Getting ready to start a new project. The Giza's

[SharkyRivethead]

Here is a rough draft of what I was considering as my next project. Note there are no dimensions, nor is the drawing to scale, or is there anything technical. Also, I am no artist by any means. So please, be gentle on my drawing skills. I was hoping to get some feedback. I value constructive criticism.

I've opted to use another method to disperse the highs. The mirror method was not conducive to the project and it's aesthetics. At this moment I'm working on the dimensions, and what type of drivers I'm going to use. Also note...

The passive radiator is subject to change as well as the bass ports. The intention is to have these set up as 2 channel listening only. I have not decided to have internal/mono amp setup or powered by a system. That decision will effect the design outcome. Pertaining to space allocation and such.

Thanks to everyone and their help thus far. Sharky.


ps...The part that got cut off said..." Metalic 1/2 sphere for tweeter driver dispersement"

(added note) Right now, I'm using a 3 way cross over for my prototype. I pulled it from another speaker set. It will get the job done for now. What I want to do is build some custom x-overs.

I'm going to use a bi-wire setup for the speakers. The top posts will feed the High/Mid pass cross over and the bottom will feed into a Low pass cross over. Has anyone ever seen this done? I've only seen bi-wiring done with 2 way speakers. That being said, it's not saying much. I was thinking about using an internal amp to power the sub driver. But have decided to go against this for complications and not wanting to design a amp for this application. I figure if I use an external amp it will provide far less problems in the design.

Any and all feedback will be appreciated. I have found some of the other forums to be less helpful by not saying anything at all.

[Sibelius40]

Re: Getting ready to start a new project. The Giza's

Wow - very interesting design. Like you (apparently), I also like the non-traditional designs.

Mirage speakers use a some what spherical object to disperse the tweeter output. Do you intend to have any of the drivers facing the listeners? Are you worried about a lack of impactful sound?

What do you intend to use for cabinet material? Is internal volume a concern?

[Taterworks]

Re: Getting ready to start a new project. The Giza's

Welcome to the board, Sharky.

I'm a bit confused; There's really not much here to comment on, just a sketch of what seems to be a loudspeaker enclosure in the shape of a pyramid with some rather unscientifically-chosen driver locations, and no specifics about drivers or how you plan to integrate the drivers into a coherent audio source. You'll need much more than a few sketches to design a good-sounding speaker.

Have you tried building a more traditional project yet? I know you probably came into this hobby with dreams of jumping straight into an unconventional design that was completely your own, but the best place to start is to research the projects that have been done by others, and identify the design goals in each one and how they were achieved, and to develop some knowledge in the disciplines involved - mechanical, acoustic, and electrical theory. A loudspeaker is a complex device integrating rigid and vibrating surfaces, resonant acoustic systems, and alternating current electronics. If you were hoping to just jump right into an unconventional speaker design, your chances of success are slim unless you're giving yourself a long time to develop the needed knowledge and skills.

A highly-suggested starting point is reading the Zaph Audio web site. You'll learn how the performance characteristics of drivers can be measured and compared, and how to select the best drivers for your project. Also, if you haven't done so already, buy a book. I recommend the Great Sound Stereo Speaker Manual by Weems and Koonce. It's the book I wish I'd started with, but I started with Advanced Speaker Systems by Ray Alden, which was good enough to get me started. Realize that you're also going to need to learn some computer simulation tools; off-the-shelf or textbook crossovers are no longer considered adequate, much less state-of-the-art, and there's a much wider world of enclosure alignments than textbook equations would suggest.

There are plenty of people here who will help you get started off on the right foot in this hobby, but don't discount the personal energy and resources you'll need to invest to turn your concept design into a reality, and I'm pretty sure what you end up with won't look much like what you sketched above.

[evilskillit]

Re: Getting ready to start a new project. The Giza's

Well most of what you're trying to design is waaay beyond me but I do notice that you have the passive radiator on the bottom right? I'm pretty sure that won't work as the suspension would sag way too much. A port out the bottom is just dandy tho.

[Æ]

Re: Getting ready to start a new project. The Giza's

Take a look at this:

http://wolcottaudio.com/WA_omni.htm

It uses a sphere which not only helps to disperse high frequencies from the tweeter, but also works with the hemisphere to horn load the tweeter too.

