Gathering info for Speaker Building Super Thread

[[email protected]]

Re: Gathering info for Speaker Building Super Thread

You could write the Series Crossover section! I wouldn't know of anyone better suited to do so.

[[email protected]]

Re: Gathering info for Speaker Building Super Thread

this is cool. thanks

[brianpowers27]

Re: Gathering info for Speaker Building Super Thread

Anyone got a nice flow chart or decision tree for speaker design-build? The point is to emphasize that the process can be really simple or really complicated depending on when someone decides to go with a standard design or kit versus working from scratch.

I think that would be real helpful for someone if they can visualize that they can simplify the process by making certain decisions at key points in the process. It might keep someone from discovering something like they "need" a custom crossover design to compensate for building a custom box or oddball driver selection. I assume I'm not the only one that has gone far down the road on a project before realizing that I could have saved much pain by taking a different turn three turns earlier.

I agree. Do you want to make one? I made a few a while back with limited response. Here is one. http://techtalk.parts-express.com/sh...d.php?t=213975

P.S. There is a database link in my signature that has a few nice sortable categorized resources. I haven't really maintained it lately but I am willing to bet most links still work.

[Jeff B.]

Re: Gathering info for Speaker Building Super Thread

I wrote "Jeff B's crossover tips" several years ago, as well a several other articles on different subjects, like how to use my software to tune a passive radiator system, or my crossover article from 2001. There is also quite a bit of stuff written inside my software on how to use it. I guess I should assemble a blog myself and pull this stuff together, there just never seems to be enough time.

Jeff

[Paul Carmody]

Re: Gathering info for Speaker Building Super Thread

One of my favorite things about Speakerbuilding 201 is the first chapter. He starts out by giving an example of a common ad for a driver: 12" woofer, 8 Ohms, 35-5000 Hz, excellent sound. That's about the level of understanding most people have who drift into Parts Express' website. Of course, that information is pretty much useless, and tells a designer nothing about how the driver will work or how to implement it, other than how big to cut the woofer hole.

So Alden then slowly and carefully breaks down the components of a woofer, and explains the Thiele/Small parameters, and what they mean. And I'll be honest, the first time I read all that, it was an overwhelming amount of information. I had to read that chapter a few times over the course of a few weeks to really wrap my head around it all.

As the years have gone by and I've been using this information so much, knowing the parts of a woofer and what Thiele/Small parameters are is second-nature to me.

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that if you're looking for "step by step" instructions, don't forget to begin at the beginning. (Those of you churning out a design on PCD, give yourself a pat on the back; you've come a long way!)

[dano]

Re: Gathering info for Speaker Building Super Thread

I have an idea. How about a reliable data base for drivers. Some one or a maybe a group consisting of the most experienced designers would have to check the frd and zma files for accuracy. I 'm pretty good at tracing frequency response graphs. The impedance is a bit harder to do accurately. I magnify the graphs in paint and change the color so SPL- Copy can trace them.

I hope you guys can pull this off. This could be the best resource for speaker building on the internet. I don't have the experience you guys have, but if there's anything you think I can do let me know.

[mgrabow]

Re: Gathering info for Speaker Building Super Thread

I agree that the MODS should set it up or review all posting before they get put up. Otherwise it will wind up like the galary where people are putting build threads and asking questions...

[Flacjunky]

Re: Gathering info for Speaker Building Super Thread

I think its a great idea to consolidate this information, but I also understand the Management's past reluctance to allow stickies.

I for one hate going to other forums with a bunch of stickies. Its like walking into a cluttered room. I really like having the thread with the latest comment at the VERY top of the forum, not halfway down the page.

If they allow one, the next guy who wants a sticky will get his feelings hurt if he dont get one too. If they allowed one it would probably either get out hand with more stickies, or be a source of disgruntlement, forcing management into choosing sides in debates about whats sticky-worthy and what aint, and ultimately alienating the losing side of every argument.

..... what I think they should do, is take the results of this thread, and expand the "Project Showcase" page to include the ideas generated here.

Organized in a way that allows users to quickly find the soultions to their particluar issue or project type. Perhaps to also include a Speaker Building 101 type section using video content from their current Youtube account.

[critofur]

Re: Gathering info for Speaker Building Super Thread

There should be another forum sub-category with speaker building articles. Several smart and generous folks have put together web pages with lots of good information/articles/speaker designs - but - they never stay up forever.

If all these resources could be collected and distilled and categorized in a gallery here on Tech Talk that would be great.

A thread with links to such web pages would not be nearly as good in the long term. Collecting all the articles & designs here into their own section would be a very nice resource.

