My very first build

[Palos]

Hi All I am an infant in the DIY world, my very first build came as a need to replace my Logitech z2300 sats which blew, so i came across zaph B3S which I built and they filled my need, but I thought they were too big for the purpose until I disconnected them from the sub amp and hooked them up to a separate amp WOW after building them six months ago i am now in love with them. I however used a 20ohm resistor instead of 30 because thats what is got at the store and i wound my own coils which came out like crap, I don't have any measuring tools so i can't say that the coils inpedience are exact as per zaph's design or that my build responds the same, but to my ignorant ears these are a sonic marvel. My questions are how much will the resistor's difference affect my design as oppose to zaph's and also the coils although they are not known. As advised for beginners I want to build proven designs but I don't just want to build good sounding projects I want to know why I'm putting what where and the effects of differing so i can be better educated and develop my own ear. This is embarrassing but i don't know how to attach my pics

[Palos]

Re: My very first build

I think I managed to upload my pics

[50 watt head]

Re: My very first build

I like the look -- it reminds me of tolexed guitar amps/cabs :D What did you wrap your baffle with?

[Chris Roemer]

Re: My very first build

I like the look -- it reminds me of tolexed guitar amps/cabs :D What did you wrap your baffle with?

If you wound your own coils (w/out measurement equipment), and they're used in a "notch" filter (like I think they are), then your notch very likely completely missed its mark.

You should really get a copy of "Speakerbuilding 201" and read it, over, and over, and over, . . .

Chris

[Johnnycat]

Re: My very first build

While Chris is right... your hand winding and dif resistor are more than likely not true to the orig design... but as you said "i am now in love with them". If you love them than what is the problem?

Now that the DIY bug bit ya you can always go back with the correct values for the crossover and see if you like it or not.

It sounds like you got lucky with your design, it doesn't always work out that way :rolleyes:

[rogoll]

Re: My very first build

You might want to invest in one of these ---> http://www.mcmelectronics.com/produc...-8155-/72-8155

[critofur]

Re: My very first build

You could always try to see if some old PC mic somebody has lying around works for a high enough frequency to measure the peak.

Then, just keep running sweeps and you can wind/unwind the coil while watching the response change with each sweep.

Even if the mike is not accurate, you'll be able to tell when you've reached exactly the right value on the inductor.



EDIT: Of course, if they already sound fine, then there is no need to do the above, but it may be a useful tip for anybody else who doesn't want to spend the money on a "real" measurement mic or LCR meter, build a cheap DIY mic, or setup software to use their PC as an LCR meter...

[Silver1omo]

Re: My very first build

You could always try to see if some old PC mic somebody has lying around works for a high enough frequency to measure the peak.

If you have a receiver with audissey eq you may use the mic:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1328136

And you can use the evaluation version of ARTA, it will let you do everything but save.

[Palos]

Re: My very first build

First of thanks for all the replies, I don't like in the U.S. and shipping is a killer for me the B3S shipping and taxes cost me 3X the cost of the drivers themselves while caps and resistors are available here coils aren't readily available hence the reason i chose to DIY. I am proud of my build but it has design and construction flaws. I used synthetic leather to cover the entire design, speaker 201 and loudspeaker design cookbook are on my list to order soon, I don't have a ht receiver (yet) I was looking at the HQRP LCR meter and I do have some pc parts lying around so putting together a DIY LCR is a welcomed option with some more info. My purchases are somewhat limited because of my credit card, so amazon is usually my first stop. I do want to build a DIY mic the panasonic mic capsules is proving difficult to access for me, as for software ARTA I'll try to get, winisd and unibox I have and am familiarizing myself with. My intension is to one of these designs next Amethyst, Overnight Sensation or Nano Neos.

[Silver1omo]

Re: My very first build

They look really good, and the important thing is that you enjoy the sound.
What did you use to wind your coils?

[Palos]

Re: My very first build

Thanks I hand wound the coils onto PVC tubes with the results of an online inductance calculator it was a disaster I am working on a coil winding jig will let you know how that comes out.