As part of our forthcoming YouTube video series "Ask A Tech", I'll be using our 15" knock down speaker cabinets. Inspired by Zilch's EconoWave movement, I'm trying to create a 2-way HiFi speaker using PA components with focus on a low-cost, high-value design with maximum dispersion characteristics (constant directivity).

Another inspiration of this design is to make this an open source project (which, to me, was Zilch's motive). I'd like to create a foundation by which others can build upon.

The first question I pose is, what cabinet finish? Personally, I prefer the lighter tones of the birch and would love to see the natural waves in the panels to pop. I am, however, open to any and all suggestions for what you would like to see me try.

I will be using the 15" Dayton PA Woofer with the Dayton 12" Waveguide mated to a Selenium D220Ti. The cabinet will be, of course, ported using dual 3" Precision Ports. To make this more of a home HiFi speaker and to keep build time to a minimum, I'm using a set of the Dayton Binding Posts.

With the parts selected, I can keep my build time low which leaves maximum time for experimentation. One of my goals is to see how the D220Ti responds to the waveguide and how low I can push it, with regards to the crossover, and what modifications to the waveguide have a pronounced usable effect.

I have drawn up the front and rear panels using Google Sketchup, and plan to make each and every file I generate available to Tech Talk members. Additionally I will be generating files that follow the .frd and .zma format so that anyone can take what I generate, with regards to the installed measurements of the drivers, so that anyone can create a repeatable design using the same drivers tailored to their taste using Jeff Bagby's PCD.

One of the eye openers, so far, is that the D220Ti has a natural Fs of 2200 Hz unloaded. Once in the waveguide, the Fs dropped to roughly 660 Hz. I did not expect that type of drop as the waveguide, so I thought, didn't seem to really be loading the driver...