it, there was a wonderful blues scene with festivals incorporating blues and jazz. And outdoor events the city put on. I'm old enough that the wee wee hours are sweet dreams now. Instead of hitting the clubs.
Of course I bother. As much as I can make out the lyrics. I mean, with a song like, I Want a Bowlegged Woman. By Bull Moose Jackson. How could you not care about the lyrics? It's what makes it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHHfQjxNcdg&t=1s
I used to buy stuff from the McGee catalog. It was always mail-order for me. You know what's weird to me, is how my mind blends the last 50 years into a short span of time. Doesn't seem long ago at all. It has all been a brief evolution of stuff in my mind. But then I can also remember back when I was a kid, waiting for a month or two for something was an absolute eternity! Perception of time is really funny!
Two things you mention Wayne in your introduction of your electronics fascination. Der Wienerschnitzels, and McGee Radio Electronics. Both which I remember from those days. I never indulged in sampling the menu from your first job. But here in KC was the McGee Radio that I traded in towards the end of its existence. Both with my crude speaker building beginnings and kit building passion. My Hafler amp and preamp came out of their store. Which was a wonderland to peruse. And their catalogues were loaded with what I dreamed for. Fidelity! They had quite a listing of pro drivers and horns that through you I finally realized that fidelity. I don't know if your local McGee's was an outlet of the one where I live or not. Was it? Anyway those two links to the past we both share. Wished I'd have kept their catalogues. Speakers on a beer budget I remember from their catalogue, and, speaker baffles with about 12 or more drivers plastered all over.
Our country's founders wisely incorporated a separation of church and state for determining how to legislate in behalf of the people. At this point in time of our nation, judging from the graph showing the wealth distribution in our nation from such a tiny fraction of our population. Incorporating a separation of wealth and state could wisely promote legislation also in behalf of the people. The majority. And the ones in our nation that currently have little say in what favors the minority. That would also preclude extricating our legislative process towards following a revised economic doctrine. As also evident from that same graph from when the Neoliberal financialized economics was established. Adapting to an economic doctrine that has allowed over time for wealth to influence our legislative process.
Rusty wrote on Wed, 15 July 2026 19:02 Being older I find them a statement on our society and culture. I have no desire to wear earbuds or earphones. I go to a university gym to do my geezer workout and virtually all the young students there have their ears plugged up with these things. No one talks to one another and inbetween sets on the weight machines they're riveted into their smartphones. To me this generation doesn't socialize as much as stay in their personal artificial environment. I speculate on whether or not that will have unforeseeable implications in the future. When I went to a YMCA to do my ritual I refer to, "trying to keep the grim reaper playing solitaire". There were many other mature types like me that liked to commiserate with one another. I just wonder about this isolation the younger generation prefer. Anyway, speakers are my preference. Big ones. Quality tall speakers excites me. I can't deal with what this generation are doing with their use of earpuds. To what end exactly? When they should focus mainly on blasting their favourite songs through well built DIY speakers that has the best components.
Being older I find them a statement on our society and culture. I have no desire to wear earbuds or earphones. I go to a university gym to do my geezer workout and virtually all the young students there have their ears plugged up with these things. No one talks to one another and inbetween sets on the weight machines they're riveted into their smartphones. To me this generation doesn't socialize as much as stay in their personal artificial environment. I speculate on whether or not that will have unforeseeable implications in the future. When I went to a YMCA to do my ritual I refer to, "trying to keep the grim reaper playing solitaire". There were many other mature types like me that liked to commiserate with one another. I just wonder about this isolation the younger generation prefer. Anyway, speakers are my preference. Big ones.
Becky wrote on Tue, 07 October 2025 12:19 Wayne Parham wrote on Mon, 05 February 2024 20:05 I personally hate earbuds. My kids like 'em but I think that's largely so they can listen to their devices instead of what's being played in the car, or to be able to listen to music while in class or at work. So I kind of get that. I never hated earbuds but the reason why speakers are good for the family is that you can just put songs and stay anywhere around the house and still hear the sounds and beats too. Earbuds are when I want to watch movies or listen to personal songs. One can't even compare both. Speakers are simply on a different level because they serve a different purpose than what you use earpuds for just like you said.
The mathematics of scale-free networks could be used to determine when to manage resources of any organization. Preferential attachment is natural, but it is also dangerous. It puts too much emphasis on too few nodes. Using scale-free network analysis could be used as a modernization of anti-trust laws.
