Finally: The TriTrix: (the 8-ohm Triune) *PIC*

[curt_c]

Provided Link: The TriTrix


Yes, it looks just like the Triune, but since it uses different drivers, I felt it would be confusing unless we gave it a new name. As in the original Triune, this is a ‘value’ system with drivers and crossover parts costing just over sixty bucks per speaker, and like the Triune, it has a five element crossover.

The TriTrix trades a few Hz of low end extension and a bit of system sensitivity for a much smaller enclosures. This should make them a boon for a HT setup. The new shieldie exhibits something like a BBC dip, but a smoother top octave than its predecessor. While the resultant frequency response looks far from flat, you’d never know it from listening.

I built the Transmission line version of these, as I could use the same enclosures pretty easily. I’ve spent a few hours listening to a variety of music, and they continue to impress. Allison Krauss sounds very natural, and the pluck of the guitars, mandolins, and banjo are all well represented, and very natural sounding. Male vocals have the correct weight. Piano sounds balanced, with a fairly solid image. The bass is adequate for most music, and may get a bit deeper as they break in. A sub will be a must for HT of course….

On axis the TriTrix TL's have a bit more presence in the vocals, and consequently are a bit forward sounding, but this but this quickly becomes less noticeable slightly off axis. I suspect this on axis response will be a advantage to dialog intelligibility when used as HT speakers. While I’ve not built the center channel version, Part of the design criteria was minimizing the variation in the off axis response. The tonal balance of the TL’s vary little between sitting and standing, so I suspect they will perform as well as they model in that regard.

Do they have flaws? Well sure they do, but IMO they are subtle, and I attribute them mostly to somewhat higher harmonic distortion than my current ‘reference’ speakers. –Realize that I’m somewhat jaded, as I’ve been unfairly comparing them to a system where I could build 5 TriTrix’s for the cost of just one woofer in the reference system. I think you will find the TriTrix will compare favoribly to commercial designs costing much more...

I’ve not had a chance to provide enclosure data for the sealed and vented designs, but sufficient information is in the write-up to make the necessary changes to the Triune enclosures. The sealed version for instance would be the same as the Triune except the external depth would only be 8.25” instead of 11”.

Based on listening comparisons between the TriTrix and the Triune, I’m going to recommend building the TriTrix unless you have some older Shieldie’s laying around.

Oh, and please feel free to critique my write-up for typo’s, missing and erroneous information, etc.

C

[lakkdainen]

Looks very good. I'm off to fill my shopping cart...

[dancarroll]

but from work I did with Curt on the design I called the Tradition and Curt called the Vertex, I can tell all doubters that Curt is a Crossover God Walking On Earth Among Mere Mortals (say that 3 times fast!)

And Curt, how did you know I was hoping to build a new CC this summer and give my old Radio Shack RCA to my son?

One very very serious question: sealed or ported? With an F10 of 60, can I really get away with sealed? I would like to for size reasons, but don't want to leave bass out of the CC that should really be there.

Oh, and by the way: Thanks once again, Mr. Campbell!

Pics of the Tradition:

[jamesbeane]

Woot! i can do ported with the new boxes. Eh still no 6.5 with this version, must be to close the the dayton III's

[shawn_a]

Nice variant, Curt. I still haven't heard Jay's TL's but one day.... one day I will put my ear to them. There will be a point in time when I will build all the speakers I want to hear in my lifetime.

shawn

[paul_n_oneal]

> Yes, it looks just like the Triune, but
> since it uses different drivers, I felt it
> would be confusing unless we gave it a new
> name. As in the original Triune, this is a
> ‘value’ system with drivers and crossover
> parts costing just over sixty bucks per
> speaker, and like the Triune, it has a five
> element crossover.

> The TriTrix trades a few Hz of low end
> extension and a bit of system sensitivity
> for a much smaller enclosures. This should
> make them a boon for a HT setup. The new
> shieldie exhibits something like a BBC dip,
> but a smoother top octave than its
> predecessor. While the resultant frequency
> response looks far from flat, you’d never
> know it from listening.

