Help w/New Project [message #18191] |
Wed, 26 October 2005 17:14  |
SteveBrown
Messages: 330 Registered: May 2009
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Grand Master |
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I've not been to this site before, but looks like lots of knowledgable folks from other parts of the www hang out here, so here goes with my quest... I see posts all the time asking "What should I do for low cost", "What should I do for computer speakers", "What should I do for HT speaks?" ... but what if what I want is a new reference level design?My audio brothers and sisters, my audio spirit is striving for a new project, a reference level, "I listen to it every day", kind of project. The problem is, I'm not that great at crossovers and all that math stuff. I can build any enclosure you can show me, and cost isn't a big problem (well, let's stay in the under $1000 range for a DIY project). What can I build that is high efficiency and, hopefully reaches a new level of audio high. My taste in music is jazz, classical, chamber, vintage rock. I'd prefer small to large designs and don't mind adding a sub if needed. My room is larger, probably 16 x 20 x 8. My audio trek has already taken me to Fostex land, where I've been happy, but wished for better low-mid weight and less "paper" sound. My quest has also taken me to a nice slice of pi called the Thermionic 3pi, but the WAF wasn't great, and I'd like more precise imaging. My quest has also run into open baffles of various sizes shapes and configurations. Right now, believe it or not, I'm listening to the guts of a Dynaco A-25 (improved tweeter and crossover) mounted in an OB, with a sub filling in below 150hz (but not high eff). This is to say, there is no particular design I'm partial to or hold sacred, but I generally feel that simple is better. And I like triodes, and low power amps and I love dynamics, so high eff is the way to go. Recently I've found myself aimlessly buying drivers on ebay, and have four Electro Voice vintage 12", high Qt drivers coming my way (Sp12b), and I've ordered some Arurm 2Gsi tweeters, but frankly, don't have a good idea what to do with all of them. The single driver site seemed to suggest BR, but the box would be very big. Okay, ramble is over. What should I build? I've got on hand FE167's, FE166's, FF85k's, a couple of vintage Utah 12's (high eff, low Qt, but cab needed), I have coming the speakers above (EV's and tweeters). I've got guts for 4 Dynaco A-25's... but I'm willing to buy what I need. What ideas can I get from the collective wisdom of this group? Again, if a crossover is needed, I'll need help. I'm okay in the woodworking department. What should I do?
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Re: Help w/New Project [message #18192 is a reply to message #18191] |
Thu, 27 October 2005 15:47   |
Manualblock
Messages: 4973 Registered: May 2009
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Illuminati (13th Degree) |
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Why are you restricted to those drivers you mention? If you can alter that combination there are good examples of the audio arts available. Before the deluge of opinions arrives and confuses the issue beyond restoration you might want to considor this. There are really only a small number of types of speaker designs and with your preference for low power you are even more limited. The Pi Threes would seem to be the best choice but you already x-ed that out so this leaves not a lot of wiggle room especially if you must stick to those drivers you mention. Single Driver speakers don't sound good on most music.
So; have you thought about a compound driver like the P-audio series? Smaller box and pin-point imaging. You can get much better sound by choosing good used speakers than by building your own for the same money if good sound is what you are after.
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Re: Help w/New Project [message #18200 is a reply to message #18195] |
Fri, 28 October 2005 06:46   |
SteveBrown
Messages: 330 Registered: May 2009
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Grand Master |
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The Orion's sound like an outstanding speaker, I've only seen a few marginal reviews (something about too heavy bass in some locations). But to be honest, my one reservation here is that I love to build, and mostly build amps of the tube variety. Orion takes away that fun by inserting a ton of SS filters and utilizing dedicated SS amps. But reading about Seigfried's work is what inspired me to try OB in the first place. I have gotten really nice results so I'm not convinced that, if drivers are used within their limits, we really need all that EQ in the signal path. The Basszilla is another variation that I've looked at - no EQ, but supposed to sound very nice. I've tried a similar arrangement with a Fostex FE167 OB on top of a bass bin, but could not get them integrated well (back to my comment about not being good with crossovers). I also found the Fostex to sound a bit thin even if they were working entierly in their comfortable range. That may be the wizzer artifacts, or it may just be the construction of the speaker, I don't know.
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