Hi, I agree. Our image of ourselves and place in the world is seriously flawed. As a "boomer" I am doing rather well. My daughters and their families are not.
I could only go for so long here before starting up my true Dungeon nature by posting some subject calling attention to these times we live. I like this young blogger for his thoroughness with his analysis. Which with this subject counters the usual articles put out on what our country's economic status is. I think that is typical of many subjects in the news too. Here Ben Norton goes over objectively with our economy with a healthy dose of interpreting data unadulterated with cherry picking. Most Americans are not wealthy. That's the 90% of the population. If you make it through this blogs lengthy presentation, you'll get an idea of how we really fare with the rest of the world. Our healthcare system, rent, insurance, child care and so many other metrics of modern living are what drags our cost of living down with other nations that may surprise some. My favorite chart he shows is one showing the wealth of the .00001% that owns 12% of the total income in the US. But it's the time period of the late 40's to the 1980's when Neoliberalism took over from Keynesianism showing the Golden Period of American prosperity for most people. We baby boomers know of it, grew up in it. And now our young generation is not part of the once American Dream. https://blog.syzgroup.com/syz-the-moment/wealth-at-the-top-0.00001-owns-12-of-us-income I think our country has lost its principles when it eschewed our manufacturing and industry away to maximize profit. And our economic system became financialized and service oriented. Its made us weak and dependent and loaded down with debt. The rest of the once 3rd world as was known is the manufacturing centers now. Their standard of living is rising. Our's is declining. You wouldn't know that reading and listening to corporate media though. This is why I like alternative media. There's no editorial board to tailor the truth. Ben Norton, Geopolitical Economy Report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzFUd8uj7pA
Excellent. OK, then, that tells us that the drivers are hooked up properly. Crossover is doing exactly what it is supposed to do. As for the throatiness or resonance, I suggest a couple things: 1. Check your damping material. Make sure you added the sheet that spans the cross-section in addition to the ones that lines the walls. That cross-section sheet is extremely important because it traps the lower midrange better than the ones that line the walls. It should span front-to-back and side-to-side completely, essentially splitting the cabinet into two areas, one exposed to the woofer and the other exposed to the tweeter and port. Bass will pass right through but midrange and treble will not. 2. Explore the flanking-sub approach. The self-reflection from the front wall often manifests as a throatiness. It definitely causes a defect in the lower midrange if the speakers are anywhere near the wall. You can also take the speakers outside temporarily or in the middle of a very large room to see if that's the problem. If the problem is a bell mode in the port, you might try damping it with putty.
Got it. Yes, I am seeing a null show up at about 20 degrees above and below, around 1450 Hz. Looks fairly flat on-axis. I hear a tiny bit of resonance with male vocals and acoustic strings in the middle range, how do I find the source of that? Not sure whether it's a standing wave in the cabinet or the 3DP ports ringing or what.
When it comes to music, the lyrics are the most important part of what makes me like certain songs. I can't feel the vibes in any song if the lyrics do not match what I desire.
That was a gated (fast) log sine sweep, often called a "chirp" signal. My main focus was the crossover region, because I was looking for nulls. You can see them on the computer screen in the foreground when I move the microphone above and below the speaker. Watch for the notches to grow as I get close to the location of the vertical nulls, and shrink back when I get past them.
What is the test signal you are using there?
That chart shows the overall tonal balance, but it can't show the sharp dips we would expect to see from a crossover null. If the polarity is right, you'll see nulls at approximately +-20 degrees above and below the speaker. If it's wrong, you'll see a null on-axis. Watch this video to understand what I'm expecting to see: Vertical Nulls
Here's what I get with pink noise, 20s average. This is in-room, not sure how to do a gated test with this app.
I don't use that application - I use WTPro for development and LMS for publishing - but I will say that there should be a way to choose the source signal. Some common test source signals are sine sweep, stepped sine, log sine (chirp), noise, MLS and TDS. Also note that many systems offer gating for pseudo-anechoic measurements. This allows you to make measurements indoors, because you can configure the system to only sample for a short (gated) period. This prevents reflections from interfering with the measurement, but it also limits measurement of low frequencies. It's great for checking the crossover region though, which is often useful during development.
I picked up a Dayton Audio iMM-6C calibrated mic and bought the Audio Tools app. I can get pink noise but don't see a way to measure with a sweep. Is there a tutorial somewhere on how to use this setup for measuring frequency response?
This has been my wish! I'm glad to see it happening. You guys should keep up the amazing stuff.
