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View Full Version : Hey Bill Fitzmaurice point me in the right direction


dthomas
05-30-2010, 08:45 PM
I want to build some low cost PA speakers.

I am considering using 4 of these: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=272-306

With a pair of these per side: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=290-380&ctab=1#Tabs

I have measured the Goldwood woofers so I can build a passive crossover to get them to roll off where ever I want. But I am a little unclear on the whole peizo tweeter thing and want to understand the best way to cross them over.

The cabinets will be 2.5ft3 vented and tuned to about 46Hz. My question is will these peizos play down to 2KHz? Also if I add 22 ohm resistors in parallel with each of the peizos what cap value do you I use to get them to roll off reasonably with the Peizos. Or am I better off to go active.

I have a behringer A500 to drive them but could add some LM3886s to drive the peizo tweeter array and cross them over active if that made more sense. I just wanted to put in a passive crossover and use just the Behringer to power the whole set up. Or should I just go with a good compression horn?

I have about zero real life experience with a peizo so I am looking for some guidance on what to do. This will be a small gig setup for my son's band.
billfitzmaurice
05-30-2010, 09:46 PM
I personally wouldn't use either of those components, not when you can get much better quality still for a reasonable price.
dthomas
05-30-2010, 10:14 PM
I personally wouldn't use either of those components, not when you can get much better quality still for a reasonable price.

What would you recommend. I am trying to get the most on a tight budget of around $300 for drivers and crossover.
billfitzmaurice
05-31-2010, 08:27 AM
What would you recommend. I am trying to get the most on a tight budget of around $300 for drivers and crossover.I can't recommend drivers because you can't separate the driver from the enclosure design. I will recommend that you find an enclosure design that meets your needs and use drivers appropriate/recommended for it.
Paul O
05-31-2010, 10:05 AM
Single(or dual) piezo arrangements like this sound like ***, any dynamic compession driver will produce much better midrange clarity. I suggest you try one of the Pyle CD drivers with a cheap horn flare..
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=292-2502
http://www.parts-express.com//pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&PartNumber=270-095&DID=7&CFID=30831009&CFTOKEN=62773642
dthomas
05-31-2010, 10:34 AM
Single(or dual) piezo arrangements like this sound like ***, any dynamic compession driver will produce much better midrange clarity. I suggest you try one of the Pyle CD drivers with a cheap horn flare..
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=292-2502
http://www.parts-express.com//pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&PartNumber=270-095&DID=7&CFID=30831009&CFTOKEN=62773642

What would you recommend for woofers? I am new to this pro sound thing but my son has a band and I would like to be able to put the whole band through a pair of speakers. So I need fairly low bass output and clean midrange. I am hoping to get away with a vented cabinet but am not unwilling to build a horn loaded cabinet if that is what is really needed.

How low will the Pyle compression drivers cross and still sound good? 1500Hz? I can handle doing a crossover for those.

Venues are pretty small. Also could go active if I needed but I was hoping to keep cost fairly low.
Paul O
05-31-2010, 05:04 PM
My pic for swiss army knife of drivers that doesn't cost a boatload is the Eminence Delta12LF, good power handling, sensitivity, and extension for the price. You still need subs to handle a whole band but in a small room you could likely get away without any if these young guys are typical.. they'll have more than enough guitar amplification to fill the room.
And if you're going to push the comp driver low I'd also suggest upsizing the horn, http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=270-300