Modular Approach

[rickcraig]

What do you think?

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=46834

[Erik F]

What is the purpose? Looks nice enough.

[Pete Schumacher ®]

Nicely done.

I'd considered doing something similar many times.

I would use all PE cabinets.

[Paul Carmody]

I like cabinets that can be "broken down" because they're easier to move with one person.

On the other hand, with the two bass boxes stacked, it looks a bit too "temporary"

[rickcraig]

What is the purpose? Looks nice enough.

A kit design that would allow for someone to use the PE cabinets. More flexibility in driver choices as well.

[evilskillit]

John Marsh over at HT guide made a modular 3 way using nothing but PE boxes. It was an exercise in building a really nice speaker for someone who doesn't want giant cabinets or doesn't have the time or tools to build them. It turned out quite nicely as well.

[auracle]

I've thought of doing it but reflections off the lower unit have discouraged me from following through. With limited vertical dispersion drivers like ribbons, the negative side effects are probably minimal though. Any time domain anomalies to report with that setup?

[DS-21]

Why would anyone waste their subwoofers but putting them under the mains instead of properly placing them around the room?

[evilskillit]

Why would anyone waste their subwoofers but putting them under the mains instead of properly placing them around the room?

Maybe those "subwoofers" are playing up above 80hz, then they pretty much have to be there.

[Face]

Why would anyone waste their subwoofers but putting them under the mains instead of properly placing them around the room?
Because most people don't want cabinets and wiring scattered all over the room.

[DS-21]

Because most people don't want cabinets and wiring scattered all over the room.

Then most people aren't gonna get high fidelity.

It's really as simple as that.

In a real domestic living room, putting the bass units where the mid/treble units is nothing but a recipe for upper bass disaster. Nobody who cares about high fidelity music reproduction will stand for that sort of thing. They will find creative ways to get high fidelity in an aesthetically-pleasing way. (Subs that look like other things, in-wall subs, etc.)

[DS-21]

Maybe those "subwoofers" are playing up above 80hz, then they pretty much have to be there.

Not true. A decent distributed subwoofer system can be run much higher than that without affecting localization. Especially if the mains can be run full-range.

[evilskillit]

Not true. A decent distributed subwoofer system can be run much higher than that without affecting localization. Especially if the mains can be run full-range.

True but running the mains at full range takes away one of the big benefits of running subs, being able to not have to send low bass to your mains, making them run at lower distortion and allowing your mains amp to not have to work as hard.

The point of bass bins under mains is basically having a 3 way system thats easier to move than a 1 piece 3 way system. Its just something some people do.

Just to scrounge up a few off the top of my head.

http://www.rjbaudio.com/Daedalus/daedalus.html
http://www.htguide.com/forum/showpost.php4?p=503458&postcount=73
http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Andromeda.html
http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Andromeda%20Mk-II.html
http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Mezzo%20Galactica.html
http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Modulus.htmlhttp://speakerdesignworks.com/Exclamations.html

[DS-21]

Just because regularly people do it, that doesn't make it a non-stupid idea.

People also regularly think wires sound different.

[evilskillit]

Just because regularly people do it, that doesn't make it a non-stupid idea.

People also regularly think wires sound different.

So having a woofer below a mid and a tweet in a single cabinet is cool, but if the cabinets are separate parts its dumb?

[Pete Schumacher ®]

So having a woofer below a mid and a tweet in a single cabinet is cool, but if the cabinets are separate parts its dumb?

I LOVE my 12" 3-ways with the RSS315, even if the sub is located under the MT. For 2 channel listening, I wouldn't really want to change a thing.

[shawn_a]

I've been thinking about taking this same tack for a while. I have a pair of the .25 cu. ft. PE boxes in black that are still un-purposed. I figured I would pick up a pair of the 1.0 cu. ft. jobbies and drop a woofer or two into and make a pretty 3-way out of the two pair of boxes. Nice implementation though, Rick.

shawn

[tom_s]

I like it and I'll bet they sound great.

But I agree with Paul-the 2 stacked bins makes it look a little like a mini PA system. I wonder if not rounding over the mating edges of the bins would help them look more like a single unit.

[rickcraig]

I've thought of doing it but reflections off the lower unit have discouraged me from following through. With limited vertical dispersion drivers like ribbons, the negative side effects are probably minimal though. Any time domain anomalies to report with that setup?

Well the reflections will be there regardless of what you do. Don Keele did some measurements of different systems at various microphone heights and distances and it was interesting to see the changes. This particular ribbon has foam guides (not pictured) at the top and bottom which improve the vertical coverage.

[rickcraig]

Why would anyone waste their subwoofers but putting them under the mains instead of properly placing them around the room?

They're not subwoofers - the subs will be placed elsewhere in the room.

[JRT]

A kit design that would allow for someone to use the PE cabinets. More flexibility in driver choices as well.

You probably already thought of this, but...

I would suggest including cut baffles in your kit as an option.



.

[rickcraig]

You probably already thought of this, but...

I would suggest including cut baffles in your kit as an option.



.

Yes, we do that quite often for customers.

[LouC]

If you could come up with a "contrast" band between those bottom two cubes, (maybe a satin aluminum strip, or even fake plastic chrome) it would go a long way toward making it look like a system.

[evilskillit]

If you could come up with a "contrast" band between those bottom two cubes, (maybe a satin aluminum strip, or even fake plastic chrome) it would go a long way toward making it look like a system.

Hrm, I do sort of like the industiral/minimalist look of a stack of boxes but yeah a white or stainless strip connecting the two would look pretty slick.

[Face]

If you could come up with a "contrast" band between those bottom two cubes, (maybe a satin aluminum strip, or even fake plastic chrome) it would go a long way toward making it look like a system.That sounds tacky.

[LouC]

That would be correct if it's self adhesive.

[Taterworks]

Rick, what is the mid? Just going by sight (poly dust cap, generic-looking surround, paper cone?) it doesn't look worthy of the tweeter.

[rickcraig]

Rick, what is the mid? Just going by sight (poly dust cap, generic-looking surround, paper cone?) it doesn't look worthy of the tweeter.

Nextel cone Audax mid for high sensitivity.