Hank wrote on Mon, 22 June 2026 01:26 Prince wrote on Sat, 13 June 2026 13:14 Hank wrote on Wed, 18 March 2026 01:54 It is simply Spotify. The app keeps getting better with each passing day, and it is clear to see the efforts the team put into building a very good app for music lovers. I've been using Spotify for a long time and haven't thought of making a change any time soon. Spotify is quite popular. I would guess it is because of how consistent they've been with making cool updates most music players like. That is not to say that Yt music is never good, but Spotify is the one that I've always liked and still pay monthly subscription for. That's right. I've got no regrets for sticking with their brand for a while. You made the correct decision. Keep it up! Do you have any playlist that you enjoy the most?
This is such a thoughtful move. I have always wanted to have an opportunity to listen to some of you talk about your experiences in the audio, movie, and music world as it relates to most of our everyday audio equipment. I am very happy that the YouTube channel is up. Will head there to watch a couple of contents that are there.
Thanks for the video interviews. It's great seeing y'all again even if it's just on Youtube videos. Norman talking about Audio Crafters being his side gig is right up there with Wayne referring to Pi Speakers as his cheeseburger money. Shows how much you guys love music and audio. Keep doing these!
We've started a LSAF YouTube Channel, so be sure to visit! Our goal is to have interviews of exhibitors, show reports and recorded seminars with an approximately weekly cadence. Check it out!
George wrote on Thu, 18 June 2026 08:45 Clint wrote on Mon, 15 June 2026 14:58 Wayne Parham wrote on Thu, 28 May 2026 16:29 It totally depends on the room and what you're lookin' for. The room has a major impact on sound - there's no doubt about that. So if you want to hear the source and not the room, you'll need to do some work. But if you know your room - especially if you're on a budget - and if its flaws aren't glaring, you can probably do a budget setup and be fine. Glaring flaws are things like all hard surfaces like concrete or tile, especially in a small space. That's hard to work with 'cause it will over-emphasize certain sounds and make you want to mix 'em to "correct." Playback in another environment - the sound is way off. One thing that always helps - mount the speakers flush with the front wall and make your listening spot far away from the rear and side walls. If you can't sit far from walls, cover them with acoustic wedges, largest you can get. If you can't mount the speakers flush to the wall, pull 'em away from the front wall and/or use flanking subs. That's right. I'm thankful for the nice advice. I believe the hard walls in my bedroom must have been the reason songs sound better in headphones while I am inside but sound differently when I play them in the car. I guess I will have to rearrange the monitors in my room away from the wall first and see how it goes. I will also work on getting some affordable acoustic panels for the reflection points. I will test it on my next mix and let you know how it is going. You are making the right move with the decision to move the monitors away from the wall. As for the acoustics panels, I would recommend ATS panels or go for the Auralex Studiofoam Wedgies, which is what most of the studios that I've seen here use. I think starting with 5 panels at mirror points is ideal. That's depends on the size of your room because if the room is bigger, you might need like 6 panels for a start. Thanks, mate, for the suggestion that you made about moving my monitors. I also appreciate you for the recommendation of the type of acoustic panels that I should get. I think I will have to go with the ATS panels because it is what I feel should suit my room, which is pretty small. It is also quite affordable and doesn't stress me much when it comes to fitting it in my room. As regards whether I should start with five panels, I am of the opinion that I go with four panels because that will give me an opportunity to see how it sounds first before making a decision on whether to add more. The reason is because of how small my room is. So, do you have any suggestions on how I should place the acoustic panel when I get them?
Prince wrote on Sat, 13 June 2026 13:14 Hank wrote on Wed, 18 March 2026 01:54 It is simply Spotify. The app keeps getting better with each passing day, and it is clear to see the efforts the team put into building a very good app for music lovers. I've been using Spotify for a long time and haven't thought of making a change any time soon. Spotify is quite popular. I would guess it is because of how consistent they've been with making cool updates most music players like. That is not to say that Yt music is never good, but Spotify is the one that I've always liked and still pay monthly subscription for. That's right. I've got no regrets for sticking with their brand for a while.