Here is a rough draft of what I was considering as my next project. Note there are no dimensions, nor is the drawing to scale, or is there anything technical. Also, I am no artist by any means. So please, be gentle on my drawing skills. I was hoping to get some feedback. I value constructive criticism.

I've opted to use another method to disperse the highs. The mirror method was not conducive to the project and it's aesthetics. At this moment I'm working on the dimensions, and what type of drivers I'm going to use. Also note...

The passive radiator is subject to change as well as the bass ports. The intention is to have these set up as 2 channel listening only. I have not decided to have internal/mono amp setup or powered by a system. That decision will effect the design outcome. Pertaining to space allocation and such.

Thanks to everyone and their help thus far. Sharky.


ps...The part that got cut off said..." Metalic 1/2 sphere for tweeter driver dispersement"

(added note) Right now, I'm using a 3 way cross over for my prototype. I pulled it from another speaker set. It will get the job done for now. What I want to do is build some custom x-overs.

I'm going to use a bi-wire setup for the speakers. The top posts will feed the High/Mid pass cross over and the bottom will feed into a Low pass cross over. Has anyone ever seen this done? I've only seen bi-wiring done with 2 way speakers. That being said, it's not saying much. I was thinking about using an internal amp to power the sub driver. But have decided to go against this for complications and not wanting to design a amp for this application. I figure if I use an external amp it will provide far less problems in the design.

Any and all feedback will be appreciated. I have found some of the other forums to be less helpful by not saying anything at all.

[Æ]

Re: Getting ready to start a new project. The Giza's

It's not a pyramid, it's a tetrahedron.

Welcome to the board, Sharky.

I'm a bit confused; There's really not much here to comment on, just a sketch of what seems to be a loudspeaker enclosure in the shape of a pyramid. . .

[SharkyRivethead]

Re: Getting ready to start a new project. The Giza's

I would have used [hide] tags if I could figure this out. Sorry for the long winded message.

Thanks Taterworks for slapping some somber reality into my life. lol =) j/k.

A little history of myself...I would not call myself an Audiophile enthusiast by the standards of which most forum members are. I don't have a 100,000 in audio equipment. But for as long as I can remember (I'm 37) I have been tinkering with my audio equipment in some way shape or form. Weather it was speaker placement or trying/upgrading new speaker cable and audio interconnects, to speaker projects them selfs.

I am by no means an expert in the science behind audio speakers. What I have is a weird, uncanny way of putting an idea together and seeing it through to the end. With great results to boot. The speakers I have made in the past were to say... unconventional, to say the least. But they worked. The idea I had, the sound stage I was wanting to create worked. But they were simple projects, nothing like the scope of this undertaking.

I have no delusions to which this task will require of my time, money, blood, sweat and tears. I'm not jumping into this thinking it will be an easy ride, nor am I going to try and make it one. It would be an injustice to all those who have brought us to this time and place in audio history. Enough of this silly diatribe of mine.

To answer some questions....Sibelius, in the drawing there is a front view. There will be 2 mid range drivers that will face the listener. The baffles will have sound channels that will run the length of the baffles. The idea is to create a larger soundstage with out a focal sound source. The idea for the sphere is to deflect the highs uniformly in all directions. Purpose being I don't want the driver to be seen, and I hope (in theory) it broadens the highs soundstage as well. I'm leaning on Kerf MDF board for the cabinet frame construction. As for internal volume...if you mean space I have not worked out any dimensions yet as it may pertain to a sub chamber, extra bracing, et cetera. If you are meaning actual sound in regards to internal volume, once again I don't know. I have not gotten that far yet when it comes to the internal designs.

evilskilit, after having read up on gravity and it's sag effect on drivers. I'm going to do with out the passive radiator. Knowing now that pr's and ports effectively do the same thing (tuning your sub) from what I understand, I'm going to use a port system. Where it will be placed will be defined in the final design.

Taterworks, your straight to the point, I like this. Sorta the Simon Cowell of the Audio circuit. Thank you. What I get out of it is a personal challenge. My intention with this project is to create a pair of stereo speakers for 2 channel listening only. Their function won't have a place in a home theater. They will create a warm, robust sound with a crisp high end to round it off. I want them for dedicated Jazz, Blues and Classical listening. Creating an inviting soundstage that you can loose yourself in. Like I mentioned in my brief history, I'm well aware of the schooling I need. As I write this I'm reading up on some electronic fundamentals. Starting with the basics then I'll move onto something else. I will heed your advice and look into these books and other material of teaching.