"New design, the "Cell" CNC machined loudspeaker with custom drive unit."

[Cncbydesign]

I just started on the construction of a new compact loudspeaker concept. From a technical standpoint is shares many of the same qualities and design goals as the Pluto but everything is custom. I experimented quite a bit with the aurasound 2" driver but it never delivered the good's at higher drive levels. My goal with this design will be a higher sensitivity 2" driver with better top end and overall higher output. I have no plans for the commercial sale of the design just wanted to tackle the industrial design challenge of building everything from the ground up. I hope to have the first prototype drive unit on the test bench next week. You can see my current progress at http://www.cncbydesign.com/CellProject.html


Cheers,
Nathan Allen
[email protected]

[MSaturn]

Re: "New design, the "Cell" CNC machined loudspeaker with custom drive unit."

I don't know which driver you're using, but have you tried the FR88 EX? IT can go way lower than 600Hz, I'm pretty sure.

Regardless, that looks really neat. Do you CNC machine things as your primary job? How much would a pretty standard (with a few little extras that the CNC setup would allow) speaker enclosure cost to fabricate?

[Cncbydesign]

Re: "New design, the "Cell" CNC machined loudspeaker with custom drive unit."

I have never used the FR88 EX can you send me a link? CNC work and CAD design are my primary business. For just one pair of speakers it would be very affordable. It would depend on the size (floor standing, bookshelf, monster coffin ect.) and what the "extra was" It would also be cheaper to ship "knocked down" unassembled cabinets.

It's a great tool for machining nice curvy baffles with large round overs and integral waveguides and such. I also do laser cutting which can work great for one piece neoprene gaskets for the drivers. Send me a basic drawing and I can get you a price. If you ever decided to run the same file the cost will go down. If you got a group of people together that all wanted projects done at the same time that would also lower the cost.

e-mail the drawing to [email protected]
or feel free to call [email protected] 801-814-9746 to discuss the design

Cheers,
Nathan Allen

[dbe]

Re: "New design, the "Cell" CNC machined loudspeaker with custom drive unit."

I have never used the FR88 EX can you send me a link? CNC work and CAD design are my primary business. For just one pair of speakers it would be very affordable. It would depend on the size (floor standing, bookshelf, monster coffin ect.) and what the "extra was" It would also be cheaper to ship "knocked down" unassembled cabinets.

It's a great tool for machining nice curvy baffles with large round overs and integral waveguides and such. I also do laser cutting which can work great for one piece neoprene gaskets for the drivers. Send me a basic drawing and I can get you a price. If you ever decided to run the same file the cost will go down. If you got a group of people together that all wanted projects done at the same time that would also lower the cost.

e-mail the drawing to [email protected]
or feel free to call [email protected] 801-814-9746 to discuss the design

Cheers,
Nathan Allen

Nate, VERY cool.

I have a friend that has a 3-axis CNC panel router and he produces some great looking projects. I assume yours is 3-axis, too. I know the 5-axis units are incredibly expensive and a pain in the bu** to program.

I'll be interested to see the final work. I'll be shooting you an email, too.

Dave

[MSaturn]

Re: "New design, the "Cell" CNC machined loudspeaker with custom drive unit."

here it is

I could model you a filter to tame the response + do some BSC if you like.

[spasticteapot]

Re: "New design, the "Cell" CNC machined loudspeaker with custom drive unit."

Have you considered using a small tweeter like the ND16 in a small pod, similar to the B&W 800 series? You'd get far superior treble dispersion with a simple 1st-order xover at ~8khz.

[Cncbydesign]

Re: "New design, the "Cell" CNC machined loudspeaker with custom drive unit."

FR88 EX The FR88 EX look good on paper! I'm going to order a pair up and see what they sounds like. At the larger 3" diameter I worry about beaming but aside from that it has a great response for a 3" driver.

Check out the linkwitzlab [email protected] http://www.linkwitzlab.com/ it shares many of the same design goals and was my "technical" inspiration for the Cell. My visual inspiration has come from else ware as the pluto is downright ugly in my opinion. However, some of the custom built units are gorgeous!

[MSaturn]

Re: "New design, the "Cell" CNC machined loudspeaker with custom drive unit."

Indeed, the FR88EX is probably the finest "true full range" out there - but as usual, that means it starts suffering at about 200Hz.

It can realistically be crossed at around 150Hz, though, which - while not truly hifi - is typical in a lot of mini setups.

An interesting idea would be to hide another FR88 on the back or the side and do a sort of "invisible 2.5 way" starting at 300Hz or so. This would allow you to use it down to 100Hz, and gain probably 2dB of sensitivity in the passband due to less of a need for BSC, since speakers like these would likely be used near a wall. Again, sort of breaking the rules, but it could sound really great. Especially if you used the ND20 or 16 as Mr. Teapot suggested. In a properly rigged 2.1 setup, you'd have some seriously hi-fi sound with excellent power response.

[Mike E]

Re: "New design, the "Cell" CNC machined loudspeaker with custom drive unit."

im just wondering if you have looked at these?

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=264-1052

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=264-1058

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=264-885

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=264-886

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=264-884

i think it would be cool to see a two using that "pod" design. might cool with the TB W2-1767S or pe 264-884 i listed with some choice dayton ND20FA-6 or what about this newly listed Vifa tweeter.

[MSaturn]

Re: "New design, the "Cell" CNC machined loudspeaker with custom drive unit."

It is possible those new Vifa drivers are well-designed. I would guess at best, that 2" vifa's distortion profile is going to look like the FR88's, except with much worse bass distortion.

Because I don't have a full testing setup, I will only use drivers that have been tested by someone with a good method. There are many of these out there.

[Cncbydesign]

Re: "New design, the "Cell" CNC machined loudspeaker with custom drive unit."

The new vifa is an interesting looking driver as well, so many drivers to test, so little time! If would be nice to run a mini 2-3" driver shootout on the klippel distortion analyzer and see how they all compare. The Aurasound whisper has near perfect symmetry in the BL curve but suffers from a less than perfect suspension and horrible thermal performance! Even at moderate drive levels it is possible to demagnetize them beyond the point of no return! lets see, a neomotor with very little steel in the poles, encased in plastic, hmm sounds like a recipe for disaster. however, they still do sound quite good!

I plan on using a lower bass cabinet to extend the low-end but a 2.5 way
with a FR88EX on the front and back has the potential to be a killer stand alone pod speaker!


cheers,
Nathan Allen

https://www.cncbydesign.com