Clint wrote on Mon, 15 June 2026 14:58 Wayne Parham wrote on Thu, 28 May 2026 16:29 It totally depends on the room and what you're lookin' for. The room has a major impact on sound - there's no doubt about that. So if you want to hear the source and not the room, you'll need to do some work. But if you know your room - especially if you're on a budget - and if its flaws aren't glaring, you can probably do a budget setup and be fine. Glaring flaws are things like all hard surfaces like concrete or tile, especially in a small space. That's hard to work with 'cause it will over-emphasize certain sounds and make you want to mix 'em to "correct." Playback in another environment - the sound is way off. One thing that always helps - mount the speakers flush with the front wall and make your listening spot far away from the rear and side walls. If you can't sit far from walls, cover them with acoustic wedges, largest you can get. If you can't mount the speakers flush to the wall, pull 'em away from the front wall and/or use flanking subs. That's right. I'm thankful for the nice advice. I believe the hard walls in my bedroom must have been the reason songs sound better in headphones while I am inside but sound differently when I play them in the car. I guess I will have to rearrange the monitors in my room away from the wall first and see how it goes. I will also work on getting some affordable acoustic panels for the reflection points. I will test it on my next mix and let you know how it is going. You are making the right move with the decision to move the monitors away from the wall. As for the acoustics panels, I would recommend ATS panels or go for the Auralex Studiofoam Wedgies, which is what most of the studios that I've seen here use. I think starting with 5 panels at mirror points is ideal. That's depends on the size of your room because if the room is bigger, you might need like 6 panels for a start.
Wayne Parham wrote on Thu, 28 May 2026 16:29 It totally depends on the room and what you're lookin' for. The room has a major impact on sound - there's no doubt about that. So if you want to hear the source and not the room, you'll need to do some work. But if you know your room - especially if you're on a budget - and if its flaws aren't glaring, you can probably do a budget setup and be fine. Glaring flaws are things like all hard surfaces like concrete or tile, especially in a small space. That's hard to work with 'cause it will over-emphasize certain sounds and make you want to mix 'em to "correct." Playback in another environment - the sound is way off. One thing that always helps - mount the speakers flush with the front wall and make your listening spot far away from the rear and side walls. If you can't sit far from walls, cover them with acoustic wedges, largest you can get. If you can't mount the speakers flush to the wall, pull 'em away from the front wall and/or use flanking subs. That's right. I'm thankful for the nice advice. I believe the hard walls in my bedroom must have been the reason songs sound better in headphones while I am inside but sound differently when I play them in the car. I guess I will have to rearrange the monitors in my room away from the wall first and see how it goes. I will also work on getting some affordable acoustic panels for the reflection points. I will test it on my next mix and let you know how it is going.
Hank wrote on Wed, 18 March 2026 01:54 It is simply Spotify. The app keeps getting better with each passing day, and it is clear to see the efforts the team put into building a very good app for music lovers. I've been using Spotify for a long time and haven't thought of making a change any time soon. Spotify is quite popular. I would guess it is because of how consistent they've been with making cool updates most music players like. That is not to say that Yt music is never good, but Spotify is the one that I've always liked and still pay monthly subscription for.
Your local plumbing supply likely has small squares that have cork in the middle and rubber on the top and bottom. They are used to keep the vibrations from heaters and air conditioners from transmitting their noise and vibrations into floors. They work great under speakers. They are very cheap but do tend to smell like a rubber factory when new. A week or two out on the back porch generally makes them more acceptable. They tend to be available in 2" squares and 4" squares. You can likely get a bunch of them for $10 or $20.
Some people like to use spikes. Their goal is to firmly "attach" the loudspeaker to the floor, using the weight of the cabinet to "nail" it to the floor by having such a small contact point. The idea is to make the cabinet as steady and immovable as possible. Another approach goes exactly the opposite, isolating the speakers from the floor. Most use carpeting as you describe, or rubber feet. I prefer this method and always put rubber feet under my loudspeaker cabinets between them and any stands and place the stands on rubber mats or on carpets.
I'll work on getting a test mic. For now, my ears say the polarities are correct. My ongoing goal with my hifi system is to get as close as possible to having live music in my home, and the 4pi's have the magic I was looking for. In fact this sound is better than a lot of venues I've been to. One question, any ideas on how to decouple the speakers from the wood floor? The spot where I want to place them is not covered by the rug, but I have noticed the bass is much cleaner when they are standing on the rug.
I doubt it very seriously but you can easily verify with acoustic measurements. If the compression driver is wired backwards, there will be a big dip in the crossover region when measured on-axis. The vertical nulls won't be at +/-20 degrees either. And just to clarify, on the compression driver it isn't so much the traditional meaning - whether the red/positive lead creates positive pressure - as it is that the four Pi design requires the DE250-8 to be wired with the black lead connected to positive.
Okay...Is it possible that the red on the DE250's is actually positive? I played with the polarities a bit and with the woofers black to + and tweeters red to +, the speakers sprang to life! I am in the room with Arne Domnerus right now!!