> I built the Transmission line version of
> these, as I could use the same enclosures
> pretty easily. I’ve spent a few hours
> listening to a variety of music, and they
> continue to impress. Allison Krauss sounds
> very natural, and the pluck of the guitars,
> mandolins, and banjo are all well
> represented, and very natural sounding. Male
> vocals have the correct weight. Piano sounds
> balanced, with a fairly solid image. The
> bass is adequate for most music, and may get
> a bit deeper as they break in. A sub will be
> a must for HT of course….

> On axis the TriTrix TL's have a bit more
> presence in the vocals, and consequently are
> a bit forward sounding, but this but this
> quickly becomes less noticeable slightly off
> axis. I suspect this on axis response will
> be a advantage to dialog intelligibility
> when used as HT speakers. While I’ve not
> built the center channel version, Part of
> the design criteria was minimizing the
> variation in the off axis response. The
> tonal balance of the TL’s vary little
> between sitting and standing, so I suspect
> they will perform as well as they model in
> that regard.

> Do they have flaws? Well sure they do, but
> IMO they are subtle, and I attribute them
> mostly to somewhat higher harmonic
> distortion than my current ‘reference’
> speakers. –Realize that I’m somewhat jaded,
> as I’ve been unfairly comparing them to a
> system where I could build 5 TriTrix’s for
> the cost of just one woofer in the reference
> system. I think you will find the TriTrix
> will compare favoribly to commercial designs
> costing much more...

> I’ve not had a chance to provide enclosure
> data for the sealed and vented designs, but
> sufficient information is in the write-up to
> make the necessary changes to the Triune
> enclosures. The sealed version for instance
> would be the same as the Triune except the
> external depth would only be 8.25” instead
> of 11”.

> Based on listening comparisons between the
> TriTrix and the Triune, I’m going to
> recommend building the TriTrix unless you
> have some older Shieldie’s laying around.

> Oh, and please feel free to critique my
> write-up for typo’s, missing and erroneous
> information, etc.

> C

Nice job curt! I'm sure it will be a popular design.

[curt_c]

> One very very serious question: sealed or
> ported? With an F10 of 60, can I really get
> away with sealed? I would like to for size
> reasons, but don't want to leave bass out of
> the CC that should really be there.

Hey Dan!
While its a little on the high side, I'd think the sealed CC would be acceptable, -but then thats just one man's opinion...

C

[Wolf]

I attribute them
> mostly to somewhat higher harmonic
> distortion than my current ‘reference’
> speakers. –Realize that I’m somewhat jaded,
> as I’ve been unfairly comparing them to a
> system where I could build 5 TriTrix’s for
> the cost of just one woofer in the reference
> system.

I'm curious! Which woofer are you using that is that prodigiou$$$? Is it the ATD? I'd like to know your impressions if it is. I will never have that kind of coin available, but can always dream!
Later,
Wolf

[darkkhild]

Curt,

I was wondering if you could send me the overall cutouts for the TL. I looked at your site and found the main dimensions but was lost for the actual cut length for the line witin the box. I am hoping to build these very soon. Thanks for your time.
-B-

[curt_c]

> Curt,

> I was wondering if you could send me the
> overall cutouts for the TL. I looked at your
> site and found the main dimensions but was
> lost for the actual cut length for the line
> witin the box. I am hoping to build these
> very soon. Thanks for your time.
> -B-

29" should work fine. The actual length is not all that critical. The angle is roughly 12 degrees.

C

[curt_c]

> I'm curious! Which woofer are you using that
> is that prodigiou$$$?

It's the Accuton C220-T6, -And no, its not mine. Amazing clean bass from a 8" though.

I'll be comparing it against another design using 2 RS225's in a few weeks. It should make for an interesting match up...

C