Home » Sponsored » Pi Speakers » 4 Pi and 3 pi subwoofer (Plans please)
4 Pi and 3 pi subwoofer [message #83344] Fri, 12 August 2016 14:56 Go to next message
Heathkit is currently offline  Heathkit
Messages: 6
Registered: March 2013
Location: Central Florida
Esquire
4 Pi and 3 pi subwoofer plans please.
Thanks!
Re: 4 Pi and 3 pi subwoofer [message #83345 is a reply to message #83344] Fri, 12 August 2016 16:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18670
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)

You've got mail!

Re: 4 Pi and 3 pi subwoofer [message #83346 is a reply to message #83344] Fri, 12 August 2016 17:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Heathkit is currently offline  Heathkit
Messages: 6
Registered: March 2013
Location: Central Florida
Esquire
Thank you!

I apologize if these have been asked before, the search function is not very smart.

1. Will the design be compromised if the port is moved to the rear and the horn is centered above the woofer? Is having the horn off-center actually facilitating this design? It's just not so aesthetically pleasing to me.

2. Is the box volume a compromise for WAF? Can it be made bigger for better low end response?

3. I prefer the HF driver to be at ear level when listening, so about 40" for me. This would mean placing the speaker on stands or redesigning it to be a taller floor-standing cabinet. Would this terribly upset the balance (requiring a crossover tweak), because of changing the floor bounce cancellation?

4. Is the Acoustic Elegance TD15M another good woofer choice for this design? I understand the crossover would need some adjustment.

Thank you very much in advance.

Richard
Re: 4 Pi and 3 pi subwoofer [message #83347 is a reply to message #83346] Fri, 12 August 2016 17:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18670
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)

Answers by numbers:

1. Will the design be compromised if the port is moved to the rear and the horn is centered above the woofer? Is having the horn off-center actually facilitating this design? It's just not so aesthetically pleasing to me.

If you don't like the aesthetics of the four π loudspeaker with its port next to the waveguide, you might consider the three π loudspeaker. The waveguide is centered in that design.

I spent a lot of time in development of both these designs, and they've been tested extensively. They also have matured for many years, having several units in the field. That gives confidence in the designs.

So while some changes are pretty trivial and there are certainly lots of ways to skin a cat, you do have to consider that any changes are unproven until you test them. It is the design and test time and the years of maturity that you throw away when making mods.

If you still want to consider moving the port, let me say that there have been a few mods that have been tested. I'd be pretty comfortable with those. None move the port to the back though. If you want to do that, the thing to watch for when testing is internal standing wave modes. Watch for response ripple and "blips" in the midbass and lower midrange.

2. Is the box volume a compromise for WAF? Can it be made bigger for better low end response?

Beyond the things discussed above, also remember that we're using flanking subs to provide deeper extension while simlultaneously smoothing room modes and self-interference notches from nearest boundaries.

3. I prefer the HF driver to be at ear level when listening, so about 40" for me. This would mean placing the speaker on stands or redesigning it to be a taller floor-standing cabinet. Would this terribly upset the balance (requiring a crossover tweak), because of changing the floor bounce cancellation?

I would suggest stand-mounting the mains and setting two of the subs in a flanking configuration, slightly behind, below and beside the mains they're flanking.

4. Is the Acoustic Elegance TD15M another good woofer choice for this design? I understand the crossover would need some adjustment.

The four π loudspeaker is designed to use either the Eminence Omega 15 or the JBL 2226H woofer. if you want to use an AE woofer, consider the three π design. It was tested with the TD12S. However, we did have some problems with those units in the past, so please be sure to verify driver response between 500Hz and 1kHz when using that driver.

Re: 4 Pi and 3 pi subwoofer [message #83353 is a reply to message #83347] Sun, 14 August 2016 13:46 Go to previous message
Heathkit is currently offline  Heathkit
Messages: 6
Registered: March 2013
Location: Central Florida
Esquire
Thank you very much for taking the time to answer everything. I will keep the design as is, use stands and flanking subs as recommended.
Previous Topic: 3PI shipping
Next Topic: Help me choose the apropriate speaker to built
Goto Forum:
  


Current Time: Thu Mar 28 16:52:17 CDT 2024

Sponsoring Organizations

DIY Audio Projects
DIY Audio Projects
OddWatt Audio
OddWatt Audio
Pi Speakers
Pi Speakers
Prosound Shootout
Prosound Shootout
Smith & Larson Audio
Smith & Larson Audio
Tubes For Amps
TubesForAmps.com

Lone Star Audiofest