It's easy to overlook polarity, especially on that model. The 2226H is positive black, as is the DE250. But not the Omega 15A or the PSD2002. It's almost like a trick or a practical joke. I like to lay the cabinets on their backs to remove all the screws. Then use a plastic trim tool - like is commonly used by mechanics when removing dash or door trim - to pry up one side of the driver. That protects the wood. Sometimes you can use a bit of cloth underneath the tool to further protect the wood. If you feel brave, leave the cabinet standing but tilted back 20 to 30 degrees. Remove all the screws but one in the bottom. Push the edge of the driver - holding it in position - while removing that last screw. Then slowly reduce pressure holding the driver in, allowing it to slide out.
Well, I got the woofer polarity incorrect, and I was excited that it would be an easy fix, but I read the schematic notes again, and the DE250 tweeter is also Black to +. So they're both wrong, which makes them right... 1. I purchased the JBL's new from Parts Express. 2. Not sure yet about this one, will need to connect the scope to check power output. The amp was working great with my much less efficient Zaph 5.2's 3. See above... 4. Insulation is on the brace between woofer and tweeter. Plus more lining the interior. Maybe it's insufficient? I have always added extra insulation to every speaker I've ever built during the tuning phase. 5. The port needs to be addressed. It was a fun idea but it's probably ringing a bit. 6. The room is pretty well treated. It was sounding great with my old speakers. I do have a 12" sub which does enhance the sound significantly. I have no doubt these speakers are capable of exceeding my expectations, just need a bit of tweaking to get there.
Those look fantastic! I love 'em! Mine are always on foot-tall stands, so I'm with you on the height. I am more than surprised with your comments about muddy bass and unclear vocals though. The four Pi model loudspeaker with JBL 2226H is my reference standard for crisp, clear bass and vocals. I don't think any other loudspeaker performs as well in that regard - If one did, I'd either be back to work redesigning or I'd drop them from the line. My thoughts for suspects are these, in no particular order: 1. Is the cone genuine JBL? Was it purchased brand-new? If not, confirm response and distortion are as published using acoustic measurements. 2. Amplifier performance. How is it doing at 1/10th-watt levels? Most of the time, your speakers will be running under a watt. Then also check the amplifier in the 1-10 watt range. See how it reacts when pushed a little bit. 3. Check your internal wiring. Having one of the midwoofer drivers connected backwards will make some odd nulls in the midbass and midrange, especially when you're centrally seated. It will be off everywhere in the room, to tell the truth. The 2226H is to be connected black to positive, so that's often mistaken. So check the wiring against the plans. Tweeters out of phase with midwoofers won't affect the midbass, but that will affect the overtone region a great deal. 4. Where did you place your insulation? Did you add the sheet spanning the cross-section, between woofer and tweeter? Did you cover the top, side nearest the port and the rear? The rear sheet should almost contact the port. If the sheet spanning the cross-section isn't there, the vocal range will be adversely affected. Actually, missing any of the damping sheets will have an adverse effect, but the cross-section sheet is particularly important. 5. Have you checked the bell modes of the port? Your part looks really cool but since I haven't seen it, I'm inclined to want to check it out. It's probably awesome, but it's an unknown quantity for me. I know the MDF ports are acoustically neutral. But I am worried the plastic ports might have a bell mode in the midrange. Check 'em out, and maybe damp them with putty if needed. 6. Room acoustics. Your speakers are pretty tolerant of bad environments, but nothing can help the sound if there are highly resonant structures nearby. Those can sometimes really muddy midbass and vocals. An example I've encountered is hardwood floors over crawlspaces. Sometimes those make a hollow, resonant sound. But you probably would have already noticed something like that. While I won't add this to the list of likely suspects, I will say that adding flanking subs will greatly improve the performance of the midbass and midrange. That's what the flanking subs really address: They're not just for extension, but more importantly, they reduce baffle step and mitigate SBIR. But not having flanking subs isn't a deal-breaker for four Pi loudspeakers. They sound fantastic without 'em. It's an Nth degree thing. Flanking subs are definitely worth doing, and you'll notice the improvement. But it's not like they fix something bad, it's more like going from really good to great.