One of my favorite contributor's websites that's gone down is JayWJ. I saved his whole website before it went down, luckily. If he would give permission to have his pages be part of the project that would make a nice addition to those from Paul (Undefinition) and all the various speaker designs.

I would encourage that each speaker design have a comments section for those that have built or heard them - no flat out personal attacks tolerated, but I would encourage an atmosphere where people could disclose what they felt were shortcomings without others responding in an overly defensive/aggressive nature.

Someday, it might be nice to be able to have a graphical comparison between various different speakers showing all this different stuff: frequency response including off axis, distortion / power handling capacity, price of components, number of people that have built a design, and links to individual reviews.

It would be cool if you could select any two speakers from the group and have the graphs overlaid, a searchable database where you could get a list of projects based on picking a certain driver, or price point, etc.

Much of this goes beyond the scope of the original thread suggestion, simply having articles gathered, edited, and hosted here on this forum would be a good start.

[DDF]

Re: Gathering info for Speaker Building Super Thread

I wrote "Jeff B's crossover tips" several years ago, as well a several other articles on different subjects, like how to use my software to tune a passive radiator system, or my crossover article from 2001. There is also quite a bit of stuff written inside my software on how to use it. I guess I should assemble a blog myself and pull this stuff together, there just never seems to be enough time.

Jeff

Jeff,
IMO, the "standard accepted practices" part should revolve around the PCD, for the xover at least. Maybe some text from your PCD release notes could inform that section?

[rogoll]

Re: Here is a very strange idea...

Mike

Perhaps a bit of narrative on the content of the links, and/or topics, (box construction, Xover design, finishing, ...)

Or a some kind of skill level rating (complete noob, done a couple, good at it, self appointed expert...)

If you will link in off site stuff, I'm sure we can all live with the usual legal disclaimers and 404 errors.

I'd like to second Lou's suggestion. There are a few different ways of accomplishing this. The mods could use a 100, 200, 300, 400, and "Graduate Level" 500 and 600; or Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert...whatever they decided to be the most appropriate. Would have loved something like this a couple of years back, and would still find it VERY useful!
Thanks,
Leonard

[[email protected]]

Re: Gathering info for Speaker Building Super Thread

What I see for this project initially is to allow a newbie to "see" what what we "see" with regards to driver evaluation. Personally, I think that should be first.

Maybe start with a primer on driver Thiele-Small parameters boiled down to their absolute essence, as Paul suggested. Assume the reader has no fore-knowledge of electricity, physics, or mechanical experience. I'd love for this to be written with teenagers in mind.

Once we are able to quantify drivers, we could move on to how woofers operate inside an enclosure. Basic building block type articles. If and when the electronics/physics knowledge is necessary, we develop the same type of laymen article to cover that particular aspect. Maybe even some simple problems for the reader to solve before moving on... just spitballing here.

It would be nice to assign levels of difficulty, but at the same time weighting items higher in difficulty seem to make them more important to a first time reader, and they may gloss over some of the finer basic points needed before moving on. Just my two cents.

[[email protected]]

Re: Here is a very strange idea...

I'd like to second Lou's suggestion. There are a few different ways of accomplishing this. The mods could use a 100, 200, 300, 400, and "Graduate Level" 500 and 600; or Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert...whatever they decided to be the most appropriate. Would have loved something like this a couple of years back, and would still find it VERY useful!
Thanks,
Leonard

I'm sure that most would agree that if there were something like this, with pure intentions in mind, when we started we'd all be better off. I know I would.

[Paul Carmody]

Re: Gathering info for Speaker Building Super Thread

It would be nice to assign levels of difficulty, but at the same time weighting items higher in difficulty seem to make them more important to a first time reader, and they may gloss over some of the finer basic points needed before moving on. Just my two cents.

Yes! See, this was something I was afraid of from the beginning of this "sticky" idea. Even now, I see too many noobs just get socked with stuff that's too technical and lose sight of the biggest ideas.

I totally understand why PE would want an article laying out the basics of drivers and electronics for teenagers. If I did write such an article, I'm not sure I could quite reach that audience. But maybe it's a good target, since the first times I wanted to learn about speaker design were when I was in high school and college; and the resources I tried to read basically "blinded me with science," for lack of a better term. I ended up just feeling stupid, and that speaker design was just a black art I would never understand.

[auracle]

Re: Gathering info for Speaker Building Super Thread

Perhaps a webpage like this:

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/waves/cavity.html

could be used as a primer to set the stage for characteristics of the low frequency section of the enclosure. The process could start with that level of detail and gradually progress to the more "esoteric", "arcane", and "extremely difficult to understand" stuff like.....uh.......impulse response plots. :rolleyes: