Virage - let's play with some expensive drivers

[djg]

I made these stands (with booster seats) that really expanded my PC 2.1 desk.

[Paul Carmody]

I think Chuck is technically correct, although I know what Chris meant.

I do tend to voice my designs with a slight bit of low bass ooomph somewhere under 80 Hz, so sealing it may lose some of that goodness

I also do tend to include a full 5-6 dB of Baffle Step Compensation in most of my freestanding designs. But that shouldn't be impacted by porting. It WOULD however be impacted by placement on a desk. So that may be something to consider in placement.

[isaeagle4031]

Most of Paul's designs get at least some BSC "boost" from his box tuning (even the OSes). Check it out ...

I have. The boost from the smaller designs comes from tuning a little above the flat response, about 1-2db. This is not the same as BSC. If it were, every time one of Pauls or any one elses designs were altered to a sealed alignment or to a tower, the crossover would need to be altered. That's not the case, now is it?

[Chris Roemer]

Most of Paul's designs get at least some BSC "boost" from his box tuning (even the OSes). Check it out ...

[isaeagle4031]

In 0.3cf, I'd use a 2"id x 8" long port. This would still get down into the mid 50s.
Going closed will lose an octave on the bottom end - so you'd basically be paying through the nose for a woofer with extended bass, only to choke it off around 80Hz (and lose Paul's BSC, too).

Why not just go with the Carreras?

You are not losing any baffle step by going sealed....Baffle step is occurring around the 200hz range based on the width of the baffle.

[Chris Roemer]

In 0.3cf, I'd use a 2"id x 8" long port. This would still get down into the mid 50s.
Going closed will lose an octave on the bottom end - so you'd basically be paying through the nose for a woofer with extended bass, only to choke it off around 80Hz (and lose Paul's BSC, too).

Why not just go with the Carreras?

[isaeagle4031]

Since desktop space is a premium, could the same crossover be used in a sealed 0.2 to 0.3 cu ft enclosure?

If you are not greatly altering the baffle dimensions in relation to the width or driver locations, the crossover will not need to be altered.

[dalbert02]

Since desktop space is a premium, could the same crossover be used in a sealed 0.2 to 0.3 cu ft enclosure?

[981CS]

Always wanted to build the Carreras but now I'm torn...

Also love that the Virage don't dip lower than a 5 ohm load. Us vintage receiver/amp folks appreciate that.

[Paul Carmody]

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One question thats always in the back of my mind with designs like this is is there a electronics barrier of entry with this? I have a Pioneer Elite A9 from the mid-late 00s, thinking of upgrade to a Schitt Freya, and maybe a Bifrost (not sure on amp). And if I listen to mostly modern pop / rock should I even bother? I know a lot of modern stuff isn't going to sound on anything really particularly highly compressed and poorly mixed rock but I'm discovering that modern pop and electronic and sound pretty impressive and scale pretty well on high-end stuff.

I'm not much of a gear snob. I'm usually happy with upper mid-fi stuff like NAD or Sony ES or the higher-end Marantz, Yamaha, etc. They are usually the best bang for the buck, and on their higher-end models they don't cheap out on parts. For DAC and front end I usually use Pro Audio stuff like Presonus or Focusrite or the like. Again, best bang for the buck.
Could I go higher, sure. But the other thing I like about the Mid Fi and Pro Audio stuff is that it's usually built to take abuse, unlike boutique audiophile gear, which can be delicate and fussy. YMMV

[Operandi]

End game two-ways are always appealing to me for some reason, and those are some very sexy drivers so this is pretty temping but not in for foreseeable future but its going on the list. I remember Erin's Audio Corner reviewing that woofer and getting some very impressive results so its good to see it put to good use. I think Erin tested it as part of Purifi kit but he really didn't care for the tweeter they used.

One question thats always in the back of my mind with designs like this is is there a electronics barrier of entry with this? I have a Pioneer Elite A9 from the mid-late 00s, thinking of upgrade to a Schitt Freya, and maybe a Bifrost (not sure on amp). And if I listen to mostly modern pop / rock should I even bother? I know a lot of modern stuff isn't going to sound on anything really particularly highly compressed and poorly mixed rock but I'm discovering that modern pop and electronic and sound pretty impressive and scale pretty well on high-end stuff.

[Paul Carmody]

And of course, the obligatory question: how do these compare to the Carreras?
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Hmm, a worth while question.

The bass on the Virage extends lower, obviously. Although both drivers have outstanding--if not untouchable --bass response for their size.

I think the Carrera still has better midrange, and I'm sure there's a physics -based reason why a 5" woofer delivers more even FR through the 600--2000 Hz range than a 7" does, but I'm not a physicist. So I'll leave that open to conjecture for now.

The treble is no clear winner. The Carrera had greater pinpoint imaging, but the Virage has a wider sound stage.

[dld]

gonna have to have a carrera vs virage shootout here. gimme a couple, three weeks.

[craigk]

Good question

[ernperkins]

And of course, the obligatory question: how do these compare to the Carreras?
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