Speakers are built! I wanted to raise the tweeters closer to ear level so I added legs in sort of a mid-century style. They sound good, but not yet great. The dynamics and impact that I was looking for are definitely there, and they are far more efficient than my former speakers. Bass is punchy but also slightly muddy, and some vocals (especially female) don't sound as clear as I would like. Listening fatigue comes on pretty quickly. EDIT: While writing this, I had the amp cranked up probably 82+ dB range. Turned it down more in the 68-75 dB range, and they sound noticeably cleaner. Amp is only 50 WPC but it should only be pushing a few watts at these SPLs. Not visible in the photos is a 1 1/4" x 3/4" MDF rib glued to the top, and a 6"x12" MDF pad glued to the bottom as a platform for the crossover. I used poly batting around the tweeter section and after first audition I also added (4) 12"x12" acoustic foam tiles around each woofer. This made a clear improvement but maybe it needs more damping? Of course I need to do some experimentation with placement in the room. The ceiling has foam acoustic tiles and the floor has a thick jute rug.
I've been in a similar situation where I got deceived by my bedroom in terms of sound production. I mean the sound being cool while in the bedroom and sounding a different way while outside. That's why I would say room treatment matters a lot when it comes to getting a good sound quality. It does not mean that you have to spend a lot to achieve that. You can get a couple of acoustic panels that are quite affordable, fixed in some corners, and behind the monitors. That's not comparable to getting new gears, but it can improve the sound quality. I can only say you go for upgrades on the music equipment if you've not got a good monitor or decent headphones. However, if you've got them, then I think doing a simple room treatment is the first step for me.
It totally depends on the room and what you're lookin' for. The room has a major impact on sound - there's no doubt about that. So if you want to hear the source and not the room, you'll need to do some work. But if you know your room - especially if you're on a budget - and if its flaws aren't glaring, you can probably do a budget setup and be fine. Glaring flaws are things like all hard surfaces like concrete or tile, especially in a small space. That's hard to work with 'cause it will over-emphasize certain sounds and make you want to mix 'em to "correct." Playback in another environment - the sound is way off. One thing that always helps - mount the speakers flush with the front wall and make your listening spot far away from the rear and side walls. If you can't sit far from walls, cover them with acoustic wedges, largest you can get. If you can't mount the speakers flush to the wall, pull 'em away from the front wall and/or use flanking subs.
Is room treatment a must for bedroom producers?
I am trying to know if room treatment should be a major criterion to mix beats in the bedroom. I've done a couple in my bedroom using headphones and a part of monitors, and I always feel satisfied once I am done. However, I don't get the same result if I take the same mixed sound to my car, for example, and I am kinda trying to know if treating the room can have a major impact. I want to know if it does so that I can get some acoustic panels, or is it better I focus on saving up to upgrade the music gears that I use for my bedroom production?
Hi. Both an easy and hard question to answer. Any speakers that do not provide specs I would pass on. Ones that do ... for tube use should be relatively high sensitivity. I would want 90 db/w or better. If they give input impedance over the audio band width (unlikely) a more or less linear value would be desirable. They will always have resonance peaks and probably drop off in the high end. If it is excessive then many tube amps will probably have difficulty in that range. Another clue is physical size. If the speaker is small (like less than a cubic foot) and they claim wide response they are likely inefficient. See Theil's equations. Essentially loudness, response and box size are interrelated. That doesn't mean that you need something the size of a fridge although that would be really cool. Specifics. Any of Waynes speakers would work very well on tube amps of modest size. Other than them, most 75 era klipsch, Alted Lansing and similar would be fine. For newer stuff the only ones I am sure of are the Martin Logan ESLs like I have. 20 watts rms is plenty to drive you out of the room. Other ESLs are usually inefficient. Also a what I call a useless spec often given for speakers is max power handling. It really doesn't tell you anything useful. I have seen extreme cases where a 3 inch paper cone speaker was listed as able to handle 1000 watts. It would go incandescent immediately.
I for one will never use a SS amplifier (or preamplifier). It is all tube for me except for the dac. There are just inherent problems with SS that cannot be solved. Tubes designs are a completely different story. I have described some of the inherent problems with SS in another string called "Solid State vs Vacuum Amps", in this Tube subforum. I finished up my phono stage (except somewhat haywire look) and I do find some LPs superior but costly, to high rez ss dacs). Cheers steve
gofar99 wrote on Thu, 23 April 2026 10:01 Hi, it is bogus. (I am finally back see Tower) I have had a total of three listeners sell off their expensive SS amps (two were Mark Ls that ran over $11,000) for a pair of Oddwatts. Tube amps are not better or worse that SS ones. If well designed both will do the job well. To be sure there some speaker that work better on one kind or the other. I would not use many tube amps on current hungry speakers and would probably not use SS ones on many of the vintage high sensitivity speakers. It is sort of like putting gas in a vehicle. All types will generally work but some may work better in certain vehicles. You certainly said it the way it is. The thing is one needs to figure out what works with speakers that they intend using it on before arriving on a conclusion. Making the right decision, just like you said, makes it easier for all. DO you have specific speaker brands that you think can work with solid-state amps, for example? Good to see you back, mate. Wishing you the best of the weekend!
dustboy wrote on Fri, 10 April 2026 20:53 I modeled this port to be 3D printed in PLA. Wall thickness is only 1/8", I'm wondering if the flat walls will resonate? I'd make it thicker but I have limited space on the baffle after adding the flange at the face. I'd stick with plywood/MDF for the port. It's nice and solid and is easy to incorporate into a horizontal brace. Looking forward to the rest of your build. CNC would be so nice to have for speaker building. I keep threatening to buy a hobby machine.
Hi, it is bogus. (I am finally back see Tower) I have had a total of three listeners sell off their expensive SS amps (two were Mark Ls that ran over $11,000) for a pair of Oddwatts. Tube amps are not better or worse that SS ones. If well designed both will do the job well. To be sure there some speaker that work better on one kind or the other. I would not use many tube amps on current hungry speakers and would probably not use SS ones on many of the vintage high sensitivity speakers. It is sort of like putting gas in a vehicle. All types will generally work but some may work better in certain vehicles.
I'd have one printed and then test it for bell modes. If it rings or buzzes, maybe you can damp it with adhesive sheets or something. Or just make it from wood if the plastic duct becomes too much trouble.
I modeled this port to be 3D printed in PLA. Wall thickness is only 1/8", I'm wondering if the flat walls will resonate? I'd make it thicker but I have limited space on the baffle after adding the flange at the face.
I love that! Looks great!
I had some nice tweed grille cloth and these speakers being very, well, boxy, it seemed like a good reason to lean into the 'vintage monkey coffin' look. I mocked them up in sketchup, adding a 4" plinth that looked proportional. I have a teenage boy who likes to use my listening room, and while he is pretty careful, his friends are likely to put a hole in my very expensive JBL woofers. So, removable grilles are mandatory. I'd actually like to raise the speakers a bit higher to get them closer to ear level. The plinth might grow to 10-12", but it starts to look pretty chunky. In that case maybe a hardwood stand is more appropriate.
It is simply Spotify. The app keeps getting better with each passing day, and it is clear to see the efforts the team put into building a very good app for music lovers. I've been using Spotify for a long time and haven't thought of making a change any time soon.
Sounds like it's going to be a cool build! You can probably radius the edge of the ports without any ill-effects. There's a formula for calculating the Helmholtz frequency of ports with radiused ends that could be used to see. But then again, that port is huge - in a cabinet tuned and designed for full-range use rather than as a subwoofer. So you won't hear any chuffing no matter how hard you push 'em.
4pi parts are on order JBL 2226/DE250 (and backorder, in the case of the DE250-8's) and in the mean time I'm starting to work out the details. I own a custom cabinet shop with 5x10 CNC router and edgebander, so building boxes is kind of my thing. But doing the engineering of building a speaker is way beyond my mental capacity so I'm glad to have found this design. I've built several kits before including Zaph Audio 5.2 and Adire Audio MTM. I don't want to mess with success so I'll be sticking with the script for the most part. -Would it be a bad idea to fillet the mouth of the port with a 3D printed flare? Or 3DP the entire port with flares at both ends? Presumably sharp outside corners produce turbulence and most ports I've seen have this feature. Would I want to change the length of the port if I do this? -I have 2+ sheets of A1 MDF with a walnut veneer that are very nice and even better, free. I think most folks are using 18mm or thicker baltic birch these days, so I'll plan for more internal bracing. What is the intended enclosure volume? For whatever volume I displace internally I'll need to add to the total enclosure volume, yes? Which outer dimension is preferable to modify? -I'm considering an inset baffle to allow a removable cloth grille panel to set flush. -I will probably integrate a base, maybe some nice hardwood legs and try to make the speaker a bit less boxy looking.
I enjoy the beats before even thinking about the lyrics. I am of the opinion that it is easier to make good songs once the beat is right, unlike the other way around. I mean, no matter how good the lyrics are, if the beat does not fit in, it always makes no sense to me.
The most popular genre in my area is surely Hip Hop or Rap with top artists such as Drake and Kendrick Lamar topping the list of rappers who are making waves in the industry. Some are very good at playing Taylor Swift songs and she is very good at doing pop-type songs. So, it is totally dependent on what a lot of people enjoy watching.
noodle wrote on Fri, 03 November 2023 14:52 When I've dog-sat and cat-sat, I didn't like leaving them with the house and neighborhood quiet. I would leave on the TV or one of the YouTube channels for pets. This is a hack that many homes should use for two reasons. The first is for safety reasons as leaving the TV on would make any intruder believe that someone is actually home. The second one is that having the dog or cat watch the TV gives them an escape from boredom with something they can look at when you are away from home.
Kurt wrote on Sun, 11 January 2026 03:03 I am someone who's invested a lot in keeping tube amps alive and it saddens me when I see some myths about thermionic emission around some communities. Which ones have you seen recently? Personally, I have one that I've seen and I would like to clear the air about them. I've seen this myth that tube amps are inferior to solid-state. I believe this is absolute nonsense. I mean we've got recent tubes from brands such as Tung-Sol performing absolutely better than vintage Nos, for example. I've got the boutique 50W head doing well since 2019 when I got it. I've only done some routine bias checks and occasional tube replacement. I believe that reliability comes from great power supply design and not basically from pushing tubes beyond specs. Which other ones do you have in mind that you think are wrong? Hi Kurt, I have also heard that myth about SS being better. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have a couple of posts in this string, below, mentioning just a few differences, and why SS will never be perfect to the source but Tube amplifier can be extremely close. One caveat to mention is that as one gets closer to perfect accuracy to the source, one must be more careful to the "little" things. As one example, I have been R&D analog since 1980, delving into audio perception and component design, and use multiple 6N pure copper speaker wires in parallel, for both minimal inductance at high frequencies, and total gauge for optimal woofer damping (at least the best one can obtain). Besides those two, one must consider a flat response over the entire audio band since the speaker impedance changes (usually cone types) from minimal to maximum. I have found that there is an optimal total gauge that will give flattest frequency response, and most natural sound. https://audioroundtable.com/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=21561&start=0& Thanks for starting this string Kurt. Cheers pos
I am someone who's invested a lot in keeping tube amps alive and it saddens me when I see some myths about thermionic emission around some communities. Which ones have you seen recently? Personally, I have one that I've seen and I would like to clear the air about them. I've seen this myth that tube amps are inferior to solid-state. I believe this is absolute nonsense. I mean we've got recent tubes from brands such as Tung-Sol performing absolutely better than vintage Nos, for example. I've got the boutique 50W head doing well since 2019 when I got it. I've only done some routine bias checks and occasional tube replacement. I believe that reliability comes from great power supply design and not basically from pushing tubes beyond specs. Which other ones do you have in mind that you think are wrong?
George wrote on Mon, 27 October 2025 10:16 Helen wrote on Sun, 26 October 2025 03:23 We listen to beats more than the lyrics nowadays. I do bother about lyrics when I'm listening to music because it will help me to know what I'm listening and what the song is all about. I do search about the lyrics of music if I wanted to join in singing the song. That is for me as well. I believe there are a couple of songs that have deep lyrics that we should always listen to and sing along when the music is playing. How to Love by Lil Wayne has a lot of deep meanings and when I listen to that song, it reminds me a lot about my past love life. Yes, there are songs that have deep lyrics that we should always listen to. Even if we are not singing along, we need to know what they are saying in the song. Some people will come out and talk about nothing except having good beat but I never wanted that because good lyrics made a good song.
George wrote on Mon, 27 October 2025 10:16 Helen wrote on Sun, 26 October 2025 03:23 We listen to beats more than the lyrics nowadays. I do bother about lyrics when I'm listening to music because it will help me to know what I'm listening and what the song is all about. I do search about the lyrics of music if I wanted to join in singing the song. That is for me as well. I believe there are a couple of songs that have deep lyrics that we should always listen to and sing along when the music is playing. How to Love by Lil Wayne has a lot of deep meanings and when I listen to that song, it reminds me a lot about my past love life. There are many songs that I have to check out the lyrics and sing along. Every of Michael Jackson songs are what I look for the lyrics because all of his songs are talking about children, the world and suffering too. I can download the lyrics, learn it so that I will not be confused if any of the song is playing.
I don't like singing when I'm in a bathroom. Sometimes, I can be listening to song from the background but I can't sing along with it rather I can hum the song. I don't have a nice voice for singing.